U.k to The Canaries?

[Ian.S]

Hi Again, another newbie question I'm afraid!

Is it possible to take a motor yacht from the U.K to the Canary Islands by sea? I'm sure it is but what I'm getting at is the practicality of doing it, how long would / should it take and a rough idea of cost.
How many crew members would be required, and any volunteers??

 

[Nigelpickin]

Hi Again, another newbie question I'm afraid!

Is it possible to take a motor yacht from the U.K to the Canary Islands by sea? I'm sure it is but what I'm getting at is the practicality of doing it, how long would / should it take and a rough idea of cost.
How many crew members would be required, and any volunteers??

Depends on the boat - this kind of trip would be fine in a displacement motorboat with a range of 700nm, (it’s over 500 from Lagos to Lanzarotte).

So let’s assume it’s a 50’ twin engine displacement boat.

A 50’ slobo with a proven reliability history, (which you’ll get on the trip down to Portugal), would be fine.

A crew of two would work until you get to Portugal but you’d be wise to get at least a third hand for the longer, final leg.

You’d also want to think about doing the last leg of the trip in September and buddying up with some sailing boats as there will be plenty heading down there at that time of year. You could use Pro crew from a company like Halcyon but you might find that you’ve built the experience up to do it yourself by the time you get to Portugal - or you might change your mind and head east into the Med!

Cost is a piece of string.....a couple of thousand NM at 8 knots could be anything from a three to ten grand depending on the boat. Then you’ve got marina fees of about £50 per night and maintenance/repairs, which could easily outweigh the cost of the fuel.

If you want an amazing trip and have plenty of time then do it yourself, if not just hire a pro team and fly
Out to the boat when it’s tied up in the Canaries.

But it’s really a spitball answer to a spitball question...would make a good thread if you do it tho’

 

[petem]

If you're talking about 40ft boats (that you were looking at for Lanzarote) then yes, it's physically possible as the greatest distance between land masses is around 50-60 miles. But you would need to sail down the cost of Morocco. I have no idea whether that is politically practical nor whether there are marinas / facilities / repair services on that route. Looks to be around 800 miles from Gibraltar so assuming 2mpg you'd be looking at 400 gallons of fuel so £2000.

But the thing is, cruising on a boat like that is physically and mentally hard work (unless conditions are very calm). It's not like a car where you put it into 6th and munch the miles. And you may find that the weather and sea conditions (see my earlier posts) may mean that you spend may days or weeks in port unable to proceed.

I don't think you'll find many volunteers!

The other option would be to put it on a ship as deck cargo or perhaps it's possible to transport it by road down Morocco (sounds dubious to me).

 

[Ian.S]

Thanks for the info and advice. The boat would probably be something like a Princess 42 Fly or a Fairline Phantom 43.
I would be in no rush so the trip could take as long as necessary. Is there a base line cost of hiring a pro team?
I take it Morocco will be the stumbling point?!

What would be the best option for purchasing a boat for the canaries? Buy in situ, but choice is very limited? Buy in Spain or Italy and transport? Ideas please folks.

 

[Tranona]

Thanks for the info and advice. The boat would probably be something like a Princess 42 Fly or a Fairline Phantom 43.
I would be in no rush so the trip could take as long as necessary. Is there a base line cost of hiring a pro team?
I take it Morocco will be the stumbling point?!

What would be the best option for purchasing a boat for the canaries? Buy in situ, but choice is very limited? Buy in Spain or Italy and transport? Ideas please folks.

Taking such a boat by sea is not possible - they are simply not suitable nor have the fuel capacity for the ocean leg. Would be possible to hop down the coast to Portugal, but it is a long and expensive trip. OK if it is a holiday, but treating it as a delivery trip will be really hard work.

One of the reasons choice is limited for MOBOs in the Canaries is that they are expensive to get there and the cruising area is limited - as is the market if you want to sell!

Your best bet is to buy in Spain and put the boat on a ship, but not cheap.

 

[capnsensible]

It is possible but very uncomfortable. Fuel stops in Morocco are available at Mohammedia, Essouria and at the full service marina in Agadir.

 

[Nigelpickin]

Thanks for the info and advice. The boat would probably be something like a Princess 42 Fly or a Fairline Phantom 43.
I would be in no rush so the trip could take as long as necessary. Is there a base line cost of hiring a pro team?
I take it Morocco will be the stumbling point?!

What would be the best option for purchasing a boat for the canaries? Buy in situ, but choice is very limited? Buy in Spain or Italy and transport? Ideas please folks.

Send Alli an email and ask the question, (Halcyon Yachts), she’s really efficeint and I’m sure she’d give you a quick Y/N and ball park for the continental passage part. You’d only be looking at 3 days max, notwithstanding weather complications, plus flights and expenses...like I say - the trip down to the Algarve would turn you from noob to Salty in one season and the crossing to Lanzarotte is sporty but doable...

If you ship a boat down you’re going to miss Brittany, Basque Country, Galicia, Porto, Cascais and the Algarve -and all the experience that a trip like that will bring, that’s kind of counter intuitive to me...but each to their own.

allie@halcyonyachts.com

 

[Q4YB]

It is possible but very uncomfortable. Fuel stops in Morocco are available at Mohammedia, Essouria and at the full service marina in Agadir.

Hi capnsensible (and anyone else with insight!)

How easy is it to get diesel in Morocco ? (Mohammedia and Agadir) ?

I’m taking a 14 metre PDV (Beneteau) from Valencia to Lanzarote, starting 20th October 2018. Safe range is about 285nm plus a reserve. 1500 Litre total tankage.

Trying to find out the specifics of what fuel facilities are available - easy access to pumps? They have enough on site ? Need to pre order ? Costs? Need to bunker using Jerry cans and local labour? Time and costs?

Sorry for all the questions. And if anyone has any insight into likely sea conditions that time and area and how quickly clearing in and out might be.

Thanks guys !

 

[oldgit]

Taking such a boat by sea is not possible - they are simply not suitable nor have the fuel capacity for the ocean leg. Would be possible to hop down the coast to Portugal, but it is a long and expensive trip. OK if it is a holiday, but treating it as a delivery trip will be really hard work.

One of the reasons choice is limited for MOBOs in the Canaries is that they are expensive to get there and the cruising area is limited - as is the market if you want to sell!

Your best bet is to buy in Spain and put the boat on a ship, but not cheap.

+1

There only two ways to even consider undertaking this trip in that boat , you have no idea of whats involved
or
You are very experiencd skipper with a several thousand hours of open ocean long distance cruising and boat you are very familiar with and trust and have very deep pockets indeed.

Knowing the area fairly well, there is not that much to do down there with a motor boat anyway, does it have A/C ?
No nice little sheltered calas for day trips, no day trip destinations really, just a lot of very exposed coast and usually lots of wind.
Sailboat heaven mind you
As a indication of how hard it is to get small mobos down to there.
Princess 330 in Los Gigantes been up fpr sale for yonks, asking is around twice UK price and more expensive still looking at mainland spanish prices.
IMHO.

 

[bigwow]

Why is the advised trip Uk Portugal then Canaries and not jumping off from southern tip of Island? Now tell me why it's a thick question. I'm asking as a sail boat by the way so fuel is not in the equation

 

[capnsensible]

Hi capnsensible (and anyone else with insight!)

How easy is it to get diesel in Morocco ? (Mohammedia and Agadir) ?

I’m taking a 14 metre PDV (Beneteau) from Valencia to Lanzarote, starting 20th October 2018. Safe range is about 285nm plus a reserve. 1500 Litre total tankage.

Trying to find out the specifics of what fuel facilities are available - easy access to pumps? They have enough on site ? Need to pre order ? Costs? Need to bunker using Jerry cans and local labour? Time and costs?

Sorry for all the questions. And if anyone has any insight into likely sea conditions that time and area and how quickly clearing in and out might be.

Thanks guys !

Hiya. Some years ago I took a Sunseeker 64 from Majorca to Lanza. Fuel stops were Cartagena. Pricey. Gib, cheap.

The Moroccan ports were Mohamedia (pump broken, jerrycanned it 3000l). Essouria. Handpumped from big drums. Agadir, guess what, pump broken, jerrycanned! All using local labour though.

A much more recent visit to Agadir revealed a proper fuel dock, well managed. Paperwork is important. Ships Registration Document. Crew passports. Letter of authorisation and copy of owner passport if he is not onboard. Formalities are very time consuming and do make sure you have a Moroccan Courtesy flag. They are very strict on that.

Its a nice trip though, have done it lots on yachts. A friend of ours also made the trip a few times on his Sunsseeker 65 Targa with big extra fuel tanks on board. That might save a pit stop or two. :encouragement:

 

[Q4YB]

Hiya. Some years ago I took a Sunseeker 64 from Majorca to Lanza. Fuel stops were Cartagena. Pricey. Gib, cheap.

The Moroccan ports were Mohamedia (pump broken, jerrycanned it 3000l). Essouria. Handpumped from big drums. Agadir, guess what, pump broken, jerrycanned! All using local labour though.

A much more recent visit to Agadir revealed a proper fuel dock, well managed. Paperwork is important. Ships Registration Document. Crew passports. Letter of authorisation and copy of owner passport if he is not onboard. Formalities are very time consuming and do make sure you have a Moroccan Courtesy flag. They are very strict on that.

Its a nice trip though, have done it lots on yachts. A friend of ours also made the trip a few times on his Sunsseeker 65 Targa with big extra fuel tanks on board. That might save a pit stop or two. :encouragement:

Thanks for the reply and the info - very much appreciated indeed so thanks again. Didn't think about the owners' passport so that's good info also.

Here's hoping the sea-state last week in October is generally favourable for a Beneteau Antares 13.80 otherwise i'll be postponing the trip !

Best regards

 

[asteven221]

Without trying to put a damper on the to the OP's plans, my observation over many years of going to the Canaries is that I don't think relocating a boat there from the UK would be worth the effort and cost. Why? Mainly because there isn't very many places to go and when you do go out it's likely to be in an almost constant 4 to 5ft feet of swell. The Canaries are, lovely but I really do wonder if investing a lot of money in a boat down there would be worth it. That is only my opinion of course and I am sure many others will disagree, but from what I have seen 38ft plus motor boats are almost non existent, even in large marinas like Las Palmas. Larger yachts? Yes, but mobos no. There are exceptions, but the vast majority of boats are older day boats, speed boats, ribs, jet ski's and numerous yachts - mainly sub 35 feet and often from the 80's/90's era. Larger boats (yachts) appear to be enjoying a pit stop before heading out into the Atlantic.

Personally, I think I would be inclined to buy a boat which is already there and possibly one that's not too expensive. You can then just see how it goes. I couldn't think of anything much worse than buying something like a FP43, spending a fortune getting it down there and then after a couple of months thinking to myself "what have I done, this is a little bit boring"! Having said that, if what you want is a very nice floating caravan in a marina, some day trips here and there and messing around out in the water, and don't mind the cost then why not? It seems to me to be a perfectly enjoyable way to pass the time and perhaps preferable to the cold and rain of the UK - especially in the UK winter which why we head down there.

 

[Q4YB]

Without trying to put a damper on the to the OP's plans, my observation over many years of going to the Canaries is that I don't think relocating a boat there from the UK would be worth the effort and cost. Why? Mainly because there isn't very many places to go and when you do go out it's likely to be in an almost constant 4 to 5ft feet of swell. The Canaries are, lovely but I really do wonder if investing a lot of money in a boat down there would be worth it. That is only my opinion of course and I am sure many others will disagree, but from what I have seen 38ft plus motor boats are almost non existent, even in large marinas like Las Palmas. Larger yachts? Yes, but mobos no. There are exceptions, but the vast majority of boats are older day boats, speed boats, ribs, jet ski's and numerous yachts - mainly sub 35 feet and often from the 80's/90's era. Larger boats (yachts) appear to be enjoying a pit stop before heading out into the Atlantic.

Personally, I think I would be inclined to buy a boat which is already there and possibly one that's not too expensive. You can then just see how it goes. I couldn't think of anything much worse than buying something like a FP43, spending a fortune getting it down there and then after a couple of months thinking to myself "what have I done, this is a little bit boring"! Having said that, if what you want is a very nice floating caravan in a marina, some day trips here and there and messing around out in the water, and don't mind the cost then why not? It seems to me to be a perfectly enjoyable way to pass the time and perhaps preferable to the cold and rain of the UK - especially in the UK winter which why we head down there.

I would agree entirely but each to their own I suppose. In my case it’s not my boat I’m just taking it on behalf of an owner who wants a change, so at least I’m not paying the diesel to get there and can leave again after it

 

[Nigelpickin]

I would agree entirely but each to their own I suppose. In my case it’s not my boat I’m just taking it on behalf of an owner who wants a change, so at least I’m not paying the diesel to get there and can leave again after it

We’re cruising in the Canary Islands currently, having sailed down last week, should you have any specific questions then just let me know. Fuel cheapish here, marinas very cheap and cruising ground is very pleasant as far as we can tell but there’s clearly an issue with afternoon wind in the WAZ.
FWIW we have plenty of 40 to 50’ motor boats parked near us, a very nice Riviera and some other smart sports fishers.

 

[Q4YB]

We’re cruising in the Canary Islands currently, having sailed down last week, should you have any specific questions then just let me know. Fuel cheapish here, marinas very cheap and cruising ground is very pleasant as far as we can tell but there’s clearly an issue with afternoon wind in the WAZ.
FWIW we have plenty of 40 to 50’ motor boats parked near us, a very nice Riviera and some other smart sports fishers.

Hi!

Thanks for the reply and offer of info - very much appreciated ! I hope you had a good trip down - is it a motor or sailing vessel you are in?

Yes very interested to hear any recent intel you have with particular regard to anything encountered on the way down of you were near the Morrocan coast ? - Hravy traffic, unmarked fishing pots a small craft / lines and general density and distance offshore or proximity to any contours?

If you actually went into any Moroccan ports the ease and cost of obtaining fuel or any length delays in clearing customs?

Sorry for all the greedy questions !

 

[Nigelpickin]

Hi!

Thanks for the reply and offer of info - very much appreciated ! I hope you had a good trip down - is it a motor or sailing vessel you are in?

Yes very interested to hear any recent intel you have with particular regard to anything encountered on the way down of you were near the Morrocan coast ? - Hravy traffic, unmarked fishing pots a small craft / lines and general density and distance offshore or proximity to any contours?
If you actually went into any Moroccan ports the ease and cost of obtaining fuel or any length delays in clearing customs?

Sorry for all the greedy questions !

Here’s a capture of our track.
https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/Saulgoodman

We came down on our sailing cat, 45’. We sailed the first 2 days and motorsailed the second 2, (too much wind).
We took the rhumb line from central Portugal and pretty much surfed the whole way!
The two points that we take away from trip are:
The forecasts, (wind, sea height), were woefully poor and we used 4 gribs which were consistent, (ly wrong), with one another. Forecast 1m sea height was always 1.5 to 3m and wind was generally 5 - 10 knot understated. So be careful with that.
Secondly, the sea direction and wind direction are constant and give kindly passage, if a little pitchy.

Very few visual or AIS contacts in the 4 days, we stayed west of the shipping lane but you’ll stay inshore so will have far more traffic.

Nothing in the water other than dolphins, couldn’t catch one for live nor money tho’

I’m not sure that I’d do the trip in a 14m Antares but I’m a little risk adverse

No Moroccan ports so can’t help I’m afraid, our 50 plus hours of motoring cost about 200 ltrs of juice!

When you make landfall, you could do a lot worse than marina Rubicon in Lanzarote, good access and very helpful - very good value. There are some pleasant anchorages nearby and we now plan to stay here for a month before touring the other islands.

 

[Q4YB]

Here’s a capture of our track.
https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/Saulgoodman

We came down on our sailing cat, 45’. We sailed the first 2 days and motorsailed the second 2, (too much wind).
We took the rhumb line from central Portugal and pretty much surfed the whole way!
The two points that we take away from trip are:
The forecasts, (wind, sea height), were woefully poor and we used 4 gribs which were consistent, (ly wrong), with one another. Forecast 1m sea height was always 1.5 to 3m and wind was generally 5 - 10 knot understated. So be careful with that.
Secondly, the sea direction and wind direction are constant and give kindly passage, if a little pitchy.

Very few visual or AIS contacts in the 4 days, we stayed west of the shipping lane but you’ll stay inshore so will have far more traffic.

Nothing in the water other than dolphins, couldn’t catch one for live nor money tho’

I’m not sure that I’d do the trip in a 14m Antares but I’m a little risk adverse

No Moroccan ports so can’t help I’m afraid, our 50 plus hours of motoring cost about 200 ltrs of juice!

When you make landfall, you could do a lot worse than marina Rubicon in Lanzarote, good access and very helpful - very good value. There are some pleasant anchorages nearby and we now plan to stay here for a month before touring the other islands.

Hi Nigel - thanks for the info, particularly on the accuracy of the available forecasts - it’s gratefully received thank-you!

I hope you get some fantastic cruising in - I don’t have much (any) experience on cats and it’s still on my ‘to-do’ list - I had organised a delivery of a fountaine pajot salinas 48 from St Raphael France to Tortola BVI last year on which I was simply going to go along as a mate / crew just for the experience, unfortunately it was cancelled due to the hurricanes that struck the region, so it’s still on the bucket list.

Anyway happy cruising and I’m off on the hunt for some recent intel on wether the fuel pump in mohammedia is working, has enough fuel and if not what the logistics time and costs are of paying local labour to jerrycan and decant 1500 litres is - ah fun times ahead !

Best

 

[captaindan]

Send Alli an email and ask the question, (Halcyon Yachts), she’s really efficeint and I’m sure she’d give you a quick Y/N and ball park for the continental passage part. You’d only be looking at 3 days max, notwithstanding weather complications, plus flights and expenses...like I say - the trip down to the Algarve would turn you from noob to Salty in one season and the crossing to Lanzarotte is sporty but doable...

If you ship a boat down you’re going to miss Brittany, Basque Country, Galicia, Porto, Cascais and the Algarve -and all the experience that a trip like that will bring, that’s kind of counter intuitive to me...but each to their own.

allie@halcyonyachts.com

 

[captaindan]

Its good to see a more positive thread . I would like to say that although I haven't brought a boat from the UK I did buy my boat in Vigo in northern Spain and have been all the way up the Atlantic coast and have visited all them places that you mention up to the Algarve and also some places you do not mention like the Berlinga islands(portugual) and Cies island (northen spain). Over the past 4 years I had then taken my boat through the straights to the med and all the way down to the Balearics clocking up over 2900 miles and counting. mostly just me and my wife. Prior to buying our old 1993 Sunseeker San Remo our only experience was round Poole harbour and Swanage and one trip to the isle of wight on a 21 ft searay that I had for about 18 months. My adventure that I have had with my boat has led me to places I would of never ever gone to from small fishing villages to cities such as Cadiz that i probably wouldn't of chose as a holiday but with the boat it has brought us there and we have loved it. We have made some great friendships along the way. It has also led me to taking my offshore yachtmasters which I gained last year. My boat is currently down south of the med at present and am planning to take it all the way to Tenerife next year and will update you with how we get on.

In my opinion you cant beat experience so would encourage anyone who has a boat to get out there and use it

watch this space