Sailing On The Costa Del Sol Top

Spain is part of the European  and all EU and American citizens can visit the country for a period of no more than 90 days with a passport only. EU citizens can apply for a residence permit if they wish to extend their stay. Non-EU citizens can apply for an extension of another 90 days. As for the live-aboard boater, these regulations do not appear to be enforced. Customs clearance is appropriate when entering Spain for the first time. Vessel registration documents and crew members' passports will be required. A certificate of fitness, proof of vessel status for VAT, crew list with passport details, radio station license and insurance certificate may also be required. A yacht paid or exempt from VAT (value added tax) can apply for a  This allows unlimited stay in the country and can be useful when importing spare parts for yachts from other EU countries. Ships registered outside the EU on which VAT has not been paid may be imported into the EU for a period not exceeding six months in any twelve months after VAT becomes due. This period can often be extended after prior agreement with the local customs authorities. There is a legal requirement for foreign vessels to fly their own national naval  together with the courtesy flag of Spain. The following equipment is worth considering when cruising this area. SSB radio is useful for getting weather forecasts. It is very hot in the summer and ventilation is important. It might be worth fitting more  and a wind vane over the front hatch will help a lot. An awning or  covering the  providing shelter from the sun is a must. The cockpit table is  as eating outside in the summer months is one of the pleasures of sailing. Mosquitoes can be a problem and many ships screen all openings, while others rely on mosquito coils, insecticides and . Another danger cruisers should be aware of is sunburn, the sun can be deceptively strong when the ship is under way, plenty of cream and a hat to avoid suffering from heatstroke. Across the Straight of Gibraltar and between the  del Sol and the North African  there is a constant easterly current between 1 and 2 knots. There is some tide to consider at the western end of the region, Gibraltar sees a maximum of 1 . This reduces the journey further east. The weather is influenced by several systems and is therefore difficult to predict. An old saying goes that in the summer months, nine days of light wind will be followed by an inaccurate gale. The wind from the northwest is known as  It can be dangerous as it can arrive and reach gale force in just 15 minutes. It often lasts 3 days and can blow for more than a week. The wind from the east,  can also blow for several days at gale force. The annual rainfall in Gibraltar is 760 mm. The Costa del Sol experiences about 4 days of fog per month. Summer temperatures can exceed 35 degrees C and the winter months hover around 15 degrees. The rest of this article focuses mainly on the ports of the Costa del Sol. There are also many anchorages, but only a few are mentioned here. Marina Bay is the largest of Gibraltar's three  with 350 berths. Most of the moorings are stern/fore. Larger yachts can lie alongside. Water and electricity on pontoons. In the complex you will find  laundry and a good selection of restaurants and bars. There is an indoor market less than 5 minutes walk from the port. Queensway Marina is much quieter than the other two Gibraltar marinas. Security is excellent, all pontoons are closed. In the complex you will find several restaurants and bars. Gibraltar itself was ceded from Spain to the British in the early 18th century and pro