Roaming the med

[vivfox]

My wife and I would love to be liveaboards but we can't afford to give up work!. The children are going onto further education and we fancy having a yacht to keep in the med and spend several weeks during the summer cruising, probably going from port to prot, leaving the yacht at a suitable marina for a few weeks (while we go back to work and earn!)and returning to repeat the process. The kids could come and use the boat as they wish and may be we could charter it between times. Hopefully flights will remain cheap through the likes of Easijet. Any advice please? Presumably others are doing similar things. How practical a proposition? Costs? Advice on type of yacht etc.

Viv

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[mpprh]

Hi

I'd buy a copy of Bloc Marine.
Gives info on mooring costs around the West Med + much more advice ...................... costs about Euro 23.
The website (will be ready one day !) is here : http://www.blocmarine.com
Info about Languedoc is here : http://tlp.netfirms.com

Peter


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[Sybarite]

As far as chartering in France is concerned the following are general rules :

The boat should be new = less than 3 years old.
To have it handled by a French agent :-
The boat should be French registered so that it can be safety checked by the "Affaires Maritimes". You would need to comply with French safety regulations in terms of equipment on board.
You would probably have to abandon the idea of using it over the summer months.
If you do it on your own in France you have to consider tax consequences and obtain a "passeport" for the boat if it is foreign registered.
While the rent will be useful it will normally only contribute towards running costs but will cover little if any of capital cost.

It's not impossible but it is a hassle.

John



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[paulrossall]

My pal took his boat down the French canals and now has a berth at Marbella. He has been there 3 years now and is amazed at how often the wind is blowing a gale and he cannot go out. Otherwise there is no wind and he is motoring. Don`t think youi can just turn up and use the boat..it is not like England. Unless your kids are very experienced they will not be able to use the boat unless conditions are perfect.IMHO. Paul
PS my pal is very very expirienced and will sail when most boats have gone home.

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[poter]

Apologies in advance for this......

I read your post & thought 'another dreamer' but then on second time round, maybe some advice ...or at least some reality.... "The Children" .... I assume you mean them wonderful monsters who are now teenagers & have cost you somewhere in the region of £1/2 a mill??? They are going to uni. leave them alone they will have a great time on their own & don't want holidays with mum & dad.

Boats.... you have not posted any info on your home page?
Ok I assume you are not a raw beginner, why not just go & buy a yacht here, get another bit on the mortgage and put it in the water & sail every weekend.
However if you and swmbo are really into swanning around the med a couple of times a year, go charter. Same for the Kids.

But If you are really interested in live aboard, buy "Sell up & sail" by Bill & Laurel Cooper & then go for it, however I would warn you this book is dangerous & should really come with a government health warning.

Its out there somewhere!

have fun and welcome to the forum

poter.


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[hrsailor]

Hi
We are are doing just what you suggest. But it has been quite difficult to fimd suitable marina's to leave the boat for weeks especially in the summer. Sometimes have to store the boat out f the water! We do not charter the boat out, but have taken friends and family for one or two weeks. the cheap flights make it possible. Agree with the view that the weather is not always what you would like ie too windy or not enough. We have "done" the south coast of France and now in Italymoving east slowly. E mail me for more info if you wish.
Brian

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[dina]

The Bloc Marine book sounds really useful. Any ideas where to get it fron in the UK? Tried there web site but as you say it is under construction! We are heading back to Portugal next year, then into the med so any info on good and cheap places to leave the boat would be appreciated.

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[tcm]

I know several doing this. each sumer they turn up about april/may, and they leave sometime in october. They bimble around and stay at anchor for days on end - lots of suitable places.

You need to buy a long lease in a cheap marina (cogolin, for example) and this is you winter base - otherwise you are always liable to be chucked out - there's no waintg in line as in the UK. Factor in this cost when buying a boat. Your boat should be brit flagged - can't be french flagged unlessowned by french person or individual. Your boat should be white (reflects the sun) and roomy (best a deck saloon thing rather than racier boat with steep steps down. You need good canopy - protection from the sun. A generator and icemaker of some sort dramatically improves life but praps not feasible under 37ish feet. Water is warm enough to jump in, so worry not about shower etc facilties.

Look at triangle berth brokers for an idea of the cost of long-term berths. wildish guessing £100k will buy a second hand boat with generator and a berth. Less than this, forget the generator. In the summer, marina prices are fabulous but anchor out free as much as poss - much cooler and more fun - the wind dies after 7pm usually - and of course the harbour will rent out your berth too - mates reckon they get towards £1,000 a year like this. Short lunch stops are usually free in the med - even in st tropez.

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[Cornishman]

New Book

Claire James' book Sailing for the Mediterranean was published earlier this year by Adlard Coles and contains much useful info of the sort you are looking for. She and her husband Jimmy spend much of each season down there.

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[Twister_Ken]

Re: Roaming the med and making money

Once tied up a Sunsail yacht in a Greek harbour (Sirota?) next to an elderly couple on an elderly Westerley. They looked in better condition than the boat! They had bought the boat in Greece a good few years before, and left it there full time. They go out to it in the Spring and come back in the Autumn, and let their UK house while they are away, apparently making a profit on the deal.

If you're ever out that way you might meet them. They'll introduce themselves because they are deserate to trade paperbacks.

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