Sant Carles is approx 150nm south of the Spanish / French Border so the area covered here represents the majority of the Spanish mainland coast in the western Med. Availability was not an issue at all and costs not prohibitive as can be seen below. In short no more expensive than cruising the English Channel, some would say cheaper. There are anchorages but these are generally exposed to swell. Some places made an individual charge for water and electricity. These are metered and relevant for a longer stay. For a single night, we were invariably charged 2E, presumably 1E each. Where WIFI from nearby cafe is indicated, I was able to utilise an external antenna to pick up signals for use below decks.

Med style berthing (M) or conventional marina pontoon (P) are also indicated.

May 2014

Vilamoura (P) – 15.60E / night inc water and electricity – free marina WIFI.

Ayamonte (P)  – 16.66E / night inc water and electricity – No marina WIFI. Cafe nearby.

Mazagon (P)   – 16.66E / night inc water and electricity – No marina WIFI. Cafe nearby.

Cadiz – Puerto Sherry (P)  – 16.66E / night inc water and electricity – No marina WIFI. Cafe nearby.

Barbate (P)  – 16.66E / night inc water and electricity – No marina WIFI.

June 2014

La Linea, Marina Alcadeisa (P) – 136E / week inc metered water and electricity and 5% CA discount – No marina WIFI. Cafe nearby.

Gibraltar – Diesel in Marina Bay – 67p/litre. 3 stations, easy access but no filling cans.

Estepona (M) – 30.55E / night inc water and electricity – free marina WIFI.

Marina Bajadilla, Marbella  (M) – 14.28E / night inc water and electricity – No marina WIFI. Cafe nearby.

Caleta de Velez (M) -31.55E / night inc water and electricity – No marina WIFI. Cafe nearby.

Marina del Este  (M) – 45.52E / night exc water and electricity, there was no charge as so little used – free marina WIFI.

Almerimar  (M) – 21.60E / night inc water and electricity – No free marina WIFI. Cafe nearby.

Aquadulce  (M) – 28.25E / night inc water and electricity – free marina WIFI.

Garrucha (M)  – 30.70E / night inc water and electricity – No marina WIFI. Cafe nearby. (This was the older marina, new marina close by a better bet).

Aquilas, Club Nautico(M)  – 28.25E / night inc water and electricity – No marina WIFI. (There is now a brand new marina 2nm south of the Club Nautico with more availability)

Cartegena (M)   – 45.70E / night inc water and electricity and 5% CA discount – No marina WIFI but convenient onsite PC.

Santa Pola (P)   – 35.50E / night exc water and electricity. We were charged 2E on top for services – free marina WIFI. (I have subsequently checked my receipt, paid before the 2E and it includes a charge for services. Check on arrival.)

Vilajoyosa (M)  – 35.50E / night inc water and electricity – free marina WIFI.

Moroira (M)  – 52.30E / night inc water and electricity – free marina WIFI available in Club Nautico. Nice place but overpriced for an alongside berth with potential rafting. Use the shower facilities in the Club Nautico.

Denia   – 3 marinas here, we used the two detailed.

El Portet (M) –  39E / night inc water and electricity – free marina WIFI.  No arrivals pontoon, call on VHF they speak good English.

Marina de Denia (M)  – 45E / night exc water and electricity, we were charged 2E for one night, nothing for 3 nights  – free marina WIFI. Arrivals pontoon to port on entering the harbour.

July 2014.

Valencia (M) – 20.55E / night inc water and electricity – free marina WIFI. Be here in July as there are fireworks every Saturday night.

Burriana (M)  – 38.34 / night inc water and electricity – free marina WIFI but we could not get it to work. No cafe with WIFI nearby.

Oropesa  (M) –  34.46E / night inc water and electricity – free marina WIFI.

Benecarlo (P)  – 54.39E / night inc water and electricity – free marina WIFI.

(We will not visit here again. In virtually every marina visited the 12m berth beam upper limit is 4m or just below. Here it is 3.69m pushing our 11.6m by 3.95m berth into the 15m price range. All of the berths were the same so I feel this is unfair. Try Vinaros 2.5nm up the coast).

Sant Carles Marina (P)  – 42.22E / night inc water and electricity – free marina WIFI.

“Fair winds, as they say”

Nick Ellis

SV ONAWAY