The Med - do you ever think of relocation?

[nicho]

After a pretty rotten Summer, when it seems the only time the sun shone was on the 10 weekends a year I had to work, we once again got to considering relocating the boat to the Med, and having just returned from a few days hols in Majorca, where the sun shone every day, and the temperature rose to a pleasant 28 degrees, this feeling was endorsed. However, is it all it's cracked up to be?

For sure, we envied the ability to go out on virtually any day of your choice with guaranteed weather (though there was not a lot of wind there last week, and a lot of motorsailing was in evidence), but even in moderate October temperatures, the marinas we visited were like pressure cookers, there being no cooling breeze whatsoever within their sea walls - what on earth would it be like in the Summer months?. The boats were moored very close together, virtually touching, with no pontoon fingers to separate them - the cafes/bars in the marinas were loud and noisy until late at night. Most of the boats were crewed by "Hurrah Henry's", who only seemed interested in out doing their neighbours by whatever means at their disposal, whether it be by being loud and boorish, or by turning up their cockpit music to unreasonable volumes.

The marinas we visited seemed little more expensive than the UK's South Coast (some less so for a 12 metre boat), so cost would not be a great factor, but would you swap the Solent with its dodgy weather, overcrowding, and strong tides for the heat and noise of the Med?

After careful consideration, we decided it would not be for us, but what does the panel think??

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[BlueSkyNick]

We have been giving serious thought to this in a few years time Nicho - it will take us this long to find a place we like. Would definitely not go to the sorts of places you are describing though. Apart from the weather, there is economics and politics to take into account.

From our summer visit to Croatia for example, we know there are plenty of smaller places. Have looked at a few property prices too.

The previous owners of Moondance now live on the Med coast of Spain, complete with apartment and brand new boat - they seem pretty happy there.

Can't think of any spare space along the South coast of France. Haven't even thought about Italy yet.

So there seems to be many options - it all comes back to personal preferences, above all else.

<hr width=100% size=1>WANTED - For House and Boat Maintenance - A large supply of round tuits.

 

[MedDreamer]

Mike

We did it this year with our sportscruiser. We are in Alcudiamar- There is no shortage of wind up there!

We had a few problems initially and after three months of hassle we really felt we had done the wrong thing and were ready to sell up and come home. I posted to this effect on the MOBO forum and was gently persuaded not to give in so easily and I'm now very glad we stayed.

Is it all its cracked up to be? No its not all sunshine and sailing. It has its ups and downs just like over here (for much the same reasons) - Don't want to upset Kim any more but PM me if you want to know more.

However the plusses are really starting to outweigh the negatives - don't worry about Med mooring you soon get used to it.

Did you look in Alcudia? The port area is very nice (unlike the resort around the bay). Although the marina is big it is peaceful and friendly. Its when you get out on the water that you realise that you have done the right thing. A really wonderful cruising area - specially for you raggies.

This year and next we have planned eight visits ranging from long weekends to two weeks in summer and will actually spend more time on the boat than we did on Windermere.








<hr width=100% size=1>Living the dream

 

[walker]

I think you have answered your own question in the post Nicho. For me, the hotter the better up to limits that are rarely passed even in the Med. Noisy nights - great so long as I am invited - if not I might well invite myself if its unreasonably loud/late. Hooray Henry's - that's the cabaret innit? Only thing keeping us from full time in the Med is being tied to work + daughters schooling for a while yet. That said, there's got to be a balance - party nights interspersed with peaceful nights in quiet anchorages. Variety; spice of life and all that. We keep trying the Solent thing but it does't work for us: too cold; too old; and when the choice comes between a brisk sail and staying in the pub, too bold.

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[BrendanS]

For me, boating is about getting out on the boat as often as possible. Evenings as well as wekends. That just about shuts out the Med. Also having spent far too many years on flights and in airports, the hassle and logistics of getting there would outweigh the benefits unless I had a great deal of spare time to do extended trips (which doesn't apply to you)

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni

 

[Sybarite]

I bought my boat in Toulon and kept it there for a couple of seasons. Then I brought it up to S. Brittany and have never regretted it.

In the Med in high summer it is too hot to stay on deck, there is either no wind or too much and no tides. There are some very scenic places in the Med but then they get completely crowded out. (eg Girolata in Corsica and Porquerolles). If you want to have a place in port you need to head there early afternoon.

S. Brittany is also OK for regular visits to the UK. No regrets.

John

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[nicho]

I've seen pics of your marina, and we did fly over the Alcudia on approach to Palma. We looked at the marinas in Palma Bay, along with Porto Portals, the small one at Cala Mayor, and the (seemingly) upmarket one at Porto Andratz. We are not sun worshippers, and do not like temperatures much above the 28 degree mark. I guess that's our biggest worry, even with aircon, is it simply going to be too hot for us?

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[nicho]

I agree with you Brendan, I too like to be within reasonable distance of the boat. It is oh! so simple and quick to reach the Med these days (and cheap!), but I do like to be able to jump in the car and be on board at short notice. The weather last week was just beautiful though.....!

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[zefender]

Re: Bad Summer

Admittedly I was away in July, but, apart from that, we've either been excepionally lucky or it hasn't actually been such a bad season at all. I can only think of two weekends where the weather wasn't dry and mostly sunny (and we're on the boat every other weekend). My problem this year has been finding enough wind - and people thinking that I was bidding for leadership of UKIP what with perm-a-tan complexion as a result of fab weather! To my mind, if you can take a look at the weather on a Monday or Tuesday, you can get a reasonable fix of what the forthcoming weekend is likely to bring weatherwise and make the decision then to pop down. Against that of course is the predictability of the Med weather. But then, as Brendan says, its a bit more complicated than just shooting down in the car. I guess it really depends on how often you intend using the boat. For me, some of those colder but dry, sparkling sunny days in January in the Solent are some of the best days sailing I've ever had.

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[mikewilkes]

Im with you Martyn.
I have been told I have to go back for Dec to see family etc - not looking forward to it one bit.
BTW for anybody who is interested the temp here is due to drop down to 22 - 25 degs over the next few days. Have to think about putting the heating on soon.



<hr width=100% size=1>Mike
Now back home with my mistress and SWMBO of course !!!

 

[jonjo]

Thank you for steering this forum back on subject.

If you do go I'll swap you some weekends on my Solent based Bavaria assuming you would be interested in sailing a Match with a big daft racing wheel.

From my little reading of Med sailing I would investigate Corsica, in you position.

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[MedDreamer]

July and August are hot and the nights can be uncomfortable (we only have fans not aircon).I am not a sun worshipper either but enjoy the warmth whilst sitting in the shade under the bimini drinking ice cold beer. The rest of the year the temperature is very very nice - like you experienced last week by the sound of it. Perfect

Yes we also miss the the convenience of getting in the car and being at the boat two hours. One of the other differences is that you don't have the flexibility you have with the boat over here. We book our flights well in advance and are therefore at the mercy of the gods with the weather - our first two trips this year were complete washouts. If we had been in the UK we could have just stayed at home and gone to the boat the following weekend.

That said flights to Palma are easy and reasonable (I'm a Yorkshireman nothings cheap!) and being there is just great, we actually spend more time on the boat now than we did on Windermere.

Martyn

<hr width=100% size=1>Living the dream

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

After a grim Whitsun week in Cherbourg 3 yrs ago broke our particular camel's back, we did what you are thinking about, bought a (motor)boat in the South of France, used it there one season and we are currently boating out of Denia on the Costa Blanca
Our experience is mixed.
On the plus side the weather between May and September is much more settled than the UK but outside these months the weather can be changeable. The problem is that, if you want to take advantage of cheap flights, you have to book ahead and, therefore you are stuck with whatever the weather throws at you. There's no going home early like in the UK. Our first summer in SoF was very hot and I would say aircon is a necessity although many boats do not have it. Just to have a cool haven to retire to in the heat of the day and to cool cabins down before sleeping was a big plus
Finding both permanent and visitors moorings in the W Med is very difficult with the Riviera, Balearics and most Costas being full although you mentioned Croatia which I believe is still uncrowded. The best way is to buy a boat with a mooring attached for rent. Getting a visitors mooring during high summer is also very difficult and expensive - I paid €180/night in Ibiza this year
The other big downside is the travel. I do a lot of business travel and to have to go through the hassle of yet more airports to get to my boat is real pain. The other point is that if you have school age kids, airfares around holidays and half terms are much more expensive
As Brendan mentioned, you have to get used to the idea that your boating is going to be more limited than it would be in the UK. There is no just popping down to the boat if the weather looks good this Sunday. As a consequence of this, you end up paying somebody else (usually through the nose) to do maintenance as well
This is starting to sound a bit negative. I have to admit that I am toying with the idea of bringing my boat back to the UK but this summer's weather has usually brought me to my senses
I think the point is that the best boating days in the Med are better than the best days in the UK. In 12yrs boating in the UK, I swum twice but in the Med, we're always in the water which gets up to a bath like 28degC. There are some beautiful anchorages and every day on your boat feels like a holiday rather than the ordeal it can be in the UK
To conclude, if you dont have school age children, you can do your boating outside July and August and can be flexible about flight times, then the Med could be wonderful. On the other hand, if you only have limited time off work and school age children, then you would probably find the hassle and expense not worthwile

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[Gunfleet]

Please stop spreading this info about!

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