Portugal / S.Spain - Places to leave boat in Aug and overwinter

[Alyssa]

We are planning to spend our summer months cruising down to/in the Med .

In 2007 we plan to head down to La Corunna at the end of May (via Brest/Cameret? inorder too pick up crew). Then to explore the Spanish rias, Portugal and Southern Spain.

Our “destination” for the end of the summer is still vague at this time… but probably no further than Almerimar.

Looking for advice, recommendations (positive or negative) on suitable places to leave the boat….

1) In Southern Portugal/ Atlantic Spain - For 3-4 weeks in August when we return to the UK - In or out of the water.

2) Portugal / Southern Spain (Atlantic or Med) over winter. In or out of the water. Again, we will be back in the UK.

Usual criteria apply…..availability, cost, security, nearness to airports etc, etc.

I hear that it is virtually impossible to pre-book these at the start of the season and you just “turn up” at the appropriate time. Is that essentially correct??

Thanks

 

[BobnLesley]

A couple of years ago we laid-up in the Junta de Andalucia Marina at Isla Cristina (just east of the Spain/Portugal Border) for the winter. It was a very good/clean yard no security problems and was exceptionally cheap - I'd certainly use it again. The downside was that you couldn't book your spot more than 3 days in advance, which is OK if you plan to haul-out in mid September but it may well be full if you wait until October. There are a whole chain of Junta de Andalucia marinas stretching along that south coast; all reasonably priced afloat or ashore (you can pre-book a berth afloat well in advance) though not all have haul-out facilities. If you're staying afloat, my preference would be at Ayamonte; Isla C would be OK for a few weeks in summer, but I wouldn't leave a boat to over-winter there afloat. Junta de A have a web site which details facilities, charges, etc.

 

[freedom44]

In August 2005 we left our boat out of the water at the yard in Faro. We put her back in for sept and then left her ashore there for the winter.
Could not recommend more highly. Cheap flights, good security, cheap and efficient owner "Bruce" who speaks good english tel 00351919317171.
Downside; rather basic abultion block and access has to be timed at high water; thats the yard not the abultion block!
Faro is a nice place also

 

[david36]

For what it is worth and assuming a "normal" size boat, my opinions on your two questions are as follows:
"3 or 4 weeks in August" I would go for somewhere that will take an advance booking as most places get very hectic in this area. Most of the Algarve marinas will do so if you give them a 25% deposit at the time of booking. Some want 50%. However, the booking is solid and will be honoured by them. My understanding is that the Spanish Junta de Andalucia marinas do not do advance bookings of this type. I would suggest Albufeira marina or the Sopromar yard in Lagos for ashore. I suggest an early fax to either with an email address for a reply works best.
For "over winter" then good security and a guardianage service to run diesel, top up batteries etc etc becomes more of a priority. Puerto Sherry and Albufeira are usually cheap over winter and have some security.I am not certain about guardianage but would be surprised if it was not possible to sort something when you get there. However, for my money I would go for a six month contract at Lagos. By no means the cheapest but good security, readily available guardianage services at reasonable prices, very sheltered marina with nice staff and one hour from Faro airport or two hours by train and taxi for about Euros16. If you want more info PM me.
Good luck

 

[Ocean Hound]

Did the same passage a couple of years ago, some interesting places on NW coast of Spain from Gijon onward. Overwintered in Sada, near Corunna - very good yard. Also in Villagarcia - very helpful. Spent a couple of lazy summers just cruising those rias down to Portugal. In Portimao at the moment which is the least expensive in that area apart from Faro. Price jumps in the summertime. PM me if you want to talk.

 

[Richard10002]

I cant speak too highly of lagos for the winter.... 13.1m x 4.1m Sept 16th -June 15th £2700, (about £10 per night), in the marina. We havent hauled out, and dont intend to.... boat very safe and secure in the marina. Plenty going on over the winter, both with the liveaboards in the marina, (book and dvd swaps, organised walks and meals, Navigators Club), and in the town, (5 minutes walk).

We turned up on 29 August and booked for winter/spring about 13th September... there didnt seem to be any danger of them not having a space.... lots of boats have come and gone since we arrived.

Great wifi, and Sopromar boatyard seems to be fairly well recommended, and I've seen people here say that it is well priced if you would rather be out of the water.

We called in at Portimao to check it out as it is slightly cheaper, and were told that it is dead as a dodo in winter, and miles from town... Ocean Hound will know better.

rates become extortionate after 15th June.... I think it would have been an extra £3,000 or so to book for 12 months.

As for 4 weeks in August - we called at bayona, (nice place, but expensive and hard to get to by plane.... lexioes, a bit of a dump, but a bit cheaper. seemed secure, not bad once you get out of the marina, and I understand that Porto is a historic place. porto Airport is nearby, but dont knwo about cheap flights.... Cascais, very nice, but costs a fortune! I think it's where the rich people have their holiday homes.

i suppose wherever you go in August wont be cheap.....

 

[samwise]

Don't hurry down to the Med. July/August will be hot and crowded. The Atlantic coast of Spain and Portugal is worth dawdling down. Gijon is a good place to recover from Biscay but I hope you will have savoured the charms of Southern Brittany before moving on. A Coruna is worth a stop and don't forget places like Santiago do Compostela ( easy and cheap train ride from Villagarcia) Porto, Lisbon, Sintra. Cascais is good but expensive, although you can anchor outside. , there is so much to see it is worth taking your time. We've just done that trip and finished up in Lagos on the Algarve. Great place to overwinter. Take a look at our blog www.kalessin-of-orwell.blogspot.com or PM me if you want to know more.

 

[Swagman]

Anywhere you choose in August will be expensive - all marinas wish to rent spots to visitors on short term (high) day rates.
Best bet would be to have it slipped somewhere.
If you do choose Atlantic Spain there are cheap ways to fly out / back.
Ryanair into Santiago, or even two hop using Iberia to Bacelona and Easyjet from there. Last time we did it was 38 euros for Iberian leg - bargain for the distance.
We also stayed Lagos of one winter. Great marina, we liked the town, and professional yard with Sopromar although close to UK prices for work. No knowledge of hardstanding + lift costs - but they speak good English so call them.
Portimao is cheaper - but as stated - remote from the action.
Good luck
JOHN

 

[jimbaerselman]

Loads of good information above. For summaries of the cruising areas you'll be passing (including 'must sees'), and some detail on Spain, have a look at my website, below. This should answer quite a few of your questions, and also gives links to David Lumby's excellent site on Portuguese harbours.

If you visit Porto then consider Povoa de Varzim as an alternative access port from oily Leixoes. But one or the other is a must - and there are good flight connections to UK.

For Lisboa (recommended) Cascais is very expensive. It's much easier to roll back to the yacht if its moored in Doca de Alcantara, good security - and much cheaper.

Several yachts have wintered afloat in Seville - a grand city, too hot to enjoy in high summer.

 

[Abigail]

Hi - lots of good info above but a few additionals:

i) you can only turn up and hope on the Atlantic Andalucian coast unless you get lucky in the Junta's byzantine booking system and catch a rare long term booking. Otherwise it's month to month which is not the cheapest but works. In particular, you cannot book easily if you are in the marina.
ii) we are in Rota, which has space (a little) afloat and some ashore.
iii) The Junta runs the marinas through a company called eppa. All eppa marinas charge the same amount and charge you for the berth you are in. So if all they have is a 15m berth that's what you pay for even if your boat is only half that.
iv) I would really echo the bit about not rushing south. We did a bit (for personal reasons) but would happily have stayed north. Also, if you are looking for an August berth, Doca de Alcantara in Lisbon is way cheaper than Cascais as they go to winter rates really early. (I don't know why, given it was hot as hell when we were there! And it's much more central.

Have a great time!

 

[Richard10002]

[ QUOTE ]
The Junta runs the marinas through a company called eppa.

[/ QUOTE ]

What do you mean by The Junta?

sounds like a facist dictator or something?

 

[Abigail]

No - the regional government body (directly elected so the nearest equivalents in the UK are the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and London Assembly) is called the Junta.

In Spain there are directly elected regional governments (JUntas) in each region with various differing ranges of powers, like the three in the UK (4 once the Northern Irish Assembly is back in place), unlike Germany where they all have much the same powers.

A bit nerdy I know.

 

[Alyssa]

Thanks to you all for some great inputs. We are still trying to decide how quickly/slowly we intend to sail south!!!!