Where are all the Brits?

[sailorgirl]

We've been in Marina Bouregreg, Rabat for a couple of weeks now and during our sojourn only two other Brit boats have called in, one going north and the other on a brief stop heading for the ARC. In fact apart from the French there have been few European boats here, by far the majority are USA flagged yachts heading home via the Caribbean. I just wondered why most Europeans/Brit boats are sailing past the Moroccan ports?

The marina here is well run wiht friendly helpful staff, relatively cheap and there is plenty of social life on the pontoons plus the historic medina's of both Rabat and Sale within walking distance and good train connections to the better known attractions of Morocco.

S

 

[tri39]

I'm sure the reason is that the problems in the middle east depressing tourism there, unfairly affect Morocco. Plus the genuine concerns about difficult entrances to ports on the Moroccan coast if the weather deteriorates. Why this doesn't deter US boats is unclear! I'm enjoying your blog, you're as informative as Rachel Chandler.

 

[macd]

Why this doesn't deter US boats is unclear!

That was going through my mind until I got to it.

The plain fact is that many French sailors seem to be more adventurous, as well as having strong historic ties to Morocco in particular and W Africa in general. (That's why the Dakar rally used to be there.) We Brits, for all our sailing and general globe-hopping heritage, are a fairly conservative lot in comparison.

 

[Sandyman]

What's with the ''We Brits'' ? Don't put all Brits into the same pigeonhole.

This time of year most Brits are tucked-up in their cozy winter berths waiting for Spring.

 

[rogerthebodger]

What's with the ''We Brits'' ? Don't put all Brits into the same pigeonhole.

This time of year most Brits are tucked-up in their cozy winter berths waiting for Spring.

Unless you are in the southern hemisphere where we are spring has sprung and looking forward to summer.

 

[macd]

What's with the ''We Brits'' ? Don't put all Brits into the same pigeonhole.
This time of year most Brits are tucked-up in their cozy winter berths waiting for Spring.

I was clearly referring to general tendencies, which I think will be recognised by most blue-water sailors on here. To think I was making any all-embracing claim is absurd.

However, perhaps I might have been more careful to identify homing pigeons like yourself. And, since you're being so precious, I might point out that the "most Brits" of whom you speak so authoritatively have never heard of winter berths and are more likely to tuck up in some semi.

 

[chinita]

I agree that 'most Brits' are a little conservative about winter distance sailing. Whether they hole up in an expensive marina or a secure anchorage it does not matter, they are still conservative.

Highlighted to me this morning when an - erm, elderly, American left Lagos bound for the Azores. Singlehanded in a Westerly Centaur.

 

[sailorgirl]

I'm sure the reason is that the problems in the middle east depressing tourism there, unfairly affect Morocco. Plus the genuine concerns about difficult entrances to ports on the Moroccan coast if the weather deteriorates. Why this doesn't deter US boats is unclear! I'm enjoying your blog, you're as informative as Rachel Chandler.

Thank-you!

 

[cds8]

We were in Rabat for several weeks during July and August 2011, and enjoyed it for all the reasons you outline.

That period fell immediately after the turmoil of the 'Arab spring', and we put the lack of British boats down to that. Earlier in the year when we had discussed it with other UK boats we'd encountered along the way, many had seemed to be keen on visiting Morocco, but changed their minds due to the perceived risks after the various uprisings.

As a result, we saw one other UK boat, three US, one Czech and several French. The marina was almost empty for much of the time we were there, and there was very little socialising as there was generally no-one to socialise with! Later on we spent a couple of weeks in Agadir, which was very different, almost full with lots of interaction. Still predominantly French, but one UK boat, one Japanese and a smattering of Dutch.

Later on in Senegal (2012) we were again the only UK boat, and the guys at the CVD said we were only the second that year.

Numbers were down everywhere in 2011 along that coast if local reports were to be believed, but that still doesn't answer your question of where were the Brits. There's no question that the French view this as their neck of the woods (francophone countries after all) and that's likely to remain the case. But it's a pity that more Brits don't visit (in my view) as Morocco is wonderful, and I think the risks are overplayed. Maybe we should get out more?

C

 

[cocoonnelly]

I'm sure the reason is that the problems in the middle east depressing tourism there.