New berth required - Mainland Spain, Croatia, Greece or Turkey

[Brent]

The boat is currently in Mallorca, nice place to sail, but marina fees have just come in with a 30% increase. This puts annual berthing at €13800 for a 14mtr boat so we’re off.

I’m looking at Mainland Spain, Croatia, Greece or Turkey. Croatia concerns me as the rules covering how many individual people can come out on the boat each year. This would be restrictive in our situation. Can I ask the forums views on:

1) Which of these countries will give best value for money on annual berths.
2) How easy is it to run a syndicate boat in Croatia (crew restrictions rules).
3) If you sail or sailed any of these areas, which was your favourite and why.

Look forward to reading your replies.

 

[vyv_cox]

I have yet to visit Croatia or Turkey. My observation as far as Greece is that there is a world of difference in cost between east and west Mediterranean. We found Spanish marina costs to be excessive and Italian ones enormous. The only Greek marina we have stayed in was not cheap either, but a lot less than Spain and Italy. We were quoted a very reasonable rate at the Turkey stand at LIBS and expect to go there next year.

On your third question, having cruised Spain, France, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Italy and Greece, we find Greece to be excellent. All the others have their good points (I'm struggling a bit with Italy) but for sheer welcoming people, low costs, superb scenery and relaxed officialdom (mostly) it's difficult to beat Greece.

 

[jimbaerselman]

Marina berths, best value for money. Turkey or Greece, for 14m; from €3,000 (Kalamata, Kos) to €8,000 (Zea) and many steps between.

Comparisons:

Croatia: shorter season (cold winter!); expensive marinas; enormous variety of lovely anchorages; picturesque old towns; dull food; variable service; non-EU customs difficulties with spares; visas.

Greece: long season; wide variety of cruising areas (some windy, some sheltered); lots of free quayside moorings in the centre of a small villages; enough marinas; average food, friendly servce; very cheap (if ethnic) lay-up possible; boring yacht paperwork.

Turkey. Long season; lots of lovely free anchorages, also many marinas; very good value for labour intensive yacht refurbishment; good food; very friendly service; 90 days maximum personal visa; non-EU customs difficulties with spares.

 

[Tranona]

My 11m berth in Gouvia Corfu is just under 3800 euros. Levkas is about the same. Athens berths are more expensive and I understand Aegean berths cheaper (about 3000euros for 14m in Kos).

Upside of Greece is well covered by Vyv, we have been going there for 10 years. Downside compared with Mallorca and W Med in general is it is not all year round - no direct flights to Corfu in the winter for example. Season April to October.

Some experience of Turkey. Great people, scenery and sailing. Costs comparable with Greece, but more remote.

Trouble is, should not be telling you this as if all the W Med boats went east there would be no room for us!

 

[LymingtonPugwash]

I understand that Kalamata marina is one of the least expensive on the northern coast of the Med now? Would cost you around 3k pa as Jim says.
For those sorts of prices, one is happy to put up with a bit of officialdom!

 

[jimbaerselman]

Kalamata is also a very nice, if rather scruffy, town. Only 4 hours from Athens airport by car; 6 hours by bus allowing for a botched change at Kiffisou, the Athens West bus station . .

 

[Brent]

Thanks for your posting and by the way.... I like the web site, it has a lot of info. Added it to my favourates, look forward to seeing your spot on Turkey.

 

[LadyJessie]

Agree with JimB's summary, with some minor additions:

Turkey marina prices for a 14m 12 month contract would be between €1500 (Marmaris) to €4000 (Gocek). The spares import problems have been eased (not totally gone) with the recent customs union with the EU. In practice, this is not really a problem as most spares are either available locally or can easily be manufactured at the local machine shop.

Personal visum requirement is indeed 90 days, unless you have a marina contract; then your visum is whatever your length of marina contract is.

 

[Metabarca]

Croatia: between 4500 and 5400 euros annually for a 14m boat (ACI marinas: see link via my page below). Italy will be cheaper: specifically at Monfalcone (as several 'butters can attest). No problem for supplies (chandlery and food), nearby airport to Stansted, fours hours' sail from Croatia. Secure marinas (theft is not a problem here in any field). The problem re crew changes in Croatia will still apply, however, as that's where you would be cruising. See my site for link for the rules in b/w.

 

[jimbaerselman]

[ QUOTE ]
Personal visum requirement is indeed 90 days, unless you have a marina contract; then your visum is whatever your length of marina contract is.

[/ QUOTE ] Didn't know that. how's it policed? Do they replace the three month visa (3 months, not 90 days, to correct my post!) with a new stamp when you take out the marina contract?

Whatever, your visa is always going to be whatever is stamped in your passport!

 

[LadyJessie]

[ QUOTE ]
Do they replace the three month visa (3 months, not 90 days, to correct my post!) with a new stamp when you take out the marina contract?

[/ QUOTE ]Yes, that is exactly what they do. When you have your marina contract finalised, you take it to the passport police together with your passport and they will enter a visum with a new validity period.