New Sable D'or Marina A Red Herring

Created by doina. Last modified on 2005-10-28 19:54:38
Contributors:
Countries: Morocco

Hello, we are sailing vessel ARGONAUTA I, currently in the Spanish North African port of Ceuta, and soon will depart for Atlantic Morocco and on to Madeira and the Canaries. We note reference to Sable D'Or Marina just south of Rabat. We wondered if anyone has any current information on what is expected to become one of the best in Morocco. Surfing the net, we located a rudimentary web page which shows diagrams and but no precision such as contact/nav info. We would be most grateful for any data that might be available on this place. We expect to depart Ceuta this Sunday 18 September. Best regards, Hugh Bacon.

Noonsite subsequently received the following update:

What we have is a "red herring" perpetuated by wishful thinking! Even C-Map has been caught up in the fable. To explain. I noted that while no charts we have show a marina near Temara/Sidi Abed, our 2004 version of C-Map NT shows a marina called Sable d'Or and provides precise track/GPS guidance to it. Coordinates for the entrance per C-Map are "33 55.854 N/006 57.227 W. The diagrammatical layout is the same as in the Imray Guide. So in good conditions we followed C-Map. We stopped following C-Map about 300 meters from a low cliff. No marina in evidence! Local fishermen confirmed there was nothing but explained that about a mile further south, there was a small enclave enclosed by two breakwaters but added at low tide, the approach was too shallow for a yacht. We motored to a position just off the place and noted the absence of slips etc in contrast to what is shown in both the C-Map electronic charts and in the Guide. Soon after, we were intercepted by Moroccan authorities in a RIB who came alongside and politely explained we were in a restricted area; they took our particulars and we explained our purpose which they accepted but advised that the so called marina was not viable and in any case the area was out of bounds.

Late afternoon we entered Mohammedia Marina and in very cramped conditions for a 44 foot boat, managed to get into a slip. The marina people were most helpful in moving a smaller motor yacht to make something available. The slip we're in is more suited to a 30 footer but its OK. Here we met a French yacht crew who pursued an identical wild goose chase and too were politely escorted out of the area. Their guide had similar misleading info as ours. Incidentally, all Moroccan authorities were extremely helpful and polite.

There is indeed a paucity of good marina space on the Moroccan Atlantic coast so one tends to grasp at straws in finding an adequate place to secure a yacht; Certainly that is what prompted our little exercise. It would be worthwhile to advise other yachtsmen of the Sable d'Or red herring. Best regards, Hugh Bacon, ARGONAUTA I

It appears that some construction was done on the marina but it was abandoned when King Hassan died in 1999; his son King Mohammed Vl, did not want a marina built close to his palace in Tamara due to security concerns.