Other Ports
This is not intended as an exhaustive list of ports of call but merely a sample of the ports we regularly visit. Other ports we visit include:
- Marina Smir (Morocco)
- Tangiers (Morocco)
- Barbate (Spain)
- Puerto Sherry (Spain)
- Cadiz (Spain)
Where we sail
During your time with Jolly Parrot Sailing we will endeavour to visit as many and varied ports of call as possible. From the bustling maritime hub of Gibraltar through to the sleepy laid back fishing village of La Duquesa, we really do have it all! Almost every week we cross the second busiest waterway in the world to visit the African continent and spend an evening soaking up the ambience.
On a typical 5 day RYA Sailing Course you will cover at least 100 Nautical miles criss-crossing the busy Straits of Gibraltar or maybe even sailing around toward Cadiz, passing right over the scene of the famous battle of Trafalgar! Below is a small selection of our regular ports with a brief description of what to expect.
Have a look to see where the Jolly Parrot Yachts are now!
Queensway Quay Marina
Our home base and the most prestigious marina in Gibraltar by far! With a selection of Gibraltar's finest restaurants and surrounded by exclusive properties set at the base of the Rock of Gibraltar, this really sets the scene for your sailing course!
Marina Bay
Marina Bay is Gibraltar's largest marina. It's currently undergoing extensive development and is now the home to a multi million pound floating hotel and many new and exciting bars. Situated immediately next to the Airport it's probably as close as a person can get to an aircraft taking off without being in it!
Alcaidesa Marina
Alcaidesa Marina is known locally as 'La Linea marina' because it is located in the border town of La Linea. Although only 3 miles from our home marina of Queensway Quay, the town offers a taste of real Spain, with little tourism it is a real working Spanish hub.
The marina is large and accommodating and we have permission to practice our power handling exercises here. During an RYA Sailing course we almost always spend some time here honing our skills and boosting our confidence at 'parking' the yacht.
Ceuta
Ceuta is a Spanish enclave on the rugged North Moroccan coast. Ceuta is almost exactly the same size and population as Gibraltar. While the enclave is Spanish it has a very Moroccan feel to it with a large selection of bars and restaurants dotted around you can be sure to find some authentic Spanish or Moroccan fare.
The marina is quite small and makes an ideal port for a night entry with some tricky pilotage and requires a good level of boat handling and skippering skills to berth the yacht efficiently. Ideal for our Day Skipper and Coastal Skipper students!
Puerto Sotogrande
Sotogrande has always been and still is the playground of the rich and famous. Home of the infamous Santa Maria Polo club and only a stones throw from several world class golf courses such as Valderrama. With such a rich heritage it's not unusual to see a celebrity or two drinking in one of the bars or simply cruising through en route to their luxury villa! The marina has excellent facilities and has a whole series of canals hidden away behind the main harbour which allows us to practice manoeuvres even in the worst of conditions.
Puerto de La Duquesa
Duquesa is always a favourite with both Skippers and students. The pretty marina has excellent facilities and a vast selection of restaurants and bars. In the Summer months we often indulge in a 'Sundowner and tapas' at one of the many beach bars adjacent to the marina. The little Spanish town of Sabinillas is a few minutes walk along the coast path where a whole host of Spanish bars and shops can be found if time permits. The layout is typical of most Mediterranean marinas and provides us with many options for mooring the yacht in a fairly tight spot!
Puerto Estepona
Estepona is a typical Spanish town. The port is still a working hub with a constant stream of trawlers and 'Pot men' hurtling in and out day and night.The marina is well appointed with great facilities and plenty of hostelrys for a cheeky beverage after a long day sailing. Once again the layout is typical of a Mediterranean marina providing great scope for training.
The main town of Estepona is a short walk along the seafront but is well worth the effort to stretch the legs and have a wander around the old town with a whole host of plazas and pretty streets.