Mar Menor

[GravyStain]

Been doing some reading about the state of the MarMenor. it looks like the Spanisha agriculture policy has really screwed up the area. Horror stories about algae growth, everything is dead sub 3 metres...

Any of you guys been cruising there in the last couple of years. Can you confirm what I'm reading? I'm planning on getting a berth somewhere on the Spanish cost (open to all ideas, but i do like the look of Sant Carles at the moment).

 

[RupertW]

I really liked Cartagena when we left the boat there for a few weeks last year. Estepona quite nice and Benalmedina the most horrifying place I have ever been.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

@Nosealegsyet keeps her boat on the Mar Menor I think...

 

[petem]

Been doing some reading about the state of the MarMenor. it looks like the Spanisha agriculture policy has really screwed up the area. Horror stories about algae growth, everything is dead sub 3 metres...

Any of you guys been cruising there in the last couple of years. Can you confirm what I'm reading? I'm planning on getting a berth somewhere on the Spanish cost (open to all ideas, but i do like the look of Sant Carles at the moment).

I know that travelling is a challenge at the moment, but I'd really recommend anyone thinking of relocating to Spain to drive the mainland coast and inspect all of the marinas. If nothing, it will help you establish which marinas have spaces (most are full and they usually ignore email inquiries).

Saying that, we enjoyed our year at Sant Carles before we decided to move on. We're very happy where we are now.

 

[Hurricane]

Saying that, we enjoyed our year at Sant Carles before we decided to move on. We're very happy where we are now.

Maybe it was the aqua aerobics in the pool that put you off.
I remember Whitelighter saying it would be a challenge to get you in a session.
You surprised us both by turning up.

 

[petem]

Maybe it was the aqua aerobics in the pool that put you off.
I remember Whitelighter saying it would be a challenge to get you in a session.
You surprised us both by turning up.

That was a lot of fun!

 

[starfire]

I really liked Cartagena when we left the boat there for a few weeks last year. Estepona quite nice and Benalmedina the most horrifying place I have ever been.

Out of curiosity, what were the problems with Benalmádena ?

I'm on a mission to point out problems to the capitanía.

 

[kashurst]

this is a very long explanation:
Why it is so difficult to solve the current problems in the Mar Menor
I was last there in 2019 just before the incredible Gota Fria (cold drop) storm. Gota Fria storms happen most years but the 2019 one was off the scale! Prior to that the mar menor was improving well. The government had done a lot of work to improve run off and other waste problems. In short the water was clearing, life was recovering, beaches were all open people swimming etc.
Unfortunately that Gota Fria storm undid all their work, bring enormous amounts of mud and crap into the mar menor. Fingers crossed the greatly reduced levels of tourists this year will lead to further improvements.

 

[GravyStain]

this is a very long explanation:
Why it is so difficult to solve the current problems in the Mar Menor
I was last there in 2019 just before the incredible Gota Fria (cold drop) storm. Gota Fria storms happen most years but the 2019 one was off the scale! Prior to that the mar menor was improving well. The government had done a lot of work to improve run off and other waste problems. In short the water was clearing, life was recovering, beaches were all open people swimming etc.
Unfortunately that Gota Fria storm undid all their work, bring enormous amounts of mud and crap into the mar menor. Fingers crossed the greatly reduced levels of tourists this year will lead to further improvements.

Yes Kevin, it would be a catastrophe to not let the area go back to it's former glory... Apparently there are too many marinas for the area as well (although it's not personal experience, just from what I've read). It seems a real shame as the area seems perfect for cruising.

 

[GravyStain]

Out of curiosity, what were the problems with Benalmádena ?

I'm on a mission to point out problems to the capitanía.

Cartagena looks lovely... A real gem.

 

[Seastoke]

Cartagena looks lovely... A real gem.

Especially if you are a Arsenal fan. i left my car outside the fort and it got lifted on a lorry and put in a compound , i asked at the fort about it, next thing i was n the back of police car , long story.

 

[GravyStain]

Especially if you are a Arsenal fan. i left my car outside the fort and it got lifted on a lorry and put in a compound , i asked at the fort about it next thing i was n the back of police car , long story.

Do tell!

 

[kashurst]

Yes Kevin, it would be a catastrophe to not let the area go back to it's former glory... Apparently there are too many marinas for the area as well (although it's not personal experience, just from what I've read). It seems a real shame as the area seems perfect for cruising.

The Mar Menor has about 6 marinas. However only one is of any size - Thomas Maestre at the entrance to the lagoon. The others are quite small with a mix of motor and sail boats. Most of which will struggle to take a 15m boat even with a reservation. Even in summer it's never crowded at all. The Costa Blanca does get breezy in the afternoons @3pm to @ 7 pm in the summer. The scenery is better up near Altea and Javier. Cartagena round to Mazarron is interesting . Lots of dolphins and whales allegedly - they always hide if I am around. We are based in Torrevieja so it's either North up to Alicante, Altea, Moraira etc or south down to Mar Menor, Cabo de Palos, Cartegena etc
Fingers crossed government action and a reduction in human activity will sort the Mar Menor. There are lots of hotels and seaside towns that depend on the tourism around it, so something will be done.

 

[Seastoke]

Well i parked outside the Naval base head quarters , when i returned it had gone tried to ask a guard got no sense then civil guard arrived in the back of car, police station to translater . they thought it was a car bomb and i had to explain why i had left it there ,after pleading being thick they believed me 250 euro lighter they let me go but i had to walk to the compound , i was gone nearly 3 hours swmbo was happy of cause . Why dont there spanish speak stoke .

 

[Seastoke]

There is a tourist boat in Torrevieja that takes people to see kash boat shine on the port side and un washed on the starboard side .

 

[RupertW]

Out of curiosity, what were the problems with Benalmádena ?

I'm on a mission to point out problems to the capitanía.

It wasn’t really the marina itself it was the experience of going to get something to eat in mid August. The wslkways crammed hot between street sellers and crowds who self lubricated their way past each other not wearing much above the waist, tattooed beer sodden huge burly threatening British women and their semi-comatose men and sticky tactile sugar fuelled kids.

Nice Japanese restaurant at the end though.

 

[kashurst]

There is a tourist boat in Torrevieja that takes people to see kash boat shine on the port side and un wased on the starboard side .

Sorry, no longer. Fortunately after the marina refurbishments I have new neighbours, They don't bother polishing their boats at all, so all the pressure is off now.

 

[Mr Googler]

Well i parked outside the Naval base head quarters , when i returned it had gone tried to ask a guard got no sense then civil guard arrived in the back of car, police station to translater . they thought it was a car bomb and i had to explain why i had left it there ,after pleading being thick they believed me 250 euro lighter they let me go but i had to walk to the compound , i was gone nearly 3 hours swmbo was happy of cause . Why dont there spanish speak stoke .

They probably spoke perfect English but would still have had no hope understanding you ?

 

[rotrax]

It wasn’t really the marina itself it was the experience of going to get something to eat in mid August. The wslkways crammed hot between street sellers and crowds who self lubricated their way past each other not wearing much above the waist, tattooed beer sodden huge burly threatening British women and their semi-comatose men and sticky tactile sugar fuelled kids.

Nice Japanese restaurant at the end though.

Been in the Japanese Resturant if it is the one upstairs. Really exeptional when we ate there - 2006 perhaps. We wintered there, staying in Calle Mielle.

Next time go where the locals go, we usually do, much nicer and I get to practice my Spanish.

Cafe Solo, por favor.....................................

 

[Seastoke]

It wasn’t really the marina itself it was the experience of going to get something to eat in mid August. The wslkways crammed hot between street sellers and crowds who self lubricated their way past each other not wearing much above the waist, tattooed beer sodden huge burly threatening British women and their semi-comatose men and sticky tactile sugar fuelled kids.

Nice Japanese restaurant at the end though.

You never said hi Stokie.