Straits of Gibraltar

pagoda

pagoda

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I have a cousin in Madrid, who used to have a half share of a boat in Alicante. They only sailed from Alicante.
I've just discovered they have acquired a Beneteau 40CC in Cadiz, but they are a bit leery of sailing her back to Alicante themselves.
I've been reading about the Straits, and the opposing currents / winds / tides etc. Since I sail on the Scottish west coast, and deal with that on a normal basis, it doesn't sound very much worse than negotiating the North Channel?
More traffic, tunny nets inshore etc, but choosing the right wind & tide for departure seems the key (as usual).
My cousins have limited sailing experience, (and nil of tides), so I feel a delivery trip may be coming on. There must be a few bods on here who have both West coast and Spanish sailing experience who could comment?

regards, Graeme

(And I realise you must pass windy old Tarifa :) )
 
East going is more favourable with the tides as there is generally a constant easterly surface flow in the centre of the straits. The down side is that this is the middle of the shipping lanes.

To get best tidal advantage try and enter the western end around 3 hours before HW Gib.

The main issue will be avoiding the Levanter (strong Easterly wind), so pick up a good forecast before you set off... I have passed through several times with a clear forecast and there has been force 6 + as you pass Tarifa. It can be lumpy with wind over tide and you get some interesting over falls.

Go through by day and stay north of the shipping lanes but as far off the headlands as you can for the best conditions.

I hope this helps,

Pete
 
At this time of year there are no Tunny nets as they have all been removed.
We came through at the end of October and are currently in Gib.
You can always go from Cadiz to Barbate so you are a lot nearer the straits cutting your journey time down although Barbate is the pits.
When we passed Tarifa we had three knots of wind but on nearing Gib this rose to 30 knots on the bow.
The weather forecast is broadcast at very regular intervals.
Going East is less of a problem because of the current where as going West can be a fight. If you time it right staying inshore away from the commercial vessels will give you a moving conveyor of water and you will fly through.
I suggest you PM Captain Sensible of this parish who runs a sailing school in Gib and helped write the pilot guide for the straits. He will see you right.
 
its not always windy I have passed through in force 3s-4s-5s & 6s & twice have had to motor through,I used to go through most years & back to get to the canaries & madeira & if you pick your weather window its very little different from crossing the channel.
only much shorter.Enjoy your sail.:):)
 
lenseman said:
Having twice delivered yachts into the Med, I concur with Pete (Halcyon Yachts).

Pick your weather window and it will be a very pleasant trip. Nothing like the Corryvrekan! :eek:

;)

.
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Thanks for replies.
When reading accounts of conditions, you never really know quite where people are coming from. I have seen interesting things happening off the North Irish coast and round the Mull, but avoided the really nasty conditions which can undoubtedly occur. Out of curiosity I've done some basic passage planning, and had earmarked Barbate as a good jumping off place (dump, or other wise;) )
Cadiz > Barbate
Barbate > Straits > ? Puerto Banus +-
Puerto Banus > Puerto Motril
Puerto Motril >San Jose
San Jose > Puerto de Mazarron
Puerto de Mazarron > Alicante

Were we to do it on watches, about 4 days would do it. I doubt that would go down very well if any of the ladies come. Even day sailing - quite a few of these hops are 60-70NM. I've yet to establish when they fancy doing the trip.... (and can I squeeze in some time off to do it..:D )
 
pagoda said:
Thanks for replies.
When reading accounts of conditions, you never really know quite where people are coming from. I have seen interesting things happening off the North Irish coast and round the Mull, but avoided the really nasty conditions which can undoubtedly occur. Out of curiosity I've done some basic passage planning, and had earmarked Barbate as a good jumping off place (dump, or other wise;) )
Cadiz > Barbate
Barbate > Straits > ? Puerto Banus +-
Puerto Banus > Puerto Motril
Puerto Motril >San Jose
San Jose > Puerto de Mazarron
Puerto de Mazarron > Alicante

Were we to do it on watches, about 4 days would do it. I doubt that would go down very well if any of the ladies come. Even day sailing - quite a few of these hops are 60-70NM. I've yet to establish when they fancy doing the trip.... (and can I squeeze in some time off to do it..:D )
Click to expand...

I've done the Straits quite a few times over the past 40 years and ,as long as you avoid the Levanter, with your experience in your home waters you shouldn't have problems. BUT I see that you mention Banus which indicates that you haven't looked at prices so you could be in for an unpleasant surprise.
 
25931 said:
BUT I see that you mention Banus which indicates that you haven't looked at prices so you could be in for an unpleasant surprise.
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I went to Puerto Anus once - got the sense that if Spain was ever unlucky enough to suffer a right-wing coup d'etat (you know.. uniformed fanatics throwing mild liberals out the back of aeroplanes, that sort of thing) it would have its HQ there.
 
25931 said:
I've done the Straits quite a few times over the past 40 years and ,as long as you avoid the Levanter, with your experience in your home waters you shouldn't have problems. BUT I see that you mention Banus which indicates that you haven't looked at prices so you could be in for an unpleasant surprise.
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That is simply a rough draft - splitting the distance up. Marbella isn't far away. Fuengirola is just up the coast a bit further. I doubt any would be more than one night stops.
Could always drop the hook somewhere quiet if there is some North in the wind ;)
 
As previously mentioned you would do well to get the guide that Captain Sensible has added to each year "The Straights Sailing Handbook". There is not much that you need to know that isn't in there.
No connection etc commercially but I have used the book and had the pleasure of a few drinks with him in the past...
 
We did the trip 3 years back on our way to Barcelona. Loking at the log we did:
Barbate > Gib > Fuengerola > Marina del Este > Almerimar > Puerto Genoves (anchor) > Puerto de la Aguilica > Cartagena > Torrevieja >Villajoyosa

As were heading on to Bracelona, we went from straight from Villajoyosa to Denia and then on; if you're heading to Alicante, then the hop from Torrevieja to Alicante is a short one. Looking back, most days were 30 - 40 miles, but all overnight stops were in marinas apart from one as noted above. This was for 2 reasons: southerly winds for the most part and lack of shelter en route. As we were making passage in late Sep/early Oct, prices were sensible at about €30 - 40 a night.

For further details, have a look at the blog archive.

The trip through the Straits was all done under motor. We spent 8 days or so in Barbate waiting for a Levanter to blow itself out and then had flat calm for a couple of days. After having hyped ourselves up for the trip, the only difficult bit was entering Gib Bay at night and finding our way through all the anchored ships and fast ferries!
 
I have done the straights quite a few times now last year alone and about to go through again next month. Stacks of traffic. V strong gusty winds outside the straight which are katabatic caused by the high ground. Reeds explains the tide gates. Gib is a good place to stop and a welcoming place when you contact the Port Control/QHM on VHF!

Made the mistake of going into Marbella instead of Porto Banus last year. It was like blackpool hit by world war 3. Wouldn't go back!

Bit chilly at the moment, I'm in Italy and its cold, but not as bad as the UK!
 
Dave99 said:
I have done the straights quite a few times now last year alone and about to go through again next month. Stacks of traffic. V strong gusty winds outside the straight which are katabatic caused by the high ground. Reeds explains the tide gates. Gib is a good place to stop and a welcoming place when you contact the Port Control/QHM on VHF!

Made the mistake of going into Marbella instead of Porto Banus last year. It was like blackpool hit by world war 3. Wouldn't go back!

Bit chilly at the moment, I'm in Italy and its cold, but not as bad as the UK!
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Gib would an interesting stop, but the boat's Spanish registered and my cousins are Spanish / German :p
Joking aside I think it would be better to push on, if we end up leaving from Barbate, but need to come up with somewhere short of maybe Fuengirola for a stop.:)

Graeme
 
If your spanish friends don't want or cannot or are afraid of entering Gib, there is now - since 2 or so years - a new marina at La Linea, just behind the runway. La Linea is a busy place, with lots of bars, restaurants, supermarkets, etc. And from there, you can walk a few minutes to Gib, across the runway.

Or on the spanish coast, a few miles from the Piñon, either Sotogrande, or La Duquesa, or Estepona.
 
Don't know whether it's the Levante or Levanter that can kick up from calm to rough within an hour or less but look out for large cigar shaped clouds - a sure sign of wind to come - believe without checking they're called lenticular
 
ripvan1 said:
Don't know whether it's the Levante or Levanter that can kick up from calm to rough within an hour or less but look out for large cigar shaped clouds - a sure sign of wind to come - believe without checking they're called lenticular
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It's Lavante, I've lived in Tarifa for 13 years, so know this wind well, being an active windsurfer aswell as sailor. It's strong especially, on the Tarifa side sometimes blowing F11+. But it is well and reliably forecast. And you can always contact Tarifa Traffico (who control the straits) if in doubt.
The straits are busy but no way over crowded, I race fuequently in interclub regattas involving all the clubs in the straits including ceuta on the Moroccan side. And have crossed and passed through the Straits many times.
You have nothing to worry about, just keep your eyes open and get the forecast right. :)
 
Gib

Having been Queen's Harbour Master at Gib (in 1953), I endorse the main gist of what has been written above. The straits can be horrible in winter.
At all costs avoid the levanter. You can see the cloud on top of the rock which gives a good indication. I have seen a destroyer in difficulties in a bad levanter.
Does the Royal Gib Yacht Club still make visitors welcome?
If so, and you are forced to stop at Gib, go there and sample the grilled swordfish lubricated with Vin AB, the dryest sherry you'll ever taste.
 
Hiya. Straits Sailing Handbook 2013 now available from Imray....or me!! :)

Basically good advice from all, but dont be intimitated by 'Levanter'. All that means is the wind is from the east (latin root). The Straits geography simply means the wind blows mostly either from a bit north of east, or a bit south of west depending where the higher pressure is, Atlantic or Med. Bigger difference, stronger wind. Like anywhere else, strength varies and it alters a lot around headlands too.

Downwind end of the Strait will be windiest.

Gibraltarians dont like east wind too much as it forms a big cloud streaming out across the bay and makes it manky in town.

The hydrology gives a constant east flowing current with the tide adding or subtracting on top.

Sustained winds will also set up a drift current from the direction of the wind too so there are many variables to predict in real terms...Ive seen it do all sorts of odd things in 100+ transits through. Maximum I think Ive motorsailed back in against has been about 35 ish knots. Bit bumpy.

Its easy with west wind, more thoughtful with east but with good timing and a bit of luck (South of Trafalgar 3 1/2 hours before HW Gib) you should get the best flow to help. Some days, the wind may be just too strong making Barbatte a good refuge....I like it probably as Ive been able to look around, but for 1 night its not really worth going ashore.

Weather forecasts are frequent on vhf, every even hour +15 alternating between Tarifa ch10 and Tangier ch69. Called up on 16.

Would allow a good 6 hours to clear Cadiz bay and get to Trafalgar.

Gib really is the next good stop, shelter and much cheaper bunkers than Spain....lots of Spanish boats come to Gib for fuel, cigs and booze! If you just go to fuel dock, no need to clear in. Otherwise call either Marina on 71 for a berth , they deal with clearance (no requirement at all to call QHM). Queensway only open for entry office hours.

If you want to press on, Estepona is probably the next best all weather port. Banus is not cheap but does have,,er, 'ladies'!!

Further up the coast, my favourite pit stops that generally time out well are Almerimar and Cartagena, the last one great but a bit pricey.

Beware also Cabo de Gata, it can blow strongly around there, usually from the way I want to go!

Anyway, have a good trip, PM if you want to ask anything.

Regards, CS
 
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