Over wintering in the Balearics

[mark1882]

Hi Everyone

Having completed most of the boat upgrades, we have now turned our attention to working on the passage plan.

We plan to leave the UK (Chichester) on or around the 15 May and sailing until the end of October when we will return to the UK for a few months.

From our initial planning it looks like we will may well in the Balearics from early September and plan to explore the islands until we return to the UK at the end of October. We will therefore be looking for somewhere to over winter. I have heard some financial horror stories about marina fees in the Balearics so any advice as to where might be the best place to over winter would be appreciated, or if we cant get a reasonable price we would consider returning to the Spanish mainland to over winter so any advice on places to over winter say between Alicante and Valencia or for that matter any other suggestions would be welcomed.

Many thanks

Mark

 

[santelmo]

We spent our first winter in the med at Santa Ponsa in the SE of Majorca. There is a bay there where you can anchor while you dinghy into the marina to enquire. The permanent berth holders often get lifted for the winter and then rent out their berth. Don't let them put you near the entrance as it is affected by swell. Palma is expensive. We also stayed for a while at Addaya on Menorca They had a couple of fore and aft layed moorings that were cheap.

 

[TonyMS]

If you want to leave the boat ashore, your best best is probably San Carles de la Rapita on the mainland - only 100 miles from Mallorca or Ibiza, reasonably priced and very professional. But staying afloat, Addaia would be lovely, if a bit quiet. Also, I've met people who winter afloat eceonomically in the public harbour in Pollensa, which might be a bit livelier in the winter.

Tony MS

 

[Tranona]

Suggest San Carles on mainland for over winter. English run, plenty of space and day sail from Majorca.

 

[Mistroma]

Pity if you are short of time and can't spend a season dawdling around the Rias. Plenty of anchorages, marina prices lower than further South and very enjoyable. However, not a great place to spend winter as liveaboard due to amount of wet stuff falling from the sky.

We spent 1.5 seasons cruising between Porto & Coruna and it was very relaxing (& cheap). We went further South last year and spent 5 weeks at Alcoutim, so not exactly rushing.

You could consider Almerimar or Aguadulce if you don't get as far as the Balearics.

 

[Gallant Spirit]

You can actually get some great short term winter deals in the Ibiza Marinas, but you have to ask well in advance

 

[Mistroma]

You can actually get some great short term winter deals in the Ibiza Marinas, but you have to ask well in advance

How good a deal, could you give any indication of amount. We are heading in that direction. Over the past 3 winters we have paid about 1,500 - 1,600 Euro for 6 months ashore in a 13m boat (including some free time afloat, water, electricity, lift in/out and wash).

I know that prices go up as we progress into the med. and I've seen some silly prices. I wondered what you meant by great deals.

 

[Gallant Spirit]

Hi We were going to stay there just over 2 years ago as we were there in apr -june the quote for the winter months at Botafoch was less than 400/month for 15m I was very suprised..... the other marinas were much more expensive in Ibiza town, but I also had a similar deal early in the season at San antoni for similar but I had to haggle as they wanted only long term deals, pointed out to them they were very empty on the new pontoons and they gave me a good monthly deal. ended up heading to Gib but had a good stop in Almeriamar due to a storm and they had excellent deals , also a good marina and yard. oh all afloat.

Best Hard in Ibiza was Santa Eulaia, there was a English guy called Wayne who is in charge there now I believe who was very helpful.

 

[Monique]

http://www.turismodecastellon.com/611260_en/Puerto-Deportivo-de-Burriana/

I live in Santa Ponsa and suffered quite some damages during an October gale due to swell and surge. I was told yesterday that the above new marina on the mainland is inexpensive and they will rent a yearly berth for a Dufour 36 @ €1700/yr. You can also buy a berth for a very low (comparably) price. Airports, trains etc all nearby.

Give the Burrianova Marina a ring...

 

[jimbaerselman]

Mark,

Cor! That's a rush! I spent three years tootling around Brittany, Biscay, Rias and Portugal before finally entering the Med! You may find my web site (www.jimbsail.info) useful for creating your passage plan.

Quite a few Cruising Association members have used Puerto Addaya, on Minorca, for winter layup. See www.puertoaddaya.com/elpuerto_en.html

 

[Trident]

Look at Yacht port Cartagena too - the best weather in the med over winter (warm and sunny almost all the time and we've had 6 days with rain since October), great staff, very sheltered, good rates, good facilities and a great town behind it - just 50 yards away - a real Spanish town not Britain on Sea but with every shop and facility you could want, mostly English speaking staff in shops and a really good live aboard community over winter if you decide to stay some of the time - we had about 50 people this year - Aussies, Belgians,Danish, Swedes, Norwegians, Dutch, Brits and Americans - a really good mix of people in a really good town

 

[Sea Devil]

Try these people - really nice and of course Mahon is the best and safest in all the Mediterranean according to Admiral Lord Nelson:

http://www.marinamenorca.com/uk_amarres_amarres.htm

I love the place and find it in a different league from the rest of the Balearic island resorts. There are some liveaboards in the marina and the town has everything.

Michael