Longterm mooring in West Med

laodice

laodice

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I am looking for a long term mooring for a 36 feet sailing boat in the West Mediterranean especially in the Languedoc. It’s in my intention to stay in the Med fifty percent of the time because I'm going to take an early retirement next year. Can someone recommend me a storm save relatively cheap mooring easily accessible by car, plane or train.
 
Hi Laodice and welcome to the forum. I fear that the search for longterm safe and relatively cheap moorings in the western Med is something of a holy grail....

There seems to be far more demand than supply and waiting lists in years are common.

However, despair not as there is a wealth of knowledge within these virtual walls and if such a thing is available then someone here will know about it. Good luck in your search

Chas
 
We waited for years for a mooring in the Languedoc and we live there. We finally gave that up and now have a berth at the new MDL run Sant Carles Marina by the mouth of the river Ebro in Spain.

You can either rent by the year, take a 4 year package which includes transfers from Reus or Barcelona airports, or buy a long lease. You could ask for information and view the webcam via the website.

http://www.mdlmarinas.co.uk/mdl-santcarles-marina/home.asp

I am there now if you have any queries.
 
After cruising the western coast of Spain my friend settled on Cartagena its a beautiful upspoilt area in Murcia with relatively few uk settlers. Its a little cheaper than most other Marinas for some unknown reason but not cheap especially with the rise of the yoyo.
Worth having a look on google earth where there are lots of pictures posted on Panaramio + youtube videos.
 
We stopped in Cartagena marina for a few days last Summer, en route to Sardinia. Yep it's a nice marina, interesting town - but beware of asking for Archers when you order drinks ashore!


Year2008064.jpg
 
Have you looked the other way - try Port Napoleon and a 'mooring' ashore for extended periods. This is at the mouth of the Rhone. Marseille and Arles are the nearest cities with an airport and TGV at Marseille (though the cost of the taxi to Pt Nap was E100 in 2008). You also need insect repellant for the mozzies but the (ashore) berth is relatively cheap.
 
I'm going to hijack that picture if you don't mind. I need a personal bodyguard against The Piratesses of Cornwall, and this lot will fit the bill perfectly!
 
Hans

does the run for €40 - but not from Napoleon, which should be avoided like the plague unless you have a bottomless pocket - use Navy Service, it's about 60% price of Napoleon, if rather more basic.

Alternatives are S Cyprien or Argéles.

French marinas will be cheaper than Spanish, L'Escala may have some room.

You'll be told by all, that they have a 18-month to 3 year waiting list, if you contact by e-mail or phone. You HAVE to turn up in person!!
 
Re: Hans

I know, I’ve got an acquaintance who swears by Port Camargue.
It should be an excellent starting point for cruises to the Baleares, Corsica, Spain, Italy but with a 5 year waiting list.
 
large pics, or when someone posts a long sentence with no spaces in it.

Some very large usernames, with no spaces in them, can also cause the left hand margin to go wide.
 
Re: Hans

Agreed - but the waiting list according to the Port Camargue Capitainerie is now 7 to 9 years! But they don't really know as the saturation of berths in the region is a recent effect. We've been on the list since 2005 but have absolutely no chance - we're at least 55 from the top in our categorie!
 
The waiting list is quoted as up to 6 - 9 years for 10m+ and cats. However, I notice new boats for sale "avec place de port" - how ?

Port Camargue transfers the mooring to the new boat owner (othermarinas don't).

There are quite a few boats for sale in the brokers windows "with mooring" ( e.g. http://www.nautismecamargue.com/pages/7.html ).

So, the answer seems to be to buy a boat from someone hanging up their boots ?

Plenty of boats currently for sale with some bargains to be had.

Peter
 
Hi Peter, I didn't realise you were a forum member here too!

We noticed at Gruissan that they were still selling new boats whilst ours was in the zone technique waiting for a place.

I guess that is why we never got to the top of the waiting list in France.

There are plenty of moorings available in Spain now.
 
Try Port Leucate and Sete. They both had places available when we were looking last year. Alternatively Port Napoleon, which is expensive, and the last 30mins of the drive down there is pretty depressing with the oil refineries etc. We opted for Port Leucate which is less than half the price of Port Napoleon.

For Port Camargue you will need to find an owner of a private berth who wants to rent it out. It does happen - but I have not found one yet!

For the other places, La Grande Motte, Carnon, Palavas, Frontignan etc, you will need to bribe the Capitainerie and sacrifice your virgin daughter etc etc........

As someone else already said - you really need to turn up in person (along with the virgin daughter in tow....;-) . Fax, telephone, email etc just don't work.

If they say no space, ask when, ask if they know of somewhere which might just have some space etc etc...... That is how we found our parking space /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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