Winter Berth in SoF

[moorsie]

Hi all,

I'm trying to get hold of a 15m berth for rent over the winter in SoF. I fancy a bit of easily accessible winter warmth, well warmer than Blighty anyway!

I've tried to get in touch with the usual suspects at Baie Des Anges, Port Vauban, Camille Rayon etc by email but not much luck. I'm thinking it could be best to perhaps pop down there at some point soon and do it face-to-face, any thoughts?

Alternatively any berth owners fancy renting me theirs if not in use?

Thanks very much,

Ben

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Hi all,

I'm trying to get hold of a 15m berth for rent over the winter in SoF. I fancy a bit of easily accessible winter warmth, well warmer than Blighty anyway!

I've tried to get in touch with the usual suspects at Baie Des Anges, Port Vauban, Camille Rayon etc by email but not much luck. I'm thinking it could be best to perhaps pop down there at some point soon and do it face-to-face, any thoughts?

Alternatively any berth owners fancy renting me theirs if not in use?

Thanks very much,

Ben

I can't speak for the others, but at Port Vauban you won't be able to rent privately, you have to go through the capitanerie. When I was renting down there (four years ago) berths were available in the summer months, but not at all during the winter because all the cruising boats come back to the port. I'd been renting there for four months and they categorically stated that there would be no space for me at all in September. Things may have changed since then, but by the same token 15m is the most popular size in the port and you don't often see them empty. As you suggest, the only way to tackle this is in person. Best of luck!

 

[rustybarge]

I'm trying to get hold of a 15m berth for rent over the winter in SoF. I fancy a bit of easily accessible winter warmth, well warmer than Blighty anyway!

Be aware the winter weather in the SoF is often wet windy and overcast; it can be lovely up till Christmas some years, but not that often.

I'm afraid you'll have to look further south to get good weather. Spain or Portugal ?

 

[adey]

I wintered in Port Gallice. Arranged it by email without any problem. Not much is open in the winter in Juan les Pins though.

 

[Mrnotming]

I went to the Nice area in person as advised often on here.
Staff just take your particulars and promise nothing.We had really bad flooding and traffic queues made our return to the airport most stressful.
Nothing ever heard from these marinas.
Suggest as OP's say Spain better.
For braver souls there are options in The Canaries,but it suits mobos better than raggies due to the fierce wind acceleration zones between the islands.

 

[moorsie]

Thanks everyone and yes I've heard that SoF actually may not be the warmer climes we'd been hoping for. I'd hate to go through all the aggro of getting the boat there and then not be able to wear me' shorts!!

Spain is looking increasingly more attractive. We stopped off at Alicante on a cruise last year and loved the place, hugely surprised at how pretty the town was and the marina was fab. Loads cheaper than SoF too! We'd be going down there for circa 4/6 weeks at a time by car as we need to take the pooches but Brittany Ferries seem to make it easy with pet-friendly cabins.

Anyone currently at Alicante or have any experience of it? Whats the current G5 status?

Cheers

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Thanks everyone and yes I've heard that SoF actually may not be the warmer climes we'd been hoping for.

A mistake often made by British people thinking about migrating to the Med. I remember moaning to a local in Majorca in February when it was 2degC at midday and snowing (yes it can snow in Majorca!) and he replied that we Brits think that its always summer in the Med but in fact they have seasons just like everywhere else. Having said that, on average, its always going to be warmer and drier in the Med than the UK even in winter.

It is not true that the SoF suffers from particularly bad winters; in fact quite the opposite, it is known for its mild winters. I would say avoid the Adriatic during winter; it certainly can get very cold and wet there in the winter. I've seen icicles hanging off my mooring lines in Italy in January. If you want the best chance of mild weather in the Med during winter, its stating the obvious but go south. Somewhere like the Costa del Sol would be a good place to avoid winter

 

[NGM]

Thanks everyone and yes I've heard that SoF actually may not be the warmer climes we'd been hoping for. I'd hate to go through all the aggro of getting the boat there and then not be able to wear me' shorts!!

Spain is looking increasingly more attractive. We stopped off at Alicante on a cruise last year and loved the place, hugely surprised at how pretty the town was and the marina was fab. Loads cheaper than SoF too! We'd be going down there for circa 4/6 weeks at a time by car as we need to take the pooches but Brittany Ferries seem to make it easy with pet-friendly cabins.

Anyone currently at Alicante or have any experience of it? Whats the current G5 status?

Cheers

For a winter season Alicante is probably one of the best places, weather is the driest and sunniest in Spain (Costa del Sol is more seasonal than the SE), the City is not overly seasonal so still plenty of life, lots of cheap flights, airport 10 mins away. The drive from Santander/Bilbao is about 7 hours. Downside is the cruising area is very limited - best for just marina hoping.