West Med - On The Hard Recommendations?

[Chuteman]

It's an option I'm considering for the core (Nov - Mar) winter months.
Area = Gibraltar to Sicily
Recommendations = current or recent - personal or observed

Have searched old threads & continuing to do so......lots of in-water suggestions & options especially in popular places like Portugal & SW/SE Spain but would like to look at slightly different option & also further east.

Thanks in advance

 

[jimbaerselman]

Have a rummage through the West Med pages of my website - jimbsail.info

You'll find comparisons of seven West Med Cruising Regions, and on the pages I've listed most of the popular layup sites mentioned by users of these fora, as well as the ones I have first hand knowledge of.

Of course, in this region you're spoilt for choice, so only a small number of the total possible are mentioned. Most of those mentioned assume you'll be spending some time afloat as well as ashore, so there's an emphasis on nicer towns.

It's a starting point!

 

[Chuteman]

Yes, A Good Starting Point

jimb - thanks for reminder.

I went back through your pages + past threads I had bookmarked.
So far my candidate list (raw) is as follows:

Spain: Estepona, Malaga (La Duquesa), Mazarron, Cartegena, Almeria (Almerimar & Aquadulce), Alicante, Denia, Barcelona (Marina Port Vell)

France - Argeles, St. Ciprien, Canet

Corsica - Ajaccio

Sardinia - Alghero, Cagliari

Sicily - Agrigento, Licata, Ragusa

Malta - Grand Harbour, Manoel Island, Msida, Mgarr

Based on more research & hopefully feedback from other members, I'll narrow down. Then match with up with sailing plan

 

[vyv_cox]

Add Port Leucate to the French list. Good facilities, excellent treatment at Navale du Golfe. €10/metre/month.

 

[PlanB]

La Duquesa is between Estepona and Gibraltar (Malaga province, but nowhere near Malaga). Would normally recommend, but the travel hoist is currently out of commission with no date for completion of repair (hoping a couple of weeks).
Sotogrande, between Gib and Duquesa, is another possibility as you can work on your own boat and live aboard.

 

[jordanbasset]

For info you can now work on your boat in Almerimar.
Will you still be living on board or going home. May make a difference in recommendations

 

[Chuteman]

Updated - Thanks

Appreciate the feedback & new info.

Here's revised list:

Spain: Sotogrande, La Duquesa, Estepona, Malaga, Mazarron, Cartegena, Almeria (Almerimar & Aquadulce), Alicante, Denia, Barcelona (Marina Port Vell)

France - Argeles, St. Ciprien, Canet, Port Leucate (Navale du Golfe)

Corsica - Ajaccio

Sardinia - Alghero, Cagliari

Sicily - Agrigento, Licata, Ragusa

Malta - Grand Harbour, Manoel Island, Msida, Mgarr
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
v_c - thanks for France addition

PB - thanks for location correction + info on lift & add'l location

jb - Thanks for update on Almerimar.
Living aboard on the Hard - other than a couple of days to secure and to re-launch = NO.......but being able to work on the boat (if necessary) including any anti-foul "touch up" is important

Usual reasons for considering being on the hard - "security" of a strong cradle vs bouncing around unattended in marina, lower overall cost (depending on lift charges) and yes, chance to check below waterline before
continuing on.

Thanks again to all

 

[Kimmo]

Port Forum (Barcelona) could be ok too, if you want to work the boat by yourself.

We will be wintering there and the staff confirmed, that do-it-yourself is allowed at the port.

 

[TonyMS]

We've just lifted out in Sant Carles - modern yard, good facilities, quite nice town and a competitive price (1800 all in for a 10m catamaran). But they may be fully booked now for this winter.

Tony MS

 

[OrionAmelOwner]

Sotegrande

Do not go go to Sotegrande if you want to be lifted out. We had a horrendous experience there and this been repeated by others. Please look at noonsite if you have doubts about what i am saying. We were lifted out then the hull was sandblasted and the painter on site then disappeared and left us waiting for weeks before he returned. We ended up putting antifoul back on the boat paying the boatyard over 1000euros for work that had not been done just to ensure that we were put back in the water and able to get the hell out of there. I would not recommend the place to my worse enemy1. We sailed up to Lagos and had the work done by professionals even though it cost us a little more.
It left us with a very bitter taste in our mouth and I really would never suggest any one goes into the yard to have work done. We did make an official complaint but to no vail
So please take care if dealing with the yard!

Orion1
John and Deb

 

[Steve Clayton]

For Denia then you have two choices : Club Nautico and Varadero. From personal experiences I would not recommend Club Nautico.

Varadero, OTOH, were excellent: http://www.varaderoportdenia.com/

 

[Chuteman]

Good Stuff - Thanks

K - will add to Barcelona - thanks - looked at their site quickly to check rates...thanks

TMS -will also add Sant Carles (bet Valencia & Barcelona - for others)
and looked at their site too.....thanks

OAO - Yikes, thanks for the heads up. I did read Noonsite notes about several marinas & various opinions

SC - thanks for sharing experienced opinion & link.......and it's nearby for Volvo Ocean Race activities later this month & early Nov

FYI - saw a link elsewhere regarding Ragusa on Sicily in case anyone is interested http://www.portoturisticomarinadiragusa.it/en/

 

[Grehan]

You're going to end up with a long list . .
I would add

• Fuengirola, S of Malaga.
• Cap d'Agde
• Port Camargue

 

[JamesFrance]

We've just lifted out in Sant Carles - modern yard, good facilities, quite nice town and a competitive price (1800 all in for a 10m catamaran). But they may be fully booked now for this winter.

Tony MS

Sant Carles has very modern cradles and monohulls are also tied down. Last February we had 85knot winds and no boats in the yard were damaged. We didn't get much sleep in the marina though.

 

[TNT]

Winter

Hi we are in Cagliari Marina del Sole winter here's not bad we were in the yard last winter. Good liveaboard community and plenty of options for getting what you need for winter work. If you want further details send me a PM for telephone numbers & email addresses

 

[jimbaerselman]

Hi we are in Cagliari Marina del Sole winter here's not bad we were in the yard last winter. Good liveaboard community and plenty of options for getting what you need for winter work. If you want further details send me a PM for telephone numbers & email addresses

Delightful city, too.

 

[Chuteman]

Been Traveling

Sorry for delay in responding to new posts.......Traveling back to boat & recovering is much tougher than most passages.

But preparing to start east bound travel - of course forecast has strong east winds this weekend.....if you want great sailing, find out which way I'm going then go 90-120 degrees away from it.

Back to the matter at hand. Thanks for all the new info. In some of my recent sleep & oxygen deprived moments over the Atlantic at 39,000' -
Thinking of heading east along the Spanish coast toward Alicante - then cut thru Balearics - then Sardinia - aiming toward Sicily....this is in line with my 2012 cruising (vs delivery schedule I'm been on so far) of Turkey, Greece & Italy primarily. We'll see as I get more sleep, weather and
my energy level. If I find a great place along the way - then that will be home. But if the conditions (wind that I can use) are with me & I can put some nm in my wake.......then I'll look further down the list.

G - You are right - probably will be bigger list but when people add their comments +/- and I get a feel via reading, web searches, some visits and
my routing get firmer - then I will narrow down quickly. Thanks for add'l spots.

JF - Great details - that's the kinda stuff I need......don't need 85 kts though

TNT - thanks for info & offer for add'l assistance - might take you up on it
once I start narrowing down.

JB - as always, thanks

Here's revised list:

Spain: Sotogrande, La Duquesa, Estepona, Fuengirola, Malaga, Mazarron, Cartegena, Almeria (Almerimar & Aquadulce), Alicante, Denia, Barcelona (Marina Port Vell)

France - Argeles, St. Ciprien, Canet, Cap d'Agde, Port Leucate (Navale du Golfe), Port Camargue, Sant Carles

Corsica - Ajaccio

Sardinia - Alghero, Cagliari (Marina del Sole)

Sicily - Agrigento, Licata, Ragusa

Malta - Grand Harbour, Manoel Island, Msida, Mgarr

 

[TonyMS]

Sant Carles is in Spain, 50m S of Tarragona.

 

[Chuteman]

OOps - Just Saw

Tony MS.......thanks for correction.........I even looked it up a week or so ago
about equi-distant from Valencia & Barcelona.....kinda

Scary - with that type of mistake, better check where I really am.

Today it's Estepona but who knows........it was bumpy & windy on the nose
ride today .....definitely uphill especially getting around Gib from La Linea
The marina here really does nothing for me....list too long.....I'll resume
bumpy ride in am........decided to just take a short hop today for 1st one
after break + got late start......not tomorrow

Thanks again........Re-Revised

Spain: Sotogrande, La Duquesa, Estepona, Fuengirola, Malaga, Mazarron, Cartegena, Almeria (Almerimar & Aquadulce), Alicante, Denia, Sant Carles de la Rapita, Barcelona (Marina Port Vell)

France - Argeles, St. Ciprien, Canet, Cap d'Agde, Port Leucate (Navale du Golfe), Port Camargue,

Corsica - Ajaccio

Sardinia - Alghero, Cagliari (Marina del Sole)

Sicily - Agrigento, Licata, Ragusa

Malta - Grand Harbour, Manoel Island, Msida, Mgarr

 

[Carmel2]

Barcelona, Marina Port Vell does not have a hard standing area.