| Spain is part of the European Union and all EU and | | | | sandy beaches either side of the marina. The village |
| American nationals can visit the country for a period | | | | of Sabinillas is 5 minutes walk to the north. Another |
| of no longer than 90 days solely with a passport. EU | | | | bus will take you to the village of Casares which |
| national can apply for a residency permit if they wish | | | | clings to the side of a mountain. Marbella, popular with |
| to extend their stay. Non EU nationals can apply for a | | | | the rich and famous is another bus journey away. |
| further 90 day extension. These regulations do not | | | | Don't expect to see the famous on the bus though, |
| appear to be enforced as far as the yachtsman living | | | | they are the ones in the Ferraris. Hire a car and drive |
| aboard is concerned. It is advisable to clear customs | | | | up to the picturesque town of Ronda. |
| if entering Spain for the first time. The vessel's | | | | Puerto de Estapona is a medium sized marina with |
| registration papers and the passports of crew | | | | the usual development of restaurants and bars. |
| members will be required. A certificate of | | | | Puerto de Jose Banus, the marina of the rich and |
| competence, evidence of the boat's VAT status, a | | | | famous and the prices reflect this. Whitewashed, |
| crew list with passport details, the radio license and a | | | | Andalucian style building surround the marina, hosting |
| certificate of insurance may also be required. A VAT | | | | boutiques, bars, restaurants and night clubs. There |
| (Value Added Tax) paid or exempt yacht can apply | | | | are several Yacht Charter and Yacht Brokerage |
| for a "permiso aduanero" . This allows for an | | | | operations within the marina complex. Marbella is 15 |
| indefinite stay in the country and can be helpful when | | | | minutes away by car or bus. Good beach to the |
| importing yacht spares from other EU countries. | | | | west of the marina which belongs to the hotel and |
| Boats registered outside the EU on which VAT has | | | | allows berth holders access. This can be arranged at |
| not been paid may be imported into the EU for a | | | | the control tower. Many golf courses in the area. |
| period not exceeding six months in any twelve, after | | | | The small marina at Puerto de Marbella is surrounded |
| that VAT becomes due. This period can often be | | | | by tourist developments. The marina can be noisy at |
| extended by prior arrangement with the local custom | | | | night during the summer months. Wind from the east, |
| authorities. There is a legal requirement for foreign | | | | south and southwest can produce a heavy swell |
| vessels to fly their own national maritime flag | | | | within the harbour. Be prepared to double up on lines. |
| together with the courtesy flag of Spain. | | | | Beaches on either side of the marina but these get |
| It is worth considering the following equipment when | | | | very crowded during the summer months. The town |
| cruising this area. An SSB radio is useful for obtaining | | | | itself is well worth exploring. Don't miss the famous |
| weather forecasts. It is very hot in the summer and | | | | Orange Square which can be found at the heart of |
| ventilation is important. It may be worth fitting extra | | | | the city centre. |
| hatches and a wind scoop over the fore hatch will | | | | Puerto de Cabopino is a pleasant, small harbour |
| help a lot. An awning or biminy, covering the cockpit, | | | | surrounded by Andalucian style houses which makes |
| to provide shelter from the sun is a must. A cockpit | | | | a nice change from the normal high rise |
| table is useful as eating outside during the summer | | | | developments. Good shelter within the harbour. |
| months is one of the pleasures of cruising. | | | | Limited space for transient yachts and it is |
| Mosquitoes can be a problem and many boats screen | | | | recommended that you call ahead to confirm there is |
| all openings while others rely on mosquito coils, | | | | a berth available. Marina charges are on the high side. |
| insecticides and repellents. Sunburn is the other | | | | Cabopino beach, with it's fine sand is reckoned to be |
| hazard cruisers should be aware of, the sun can be | | | | one of the best on the Costa del Sol |
| deceptively strong while the boat is underway, plenty | | | | Good shelter can be found at Puerto de Fuengirola. |
| of cream and a hat will go along way to avoid the | | | | The nearby town is both noisy and very busy during |
| misery of sunstroke. | | | | the summer months. All provisions can be obtained in |
| There is a constant east going current of between 1 | | | | the town. There are good beaches on either side of |
| and 2 knots flowing through the straight of Gibraltar | | | | the marina but these get very crowded during the |
| and between the Costa del Sol and the north African | | | | summer months. |
| coast. There is some tide to be considered at the | | | | Puerto de Benalmadena is a huge marina with over |
| western end of the region, Gibraltar sees 1 metre at | | | | 150,000 square metres of water. There is good |
| most. This diminishes the further east traveled. The | | | | shelter with the only swell being experienced in a W |
| weather is affected by several systems and is | | | | gale. Whilst the surrounding area is the usual |
| consequently difficult to predict. There is an old | | | | overpowering high rise blacks the marina itself is quite |
| saying that in the summer months nine days of light | | | | attractive. It was named best marina in the world in |
| winds will be followed by a full blown gale that is | | | | both 1995 and 1998. There are over 200 commercial |
| inaccurate. A wind from the northwest is known as | | | | premises including boutiques, night clubs and the usual |
| the "tramotana". It can be dangerous because it can | | | | numerous restaurants and bars. There is also a sea |
| arrive and reach gale force in as little as 15 minutes. It | | | | life centre. There are good beaches on either side of |
| often lasts for 3 days and can blow in excess of a | | | | the marina. Malaga airport is just 8 km away. |
| week. The wind from the east, the "levante" can also | | | | Puerto de Malaga is the major commercial and fishing |
| blow for several days at gale force. Annual rainfall at | | | | port of the Costa del Sol. The only facilities for |
| Gibraltar is 760mm. The Costa del Sol will experience | | | | yachts are at the Real Club Mediterraneo de Malaga |
| about 4 days a month of fog. Summer temperatures | | | | and there is little room for visitors. Malaga, known as |
| can exceed 35 degrees C and the winter months see | | | | the "City of Flowers" is both interesting and charming. |
| around 15 degrees. | | | | It can be reached on foot from the port. |
| The remainder of this article looks principally at the | | | | The small harbour of Puerto del Candado is found 3.5 |
| harbours of the Costa del Sol. There are also | | | | miles E of Malaga. Suitable for vessels drawing 2m or |
| numerous anchorages bbut only a few of the notable | | | | less. With strong winds from the W - SW |
| ones are mentioned here. | | | | considerable swell builds up and the harbour becomes |
| Marina Bay is largest of Gibraltar's three marinas with | | | | uncomfortable. Harbour charges are low |
| 350 berths. Most berthing is stern/bow to. Larger | | | | Puerto de Puerto Caleta de Velez is a quiet fishing |
| yachts can lie alongside. Water and electricity on the | | | | harbour 22 miles to east of Malaga. There are |
| pontoons. Within the complex you will find a | | | | beaches on either side of the marina. |
| chandlers, launderette and a good selection of | | | | The anchorages of Fondeadero de Neja and Cala de |
| restaurants and bars. There is an indoor market less | | | | Miel are both worth a visit. Cala de Miel has a fresh |
| than 5 minutes walk from the marina. Queensway | | | | water spring. |
| Marina is much quieter than Gibraltar's other two | | | | Marina del Este is a purpose built marina set amongst |
| marinas. Security is excellent with all the pontoons | | | | a huge housing development in a beautiful area. Wind |
| being gated. Within the complex you will find several | | | | from NE - E produces a limited amount of swell within |
| restaurants and bars. | | | | the marina. Harbour charges are high in the summer |
| Gibraltar itself was ceded from the Spanish to the | | | | months. There is a small beach close to the harbour |
| British in the early 18th century and for most of it's | | | | and a pool at the yacht club. There are prehistoric |
| history since that time Spain has been trying to get it | | | | caves to be seen at Nerja. The city of Granada and |
| back. There is evidence of this wherever you go on | | | | the famous Alhambra can be seen in a days trip. As |
| the rock. The rock itself is honeycombed with tunnels | | | | can the Alpahurras valley, with it's charming villages, |
| constructed at one time or another for the purposes | | | | towered over by the magnificent Sierra Nevada. |
| of adding to the defences of Gibraltar. Many of the | | | | Once a small fishing port, Puerto de Motril has |
| older tunnels are open to the public and feature | | | | developed into a commercial port serving the inland |
| exhibitions of how life was for the soldiers of the | | | | city of Granada. Beaches on either side of the |
| day. Many of the tunnels are most definitely not | | | | harbour. |
| open to the public and there is considerable | | | | The harbour of Puerto de Adra was founded by the |
| speculation as to what might be seen in these. You | | | | Phoenicians and has been in use ever since. Today it |
| can see Rosia Bay where Admiral Lord Nelson's body | | | | is both a commercial and fishing port. The continual |
| was bought ashore from HMS Victory following his | | | | movement of the fishing boats makes for much |
| famous victory over a combined French and Spanish | | | | disturbance. Facilities are limited. Harbour charges are |
| fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar. Nelson's body was | | | | high. Beaches on either side of the harbour. Adra |
| returned to Britain for a hero's funeral but many of | | | | town is small and has little in the way of |
| the seamen who died alongside him in the battle are | | | | development for tourism. |
| buried on the rock at the Trafalgar cemetery. Take a | | | | Puerto de Almerimar, a very large marina with the |
| cable car ride to the top of the rock, stunning views | | | | capacity for over 1,000 boats. Excellent shelter from |
| of Spain and across the straights to Morocco. Up | | | | everything but strong SW winds when some swell |
| here you will also find the famous colony of Barbary | | | | can build up towards the entrance of the harbour. |
| apes. Rumor has it that only when the apes are no | | | | Prices are low. Astonishingly so compared to some |
| more will the British leave the Rock. A rumor taken | | | | other marinas on the Costa del Sol. Sandy beaches |
| seriously by Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of | | | | on either side of the marina. This part of the coast is |
| Britain during the Second World War, who on learning | | | | covered with plastic greenhouses, it has to be seen |
| of their dwindling population ordered more to be | | | | to be appreciated both for the vast number of acres |
| bought to the Rock from Africa. | | | | under cover and it's ugliness. |
| Puerto de Sotogrande is an attractive marina | | | | Puerto de Roquetas del Mar is a small fishing harbour. |
| complex surrounded by apartments, shops, bars and | | | | Strong winds from the SE - NE make the harbour |
| restaurants. The overall design has been inspired by | | | | uncomfortable. |
| Portofino. There aresandy beaches to either side of | | | | Good shelter can be found at Puerto de del |
| the marina and golf, riding, tennis and squash courts | | | | Aguadulce except with wind from the ESE which can |
| nearby. One of the most expensive marinas on this | | | | cause some swell making conditions uncomfortable. |
| part of the coast. | | | | The marina can cater for some 150 boats. The |
| One of my favorites is Puerto de la Duquessa. Not | | | | complex includes a swimming pool and squash court. |
| too big and not to noisy. The marina is surrounded by | | | | Sandy beaches to the S with waters clean enough to |
| apartments, shops, restaurants and bars. The marina | | | | merit a blue CE flag. Two 18 hole golf courses. |
| offers free medical care to it's users. There are | | | | |