Where to Winter Canary or Morocco or Where

[WoodyP]

Asking on behalf of someone who bought my old boat that he has single handed down to Southern Portugal. He has limited funds and the boat is a 30 foot Kingfisher so economy is key. He is happy to anchor and very self reliant. Any suggestions will be passed on. TIA

 

[capnsensible]

From what I know, both have plus and minus. As always!

Med Morocco has some safe berths but not always as cheap as it first looks. A search on here for threads about the relatively new Tangier marina may give some ideas. On the Atlantic coast Agadir is a safe marina. I gave a friend a hand to take his yacht there for last winter and wasn't his best experience. Also try a look at Rabat. I wouldn't trust any Atlantic anchorage for any length of time. Despite having visited Moroccan ports dozens of times, it's never for more than a few days so I'm not sure how we'll a long stay would go. Mebbe worth a try short term before moving on.

The Canaries are a bit light on anchorages as well. Most are open to the South West and the rare passing low has caused havoc in places. Lanzarote and Fuertaventura may have good options alongside. For the latter, Gran Tarajal is a cheap option. I met a chap there who spent some time living aboard and rated it. There is a new marina down at Morro Jable in the south. Not been there personally but friends liked it and I'm hoping to be there in a few weeks. For both there's a bit of walking to do but goes with the territory.

The Lanza marinas are a bit pricey but give significant discounts for paying in advance. A friend keeps his yacht on a mooring he made himself...2 tons of reinforced concrete! Outside of marina Rubicon but nips up to Calero when bad weather is forecast over the winter. Happens more than people think.

Best option here, I reckon, is the small marina in La Graciosa. Due to be developed but in Canarian style, no one knows when. Currently really cheap moorings, water but no electric. Fab village even more outdated than the Isle of Wight. No tarmac, sandy streets. Cheapo supermarkets and bars too when the daily tourists have gone. Couple of nearby anchorages when weather is settled, close for nipping back in when strong winds and seas are forecast.

For the Canaries, see The Canary Islands Cruising Guide. Very good.

One of the Imray pilots covers Atlantic Spain and Morocco. Useful when your phone runs out of range/charge.

Best I can think of off the top of my head, hope this helps.

 

[WoodyP]

Thanks for that, it's very helpful. He is pretty self reliant with lots of solar panels and has an electric bike to get about. I will pass it on tomorrow when I get his update.

 

[Thresher]

Asking on behalf of someone who bought my old boat that he has single handed down to Southern Portugal. He has limited funds and the boat is a 30 foot Kingfisher so economy is key. He is happy to anchor and very self reliant. Any suggestions will be passed on. TIA

If he has limited funds then insurance for the Canaries will be a factor, for some reason it is bonkers, Morocco not so.

 

[dunedin]

Does the skipper have a right to stay inside Schengen beyond the 90/180 - as Canary Islands are in Schengen i believe?

 

[ashtead]

Having stayed on land near marina rubicon in lanzarotte I would say it’s a lovely little port -in the corner some larger 55ft or so yachts(for sale by canary yacht brokers I notice- but many eateries/bars some of actual quality plus some onsite supermarkets. There is large walkway along front to small town (also electric bikes/scooter path)where ferries run from-these seem to create a fair degree of wash disturbing the walkway even at high tide so would avoid that end.theres not much culture in lanzarotte compared to GC. As a place to be I would chose GC but maybe not of importance to the OP friend. Anyway a few snaps attached.

 

[WoodyP]

Does the skipper have a right to stay inside Schengen beyond the 90/180 - as Canary Islands are in Schengen i believe?

I wouldn't think so, but he does stay below the radar. I don't know what penalties there are if found out.

Having stayed on land near marina rubicon in lanzarotte I would say it’s a lovely little port -in the corner some larger 55ft or so yachts(for sale by canary yacht brokers I notice- but many eateries/bars some of actual quality plus some onsite supermarkets. There is large walkway along front to small town (also electric bikes/scooter path)where ferries run from-these seem to create a fair degree of wash disturbing the walkway even at high tide so would avoid that end.theres not much culture in lanzarotte compared to GC. As a place to be I would chose GC but maybe not of importance to the OP friend. Anyway a few snaps attached.

Thank you for your insights.

 

[dunedin]

I wouldn't think so, but he does stay below the radar. I don't know what penalties there are if found out.

Thank you for your insights.

Attempting to “Stay below the radar” and ignore EU Schengen rules could be a dangerous approach. Perhaps was easy enough a few years ago but increasingly tricky as more checks are introduced and more automated systems made introduced. Also I suspect they might be wise to this in the Canary Isles.
Don’t know penalties, but as well as fines I believe can be forced to leave immediately - which could mean abandoning the boat. And I assume could potentially get a ban on renter ing Schengen area

 

[Sea Change]

I think staying below the radar would be easier when anchoring. But our limited experience of the Canaries was that you'll end up in the marinas most of the time. And when you check in you need to present your documents to the office. I don't know what they do with them.

 

[geem]

From what I know, both have plus and minus. As always!

Med Morocco has some safe berths but not always as cheap as it first looks. A search on here for threads about the relatively new Tangier marina may give some ideas. On the Atlantic coast Agadir is a safe marina. I gave a friend a hand to take his yacht there for last winter and wasn't his best experience. Also try a look at Rabat. I wouldn't trust any Atlantic anchorage for any length of time. Despite having visited Moroccan ports dozens of times, it's never for more than a few days so I'm not sure how we'll a long stay would go. Mebbe worth a try short term before moving on.

The Canaries are a bit light on anchorages as well. Most are open to the South West and the rare passing low has caused havoc in places. Lanzarote and Fuertaventura may have good options alongside. For the latter, Gran Tarajal is a cheap option. I met a chap there who spent some time living aboard and rated it. There is a new marina down at Morro Jable in the south. Not been there personally but friends liked it and I'm hoping to be there in a few weeks. For both there's a bit of walking to do but goes with the territory.

The Lanza marinas are a bit pricey but give significant discounts for paying in advance. A friend keeps his yacht on a mooring he made himself...2 tons of reinforced concrete! Outside of marina Rubicon but nips up to Calero when bad weather is forecast over the winter. Happens more than people think.

Best option here, I reckon, is the small marina in La Graciosa. Due to be developed but in Canarian style, no one knows when. Currently really cheap moorings, water but no electric. Fab village even more outdated than the Isle of Wight. No tarmac, sandy streets. Cheapo supermarkets and bars too when the daily tourists have gone. Couple of nearby anchorages when weather is settled, close for nipping back in when strong winds and seas are forecast.

For the Canaries, see The Canary Islands Cruising Guide. Very good.

One of the Imray pilots covers Atlantic Spain and Morocco. Useful when your phone runs out of range/charge.

Best I can think of off the top of my head, hope this helps.

We just spent 10 days anchored off Grasiosa. Pretty good wingfoiling spot. It's an hour walk in to the little town for groceries.
We didn't see any foreign flagged boats in the marina and it was full. Maybe a symptom of the time of year being high season.

 

[capnsensible]

We just spent 10 days anchored off Grasiosa. Pretty good wingfoiling spot. It's an hour walk in to the little town for groceries.
We didn't see any foreign flagged boats in the marina and it was full. Maybe a symptom of the time of year being high season.

There's not many local yachts there but a regular turnover of budget cruisers. All the Canaries get busy from late August until December, doing what you are doing.

 

[geem]

There's not many local yachts there but a regular turnover of budget cruisers. All the Canaries get busy from late August until December, doing what you are doing.

Yep, been here a few times.
Friends booked the little marina once in Grasiosa. They turned up and were told it was full. They explained that they had booked but the harbourmaster just turned on a recording saying as much repeatedly in English on ch16.
We liked it over 20 years ago when the harbour master would go on holiday for August. He turned off the power and water and left. The marina filled up as soon as he had gone. We had to walk to the campsite for water every day. I notice the campsite has now gone as well.
It's still a dusty little place with sand roads but a little more polished now with multiple tourist boats instead of the one ferry a day

 

[WoodyP]

If he has limited funds then insurance for the Canaries will be a factor, for some reason it is bonkers, Morocco not so.

I wouldn't know about his insurance.

Attempting to “Stay below the radar” and ignore EU Schengen rules could be a dangerous approach. Perhaps was easy enough a few years ago but increasingly tricky as more checks are introduced and more automated systems made introduced. Also I suspect they might be wise to this in the Canary Isles.
Don’t know penalties, but as well as fines I believe can be forced to leave immediately - which could mean abandoning the boat. And I assume could potentially get a ban on renter ing Schengen area

I gave him due warning to check his compliance, but it's up to him, he may just carry on across the ocean.

 

[Roberto]

Asking on behalf of someone who bought my old boat that he has single handed down to Southern Portugal. He has limited funds and the boat is a 30 foot Kingfisher so economy is key. He is happy to anchor and very self reliant. Any suggestions will be passed on. TIA

Check Mohammedia in Morocco, not really a marina but a part of the commercial/fishing port reserved for a couple of pontoons of the local Yacht Club, the representative was very very friendly, one could use the facilities swimming pool etc, very cheap too a fraction of Rabat/Salé or Agadir (though that goes back to a few years ago), market, small local eating places nearby. Next to Casablanca in case he needs anything, travel etc. Very safe too, there are port guarded gates. A British family we met overwintered there with their young children, we just stayed a few days. By the description you make of your friend I think he might like the kind of place.
Best luck

 

[Roberto]

Add
there are several places he might find a corner to spend time undisturbed, Asilah, Jorf Lasfar, El Jadida, Safi, etc. Some are totally free in others one pays commercial shipping fees based on tonnage, we had dirham bills for the equivalent of say 1-2euro
Essaouira they generally let you raft to the local SAR boat so maybe less interesting. Anchorages are at best tolerated, maybe if he gets to know the local authority then they would let him.

 

[Thresher]

I think staying below the radar would be easier when anchoring. But our limited experience of the Canaries was that you'll end up in the marinas most of the time. And when you check in you need to present your documents to the office. I don't know what they do with them.

I was anchored outside the harbour at Porto Santo, Madeira a couple of days ago. The police came out and asked me to come in and register for the next day. I would say that staying under the radar would be pretty dificult.

 

[WoodyP]

I have invited him to look at this post and if he joins will no doubt be able to follow this up with you. Very helpful replies, so thank you all.

 

[capnsensible]

Add
there are several places he might find a corner to spend time undisturbed, Asilah, Jorf Lasfar, El Jadida, Safi, etc. Some are totally free in others one pays commercial shipping fees based on tonnage, we had dirham bills for the equivalent of say 1-2euro
Essaouira they generally let you raft to the local SAR boat so maybe less interesting. Anchorages are at best tolerated, maybe if he gets to know the local authority then they would let him.

A warning. In places I've stopped in along that coast, unless the are small vessel pontoons, we have been advised by port authorities to always have someone onboard due to the high rates of theft. Especially in fishing boat harbours.

 

[stephen_h]

A warning. In places I've stopped in along that coast, unless the are small vessel pontoons, we have been advised by port authorities to always have someone onboard due to the high rates of theft. Especially in fishing boat harbours.

Also a lot of big heavy fishing boats that may crunch you. Had this is El Jadida as did a french boat next to us.
Was all fixed but something to be aware of.

 

[WoodyP]

A warning. In places I've stopped in along that coast, unless the are small vessel pontoons, we have been advised by port authorities to always have someone onboard due to the high rates of theft. Especially in fishing boat harbours.

I don't think he has much of value and he is on his own.