Spanish marina recommendations please

103denby

103denby

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Hi all
Not been on here for a good while but your expert advise is required again.

Looking to move the boat (Falcon 23SPC) from cold and snowed in Preston to a warmer home, needs to be reasonably priced, accessable from Manchester airport and warmer than Preston, but hey that cant be hard.

Going to tow her to said new marina mid Feb, a fair old job but I'm sure will be worth it.

Have been looking at various ones but would like your advice, hints and tips

Thanks
Ian
 
103denby said:
Hi all
Not been on here for a good while but your expert advise is required again.

Looking to move the boat (Falcon 23SPC) from cold and snowed in Preston to a warmer home, needs to be reasonably priced, accessable from Manchester airport and warmer than Preston, but hey that cant be hard.

Going to tow her to said new marina mid Feb, a fair old job but I'm sure will be worth it.

Have been looking at various ones but would like your advice, hints and tips

Thanks
Ian
Click to expand...

Look at Sant Carles http://www.mdlmarinas.co.uk/mdl-santcarles-marina/. It's recently opened and run by UK company, MDL. I think MDL can arrange your boat transport there too. It's quite a lot cheaper than more established marinas in Spain. Also there are a few forumites there so you'll be welcomed straightaway. It's about 100miles from international airports at either Barcelona or Valencia which is a bit of a schlap but Ryanair fly to Reus which is much closer although I don't know whether they fly from an airport near Manchester
 
When I looked about 3 yrs ago, the cheaper places were Benalmadena and Denia, and I think Torrevieja. Sant Carles also a good option. For a 23 footer there may also be some small ports with mostly Spannish boats, but most people understandably prefer to go somewhere that has a few other Brits
 
103denby said:
sant Carles sounds perfect but hardly any flights from Manchester, dont know why, not rulled out but not 1st choice as yet
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Yes but you'll find that the closer a Med marina is to an international airport with a choice of all year round flights, the more expensive it will be. Also the better the cruising area and the more benign the climate, the more expensive marinas will be too. You're probably better off to start with destinations that you can get to from Manchester and restrict your search to those areas
 
Sant Carles

Several of us on this forum are based there.
Got to be the best value.
New marina
Fab boatyard - you can do your own work - be aware that most yards insist on contractors only.
Swimming pool
Sheltered lagoon just outside the marina
Pontoon UK style berthing
100 milse from the islands
100 miles to Valencia and 100 to Barcelona

Flights from most UK airports during the summer months
As Deleted User says - Barcelona is reachable from most UK airports
Reus is normally a cheaper option and only 40 mins from the marina
Ryanair fligh into Reus - there always seems to be love/hate feelings for Ryanair.
We actually like them - great value and excellent prompt service.
For example, I'm planning going down next week.
I've already booked my return flight back to Bristol from Reus at 5 euros inc everything.
Still not sure when we are goin out - either Sat or Tuesday with Ryanair to Reus or Sun/Mon with Easyjet to Barcelona.
Car hire is cheap at this time of the year and one way car rental from Barcelona to Reus is possible for 20 euros more so the transfers are sorted.

I believe that the marina have bought a mini bus this year and will be offering transfers - worth asking them.

Here are a couple of links to posts that I put on this forum earlier this year - sort of updates as the marina was progressing - all finished now.

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=211738&highlight=sant+carles

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=196495&highlight=sant+carles

And here's a few links to a late cruise that we did in October this year
Sorry rather a lot of blog

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219116

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219216

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219244

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219324


And if that isn't enough on Sant Carles, you could always sign up for free to our own bertholders Sant Carles Marina forum on www.scmchat.com

If you want to know any more just ask on these forums or send me a PM.

Mike
 
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FWIW
Funny as on a frosty / snowy day about two years ago I shared your desire - no regrets.
There's lots of contributors here who are at St Carles so not suprised to see it recommended although have read mixed reports (on here as well).

At your size (assume 23 ish) berthing (and generally the cost) throughout mainland or any of islands really shouild be no problem. I'd certainly be prepared to pay a bit more for a better spot.
I'd be very keen on suitability of cruisin area and your desires regarding day trips / anchoring options / nearest other ports for an overnight etc. Not sure on your preferred type of boating. I'd also fly out first and check the marinas / towns / local knowledge / forum or web searches for issues etc.
Manchester / NW area should pose no real issues as regards flights & cost, but web search will solve that.
No grudge on RyanAir or others but they can & do drop destinations (like Reus) at a breath.
We chose Mallorca for access year round with multiple carriers / departure airports, lots of marinas / bays / calas / day out & overnight options. Once your boats arrived is going to be hassle to move her again so I'd try to get it right first time.
Try a google earth overview of the cruisin area - the spanish med coast is generally not really that exciting. I know speaking to owners and big yacht skippers (and having cruised on mainland Spain, south middle and far north ) that they consider the mainland generally to be 'now shall we go left or right out of the marina into the swell today as we run to the next marina for shelter'. The med is not as calm as thought so shelter options are important.
Research first then enjoy !
 
That's a very good point Mont, and the rest of us had completely missed it. In a 23' boat it's no good being in an area that gets onshore sea breezes every afternoon, and/or is a long way from neighbouring ports and anchorages. To get good use out of a small boat you need to be somewhere with lots of places to go close at hand. On that basis most of the Spannish mainland coast is not ideal. Mont is also right that berths at that size are more available and cheaper wherever you go, and will be a much lower percentage of overall costs when you factor in travel and subsistence costs, which don't vary with the size of boat. Palma is a good suggestion, and have you considered France, somewhere like St Laurent du Var, which is spitting distance from Nice airport, has light winds throughout the summer, and is surrounded by anchorages and ports to visit.
 
Have a look at Empuriabrava. There are several of us there and it's an hours drive from Girona and Perpignan. Check googleearth for fabulous cruising area starting 10mins outside the marina. Don't be put off by the size because it's ona canal system so appears smaller. The size means great services and supermarkets (even a Lidl). The negatives are frequent strong winds and very busy Augusts. I looked at San Carles but was put off by the mosquitos. (but envied the facilities!)
 
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For a 23 footer, I'd consider something around Mar Menor ... very sheltered, and some islands to explore... Quick hop out past La Manga and to Stbd you'll head for Cartagena.

Flights to San Havier (Murcia Airport)... Los Alcazares 15 min away ... (I should know, we have a town house down there). Also Alicante within a couple of hours drive..
 
Thanks guys for all your sugestions, looks like i'm going to be busy this weekend deciding which one to go for.

Really fancy San Carles but the flights and mozzies are a wee problem

Cheers
Ian
 
103denby said:
Thanks guys for all your sugestions, looks like i'm going to be busy this weekend deciding which one to go for.

Really fancy San Carles but the flights and mozzies are a wee problem

Cheers
Ian
Click to expand...

A boat your size and to get the most out of it, cruising wise, places to go see, ease of air access, I would be taking it to Mallorca.
Sant Carles is fine but very limited cruising for a boat your size, we are talking marina hopping.
 
Suppose it depends on how long and what time of year you're intending to be aboard.
On the mainland, we found that the Almeria area and down towards Gib can be very windy, while Barcelona and further East can be coldish in winter. that leaves the Alicante/Mar Menor area(the latter can be full of jellyfish and sometimes a bit smelly, being an inland sea in an inland sea) That leaves alicante....15mins airport,15€ for taxi, good marina, great town, but as mentioned above not the cheapest. The islands can be Baltic in winter, especially in the north.
Anywhere that boasts of flamingos and saltpans etc. will be a haven for mossies.
At 23feet you stand a reasonable chance of getting a choice of berths. The 12metre ones are like rockinghorse droppings.
Enjoy!
 
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