Moving to Mallorca

I bought a brand new C Map NT+ cartridge for my recent Costa Brava cruise and that didn't show the sea wall extension either nor the fact that the old entrance has been closed - that would be a bit of bummer if you were approaching Barcelona on a dark night!
 
I'm based in Barcelona.
I'm wondering whether St. Carles might be an option for wintering next year?
Anyway, remember this you are in the Ebro delta, the fouling there was horrendous, not sure what its like now, but all that lovely food coming down the Ebro, does have an effect.
 
Doesn't the wind whistle out of the Ebro delta from the mountains? I've heard it can be a bit blowy but maybe I'm wrong
 
The marina at Sant Carles is about 10 miles from the mouth of the Ebro itself.
There hasnt been any substantial wind every time we have been in the area but that isnt to say that there will be. Its got to be better than the weather in the West Country this year.

The town and marina are tucked away and seem protected from northerly winds by these mountain ranges.
This view from the lagoon.

IMG_2717Medium.jpg


And this is the view from the actual water where the pontoons have been placed.

Before the build

IMG_2704Medium.jpg


And a few weeks ago

IMG_2064.jpg


So here's hoping that you're wrong - will let you know - we're off on Saturday (I hope)
 
I am not sure whether to trust this:

http://www.windfinder.com/windstats/windstatistic_delta_del_ebro.htm

I was there in early June for 10 days and for a month from late July.

Most days we had a pleasant breeze from the SW in the afternoon and calm overnight.

About the third week in August there was one morning of the NW Mestral (I think this is the correct spelling). Quite strong but nothing like the French variety.
 
Not very sunny as well as windy? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
That was the same mistral that we sat out in St Feliu de Guixols on the Costa Brava and it was the French variety /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
On the Costa Brava it is known as the tramontana and is from the north. That one originates between the Massif Central and the Pyrenees and blasts the coast around Gruissan and Leucate before heading down into Spain, it passes my house on the way, but not too strong here. It certainly seems to happen at the same time as the Mistral though. Whether the tramontana becomes the mestral at Sant Carles I do not know. It is all quite confusing really.

I spent the Monaco Grand Prix weekend in a foul easterly at San Felieu. I thought I was grossly overcharged by the Club Nautico, who now monopolize the outer wall. They have cunningly banned anchoring in the harbour now too, with a large sign at the entrance.
 
The tramontana and the mistral are the same wind AFAIK, at least according to my pilot book, explanation HERE According to the book, mistral is the French name and tramontana is the Spanish name although I've heard mistral used in Spain as well. Certainly the effects of the mistral are felt as far south as the Balearics so it wouldn't surprise me if the same wind affects Sant Carles although on that coastline, there must be a little protection from the hills behind
Yes, the charges at St Feliu are outrageous. It was our first stop after Barcelona where we paid €70/night but in St Feliu they charged us €140/night for a 15m berth which is nearly up to Ibiza levels. I guess they have to pay for that flash clubhouse somehow. Luckily, the charges at other places we visited were around the €70-80/night level. We found anchoring on the Costa Brava difficult in general. Firstly there always seemed to be an onshore component to the wind so it was generally difficult to hide from any swell and secondly, in a lot of anchorages, the best spots were taken up with local moorings. It got better the further north we went and certainly, beyond Roses there were some beautiful anchorages
 
Hi Mike,

I agree entirely about the Costa Brava anchorages. They have been taken over by local small boat moorings. We used to spend much time in the 70s around Cadaques and Port Ligat, but we no longer feel welcome there. Salvador Dali let us take water from his tap outside his house, but no chance of water there today.

Your link about the winds is accurate, but it does say [ QUOTE ]
In the Languedoc area, where the tramontane is the strongest wind, the mistral and the tramontane blow together onto the Gulf of Lion and the northwest of the western Mediterranean, and can be felt to the east of the Balearic Islands, in Sardinia, and sometimes as far as the coast of Africa.

[/ QUOTE ]

The Tramontane of France turns south down the Spanish coast, whereas the Mistral reaches the Baleares and Corsica. Not much difference I know.

In 1979 I took a year's mooring in the Club de Mar for the boat in my avatar. The cost for the year was £300 and the King's father was moored on the same pontoon where he was a live aboard. Juan Carlos always had a few words for us when he passed by.

A bit different these days?
 
[ QUOTE ]
The mistral is an example of a katabatic wind, which is created by the difference in pressure between the cold air of a high pressure system over the Atlantic or northwest Europe

[/ QUOTE ]
There you go - not a chance this year then. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
Yup, Club de Mar is a bit different, I guess. For a start £300 buys you about 1 week's mooring, not 1 year! Juan Carlos apparently left Club de Mar in a huff. The club has a strict rule barring kids under 12yrs old from using the swimming pool, something we found out in no uncertain terms. The king tried to take his kids to the pool but they were refused entry and he took his boat elsewhere. I expect that the anti monarchy leanings of the Catalan locals had something to do with it
Nowadays he zooms about in a massively fast jet powerered boat called Fortuna which seems to be moored somewhere in the commercial port and protected by the military
 
Hey guys!
just a correction to the times
It is confirmed that she is being loaded onto the ship on the 12th and will be in Sant Carles on the 17th!
Unfortunatley i cant get out there till the 21st so can someone look out for her, make sure she is handled ok!
If anyone does see her, i would really appreciate some photos being taken
 
I'm there now and V Pontoon is alive & bobbing.
IMG_2147.jpg


IMG_2146.jpg


Weve just come in from the lagoon and it's blowing a gale - we couldn't get on our
own berth so had to use next doors.
Here's a photo of the sand being blown up where they are still building, taken 20 mins ago!
IMG_2150.jpg

I must add that the weathers been great all week.
 
No. We are to the right of that pic. Behind the new offices, bar etc.

We left yesterday and I am now back in the office sulking!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top