Wintering in Palamós, Spain (or nearby)

Mino

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Anyone done this? Interested to learn of your experiences, especially recent ones; bearing in mind what the Spanish authorities are up to these days re. the yachting community, and any other relevant news that I may have missed. (Been out of the loop for several months).
 

Carmel2

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I notice their web site does not work for me so I couldn't see the price. We stopped there in February 2009, the price was eye watering; roughly triple the price of anything else around, also it's quite a hike into town, nice town though.
 

G12

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I worked on an 85ft Ketch in Palamos about 11 years ago (Restless Spirit if she's still there). I can't tell you much about the marina really, I didn't have to pay the bill but it wasn't that far into town at all. There are some nice little bars there etc. As the engineer onboard I found it more difficult to get spares for things there although this may have changed in the mean time. I was off in the car almost every day to one place or another looking for parts.
If you're into diving, there is a trawler wreck in 30m not far from the harbour entrance. She was deliberately sunk and quite intact when I visited her.
 

Carmel2

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Forgot to ask another question: what are the forumites opinions re. the anchorages in that area, especially in winter?

I am sure someone will come along and tell you they anchor off in that neck of the woods all year round surviving on cress grown out of an old tea bag. If you take their advice I wish you the best of luck, As some wise sage said the other day on this forum, ' The wind is strong enough to blow the *******s of a bull'
 

Mino

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I am sure someone will come along and tell you they anchor off in that neck of the woods all year round surviving on cress grown out of an old tea bag. If you take their advice I wish you the best of luck, As some wise sage said the other day on this forum, ' The wind is strong enough to blow the *******s of a bull'

That has to be one of the best replies I have ever had on the YBW forums. :D
 

westernman

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I think there are two marinas in Palamos. The northern most one is eye watering for price. They were full when were arrived there late one night (ca 11pm). We were put on the fuel berth, then kicked off at 10am the next morning. We still had to pay full price which was expensive. And it was bumpy as well. We were bouncing up and down all night, although it was pretty calm outside the harbour!

I don't know about the other one - but it has to be cheaper.

My tip would be L'Escala - a little bit further to the north.
 

stillwaters

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I think there are two marinas in Palamos. The northern most one is eye watering for price. They were full when were arrived there late one night (ca 11pm). We were put on the fuel berth, then kicked off at 10am the next morning. We still had to pay full price which was expensive. And it was bumpy as well. We were bouncing up and down all night, although it was pretty calm outside the harbour!

I don't know about the other one - but it has to be cheaper.

My tip would be L'Escala - a little bit further to the north.
My info a little out of date but hopefully of some use. We went from SoF to Barcelona and back between autumn 2008 and spring 2009. As we were in no hurry we stopped at a number of places including Palamos on the way down and the way back. First time in the newish marina on the eastern side and,as Carmel2 says very expensive,in fact 6 euros/metre per night for short stay against a norm of about 2 euros or a tad over elsewhere. Six months later we gave a lift north to a local friend who reckoned we could get away with a free night in Palamos fish port (inside which is the other smaller and older marina) to the east of the headland. So we arrived late and,as we would soon need fuel,spent the night on the fuel pontoon where we took on 1,000 euros worth first thing the following morning. However,despite this they still insisted on relieving us of a further approx. 4 euros/metre for our wonderful mooring spot. Palamos,though,we found quite interesting - good selection of varied bars,restaurants & shops plus English newspapers in the town and,whilst by no means the best place we've been to,better than most along that stretch. Maybe cheaper minus the boat,though?
Maybe before considering winter anchoring anywhere along that coast you might revisit a map and ponder how that coastline became so jagged in the first place as well as remembering that the name Costa Brava roughly translates as "windswept and interesting"! Also,you have to be wary of a number of marinas along there which are particularly open to the SW and prone to heavy swell at times,especially September to April. I agree with Escala being a better bet,being well sheltered (fuel was cheaper too,in 2008 anyway) or even consider nearby Empuriabrava,which some consider an all-year resort,with Girona airport nearby and an easy distance to a few gems across the border such as Banyuls & Collioure. because of the sometines poor shelter,not sure I'd want to consider anything short of the centre of Barcelona the other way but,as I said,this info is not totally up to date and,of course,is subjective.
 

stillwaters

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Small correction to previous post,the fish port in Palamos is to the west not the east as I stated (no wonder I got half way across the Atlantic before I realised the error that time we were meant to be going to Turkey).
 
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