Worldwide Marina Portal

A new marina is planned for the Moroccan port of Tangier. The completion of the new deep sea commercial harbour is now complete and work will now begin on the marina in the old Harbour.

The moving of the deep sea port 20 km away from the city will alleviate traffic congestion and provide a more leisurely atmosphere in the old harbour. "This major project will make the port of Tangier and its bay one of the top marinas and cruise destinations in the Mediterranean," said President of Tangier Port Development, Abdelouafi Laftit, in a statement recently. Mr. Laftit also said that additional space will be available for hotels and other tourist activities in an effort to promote new services in the port area and the city of Tangier.

Port Yasmine marina has been added to World Marine Guide's list of Mediterranean yacht harbours, the marina is in the town of Hammamet in Tunisia

Port Yasmine is a purpose built marina surrounded by gardens, cafes and restaurants. The marina has many services including a large hard standing area, chandler and dockyard. Hammamet is a large resort with plenty of life and excellent beaches. The area is particularly well known for jasmine, and this is how the tourist resort of Yasmine Hammamet got its name

The marina was submitted by Port Yasmine email contact@portyasmine.com.tn

Karpaz Gate Marina on the northern coast of the Karpaz peninsular of northern Cyprus is on schedule for completion in the spring of 2011. This is despite the fact that the refit facilities in the marina are to be enlarged from the origional plan.

World Marine Giuide has discovered that the dry dock facility will now total 18,000 square metres and the travel lift has been upgraded to 300 Tonne rather than the 150 Tonne crane origionally ordered. These improvements will make Karpaz Gate Marina one of the best repair facilities on the Turkish Republic's northern coast.

The marina when finished will open up a part of the the eastern Mediterraneam as yet largely undiscovered.  The marina is designed for yachts ranging from seven meters to mega-yachts of 65 meters. The Marina House will be located on the SW corner of the Promenade and will include offices for the Yacht Club, a Health Club, Swimming Pool, Laundry, Restaurant, Ship Chandlery and Night Club.

Source Karpaz Gate Marina info@karpazbay.com

Hoo Marina on the Medway river has been submitted and added to World Marine Guide

The Marina is situated on the northern side of the Medway Estuary and is within easy sailing distance of the Thames estuary and the North Sea - with the coastal ports of mainland Europe just a few hours away. Hoo also benefits from excellent road access, being close to the M25, the A2/M2 and the M20. A family atmosphere has long been the hallmark of the Marina and has been a major contributing factor to its popularity with residents and visitors alike.

Thanks to Hoo Marina for submitting the Marina

Many Western European marinas have been badly damaged by the Atlantic storm, Xynthia, that claimed over 50 lives, 45 of them French. 

An owner with a boat in Les Sables d'Olonne, has reported that pontoons A and B have broken free of the pilings and ended up at pontoon C, pontoon G is now beached. Two boats are impaled on pilings, other boats have sunk and many have been dismasted or have damaged rigging.

Xynthia was the same storm responsible for the heavy rain that caused mud slides in Madeira last week and more than a million French homes were left without electricity.

Source from a posting on www.forumvoile.com,

The Abu Dhabi Yacht Show (ADYS) 2010 opened to loud praise yesterday in its stunning new home of the UAE capital’s Yas Marina. The show has a line‐up of 30 of the world’s most impressive superyachts and some 140 exhibitors representing international megayacht industry. The show is tipped to be one of the top three superyacht shows along with Monaco and Fort Lauderdale.

There was also an announcement at the show of the Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC)  impressive marina projects. The yacht show is being held on Yas Island between February 25-27, 2010. The show is featuring TDIC's four marinas, two of which will be located in its developments across Abu Dhabi city - specifically in the Eastern Mangroves and in Al Bateen Wharf.

Saadiyat Island's marinas, the Marina Village on Saadiyat Beach and Saadiyat Marina were also displayed proving Abu Dhabi's committment to the marine leisure industry and marina tourism.

Saadiyat Marina will have berths for more than1,000yachts and visitors will have access to cafés and chic boutique arcades.

Marina Village located in the Saadiyat Beach District, will open as a 83-berth marina in 2012.

A 31m-long motorboat powered entirely by the sun, the PlanetSolar, is set to embark on a circumnavigation in 2011.

She was designed by PlanetSolar and built by Knierim in Kiel, and is claimed to be the largest solar-powered boat in the world.  The 500 square metres of solar panels will cover almost all the upper surfaces of the boat, which, together with her wave piercing technology, should enable her to cruise at an average speed of 8 knots.

Seatrials are expected to begin in late March, and she is scheduled to make her 40,000km voyage around the world via the Panama and Suez canals piloted by a two man crew in 2011. The voyage will begin and end in the Mediterranean

Source Knierim yacht Club in Kiel

March 25-28: St Barthelemy Bucket. Invitation only open to yachts 30 metres or more. www.bucketregattas.com 

March 29-April 4: BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival. 100 racing yachts expected to compete. www.bvispringregatta.org 

April 1-5: Around Guadeloupe Regatta. One big party and a sail around the islands. www.triskellcup.com 

April 2-5: Bequia Easter Regatta. A record number ofmore than 50 yachts expected. www.begos.com/easterregatta 

April 6-11: Les Voiles de St. Barth. The first event open to all types of yachts. www.lesvoilesdesaintbarth.com 

April 15-20: Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta. Serious racers and family cruisers come out for this classic yacht regatta. www.lesvoilesdesaintbarth.com 

April 24-30: Antigua Sailing Week. A new format including the Dickenson Bay Beach Bash. www.sailingweek.com 

May 7-9: Anguilla Regatta. Traditional wooden race boats and modern production boats are featured at this event. www.anguillaregatta.com 

May 13-16: 25th Annual Mount Gay Boatyard Regatta, Barbados. All yacht types sailing in this annual event in Carlisle Bay. www.sailbarbados.com/events_MG.html 

May 28-30: Puerto Rico Vela Cup.  50+ yachts are expected to compete in this third annual event at the Yacht Club Palmas del Mar www.puertoricovelacup.com 

June 25-27: Statia and Nevis Offshore Regatta.  This regatta is open to all classes. www.smyc.com 

Be Warned just about all the events and regatta’s involve drinking vast amounts of Caribbean Rum

Sunseeker has announced that they will hold an open day at their poole headquarters on the 26th, 27th, and 28th of February between the hours of 10 and 4

The list of boats on display during the boat show include;

NEW 48 Portofino

52 Manhattan

54 Predator

60 Predator

60 Manhattan

74 Predator

108 Predator Special Edition

88 Yacht

74 Predator

70 Manhattan

Experienced Sunseeker sales, brokerage, service and sea school teams will also be on hand to assist and advise guests on purchasing, owning and enjoying a Sunseeker motor yacht.

Sales Director, Christopher Head: "We are looking forward to introducing guests and visitors to Poole the benefits of Sunseeker ownership at this unique Pre-Season Open Weekend. As a company, we pride ourselves on being specialists in every aspect of boat ownership - whether our clients opt for a new or pre-owned Sunseeker motor yacht, we will work closely with them to ensure that their Sunseeker purchasing and ownership experience is second to none."

for more details on the show click here

The multi purpose training facility designed for the Royal Yachting Association at Osprey Quay, Portland has been officially handed over.

RYA Portland House will be the centre of performance sailing in the run up to and during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and is the latest stage in the development of Osprey Quay where an investment of £40 million will transform the former Royal Navy Air Base. The marina and sailing facilities will provide future generations fantastic facilities in the Portland and Weymouth area.