winter in the med on a cat

[macieknan]

Hey Mediterranean Cruisers!


Please help with any suggestions for a marina suitable to spend our first winter season in the med.


I am currently located in Croatia and would like to move to a warmer place with a community that my wife and kids (8&10) could enjoy and is relatively inexpensive.



If there is any place that would not have a surcharge for being a catamaran, it would be the top of my list.



Thank you!

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by macieknan

Hey Mediterranean Cruisers!


Please help with any suggestions for a marina suitable to spend our first winter season in the med.


I am currently located in Croatia and would like to move to a warmer place with a community that my wife and kids (8&10) could enjoy and is relatively inexpensive.



If there is any place that would not have a surcharge for being a catamaran, it would be the top of my list.



Thank you!

In my opinion no where in Southern Europe is “ warm “ throughout the winter , temps fall to close to zero C at night and a lot of rain can be a feature

To get heat and dryness the canaries is the only place

[goboatingnow]

What you have to decide is do you want a vibrant marina community so that you can socialise and engage in group winter activities.

Some people seek these activities out others want to avoid them

My marina in Lefkada has a fantastic winter social programme , parties , walking , cultural events , etc etc

Some people spend the winter just to engage in these activities.

If it’s heat you want it’s the canaries my fiend. South you go n

[boatman61]

Almerimar in Andalucia, Spain..
No surcharge on cats, very reasonable prices, excellent large on site s/market, chandlery, sail makers, haul out, superb marine engineer and plenty to do just 120nm E of Gib.
Have had swims of the beach in January in past years.

Puerto de Almerimar – Un Oásis en Almería

[Anders]

I would not swim there in January but I do agree that Almerimar is a brilliant marina with lots of eateries and shops and easy to get to Almeria or Malaga airport.
The other thought is Turkey that tends to be warmer than many other wintering locations and is outside Schengen. Finding somewhere with space could be a challenge if it's for this winter.

[Franziska]

Warmer than Croatia in Europe (besides Canaries) :
Turkey and Cyprus are reasonably warm, so is Crete and to some extent Algarve.

I'm at Algarve right now, it can have rainy days with 13 degrees like today, but the sun comes out once in a while and then you quickly have 18-20 degrees.
Night temperature varies though, we had 7 degrees, but it can be also close to 18, really depending on the wind direction.

Water is around 20 degrees so still ok for swimming or surfing, especially with a suit on of course.

Life here is reasonably priced if you pick the right shops. Avoid the tourism traps. I'm full time at anchor, so no extra cost except 10€ for water once a month.

Socialising at anchor works well, folks visit each other all the time and also do excursions together.

Good luck with your move down south.

Also consider Morroco!

[boatman61]

Did that in my late 50's, early 60's..
Wouldn't do it now I'm 74... 15C on land is too cold these days...
You could also consider Puerto Noray in the Spanish enclave of Melilla 80nm due S of Almerimar.
https://puertodeportivo.marbella.es/...-atraques.html

[nmuir]

We spent a winter in Monastir Tunisia and were happy with the setup, the sailing community, and in particular the value.


I don't know is there is a catamaran surcharge but the rates are so much lower than elsewhere it may not matter.

The Capitainerie, customs, police, etc are all based in the port and make check in and out far easier than other ports of entry.

An extra bonus - it is out of the EU if you need to reset a 'VAT 'clock'.


Boat work is also inexpensive compared to the EU. Quality can vary a bit so get references from the other cruisers and keep a close eye on progress.
Good luck!


Accueil - Marina Cap Monastir- Appart'hôtel

[neilpride]

I spend a full winter in Almerimar, great cheap place, nice people around, nice travelift , boatyard.

The only drawback in my case was that i arrived with a 62-foot boat and they put me in the dock that is marked in red, close to the beach,and the gale storms called in spanish Ponientes coming from the west SW tend to fill the boat with sand from the beach to the point of finding sand dunes on the deck.

The other area marked in red its worst, because the waves that break on the breakwater send stones through the air at dangerous distances.

Otherwise it is an excellent place to spend a few months.

[goboatingnow]

Marina de Ragusa on Sicily gets good press

https://www.navily.com/mouillage/ragusa/22094