Ariadne
Active member
"From the OCC Port Officer in Rosas Spain:
finally we're at a marina in Tenerife with Wi-Fi. I don't know if
you're aware of this, but there seems to be some new legislation in
place in Spanish waters...
We anchored without problems in Lanzarote and Fuertaventura for
several days. On arrival to Tenerife however, we were contacted by
Tenerife traffic control by name, who clearly were monitoring our AIS
signal. and after telling them of our intention to anchor in a popular
spot North of Santa Cruz, we were told that this was prohibited for
non-Spanish vessels and that we had to stay at a marina or a
commercial harbour. They said that anchoring for more than several
hours was allowed only for Spanish vessels anywhere in the Canaries.
It sounded ridiculous and we didn't believe it. Then, after moving
further south to a very pleasant and popular anchorage together with a
French registered vessel, both our boat and the French one's documents
were checked by a patrol boat of the Guardia Civil, after which we
were promptly asked to leave and were told we could stay only in a
marina, a commercial harbor, or an "approved anchorage for foreign
yachts" further south, whatever that means - which we could use after
contacting them. All this is quite strange since there was nothing of
the sort in mainland Spain, nor on Lanzarote or Fuertaventura, where
while at anchor we were regularly passed by Guardia Civil patrol
boats, who didn't take any interest in us whatsoever. To further
complicate the situation we were told that this was the situation on
all Canary islands, as well as in Spain... Only registered vessels are
presently allowed to anchor overnight."
I was talking with the Capitania Maritima de Santa Cruz de Tenerife and they say it is correct, no Spanish flag boats can anchor anywhere on the coast.
The thought is that they apply the rule as it is not applied in other parts of spain. Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are not from Santa Cruz Capitania, are from Las Palmas, and nobody is saying anything there.
Probably when the Captain of Santa Cruz leaves his position they will no longer apply this rule there.
Any way if anybody wants to anchor in any spot of Santa Cruz, La Gomera, La Palma & Hierro, they have to ask for permission at the Capitania of Santa Cruz one or two days before, (preferable a week) and then they won’t have any problem to go.
We're saddened but not too surprised...we've returned early from our planned cruise, firstly we've been unlucky with our winds and weather.
But more to the point, we went to Mallorca to survey places for next years parties and in Puerto Colum, Mallorca's only safe all weather anchorage, we found three quarters of the anchoring area covered with mooring buoys at 45/55 euros a night and offering NO facilities. Most of the buoys were empty and everyone anchoring in one tight corner. An official told us that next year the whole anchorage would be moorings only, so no anchoring at all and that the Balearics Govt were taking over control of the situation. On buying the latest pilot, we see that these moorings are being laid at all the Island anchorages.
The pleasant atmosphere of the Balearics is being tarnished and we will not return there."
Anybody want get some up to date info' on this situation?
finally we're at a marina in Tenerife with Wi-Fi. I don't know if
you're aware of this, but there seems to be some new legislation in
place in Spanish waters...
We anchored without problems in Lanzarote and Fuertaventura for
several days. On arrival to Tenerife however, we were contacted by
Tenerife traffic control by name, who clearly were monitoring our AIS
signal. and after telling them of our intention to anchor in a popular
spot North of Santa Cruz, we were told that this was prohibited for
non-Spanish vessels and that we had to stay at a marina or a
commercial harbour. They said that anchoring for more than several
hours was allowed only for Spanish vessels anywhere in the Canaries.
It sounded ridiculous and we didn't believe it. Then, after moving
further south to a very pleasant and popular anchorage together with a
French registered vessel, both our boat and the French one's documents
were checked by a patrol boat of the Guardia Civil, after which we
were promptly asked to leave and were told we could stay only in a
marina, a commercial harbor, or an "approved anchorage for foreign
yachts" further south, whatever that means - which we could use after
contacting them. All this is quite strange since there was nothing of
the sort in mainland Spain, nor on Lanzarote or Fuertaventura, where
while at anchor we were regularly passed by Guardia Civil patrol
boats, who didn't take any interest in us whatsoever. To further
complicate the situation we were told that this was the situation on
all Canary islands, as well as in Spain... Only registered vessels are
presently allowed to anchor overnight."
I was talking with the Capitania Maritima de Santa Cruz de Tenerife and they say it is correct, no Spanish flag boats can anchor anywhere on the coast.
The thought is that they apply the rule as it is not applied in other parts of spain. Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are not from Santa Cruz Capitania, are from Las Palmas, and nobody is saying anything there.
Probably when the Captain of Santa Cruz leaves his position they will no longer apply this rule there.
Any way if anybody wants to anchor in any spot of Santa Cruz, La Gomera, La Palma & Hierro, they have to ask for permission at the Capitania of Santa Cruz one or two days before, (preferable a week) and then they won’t have any problem to go.
We're saddened but not too surprised...we've returned early from our planned cruise, firstly we've been unlucky with our winds and weather.
But more to the point, we went to Mallorca to survey places for next years parties and in Puerto Colum, Mallorca's only safe all weather anchorage, we found three quarters of the anchoring area covered with mooring buoys at 45/55 euros a night and offering NO facilities. Most of the buoys were empty and everyone anchoring in one tight corner. An official told us that next year the whole anchorage would be moorings only, so no anchoring at all and that the Balearics Govt were taking over control of the situation. On buying the latest pilot, we see that these moorings are being laid at all the Island anchorages.
The pleasant atmosphere of the Balearics is being tarnished and we will not return there."
Anybody want get some up to date info' on this situation?
