Email received Saturday, June 2nd, 2012

Just a quick note about our experience La Graciosa marina, quite to the contrary on what we read on Noonsite.

We arrived on 24 April and anchored off. Two days later, with no prior arrangement, we entered the marina and found the staff, especially the port captain quite welcoming, although there were no marineros to help us tie up, but then again hardly needed.

Although not port of entry, the port captain acknowledged our previous port in Morroco and advised that we could complete formal check-in to the Canaries when we sailed to Lanzarote.

The rate for our 40 feet vessel 10 euros per day, including water but no power, although there were power outlets on pontoons they were apparently not connected to shore.

Maybe the things are different at busier times of the year.

Cheers,

Roger & Sasha

SY Ednbal

Our thanks to Frank Van Camp for sending us the new e-mail address for the Canary Islands Government – March 2012

This report was received Sunday 21 August 2011

Just a quick note on Isla Graciosa: We arrived at Caleta del Sebo at 0400 to be turned away by an ill-tempered official. It seems that the requirement for a permit, which has applied to the island’s bays for some time, now applies to the marina also.

We cannot definitely confirm this, but we would not recommend anyone arriving on the island without prior arrangements having been made.

Sam & Adrian

WoodBlue Moon

Marina Rubicon, Lanzarote

Further Information has been provided by Mel of Puerto Calero Marina, Lanzarote, 14 September 2011.

She comments, “Regarding berthing in the marina in La Graciosa, I confirm that the official line requires that a reservation is made through the central office of the Dirección de Puertos. The reservation system is admittedly a tricky affair for anyone – let alone a cruiser with invariably limited communication tools. It is worth bearing in mind however that many sailors arriving outside of the busy Summer and Autumn seasons have been known to obtain a berth if turning up without a reservation. (Sadly the very low berthing rates also means that some sailors have been known to abuse the system by leaving boats without checking for availability and simply disappearing to return a few months later.)

Yachts wanting to visit the marina in La Graciosa should complete the Application Form and send it at least 2 weeks prior to arrival together with a photocopy of the applicant’s passport, the boat papers and current insurance policy to fax (928 306391) or by e-mail (avegsan@gobiernodecanarias.org).

To assist with completing the form for non-Spanish speakers, here are some useful translations:

Nombre: Name

Eslora: Length

Manga: Beam

Marca/Modelo: Make/Model

Póliza de Seguro nº: Insurance Policy nº

Fecha Caducidad: Expiry date

Armador: Owner

Patrón: Skipper

Atraque: Berth

Fondo: Anchorage

Fijo: Permanent

Desde.Hasta: To …From

Firma: Signature

The same reservation system (and same e-mail address) is used for the ports of Morro Jable, Gran Tarajal and Corralejo in Fuerteventura. A full list can be found here.

General contacts for both provinces (La Graciosa forms part of the province of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria) are as follows:

Dirección General de Puertos

C/ La Marina, nº 16

38001 Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Tfnos: 922 28 06 12

Fax: 922 24 62 74

Dirección General de Puertos

Plz. de los Derechos Humanos, nº 22

Edf. Usos Múltiples I, Planta 9ª

35071 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Tfnos: 928 45 58 85

Fax: 928 30 63 91

Boats still struggling with this (or without the luxury of a fax machine on board!) and planning to go to Graciosa are welcome to contact them: reservas@puertocalero.com for help.

Anchoring within the Chinijo Archipelago

To obtain a permit to anchor in the bay of Playa Francesa in La Graciosa or the area known as El Veril off Alegranza, sailors should complete the following Application Form and send it to the Servicio de Medio Ambiente within the Cabildo de Lanzarote using the email medioambiente3@cabildodelanzarote.com or fax: +34 928 805877. Bear in mind that requests should ideally be made 10 days in advance of the stay.