Description:
This city is a popular tourist destination with plenty to do and see here.
Whilst the 3 marinas here are located a substantial distance from the sea, cruisers report it is well worth the effort and is an ideal port for over-wintering.
Position:
36° 45′ 02″N, 06° 25′ 37″W (marina)
Next Section: Profile: Clearance
Related to following destinations: Sevilla, South West Coast (Spain), Spain
Port Navigation
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As of this writing, the lock only opens once a day at 09:00. The walls below the lock cannot be used to wait. There are no cleats to attach. The lock control speaks no English but did respond on VHF 12 and said one word in English “Nine”
As a footnote I would like to add that Gelves used tone a good place to haul out for live aboard types. Sadly it seems this is now changing as living on board in the boatyard is not going to be allowed, in line with most other Andalucian marinas. Some of you may remember the boating author Mike Harper who’s widow Diana still lives on their boat in the boatyard, fortune last 14 years.
She is still in fantastic shape but it looks like she will have to over out too. Apparently the caution about anchoring g is valid and it would be wise to rig the tripping is, but we were lucky and had no problems. The journey downstream was highlighted by earl morning sightings on flamingos in flight, some 20 in line…
Having just arrived in Seville (Puerto Geldes) I would like to add a further opinion
The river journey from Chipiona is not as I expected. Previous sources have indicated that it is difficult and tedious, with many hazards from passing ships. Not so! Admittedly the river entrance is indeed lively with an ebb tide running and South westerly wind and I would not recommend is in strong onshore winds. But once inside the river it is in fact very easy to navigate indeed, boyage is good and we were able to sail the vast majority of the way.
There are ships on the river, but they are apparently limited to about 7k, as they take a while to catch up and pass, and leave little wash. The river is very wide and there is ample room to navigate towards the edge of the channel and let them past. The journey itself is far from tedious with a wealth of wild mostly bird life on the way, huge rookeries of sTorks, and fascinating disused factories on the banks, plus bizarre local river fishing boats which seem to vie for the tattiest appearance with large booms hanging on the back to take the nets, looking like a cross between a crow and something off Star Wars!
If you have a “modest” boat there’s no need to book into a city marina and take the lock, just turn left and anchor outside Gelves marina, free and easy, good facilities ashore and very close bus stop for a ride into the city itself. Marvellous!
The mentioned river pilot handbook is no longer availlabel in bookshops but you can ask to have a look on it at Chipiona Marina office. This would be a wise decision to do so because the 55 M upriver from there is quite exhausting with the frequent course changes.
The entrance of Chipiona was only 2,6 m!!! And never go into the fairway from Chipiona to Bonanza with W wind and falling tide (current out of the river). You hardly would see the buoys that sit on a kind of funnel cunstruction underwater to prevent the Ria Guadalquavir meandering.
Try to ask the pilots (spanish: Practicos Chipiona or Sevilla at VHF CH 09) what commercial traffic is going up and down on your travel to Sevilla if you speak spanish. If not trust your AIS receiver and arrange a save pass by.
It is necessary to have a berth confirmed from either Sun Sail Marina or Nautico Club Sevilla 24 hours in advance of getting trough the new lock and the bridge in Sevilla. If you do not speak spanish ask Chipiona or Mazagon Marina to assist you.
If your draught is around 3,2 m and your max headroom is 22 m like the yacht I am skipper on you can not go into the 3rd marina Guelges for waiting of the lock to open.
The bridge to the NCS are two. One railway bridge that is allmost open and close behind that you have the car bridge (Puente de las delicias). The light signal is on the railway bridge starbord side. Red above green an a green arrow to pass. Go ahead only when the car brdge opens. Wait there 15 minutes in advance.
Berths in CNS for bigger ships that do not fit on the pontoons are with moorings to the southern pier. No anchoring allowed as the moorings wer layed new in autumn 2014
A good chance in the middle of nowhere to wait for the bridge to open for the Nautico Club Sevilla berths is at Sun Sail Marina just after the new lock. Berth per day for our 18+ m SY was around 35 Euros per day. No laundery. No languages spoken except spanish. About 12 Euros Taxi cost to centre.
WIFI though password given not available on N-end of jetty. All the staff is very helpfull and friendly but hardly speaks anything else but spanish.