Panic - need berth in Cadiz area!

[SouthPark]

I'm sailing from Almerimar through the straits to the Cadiz area in a week's time. I intend to leave the boat at the end point for six months or so. I've just found out that my chosen marina (Chipiona) has no berths. OK - think I - there are lots of other marinas around there - I'll try some of the others. But *none* of them appear to have long-term space. Puerto Sherry is pretty much my last hope and they won't anser their phone or email. I'm not sure how anyone here would be able to help so I'm not sure why I'm posting this, but a problem shared is a problem halved, or so they say.

Southy

 

[jerryat]

Hi Southpark,

You could try Puerto de Santa Maria and the 'back' of the Baie de Cadiz. We've been there a couple or three times 'cos it's a fab town in our view. The pontoons are a wee bit exposed to the wash from passing fishing boats if you're on the outside of the pontoons lining the river, but better if you can get a berth on an inner side. The wash is not in any way serious, but it's better 'inside'.

Inside berths might be a little difficult as the whole lot is run/owned by the Yacht club (great!) so may be full during the season I suspect.

You could also try the Cadiz marina too. It's a fair walk from the town, but well worth considering. Incidentally, and as has been mentioned on the forum many times, trying to book places via email/phone/fax is almost always unsuccessful in Spain/Portugal. It is FAR better to arrive and then make your request.

We have NEVER failed to get a berth/over-wintering slot doing it this way.

IMHO you could do worse than call into Chipiona (if that's your preference) and see what they say when you're actually there with a boat. Most marinas are now very wary about taking advance bookings now, as so many (a lot I'm afraid, Brits) do so then don't turn up. It's a rod the cruising fraternity have made for their own backs.

Hope this helps

Jerry

 

[charles_reed]

Alternatives

Puerto des Americas in Cadiz*.

Puerto Sherry/ Puerto Santa Maria

Rota (Puerto Astaroth)

Up the Guadalquivir to Puerto Gelves in Seville

Sanlucar de barrameda

Bonanza

Mazagon*

el Rompido (Wolfgang Michalsky's yard)

* Junta des Puertos de Andalucia as is Chipiona.

At that time of year you'll find most places refusing to take pre-booking.
Your best bets are:-

Gelves
Mazagon

If you want more info PM me - I once spent an enforced month there with 5 days in the intensive unit at Virgen de carmen hospital in Sanlucar.

 

[charles_reed]

Puerto de santa maria

is probably the most expensive marina in the area and because it's a (very high-class) social-sailing club will not tie-up berths for long-term transits.

I'd agree that the most successful ploy is to turn up, don't try to book, the Spanish don't work that way.

 

[30boat]

If you're up to sail a few more miles to the northwest there's a very nice yard in Faro where you can leave the boat on the hard for the winter. It's no more than day's sail away from Cadiz,given the right sort of wind.On the other hand a friend of mine just left his boat ashore in Rota for a month with aparently no problems.
You could also try Isla Canela,I think they still have available berths.

 

[jerryat]

Re: Puerto de santa maria

Hi Charles,

Santa Maria must have changed dramatically in the last three years then! When we were last there we paid just over £5.00 (equivalent) per night for our 10m boat. That was in July too!

On the previous occasions in earlier years, the rate was about the same - bit of a joke with us in fact.

Gelves is incredibly cheap, but really an awful concrete jungle IOHO. They virtually begged us to over-winter there one year as they had loads of places. However, sitting in the cockpit on the first evening, a couple of dead rats floated by, and that was it! SWMBO wouldn't stay. So yes, almost bound to be a space there and it is at least very well protected and extremely handy to Seville - 50p bus ride as I recall.

We considered taking out a mortgage to stay in Puerto Sherry, but didn't like the place anyway, although friends of ours did leave their boat there for a month or two while nipping back to the UK.

I think I'd go for Americas in Cadiz, Santa Maria or Chipiona if I was in Southpark's place. They're all pretty handy to each other, so it would be worth nipping into each and sussing 'em out.

Cheers Jerry