mar menor

[White_Lady]

We are considering moving on from Mallorca for a change of scenery ( we can't afford to stay ) and have seen many berths available in a marina on Mar Menor called Tomas Meastro.They are remarkably inexpensive.Why?
All comments appreciated ( or donations )

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[PhilF]

its loveley there, where did you see them advertised

 

[mjf]

Interesting, I looked there in 2002 and they were still putting in a lot of berths.

It is now quite big.


The problems are 1. longish drive (esp in summer) through the La Manga strip from either Murcia or Alicante airport.

2. Quite boring boating all in all

The advantage is that the Mar Minor offers good protection so in winter you can get out even if windy etc. have a run about without swell.

What are they asking for a mooring (say 12m boat)?


Michael


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[White_Lady]

There is a great web site for Spanish marina berths for sale and to let. It is
Buscoamarre.com

When you say lovely, how lovely?. Bars and restaraunts nearby?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[jerryat]

Hi!

Spent a lot of time in and around the Mar Menor, as we over-wintered in Tomas Maestre marina twice. It can be pretty boring sailing in the MM though it's a pleasant daysail to Cartagena (to the west) or Torreviega to the east.

Over-wintering WAS cheap, but all that has now changed. When we were last there about two+ years ago, there was a truely massive amount of building (multi-storey apartments) going on, and it's on-going. We could count 23 tower cranes just sitting in our cockpit!! Sailing friends of mine who live overlooking the marina (and own a berth there) emailed me last week to say that all the berths have now long been sold, including those in the new extension adjacent to the Marina 2000 boatyard/workshops on the other side of the access channel.

The reason is that the owners of these new appartments (lots of them Norwegians oddly enough) have snapped up all the available berths so that prices are now sky high compared with 1997/1998 when a 12 metre berth was around £6000 with a 17 year lease remaining. These same berths were going for £18000 3 years ago!!

Planning permission has been given for a further big additional marina (though still associated with Tomas Maestre) to be built on the Med, side just inside the breakwater. Trial/initial works have been half-heartedly going on for a couple of months. If it is built it will, of course, completely b****r up the only good anchorage between Cartagena and Torrevieja!! Marinas in the MM itself are also packed out.

A general word of caution! From various friends' experiences in buying/trying to buy berths in TM, one should exercise considerable caution. The legal ownership is often 'interesting' and the demand for cash payment usual. Fortunately, there are one or two reputable English speaking lawyers based along the 'Strip' (La Manga) who should be able to unravel the Spanish under-market and at least restrict the term 'getting burnt' to that of too much sun!!

Hope this helps

Good sailing!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[mjf]

Yes, there is a quite a good selection of pubs / pizza joints and the like. Even a small chandlers which carries limited stock but will order for next day delv or similar.

Michael

<hr width=100% size=1>