Liveaboard in winter in Med - possible warm locations???

[Grehan]

Mar Menor

It is true that the Mar Menor has got lots of anchoring options - however our admittedly fairly limited experience was that precisely because it's quite shallow and the geography fairly flat, it doesn't take too much of a wind to build up quite a chop.

 

[Nat]

Re: Mar Menor

I overnight regularly in the Mar Menor, whatever the wind does you can always move to the lee side of one of the islands, also you can moor on the pontoons on Perdeguera as long as you dont take the piss on Sat & Sunday when the restaraunts are only open in the winter. Loads of yachts winter there & you can get fresh water from Tomas Maestrow or stock up with provisions from Lo Pagan. it can get quite choppy & the wind direction can & does change direction in minutes, but choppy is all you will get with very little swell. also the Mar Menor seems to have its own weather system & always seems to be quite mild in winter..........Nat

 

[Grehan]

Re: Mar Menor

Is the Mar Menor actively 'regulated' in any way - are there the equivalent of harbour police collecting dues or checking up?
I guess the Guardia Civil come round from time to time?

I ask because the papers here on the CdS last week featured Trouble at Torrevieja with reports about live-aboards being clamped-down-on for not paying their fair share, or registering or paying the tax on their boats, or even (horror) not having proper Spanish boating qualifications.

When we anchored there last summer (good anchoring and harbour, town a little on the frayed side) during that ten days we were 'moved on' once. Well, moved around - bit like musical chairs, everyone upped anchor moved around a bit and then downed anchor when the harbour police left. We were told that the Toreviejans didn't like this officialdom - the police came down from Valencia (?) I think.

 

[Nat]

Re: Mar Menor

Not to my knowedge & im out there every month. There is a Guardia boat that sometimes goes round the Mar Menor but Ive only seen it twice in 2 years.
Everyso often they have a purge in Torre, there is a large live aboard contingent there & lets say one or two of them are less than legal. This of course brings unwanted attention to the respectable residents There has also been some trouble there over the G5 tax in short no one will pay it, this has resulted in police making spot checks on many liveaboards, especialy the ones anchored in the outer harbour, also they have tried to close a couple of the bars down & generally made a nuisance of themselves. Last year they had a big purge on the ICC but to date I have never been asked to produce mine in any marina along the Costa's or in Ibiza, but I know others that have. Unfortunatly stories are grossly exagerated in Spain if you pass wind in Torre you will haved crapped your self by the time the story reaches the mar menor. Personally I dont think you will have any trouble in the Mar Menor, during the winter its nice & peacefull & not over busy at weekends........Nat

 

[jeanne]

Re: Liveaboard in winter in Med - possible warm locations??? Olhao

Latest news hot from a boat who tried to get in to Olhao is that the office is by the fishing harbour and the people there said they are now taking only 3 month bookings - BUT they are full. No overnight stay allowed, and no anchoring in the vicinity. No water either as the drinking fountain where we all used to fill containers has been dismantled.

 

[Swagman]

Re: Liveaboard in winter in Med - possible warm locations??? Olhao

[ QUOTE ]
Latest news hot from a boat who tried to get in to Olhao is that the office is by the fishing harbour and the people there said they are now taking only 3 month bookings - BUT they are full. No overnight stay allowed, and no anchoring in the vicinity. No water either as the drinking fountain where we all used to fill containers has been dismantled.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the info - shame eh? Guess all we can hope is they realise an operating marina would be good for the town and press on to get it up and running properly. Until then if we stop over we'll anchor off in the lagoon.
Cheers
JOHN