Laying Up Western Med

[AndrewAndVicky]

Anyone know of a good place to haul out in August next year, somewhere in the western Med? Southern Spain or Balearics would be ideal, but Sardinia, Sicily or Southern Italy would do. I know it gets very crowded then, so has anyone got experience of the best places to get hauled out?

Thanks,
Andrew

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[MedMan]

We left our boat on the hard in Puerto de Bonaire in Pollensa Bay on Mallorca for five weeks during July and August 1999 whilst we returned to the UK. Prior to leaving her we hired a car for a couple of days and visited almost every marina and harbour on the island. Puerto de Bonaire was the cheapest being less than half the price of some of the marinas on the south and east coasts. We paid £322 for lift-out, storage on land for five weeks and lift-back, i.e. £9.20 per day. This is considerably less than we would have had to pay had we left her in the water, as mooring charges during July and August are very high.

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[AndrewAndVicky]

Thanks for the tip!
Andrew

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[MedMan]

Other possibilities include Almerimar and Aguadulce at the eastern end of the Costa del Sol. Both specialise in providing over-winter facilities so they have plenty of room ashore. They would both be cheaper than anywhere in the Balearics I am sure. They are both convenient for Almeria airport from which you can pick up Charter flights during the season.

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[chrisc]

Another very good alternative is Martigues on the French coast. We had our 11 m boat there the winter 2002-2003, 7 months less than 800 euro. They do get very full so contact them well in advance. 5 km from Marseille international airport and less than 1 km from a train station. Went by train to Nimes and then Ryanair back to UK.

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[DreamyLady]

Almerimar is OK and reasonably priced.

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[beach_hound]

Anywhere and everything in the Med during August is going to be expensive. In the islands, try La Sabina on Formentera, good people, safe and secure hard and reasonable. Buying spare parts is a problem though. Mainland, I`d go to Vatasa yard to the east of Santa Pola, just south of Alicante. Cheap, everything you would ever need equipment and spare parts wise and a very skilled work shop, both mechanical, woodwork and electrical.

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[charles_reed]

I\'d suggest

That your choice of August will prove more difficult than your choice of place

The Baleares at any time of the year is relatively more expensive and relationships with the natives more unsatisfactory, than anywhere else in the W Med.

If you can't speak any foriegn languages your best bet will be on the Costas de Sol or Blanca.
On the Costa de Sol: Estepona has reasonable facilities but unreasonable prices, but the advantage of being close to Malaga airport; Almerimar is quite good. On the Blanca: Denia or Puerto Deportivo Luis Campomanes.
Cheapest of all in Spain is up the Guadalquivir at Gelves, but Pablo (head marinero) speaks but doesn't really understand English so you must instruct him in Castilian. He's also a futbal fanatic and the way to his heart is to ask him how his team is getting on - an outing to a home match on the supporters coach is most edifying.

Ignore all the French Med ports for lift-out at that time of year - their prices are nearly as ridiculous as the year-round prices on UK S Coast, but I've heard reports that the new marina in Ostia is reasonable, or go to Castelsardo in N Sardegna (you HAVE to speak Italian) where they are reasonably priced, have a good 35 tonne travel-lift, first-class yard and marine engineers and you can, with some difficulty, get to Alghero airport for cheap flights back to UK.
If you are prepared to leave the boat in the water whilst you come back to the UK, the outer harbour in Stintino will cost you nothing (unless they've managed to sort out their breach of planning regs, which knowing Italy should be good for a 3 year moratorium). Short, cheap daily bus service from there to Alghero/Fertilia, but lift out needs to be short and sharp and you'll find your prop covered with coral.

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[ccscott49]

Vilanova, just down the coast from sitges, barcelona. Not the yacht club marina, but by the mainroad at the head of the harbour, big boat lift! Cheap friendly.

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