Marina Rubicon

Adaero

Adaero

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15 Apr 2003
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190
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Devon, UK.
www.tulliana.adaero.co.uk
Following on from the earlier post and not wanting to hijack the thread i thought I'd better start a new thread.
As I said in the other post we are currently in Las Palmas getting a load of repairs done before moving on. So far we have stayed in las Galletas, Tenerife and also had a nice few days in La Gomera on the hook. We wanted to move on to Puerto Mogan next .We visited Mogan by car and it seemed ideal but unfortunately they can't offer us a berth for more than a couple of weeks as we are a catamaran.
We wanted somewhere we could leave the confines of the marina and spend a few days on the hook in some nice bays (if that is possible in the Canaries) as we have struggled so far with this.
Is Rubicon a good place or can anyone recommend any alternatives.
Many thanks
 
A few times during winter months that I was there in 2006, I escaped from the Marina Rubicon and sailed up the West side of Lanzarotte to a nice anchorage in the bay adjacent to the little marina up at Graciosa. Good holding on sand and you should be able to get in close with your cat. There is also an open anchorage literally just out of Rubicon, turn to port and go round the headland where there is a long beach, Papa?? something I recall. I spent a couple of nights there in very settled weather. If it does look as if it's going to blow the marina is just round the headland. The Graciosa anchorage is much more sheltered. You may even find room with your shallow draught just across the straight on Fuerteventura
 
Marina Rubicon even has a swimming pool for the use of those moored in the marina, as we had the kids onboard this was a boon. Not what I would call a quiet place though, and they charge extra for cats but you are probably used to that.

Anchorages nearby are off the beaches at Papagayo, very good holding and loads of room. or going up the east coast it is possible to anchor at the entrance to Puerto Del Carmen, in the usual conditions its fine but there are quite a few boats going back and forth. Arrecife has some old rope moorings as anchoring there is hit and miss as there is only enough sand to cover the rock. Continue up to Graciosa as already mentioned where the marina is possibly the cheapest in the Canaries or there is the anchorage just to the west.
 
Can recommend Rubicon , and you can do a deal , also look out for the new marina under construction in Puerto del carmen , 330 berths and full facilities , opens sept.
 
The marina cleats must be gold plated as I have just received a quote from Rubicon for our 14.2 x 7.5m cat. They want to charge 2x a 15m x 4.5m mono berth at €64 per night less the normal 1, 3 and 6 month discounts. This equates to €1575 per month based on 3 months, bloody rediculous.
We are currently paying €680 per month in Las Palmas and €650 if we go back to Las Galletas in Tenerife so at those prices we certainly won't be going to Rubicon. I have told them what we have been paying and we will have to see what they come back with?
 
I made some enquiries at Rubicon too. If you pay in advance and decide to leave early, you won't get your money back for the nights that you didn't use.

Doesn't give much incentive to stay there, knowing that you will be committed regardless
 
Crikey!! I stayed in 2007, booked in advance (as it was planned) and they gave me a price which was quite reasonable. Also a cat at the time, although much smaller.

Sounds like things are changing rapidly and they are trying to get income where they can, try a serious bit of haggling. Las Palmas is a reasonably cheap marina anyway by comparison. but if you really want it cheaper go to La Graciosa.

Of course this is not what you intended as you originally were asking about lying to your hook, which is free, and that is available, you just need to cast off that umbilical cord.
 
At the moment we are not fulltime liveaboards so we have to book in marinas to return to the UK to earn some cruising chips. If we were full time I doubt we would stay in the Canaries due to the ever changing weather patterns and bumpy seas that don't work well with life on the hook.
As I said we wanted to go to Mogan but at best they will only offer us a maximum of 2 weeks. I have been advised to go down there and by the sounds of it once you are there you can normally extend your stay indefinately. This maybe a similar situation at Rubicon, once you get there you might be able to do a deal?
Lets see if I get a reply to my email requesting they come to their senses and offer a reasonable price. I can't believe that all these marinas are so busy they can afford to turn away a decent income?
 
Marina Rubicon does appear to have berths that are empty, it is a large marina so lots of space, always worth asking for cheaper rates, I would think it makes sense to have some income on empty berths rather than none.
Mogan is really busy, we were told when we enquired they had a waiting list for long term berthing.
 
I´m a live-aboard Marina Rubicon resident, anything you want to know, we can e-mail if you want to.
Just a few comments: Puerto Calero is very tight especially for a cat, you´ll be put alongside the wall. Lot´s of space in Rubicon, a bit of swell coming in sometimes, especially where you will be with a cat. The showers and toilets are amazing and always clean, not so in Puerto Calero with very limited hot water. Ask to speak to Karen, the Marina Manager, to negotiate a discount. Mention the bad exchange rate putting the price up for Brits. La Graciosa is great but no shower facilities only toilets (a very long walk way) an d they´ll kick you out when all the ARC boats start arriving. If you have all mod-cons on board like hot water you better anchor and use the tender for trips ashore. Rubicon is very safe and trustworthy, staff is helpful and friendly.
 
Calero

um, no, space not at all limited for a cat in calero - we're 49ft and no problam at all - there's a 56 footer there and he can turn in the fairway too. With cat you get the back alongside berths, easy peasy mooring plus you get to use the empty wc block whereas all the monos have to share the WC block between the shops. No "swell" issues with a cat of course...
 
Re: Calero

I second that. Puerto Calero everytime. The thing that impressed me (I was there last Oct) is that they DO NOT charge extra for a cat! €29.72 per night (11.7 X 5.9) and very secure, the people there speak excellent English. A reasonable anchorage (Play Quemada) just outside and a short sail to Fuerteventura.
Graciosa is quirky, to say the least. One minute you're welcome, next minute you're told to leave within two days (Spanish boats have problems as well). OK to leave a boat there but facilities basic, no water & no power on the pontoons as at last september/oct (as are shore-side facilities). Also not so easy to get to at short notice, you need a bus/taxi from the airport + ferry ride (last year it was 'not allowed' to hire a car on Lanzarote and drop it off at the ferry terminal).
I hauled out in Pasito Blanco (Gran Canaria). The mooring charges weren't too bad but you're a long way from anywhere. Anchoring outside is free if a little rolly (even for a cat).
If you want to leave the boat, Las Palmas is OK (i.e. cheap, €15 per night for a BB385 (11.7m X 5.9). By the same token,Gran Tarajal in Fuerteventura is also €15 per night and a pleasant spot, although not much English spoken.
I think in the current climate, discounts almost anywhere would be forthcoming!
 
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