Description

This time a new area, leaving behind the Strait to head for the world-famous capital of the Costa del Sol, Marbella. Its most glamorous marina development is Puerto Banús, where you’ll find impressive superyachts, luxury cars and exclusive boutiques selling designer clothes, watches and jewellery. It’s an easy route that will take you at least a couple of days because of the distance from the home port. We suggest a stroll through the streets and the marina, or a trip over to Marbella, either by taxi or by mooring at one of the ports near the old town, which itself is a quaint fi shing village with whitewashed houses and plant pots everywhere you look. There’s an array of dining and leisure options here, and let’s not forget the climate that is the envy of Europe.

Meteorology

The best days to sail to Puerto Banús 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.