(+34) 956 021 660
36º 09' 31'' N, 5º 22' 03'' W'
Channel 9 (156,45 Mhz)
Marina office 8h-20h/7
Visit from the sea this beautiful city of the Costa del Sol
DESCRIPTION
Departing from the Control Tower at Alcaidesa Marina, you can decide whether to set off first thing in the morning if on a return day trip or at a reasonable hour to avoid nightfall if the plan is to spend a few days at sea. On the journey, you can enjoy the impressive but often tricky sail around Europa Point, taking care to give it a wide berth to avoid the swell whipped up by the wind and currents. The friendly dolphins that abound in these waters may well join you on the sail. We recommend westerly winds to take on the beam for the outward leg and then a close haul on the return, with a flat sea, as this will be a shore wind. You can sail in light easterly breezes, but avoid strong ones as they’ll make for a choppy sea. Estepona marina is located at the entrance to the city and is fully equipped with everything you’ll need for your stay, such as bar, chandleries and restaurants of all kinds. A 15-minute stroll along the beautiful promenade will take you to the old quarter, which is a typical Andalusian ‘pueblo’ with its whitewashed houses and plant pots hanging from the balconies. Wandering around the streets is a true pleasure and there are plenty of restaurants to tempt you in with exquisite cuisine. You can also enjoy its beaches, which stretch from the marina to the end of town.
METEOROLOGY
The best days to sail to Estepona are when westerly winds are blowing, which are shore winds and can top 20 knots in summer at lunchtime, so you’ll reach your destination quickly and without the rattle of the waves. On days with light easterlies, you can also sail with the engine on calm seas, but be careful with possible banks of fog in the summer
TIPS
Take the utmost care when passing by Europa Point and give it a wide berth. There’s also a tricky spot to the north of the fishing port of La Linea, on the east coast of the town, where there are somewhat hidden mussel farms, even though they appear on nautical charts. And if you’re hugging the coastline, watch out for fishing tackle, marked with a simple floating bottle and, with a little bit of luck, a flag.
