Harry and Jacqui Turner have a Cruiser 360 Express as can be seen in the photograph to the right.

Hi Martin

We will be off on our first cruise in August and as I mentioned Gibraltar is our main destination.

Our plan is something like:  Day 1 Lagos to Ayamonte, Day 2 Ayamonte to Mazagon, Day 3 Mazagon to Cadiz, Day 4 Cadiz to Gibraltar.

We plan to stay in Gib for a couple of days then to Smir in Morocco for a couple of days before making the return trip similar but different ports to above.

Any advice you have would be really helpful particularly about:

Do we need to make advance bookings - most of the Marinas have said just to call a couple of days before to see if they have space, although Gib and Smir have confirmed a berth.

Do the stages in our trip look OK - were in no rush!

Do we need a Moroccan courtesy flag - do you have any idea where to get one?

Are there any particular navigation or weather hazards we should look out for.

On the way back we wanted to check out Faro and/or Olhão. Is the marina in Olhão worth a visit and where would you anchor in Faro so we can go to the city by tender.

Whats the best place for fuel from a price point of view?

Anything about the Straights we should be aware of

I'm sure there is a ton more to ask but can't think of anything right now

As usual we appreciate your wisdom!

Best regards, Harry

Hello Harry,

Your planned trip to Gib and Smir is exciting.  The nicest Marina in Gibraltar is Queensway Quay.  I think that your itinerary is very sensible. Yes, you will need a Moroccan and a Spanish courtesy ensign, you should be able to buy them from Sopromar. If not I can get them for you from Constamarine in Vilamoura and bring them to you in Lagos on July 31st.

Going through your itinerary my advice is as follows:

Lagos to Ayemonte - Make sure that you stay 3/4 of a mile off the beach at Cabo St Maria as it is very shallow out to a bit more than half a mile off. From Cabo St Maria I advise you plot a course to a point on the south east corner of the Tuna nets and then plot a course to the entrance of the Guadiana from there, the reason for this is that if you plot a course to the north of the Tuna nets it will take you over very shallow water to the south of Olhão.

Entrance to the Guadiana – There are at the moment two red and two green buoys to lead you into the river (sometimes one goes missing), when you get into the river keep to the middle, do not go over to the east side as it is very shallow there.

Vila Real Santo Antonio - has a reception pontoon on the starboard hand side as you enter the marina, if you go to this marina be careful of the strong tide that runs through the pontoons, if possible arrive and leave at slack water.

Ayemonte – does not have a reception pontoon so you will need to radio them on channel 9 or telephone to find out where to berth the boat.

Mazagon – does have a reception pontoon on the left hand side as you go in.

Cadiz – I imagine that you will go to Puerto Americas, Chipiona and Rota are also nice marinas where you could stop.

Queensway Quay at Gibraltar – You will need to call them on channel 9 and they will direct you to your berth and have marina staff waiting to take your stern ropes (you will need to berth stern to), they will also pass you a bow rope for each side which you will need to walk to the front of the boat and pull tight from there.

Marina Smir in Morocco – The reception is on the left as you go in alongside the concrete quay. No point in calling them on the radio because you have to stop there anyway. When they have given you a berth, you can either berth stern to having dropped your anchor further out, or if there is room you can berth alongside.  If you berth alongside be aware of the range of tide which can be up to 3 meters, so you will need long ropes (4) to allow for this, and if when you come in it is close to low water, be careful that your fenders do not come over the top of the concrete at high water and therefore no longer fend you off from the concrete. You will need to have them almost touching the water to prevent this happening. When leaving Smir you MUST check out with both Marina Reception and the Police.

Faro & Olhão – I would give Olhão a miss, because the marina is full of ‘live aboards’, there is no reception office and no apparent organization. But I would go to Faro and I would anchor a little to the south west of buoy number 21 in the Faro Channel at about 37° 00’.15 N   007° 56’.20 W.  Having anchored you will be less than 10 minutes by dinghy from Faro Marina, the holding is good there. I have recently written an article about Ria Formosa which is the lagoon to the south of both Faro and Olhão which you will find at: http://www.theiberianseaschool.com/component/content/article/18-articles/164-ria-formosa-in-the-algarve-portugal

I don’t think it is necessary to book a berth long in advance on your trip, however all the marinas will be quite full so having some alternative destinations is a good idea such as Barbate which is a little east of Trafalgar and normally has plenty of space, the disadvantage here is that the supermarket is at least 30 minutes walk and a restaurant even further.

The Strait of Gibraltar – When rounding Cape Trafalgar keep 3 miles off to avoid some rocks, or just one cable off as shown in the photograph to the right. Then 15 miles further on keep to the north of the traffic separation scheme but to the south the wrecks that are south of Pta Paloma where the traffic separation scheme starts.

You will then go past Tarifa, don't be surprised if it is very windy here, it is not the windsurfing and kite surfing capital of the world for nothing, also the current is very strong here, so it will be windy and choppy for about 2 miles either side of Tarifa.

If you should go up the Guadiana, as you go past Ayemonte keep to the east side of the river to avoid shallows on the west side. After that there is deep water all the way up to Alcoutim and lots of room to anchor. For dinner at Alcoutim there is a hotel called Estalagem do Guadiana, it is about 200 yards north of Alcoutim. Tel: 282540120 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , the food is very good and they have their own little pontoon for your dinghy just to the north (maybe 200 yards) of the pontoons at Alcoutim. Do not put your boat on the center of the 3 pontoons (which will be empty) at Alcoutim because that is for the tourist boat.  The first and third are ok for you to berth on but I am sure in August they will be occupied. For more information about the Guadiana river click here to read my article on the Guadiana.

I think that that is all that I can think of that is important, please email me with any questions that you have.

My best wishes to you and Jacqui,  Martin.

Martin
 
That is all very useful thank you very much. Just 2 more quickies if I may, have you been to Ceuta ? When anchoring overnight would you as a matter of course put out 2 anchors from the bow?
 
Ill try Sopromar for a flag if not I have until we leave on 9th to get one.
 
After the trip we must meet up for lunch, by way of a thank you, and to share our experiences with you.
 
Best regards,  Harry.

Hello Harry,

Yes, I have been to Ceuta many times; the marina is quite civilized.

I never put out two anchors (except in a narrow river when I put one out in front and one behind but both tied together just under the water below the bows of the boat). Otherwise I am always happy with one anchor and as much chain as possible.  Two anchors out in front of the boat make weighing anchor in an emergency a complicated maneuver.

Yes, thank you very much, lunch would be lovely and I will look forward to hearing all about your cruise.

Best wishes, Martin.

Hi Martin

Hope you are well. In Gibraltar now had a good trip so far although punched our way from Cadiz today. Strong easterly so Trafalgar wasn't fun. Stopped in Isla Canela and Puerto Sherry.
Anyway the critical information I don't have with me is the going rate for a rug in Morocco, Jacqui insists on doing the best possible deal!

Cheers,  Harry

Hello Harry,

Thanks for your email, I'm pleased that your trip is going well.  The clients that I went with last year bought theirs I think for 250 euros each and I think the size was about 2 metres by 1 metre or maybe a little larger. Incidentally, after visiting Marina Smir it might be fun for you to go to Puerto Banus which is on the Spanish Meditterranean coast only about 50 nautical miles north of Smir.

Good luck! I am very pleased that your cruise is going well.  Martin.