St Carles Visit Next Year

[Bigplumbs]

I have read so much on here about St Carles I thought I would investigate towing my 17 foot bow rider from the UK to the MDL marina there next year for a 10 day stay. I have emailed the marina to get prices etc.

I have my ICC and the boat is a 17 foot Fletcher Bow rider with a 115 hp Merc 2 stroke on the back.

I was wondering if those in St Carless feel that the area has sufficient to discover and enjoy in such a boat and what the sea conditions generally are.

We (Me and her indoors) are flexible about the time of year we would come but was thinking of June.

Any advice welcome

Here is the boat

Dennis

 

[vas]

D,

I think it's worth it if not for anything else, just to have some decent pics with water colour matching the strips on the fletcher and not the Merc at the back

Obviously staying in a hotel, is there one at the marina?

cheers

V.

 

[Bigplumbs]

D,

I think it's worth it if not for anything else, just to have some decent pics with water colour matching the strips on the fletcher and not the Merc at the back

Obviously staying in a hotel, is there one at the marina?

cheers

V.

I know what you mean Vas. The water colour is one of the reasons why I love Skiathos so much. I would love to have a small boat there but towing it or buying and keeping it there seems so expensive. We come to skiathos for 2 weeks every year.

I could tow to St Carles at reasonable cost so thought this would be a good option

Dennis

 

[vas]

don't know what prices you were quoted in the isle, but I could ask the boatyard for the cost of storing a 17ft on it's trailer over the year here. Then you could come pick it up from Volos and in less than 2h you're in Skiathos.

V.

 

[Bigplumbs]

don't know what prices you were quoted in the isle, but I could ask the boatyard for the cost of storing a 17ft on it's trailer over the year here. Then you could come pick it up from Volos and in less than 2h you're in Skiathos.

V.

Vas

I would be very pleased if you could ask that question. You could PM me the answer

Thanks

Dennis

 

[Elessar]

I have read so much on here about St Carles I thought I would investigate towing my 17 foot bow rider from the UK to the MDL marina there next year for a 10 day stay. I have emailed the marina to get prices etc.

I have my ICC and the boat is a 17 foot Fletcher Bow rider with a 115 hp Merc 2 stroke on the back.

I was wondering if those in St Carless feel that the area has sufficient to discover and enjoy in such a boat and what the sea conditions generally are.

We (Me and her indoors) are flexible about the time of year we would come but was thinking of June.

Any advice welcome

Here is the boat

Dennis

sea conditions sheltered in the lagoon. Typical med outside. I can spend a week in the lagoon and be happy with that but it depends what you want. In a small boat there aren't many options outside, especially as it invariably chops up in the afternoons.

Someone in the marina is bound to have a beds on board or similar scheme, so rent a cabin, you've got a pool and a bar, and a lagoon to explore in your own boat. If the weather is good you may even get further afield. That, to me, is a holiday.

 

[jrudge]

If you are towing that far I would imagine there are better cruising areas to head to that would give more variety in a small boat.

Also investigate hiring in say mallorca. I would imagine the fuel, tolls, extra ferry cost of trailer, hotel on the way down etc will mount up and hiring is quite possibly cheaper as well as a lot less hassle.

 

[Bigplumbs]

If you are towing that far I would imagine there are better cruising areas to head to that would give more variety in a small boat.

Also investigate hiring in say mallorca. I would imagine the fuel, tolls, extra ferry cost of trailer, hotel on the way down etc will mount up and hiring is quite possibly cheaper as well as a lot less hassle.

Fuel and tolls and crossing are a good way towards the cost of 2 air fares. Hiring is very expensive as I have looked before and it is nice to have your own boat there to use as a when you wish

But another option none the less

Dennis

 

[petem]

Dennis, I don't know much about sports boating but would echo Elessar's comments above. I know you like a bargain, but the berthing costs for a 17ft boat should be relatively small wherever you go so I think I would look at the best places in the mainland Med rather than the absolute cheapest.

Saying that, you could combine a week in Sant Carles with a week in the Mar Menor area (3-4 hours down the coast) which strikes me as being a sheltered area good for sports boating.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Dennis, I don't know much about sports boating but would echo Elessar's comments above. I know you like a bargain, but the berthing costs for a 17ft boat should be relatively small wherever you go so I think I would look at the best places in the mainland Med rather than the absolute cheapest.

Saying that, you could combine a week in Sant Carles with a week in the Mar Menor area (3-4 hours down the coast) which strikes me as being a sheltered area good for sports boating.

Thanks Pete

I have a price from MDL for berthing which is ok for 10 days at about 230 Euro. And it certainly looks a nice marina and area. I think your idea of the Mar-Menor (which we visited this year without a boat sounds a good one.

Other comments appreciated

Dennis

 

[Hurricane]

A few questions here.

I assume you will trailer the boat over and back as you need it.
If so, there is a slipway in our boatyard - make sure that the marina includes any costs for using it.

Blue clear water - I'm afraid that isn't the case here or, I believe, in the Mar Menor.
Our lagoon (7 miles x 2.5 miles) is a naturally formed enclosed seawater with one end open to the sea.
It was formed as part of the River Ebro's delta as the river runs into the Med.
The delta is about 25 miles square and all the rice for the paella is grown there in paddy fields.
Fresh water containing nutrients flows through the delta using man made channels to irrigate the paddy fields.
It is also a national park containing rare birds and flamingos etc.
Consequently the lagoon is very fertile with cloudy water.
That said, a few boats (your size) venture outside the lagoon into the clear Med water.
It is hot - you need shade from the sun - some take umbrellas and picnics to a small shallow bank and stay the day.

Other boating activities locally would include a lunch trip down the coast to Alcanar for the local "Menu del Dia" or onto one of the 3 restaurants on stilts that are located inside the lagoon.

Take your ICC but nobody would ever ask for it.
The marina will ask you for proof of insurance though.

Time of the year.
In June, the water is still cold (IMO too cold to swim).
It warms up around the first week in July.
Likewise with the pool temperature.
If you are looking for "off season", then Sept or Oct would be a better time - water still warm to swim.
It has been very hot this year during August.

Accommodation.
There are several hotels.
The Miami Mar is probably the best value - has its own swimming pool and the owner keeps his boat here in SCM.
Not expensive but nearer the top of the prices/quality but has an excellent in house restaurant - we use it as a restaurant all the year round.
A lower cost but good alternative is Hotel Augusti - self catering - you get a small kitchen, bathroom and bedroom - all within walking distance of the marina.
Lots of berth holders use the Augusti when their boats are in the boatyard out of the water.

Apart from joining in the social life here, you would probably run out of things to do in a small boat after about 10 days.

Have you looked at/signed into www.scmchat.com ??

 

[adey]

Don't do it!!
There's nothing in Sant Carles worth seeing and the water there is not turquoise, in fact it's terribly polluted and browner than your picture. The mozzies will eat you alive as well.
If you must tow the boat to Spain then the Mar Menor makes more sense. It least there's little villages that are easy reached on a 17' boat that actually have some charm.
Personally though, I'd rent. In fact I did that last year. We flew to Verona, taxi to Desenzano, Air B'n'B and rented a small boat on Lake Garda.
Fantastic scenery. Much easier than towing, much quicker than driving and if the boat has a problem they give you another one. Daily rental so if the weather's not perfect you don't pay to rent it that day. I'd do it again.

 

[petem]

There's nothing in Sant Carles worth seeing and the water there is not turquoise, in fact it's terribly polluted and browner than your picture. The mozzies will eat you alive as well.
If you must tow the boat to Spain then the Mar Menor makes more sense. It least there's little villages that are easy reached on a 17' boat that actually have some charm.

Oddly, I saw no mozzies on my 4 day trip last week.

Alcanar is a nice little village / port and is very easily reached by 17ft boat from Sant Carles as are a few other ports within a short cruise down the coast.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Well Adey doesn't pull any punches. Looked at Lake Garda and I have to say hire prices seem very reasonable

http://www.gardaboatrent.com/en/boats-with-license.html

 

[adey]

If you pay when you get there it'll probably be cheaper. I paid 180 Euros a day for a 21' bow rider with a 40hp outboard. That included the fuel. Only good for 20knots but was enough to be fun.

 

[Hurricane]

Don't do it!!
There's nothing in Sant Carles worth seeing and the water there is not turquoise, in fact it's terribly polluted and browner than your picture. The mozzies will eat you alive as well.
If you must tow the boat to Spain then the Mar Menor makes more sense. It least there's little villages that are easy reached on a 17' boat that actually have some charm.
Personally though, I'd rent. In fact I did that last year. We flew to Verona, taxi to Desenzano, Air B'n'B and rented a small boat on Lake Garda.
Fantastic scenery. Much easier than towing, much quicker than driving and if the boat has a problem they give you another one. Daily rental so if the weather's not perfect you don't pay to rent it that day. I'd do it again.

Very few mozzies this year.
30 years ago my parents owned a villa in Las Fuentes - we had loads of mozzies there - in comparison, this summer in SC there have been none.
And as for NOTHING IN SANT CARLES - last weekend saw a Food and Fashion event that drew thousands of people to the marina for evenings of music, food and stalls.
Every morning, there is Yoga, Pilates and Aquaraerobics in the pool - lots of Brits get together - hardly nothing.

 

[DavidJ]

If this is more your thing rent a villa or apartment in Empuriabrava. With your boat you can get under the bridges which gives you load of choice and out of season good value.
Cruising ground starts just 10 mins away with clear clear water with load of fish.

My cruising ground

 

[Bigplumbs]

Now that looks like the place for me

Dennis

 

[Andy Bav]

I have read so much on here about St Carles I thought I would investigate towing my 17 foot bow rider from the UK to the MDL marina there next year for a 10 day stay. I have emailed the marina to get prices etc.

I have my ICC and the boat is a 17 foot Fletcher Bow rider with a 115 hp Merc 2 stroke on the back.

I was wondering if those in St Carless feel that the area has sufficient to discover and enjoy in such a boat and what the sea conditions generally are.

We (Me and her indoors) are flexible about the time of year we would come but was thinking of June.

Any advice welcome

Here is the boat

Dennis

I was told that SCM is a marmite marina. For us it works, for others it doesn't, but we do keep our eyes out for a move, but struggle to find anything equivalent that matches what WE want. We stretch our legs beyond the lagoon every now and again, but it usually revolves around finding a decent anchorage - the lagoon is perfect for us - firing up the generator to either have a BBQ or keep the fridges running. Other days, a run down the coast to a marina with a decent restaurant for a menu del dia is perfect.... hmmm food and drink seems to be the common denominator

Irrespective of where you decide, you will likely find that the way you use your boat in the Med is different to how you use it in the UK. For example, I topped up our tanks 2 weeks ago and they took 480 litres - which I appreciate is a lot - but the last time I topped up was in September 2017. In the UK a run from Torquay to Salcombe and back would account for around half of that.

That all said we are now a couple on an "air conned" 42 footer, our bow-rider boating was with our 3 sons doing water sports in Torbay, so it really depends on what you want to do, as our experiences / expectations are possibly different to yours. The lagoon definitely isn't full of crystal clear waters, but its not perhaps as bad as others have said. What we found interesting was a trip north of the delta, and we literally crossed a line (at the mouth of the Ebro) where the water did change from a greeny blue to a deep blue. Marina / hotel hopping may be an option for you to see the differences? An almanac may also be £30 (?) well spent ?

Sea states close in are generally benign, but in 30+ degree heat a warm sea, cloudless skies and a cold fridge.... what more could you want !

A couple from the South West Sportsboat group on Facebook visited in 2016 towing their Bayliner 602 (?) from South Wales to SCM, and they stayed on it for 10 days, but with a bow rider you need a secure boat yard (if you do hop) and nice hotels. As a youngster, one of my mates used to tow a Fletcher to the South of France, religiously, every year as part of his annual holiday.. a boring tow I know... even more so with an RS Mexico

If you do decide to visit let me know and, if we are there, you are more than welcome to come and have a chat and a coffee / coke / beer / cava. If you want to do a land based recce we are out in mid September. I booked flights from Stansted last night for £35 each ...

As a working man, a trip to the Med - be it on the boat or in a hotel - is a holiday for me, but a boat means that I can do it c7 times a year, at minimal incremental costs..... sunk costs are something else !

The "Med itch" seems to be getting to you ....

 

[DavidJ]

We were in Empuriabrava last week and although peak season isn’t my preferred time it was ok with lots of space in calas if you go just that bit further than the masses.
It can chop up so keep an eye on the forecast. We had one choppy day so drove up to a ski resort and had a 20 min ski lift ride up to 2500 meters. Clear as a bell. It was also 15 degrees which made a welcome change to 30 on the coast
(The water was 25 by the way)