Wintering in the Mediterranean
If you are currently cruising the Mediterranean and considering where to winter your boat, these comments from the cruising community – accumulated over the last 5+ years – should give you a good idea as to where the majority are spending the colder months. Additional recent feedback can be found in user comments via the speech bubble icon, at the top and bottom of the article. Do post your own feedback if you want to recommend a place you spent the winter in the Med.
Published 5 years ago, updated 4 months ago
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EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN
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TURKEY
Alanya:
Alanya is a seaside resort located on the eastern side of the Gulf of Antalya. It is 120 kms (74.5 miles) from the city of Antalya. It is attractive all year, with a castle and many historical sites in the vicinity. Wade and Diane Alarie arrived in Alanya after passing through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea in June 2020. See their Report – Three Years Based at Alanya Marina – May 2023.
Antalya:
We are wintering on the hard in Setur Antalya (2018). Price was the big attraction as we wanted to leave the boat out of the water for 9 months. The marina staff are by far the most helpful we have ever encountered. However, the facilities and availability of supplies are extremely limited. All shopping requires a bus trip, which is not a problem if the bus arrives – no guarantee it will run and no set timetable. There is a very small chandlery in the marina and items can be ordered in within a few days. Most of the boats in the marina are local Turkish owned. We are one of the very few cruisers in the marina this winter. We will not be wintering again in Antalya.
Bodrum:
Bodrum: Wintering in D-Marin (2016)
Finike:
Wintering in Finike, SE Turkey, Cruisers Report (2014)
Izmir:
Reports from cruisers who have stayed in Levent Marina, Izmir, for the winter can be found in the comments section. It is a small marina and is located next to the auto ferry stop on the South side of Izmir Bay in Uçkuyular. The staff is small but reported to be genuinely helpful and obliging. Excellent protection.
Kas:
See comment posted at bottom of this report dated 2019 about wintering in Kas Harbor and another dated 2015/16 re. wintering in Setur Marina, Kas. Other user feedback about this port can be found here.
Kusadasi:
Kusadasi: Experiences when over-wintering (2013/14)
Marmaris:
Noonsite Report – Turkey, Marmaris: Surviving a Winter Storm (2021)
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LEBANON
Located on the Eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea, Lebanon is not a typical cruising destination. Italian sailor Giorgio Clerici of SY Laurora spent winter 2022/23 there and reports on fees, protocols and his impressions of this country that is suffering an economic crisis. While winter cruising outside of Beirut is not to be recommended, in the Summer there are some interesting places to visit and lovely anchorages along the coast. See Lebanon comments (speech bubble icon).
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GREECE
Crete:
Aghios Nikolaos, NE Crete. Very nice and welcoming city, close to Heraklion Airport, very well sheltered, cheap and a winter temperature around 20 degrees C. There are people swimming all year round.
Crete, Agios Nikolaos Wintering: Facilities and Lifestyle (2017).
Early booking essential for winter berths (2016).
Egina (Aigina):
There are four boatyards in Egina – 20 minutes by hydrofoil from Athens. See user comments at bottom of report from 2017 about wintering here. User comments on the port page from 2020.
Evia:
We are wintering in “Boat Club” in the Evia Channel (2018), Halkoutsi, about 1hr from Athens. It’s good value, comes well recommended and is a nice safe place to be. The owner lives inside the boatyard.
Kalamata:
We are staying in Kalamata,
Greece. Unlike in Turkey, there is a lack of officialdom in Greece.
There’s too many rules, regulations for yachts in Turkey. See comments from cruisers who have visited Kalamata.
Leros:
I will be away for 6 months (2019) and my boat will be in Leros Boatyard for 6 months. My boat had been in Yacht Marina for over 10 years, but this year I ran out of my 90 days visa and Lero’s boatyard in Greece is 900 Euros cheaper for laying up my boat on the hard for 6 months.
Agmar Marina Partheni Boatyard (2018). On the hard winterizing good and cheap compared with other solutions in this part of Med. Very professional maintenance & refitting capability, all sectors, even if not cheap at all, sometimes ridiculously exaggerate. Anyhow good output, even if at a price. Attilio Siviero, Sisila ketch
Porto Cheli:
Feedback from 2017 at the bottom of this report under user comments by cruisers that spent the winter in Porto Cheli, Peloponnese.
Preveza:
Mixed reviews for Preveza as a wintering/long-term stay option. See Cruisers Comments. The yards here do insist on clients using their on-site technicians. Good advice is to agree with the yard up front that you can use outsiders to carry out the works during layup and get this in writing. There are some very good service people outside the yards, but the yards won’t let them work unless you have agreed on this in advance.
Lefkas:
Lefkas Marina [Facebook] have an activity programme for winter liveaboards.
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CYPRUS
Cyprus actually is a good cruising destination with many anchorages. Although none are all weather anchorages, most are good in the prevailing weather.
Northern Cyprus
Karpaz Gate Marina:
Karpaz Gate Marina has 5* facilities at 3* prices yet so few boats! A wonderful place to relax. The rural location is a benefit and a drawback but the marina organise regular shopping expeditions to the towns at little or no cost. Email for prices, you may find them better than their website. (2018).
Southern Cyprus
Larnaca:
At Larnaca Marina haul out is charged by the square meter (length (LOA) x max. beam) – 2018. The price is 6 euro per square meter lifting and same price launching. If people have an extended stay in mind then hauling out is maybe a good option as it avoids berthing problems. See more at Cruisers Comments.
Limassol:
Wintering in Limassol, Cyprus (2014/15)
Many sailors might know that Cyprus is another option to escape from Schengen, the winter weather is superb and the marina (Limassol) is very safe. However, Cyprus is not known for many places to anchor, marinas can be expensive, especially in the summer, and there are not many of them. Marina costs where we are now will be going up by 50 per cent (discount reduced to 25 per cent), that puts the cost for a 6-month contract in winter for a 12 to 15-meter boat around 6,000 euro including VAT, but extra for water and power. There are many nice places in the Med with much more reasonable rates.
Limassol marina in 2016 cost for a 12 to the 15-meter boat, 4120 euros minus 25% discount, plus 19% tax, so around 3680 euros total for a 6-month winter contract. See latest costs at their website.
(2018) I know that wintering at Limassol is expensive compared to many other places in the Med, but in our opinion, it is one of the nicest marinas in the Mediterranean we have wintered in, 5 stars, safe in all wind and weather, great people and still outside the Schengen area.
Other Limassol comments by users at bottom of this report.
Ayia Napa:
When US Sailors Cindy and Michael Hanson arrived in the Mediterannean in December 2022 after sailing from the Seychelles, they wanted somewhere warm to spend the winter. The new Ayia Napa Marina in Cyprus turned out to be the ideal location as they outline in this report.
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CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN
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ITALY – SICILY
Licata:
Sicily, Licata – Cruisers comment on Marina di Cala del Sole.
Licata on Sicily is another very nice place. We’ve spent winter 2018/19 here, where it was nearly fully booked. The marina is excellent. Staff are friendly and competent. Facilities are well maintained and clean. Read more at Cruisers Comments.
Lots of great feedback about the marina/boatyard here for winter storage, however a report received this year (2021) states that the yard don’t offer a dry storage service. They only keep boats in the yard for the time needed to complete commissioned works. Read past comments about wintering in Ragusa here.
Palermo:
We left the boat in Palermo, Sicily for the last winter (2018/19), in Galizzi marina – 300 Euros per month. Very well protected and secured, they provide all facilities: water; electricity; responsible staff (if needed they add more ropes when you are not there). Had peace of mind during last winter!
Additional to a well managed Marina, Nautica Galizzi has a small but very efficient boatyard the which can handle small and large repairs. All chandlers and more mechanical workshops are just around the corner which should make this the ideal place to resolve basically any issue on any type of boat (2019).
Hi, I stayed at Fratelli Galizzi from April until October 2015. One can only recommend this place. Good service and very helpful in all means. Had some works done by the family very accurate and good. 10 minutes walk to the centre of the city. All facilities close, Airport about 30-40 mins. I will return! Palermo is always worth a visit!
Riposto:
I’m staying in Marina di Riposto for a year (2019/20) and based this on the location, facilities and proximity to Catania airport. The marina is large, very sheltered and secure. The staff are very helpful and will assist whenever you return to the marina. All stern-to berthing, but with their assistance, this should never be a problem.
The marina is in the centre of Riposto which can get a bit quiet over winter with only a few restaurants open, but there is everything you could need for an extended stay. The fish and vegetable market is close by and there numerous local shops, pasticcerias and bars nearby. Catania airport is within easy reach and costs about 6-7 euros by public transport. This is a great spot to explore the area, including Taormina and Mount Etna. Some good anchoring spots along the coast.
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ITALY – SARDINIA
See comment posted at bottom of this report dated 2019 about Portus Karalis in Cagliari. Other user feedback about this port can be found here.
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ITALY – MAINLAND
Bari:
Cantieri Nautica Ranieri is a private marina/boatyard on the north side of Bari harbour with winter berths available. Good rate, excellent security and spaces available (2018).
Nautica Ranieri in Bari (2018): we chose this marina because we were going to be leaving our boat for several weeks of land travel on mainland Europe. We chose it because it was conveniently located for us, having just sailed over from Dubrovnik (a straight shot across the Adriatic), and it was by far the most reasonably priced (45 euros a night), and also very secure marina on our intended course down the southern Adriatic, around the “boot” of Italy and westward. The marina puts a big premium on security. The boatyard is directly adjacent to the coast guard and is behind large walls with secure doors. When we arrived by taxi fully laden with our provisions from shopping, the marina opened its auto doors and allowed the taxi to drive up to the boat, and we entered and exited via a key-card accessible door. Otherwise, no open entries to the boatyard or marina are possible.
Brindisi:
I have now (2018) for the last 4 years used Brindisi for my Winter storage of my yacht a Moody 422. The name of the yard in Brindisi is: Cantiere Navale Danese, Danese Yacht Service info@cantieredanese.it. This yard is the most secure and professionally run yard I have visited for many years. The infrastructure is perfect for reaching Brindisi in the Winter month.
Gaeta:
Gaeta (halfway between Rome and Naples) – Base Nautica Flavio Gioia – Popular marina for wintering for cruising yachts with good shelter.
Monfalcone:
We put the boat on the hard at Marina Hannibal for the winter 2016-17 (East coast, Adriatic, Monfalcone). Exceptional friendly and helpful staff. Nice yard and somewhat protected from the Bora winds. Price was reasonable, and both the marina and yard are well maintained. The only complaint was that our outboard was stolen while we were on the hard in the marina.
Roccella Ionica:
Roccella Ionica – situated on the “boot” of Italy. Many cruisers comments as recent as 2019.
Roccella and its port have always been one of our favourites in the Med. We have spent the past winter (2018/19) here and have thoroughly enjoyed being here. We lacked for nothing. The plan is to return here again this winter. The liveaboard community this year was very small, but we expect it only to grow. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful, and the marina is actively soliciting winter liveaboards.
We spent the winter of 2017-18 (Oct-Apr) here and can’t sing their praises enough. The marina may not be the prettiest around, but it is definitely value for money; they have raised their prices this year (2019) but are still, I believe, the cheapest in Italy. As a wintering location, Roccella is ideal. Inexpensive, protected and a good location on the way to or from Greece or the Adriatic and Albania is within easy reach for non-EU visitors needing to leave the EU temporarily. We’re returning for 2018-19 as are a number of others. Well worth considering – read more in comments at bottom of report.
We spent the winter 2016/17 in Roccella Ionica – well sheltered, very helpful and friendly staff, excellent winter rates, free bikes to go to town. Great markets close by (Saturday and Tuesday). Would certainly stay there again, best rates in the Med! 1100 Euros for a winter package for a 53-foot boat including vat, water and electricity!
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OTHER MED COUNTRIES
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SPAIN
Almeria:
We spent the winter 2016-2017 in Almeria – Puerto Deportivo Aguadulce. Very attractive pricing, good service, charming and helpful harbour peoples and good protection. The bar and cafés can be noisy during the weekend though. Well equipped ‘Varadero’, we had new antifouling applied there.
Almerimar:
Almerimar in Spain is cheap (or was). It has a large international community of liveaboards so you won’t be lonely. Mixed reviews from cruisers.
Barcelona:
Barcelona – Winter storage in Badalona (2014)
Useful feedback from cruisers in various facilities in and around Barcelona.
User comments at bottom of this report about Port Roda de Bará near to Barcelona (in particular for catamarans) and Club Nàutic de Vilanova, 50km WSW of Barcelona.
Cartagena:
I spent the winter 2016/17 in Yacht Port Cartagena. Good facilities, friendly staff and a great community. The town is also worth visiting. It’s a well-protected marina, except in strong Southerly swells. The prices are very reasonable. During my stay, there was a special offer for catamarans to pay the same price as monohulls. Consequently, there were a lot of cats with liveaboards. The marina is also great at recommending people and suppliers for jobs on boats. I didn’t use the nearby boatyard but heard good things about it.
See this video for a glimpse at winter life for liveaboards in Cartagena (2017).
Wintering in Cartagena (2011)
Good feedback from cruisers that have visited and spent time in Cartagena in cruisers comments.
La Linea:
Marina Alcaidesa in La Linea de la Concepcion – a great many useful cruisers comments about this marina right next door to Gibraltar.
Sevilla:
Club Nautico de Sevilla – Prices reported to be reasonable for wintering.
Torrevieja:
Torrevieja – Plenty of space and winter deals available. A great deal of feedback from boats that have spent time here in user comments for Torrevieja.
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SPAIN – NORTH AFRICA
Melilla:
Recommendation for Puerto Noray Marina in Melilla, below, under user comments (2017). More feedback from users on the port page.
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FRANCE
South of France, Gruissan: Winter Storage at Nautiland (2013-14)
More recent reports from cruisers in Gruissan in comments.
Cruising Notes for Mediterranean France – 2011-2013
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MALTA
I spent 2 winters in Marsamxett Harbour Marina in Malta on the breakwater. I liked it. Very European community. Lots of good social get-togethers. Quite a few people have started to go to Ragusa in Sicily. It was still very reasonably priced when we left in 2011.
Marsamxett Harbour: Msida Marina – updates from Cruisers
I heard many boaters put their boat on the hard on Gozo island, just north of Malta for the winter.
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MOROCCO
Morocco, Sale/Rabat: Wintering at Bouregreg Marina (Nov. 2011 -April 2012)
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TUNISIA
A popular option for winter in the Med. Excellent position, with easy access to Greece and Croatia in the east or Sardinia and the Balearics in the west. The weather is warm and generally moderate with pleasant winter cruising in the south as depressions tend to stay further north. The infrastructure for yachting is well established and varied with many harbours, small fishing ports and marinas to enjoy not to mention the rich history and culture on shore. See more details in Tunisia comments (speech bubble icon).
Tunisia: A Five-Star Schengen Bolthole (2021)
Tunisia, Monastir – Marina almost full by May for the following winter. Lots of favourable comments about getting work done here over the winter (most recent 2018). Read this detailed report about wintering here, services, formalities and the Cap Monastir Marina – dated May 2024.
Tunisia, Port Yasmine, Hammamet – Warnings and advice if planning on wintering here in Port Yasmine comments (most recent 2020).
For winter time (2018) my sailing boat is in Bizerte. The marina team is very good. If you need to repair something ask Mourad the captain of the Marina. He is also a famous skipper in Tunisia, he will do the best for you and is very helpful. There are electricity and water, and the toilet and shower are new and 5-star quality. Bizerte has a very big market with fish, vegetables, meat .. great and cheap. The Tunisian people are very friendly, they are happy to see tourists coming back.
There are many more recent favourable comments about Bizerte.
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JUST OUTSIDE THE MED BUT WORTH CONSIDERING
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PORTUGAL
Algarve:
(posted by Bon Accord): We spent the winter 2018/19 in Portimao, which gave us time to visit the other marinas on the Algarve. Our boat is 54′ on deck and 62′ LOA, full length keel.
- Lagos: very popular but cramped, we would not have had fun manoeuvring in there. Supermarket just across the road. Most expensive offer for a 9 months stay.
- Portimao: outside of town, bus service, not so many live aboards. Facilities good, plenty of space as well as sufficient water for the boats. Boatyard on other side of river, several English speaking. Middle price offer.
- Vilamora: rather shallow harbour, manoeuvring space on the small side, but good marineros. Lots of rather expensive restaurants and bars along the quays, tourists only, no traditional town or even supermarket ( 10 km to closest one). Hotels and golf courses galore. Expensive for a one night stop, but cheapest winter offer.
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USEFUL LINKS:
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- For other wintering articles on Noonsite follow this link
- See Comments from Noonsite Users with more feedback at bottom of report.
- Wintering: Dangers of Storing With The Mast Stepped
- Wintering: Leave and Return with Peace-of-Mind
Editor’s Note:
If you are currently considering wintering in the Mediterranean, or indeed have discovered a place worth recommending, please post a comment below with useful information on your findings.
Related to following destinations: Aegean Sea, Alanya, Almeria, Antalya, Atlantic Coast (Morocco), Ayios Nikolaos, Barcelona, Bari, Bodrum, Cartagena (Murcia), Crete, Cyprus, East Coast (Adriatic Coast), Eastern Med, Finike, France, Gaeta, Gozo, Greece, Ionian, Italy, Izmir, Kalamata, Kusadasi, Lefkas, Licata, Limassol, Malta, Malta, Marina di Ragusa, Marmaris, Marsamxett Harbour, Mediterranean Coast (Spain), Monastir, Monfalcone, Montenegro, Morocco, Peloponnese, Preveza, Rabat, Riposto, Roccella Ionica, Sevilla, Sicily, South Coast (Ionian Sea), South West Coast (Spain), Southern Cyprus, Spain, Tarragona, Tivat, Tunisia, Turkey, West Coast (Italy), Western Med, Yasmine Hammamet
Related to the following Cruising Resources: Cruising Information, Mediterranean, World Regions Information
I spent last winter at “Navy Service” in Port-Saint-Louis-du Rhône”, which is some 60 NM west of Marseille, one hr by car to Marseille Airport.
Storage is on the hard, space for more than 1.000 boats, very good facilities (you may work on your boat yourself or have the choice of several marine shops). Washing machines, Restaurant, Wifi, etc available. The small city is a bit far for walking, but easy by bicycle or a short taxi ride. Rate for my 48 ft Catamaran was very fair. Rgds / Werner, Leopard 48 Slow Motion
Hello, I’m new to noonsite and hopefully soon a first-time boat-owner.
Has anyone ever wintered at Ajaccio, Corsika? We might be buying a boat there and are considering leaving her there until the spring. I’m not sure whether it is very well managed and apparently the harbour is quite vulnerable to SW-Winds, which are said to get quite strong in winter.
Or could anyone recommend a well-managed and well-protected marina within the range of a 1-2 day sail from Ajaccio. Just for the winter 2020/2021.
We are wanting a boatyard for the winter around evvoia
We spent 4 winter months docked at Portus Karalis (http://www..portuskaralis.com/en/) in Cagliari, which is the main city (and capital) of Sardinia.
We had some rainy and cold days but mostly beautiful weather. The town is very pretty and with lots of history and archeology. There is an old citadel on top of the hill built by the Romans and later developed by the Spaniards who colonized the island for more than 300 years.
http://www.areasardinia.com/sardegna/castello/castello/
The mistral is the predominant wind and for this reason Prada-Luna Rossa team and many Olympic teams live there for practice.
The marina is the most protected place from mistral of the entire Gulf of Cagliari. We went out every week end in 20 kts of mistral and loved it.
The staff of Portus Karalis is very welcoming and speak good English. The prices are among the best in the entire island and you live downtown a beautiful city with lots of shops, markets and great affordable restaurants within 5 minutes walk. Bus lines and train station are within walking distance and the airport is minutes away via train or taxi.
We (Sailing A B Sea) have just over wintered (2018/19) in Kas harbour.
Great location moored stern to on the inside quay of the harbour. 1,000 lira per month. Water and electricity available.
Plenty of shops and restaurants still open in the winter. Very friendly and helpful locals.
Kas marina is only an hours sail away if you need to have work done, pump out black water or hide from big winter storms.
Fuel is delivered by truck on the quayside.
Harbour does get a bit bouncy if there are strong winds from the west.
A very quaint, comfortable and safe town. Highly recommended for a winter stay.
Hello ABSea, 1000 Lira per month is around 157 Euro per month. That is really cheap. How about any extra costs for water and electricity?
Greets, SV Annabelle
Highly recommend: Port Roda de Bará near to Barcelona
https://marine-project.com/en/port-roda-de-bara/
Winter storage on hard around 7 € / sqm per month.
Big travel lift for Cats up to 8 m beam
Agmar Marina Partheni Boatyard – Leros (https://www.noonsite.com/place/leros/)
On the hard winterising good and cheap (about 2.5k Euros for 7 months for a 46ft sailboat), compared with other solutions in this part of Med.
Very professional maintenance & refitting capability, all sectors, even if not cheap at all, sometimes ridiculously exaggerate. Anyhow good output, even if at a price. Attilio Siviero, Sisila ketch
Wintering in Roccella Ionica. We spent the winter of 2017-18 (Oct-Apr) here and can’t sing their praises enough. The marina may not be the prettiest around but it is definitely value for money; they have raised their prices this year but are still, I believe, the cheapest in Italy. The marina is quite isolated.
It is a 30-minute walk from town, which is quiet, and if you want to do a big shop or need hardware stores you’ll need a car, the nearest car hire is at Lamezia Terme airport. If you want kicking nightlife, go elsewhere. The marina is surprisingly well sheltered from the prevailing SWly winds that topped 60 kts on a couple of occasions this winter and when the winds pick up the marina staff are very attentive.
Facilities are limited, the pizzeria and mini market appear to close for the winter, but there is a dedicated Club House for the sole use of the winter liveaboards and there are occasionally pedal cycles to borrow to get into town. There are also plans (I stress plans) to provide additional facilities, such as winter storage huts for sails etc and an electric car and or minibus for transport into town and beyond.
The only drawback is that there is little in the way of security and a number of thefts of pedal cycles have occurred. On one occasion Marina Staff out in town saw one stolen bike and retrieved it from the kids riding it and returned it to its owner. (Padlocks are always a good idea)
Having said all this I wish to flag up the biggest selling point of the marina; the Staff. They are brilliant. Francesco and Alessandra are the nicest, most helpful people we have ever encountered in marina management, anywhere. Very customer focused and can’t do enough to help.
As a wintering location, Roccella is ideal. Inexpensive, protected and a good location on the way to or from Greece or the Adriatic and Albania is within easy reach for non-EU visitors needing to leave the EU temporarily. We’re returning for 2018-19 as are a number of others. Well worth considering.
I spent most of the winter of 2016-2017 in the Limassol Marina. A tad pricey but fabulous amenities and both an exciting town close by and great chandleries. Not much of an overwintering crowd but Limassol is probably more European than Europe.
Mountains with hiking and skiing fairly close by; a huge Brit expat land-based community, and possibly THE best bakery on the Med within easy walking distance. The staff are excellent. And the climate is the warmest and driest winter weather you’ll find north of Africa. None of the hundreds of restaurants closes.
We are wintering in the bay of Porto Cheli / Peloponnese, Greece. buoys are available and quality repairs are performed by local boatyard http://www.franks-yachtstation.com, they are also monitoring our yacht for a reasonable small fee. 2h North is the bay of Kilada, no buoys there but anchoring seems to work well for most.
In Kilada is also a large boatyard and dry-park with a wide portal crane (9m width is possible) http://www.bsg.com.gr/ Both companies performed highly professional work on our catamaran this year for a fair price.
I am currently wintering on the hard with my Oyster 395 Lightwave at Planaco (Aegina/Greece). The monthly fee is 250.- Euro (water electricity exclusive). Lifting in/out is 150.- Euro per lift).
You are allowed to stay on board and do all work yourself.
The boatyard is 8km from the main town, 2,5km away from Kipseli (little village but huge supermarket) and 4km away from Souvala (little village). All spare parts available. Worst case you take the ferry to Piraeus (8.- Euros one way). Friendly staff and entire boat under video surveillance.
I can really recommend Puerto Noray marina in Melilla. Cameras everywhere, helpful staff and very cheap. I stored my Moody 35 there for 8 months and the cost was about €1.200.
Only a few boats from abroad, but I think people don’t realize that it is safe. Geographically in Africa, but still in Spain. Almerimar marina, 1200M from Melilla, is double theprice – and Almerimar is one of the cheapest marinas in the Mediterranean.
I am currently wintered for the second year with my 38′ sailboat at the Club Nàutic de Vilanova, in Vilanova I la Geltrú, just 50km WSW of Barcelona. Their current special “winterize” rates, VAT included, are the following.
– less than 10m: 1200€
-10-13m: 1600€
– 13-15m: 2400€
These are the rates for the 8 months from Oct 1 to May 31, payable in advance, and include live-aboard, water, electricity, wi-fi, and a few other benefits. There is a coin laundry in the marina, very nice bathrooms, and parking within the marina is an extra 121€ for the same 8 month period.
The advantage of Vilanova is that it is a very good sized and bustling seaside town of 60.000 people. There are many students, as it has a University.
There is a 2km Rambla, lined with cafés and restaurants. Beautiful beaches right next to the marina. A wonderful market in town with the freshest of fish and vegetables and all of the same chains of stores as are found in Barcelona. The train and bus station is a 10min walk, and there are trains into Barcelona city centre, every 15 minutes. By car, the city is a 30-minute drive, and the airport 20-25 minutes away.
Their contact info is the following: cnv@cnvilanova.cat / +34 938 150 267, and their website is http://www.cnvilanova.cat
GIOIA TAURO. We are wintering in the port of Gioia Tauro by Zen Yacht. It was recommended to us by Angeles, owner of Marina del Sud in Vibo del Valencia. We were looking for a winter place, and this one was far the cheapest in comparison with Sicily, Malta and western Greece.
You cannot live onboard and all work has to be done by Zen Yacht but is it certainly worth the price. They only speak Italian but Angeles in Marina Stella del Sud will help you. Zen Yacht is placed at the north end of the giant container terminal Zone Porto Banchina di Ponente. Contact information +390966765613, email info@zenyacht.it or zenyacht@pec.it
Port Bara very efficient and prompt replies to emails. Gave me excellent an price for winter of 17/18. Marineros and staff all helpful.
Hi all,
Really good information on this site as a newbie. I am heading towards somewhere around Marmaris, Bodrum area at the end of Oct to haul out. I have a quote for hardstand for 8 mths from both Aganlar Boatyard in Bodrum and also Albatros Marina in Marmaris.
I need to be close to an airport to get to and from Australia. Does anyone have any experience at either marina on hardstand or a recommendation of somewhere else close by. Is leaving it in the water an option for that period? I think I would worry more about its safety. I will be leaving the boat so not looking for a community experience yet. Look forward to furthering comments and advice.
Regards
Wayne
Coming from Didim (https://www.noonsite.com/place/altinkum/) in Turkey, which was cold whilst efficient, warm hospitality was the experience. In Didim very few people over-winter on their boats, being more a “garage” than a marina. In contrast, Samos Marina was full of life, coffee bars crowded all day, restaurants and now also a supermarket has just opened.
I spent the winter in Didim only for the low travel costs from Italy, but the higher costs to reach Samos are worth the atmosphere and way-of-life of the Marina.
Weare in Roccella ionica on the boot of Italy. Quiet well-sheltered marina with friendly staff. Town a 30 min walk along a flat paved path (or free bike hire from the marina. Easy access to airports via regular train and bus services. Also allows easy touring. 900 Euros / 6mths 11m.
We wintered during 2015/2016 at Setur Marina in Kas Turkey and had an excellent experience. The management (under the eagle eye or Umit, the general manager) is top notch. They checked on our boat continually and sent us to report and they positioned our boat closest to the shore where rocking would be most minimal.
We were able to negotiate a very fair rate for leaving the boat at the marina. The marina is very nice compared to all other options on that coast. The bathrooms are immaculate and modern. There is a spa, a well-stocked Migros supermarket, several restaurants, a chandlery, tennis court, swimming pool, machinists and other service people, and very good security at the marina.
You are a short walk or bike ride to town and the weekly farmer’s market. There is a ferry to the Greek island of Kastellorizo in town, and many larger stores and restaurants (Kas is a very nice community). There is a car service that will take you to Antalya or Fethiye airport (you are in between) at any hour, and there is a car rental agency in town too.
Due to the extremely clean Turkish water and the fact that there is an underwater freshwater stream coming out at the marina’s location, we were able to leave our catamaran in the water for five months (from November through March) and there was no growth on the hull.
We had anti-fouled in Greece in September 2015 so we had a good, protective coating. We noticed that there were a kind of sucker-fish carp in the marina that ate what minimal growth did form on the hull (you could see the tracing of their mouth-lines on the hull if you dived to inspect the hull.
Winterization in Port Yasmine Hammamet, WARNING:
We left our catamaran Libellule in Hammamet from Aug-15 to May-16 and experienced the following difficulties:
1. When arriving we had a medical urgency and my wife needed to go urgently to the hospital. However, Immigration took our passports away and wanted money. The whole thing took about 90 minutes to resolve, the officers told us literally they didn’t care if my wife died or not.
2. I sent a propeller from France to Hammamet, the parcel took 2 days to Hammamet and then 5 months, about 30 emails, and about EUR 1,000 of bribes to get it through customs.
3. We took the boat out of the water and left it in the shipyard Rodriguez. The antifouling they applied was of so poor quality that it lasted about 4 weeks before it partially started coming off and we had a real jungle under the boat; they did not even bother to put ground paint below the antifouling, nor did they sand the undercoat before applying the antifouling.
4. The repairs we had asked them to execute were not done; no spare parts available locally, and poor/unreliable workmanship.
5. On the way out of Tunisia customs wanted money again, but this time we got away with paying nothing.
So if you consider winterizing your boat there, make sure you do it in a smarter way than us (bring your own spare parts, no antifouling job, no taking it out of the water, bring more time to fight bribes, no medical emergencies.
Sorry, Tunisia used to be a really nice country, and I had really good experiences there in the past, but this time it was just really really bad. People were friendly, though.
Philipp Cottier, s/v Libellule, Switzerland
Wintering this year in Cleopatra at Preveza in Greece and pleasantly surprised at the savings in cost over our previous marina in Teos, Turkey. Cleopatra very professional and very near Aktion international airport.
Ocean Dream is wintering in Limassol Cyprus. We enjoyed Turkey but after four winters it was time to move on. The new marina here was a good value this winter but they have announced price increases for next winter even though they are only half full.