SeaTV · Spain · Andalusia · Gibraltar & La Línea
Gibraltar & La Línea — The Mediterranean Entry · 3 Marinas at the Foot of the Rock
~36°08’N · 5°21’W · Bay of Algeciras · the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula · Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory · La Línea de la Concepción is the Spanish town immediately N of the border · the airport runway is the border · 3 marinas covering small boats to 100m superyachts · Gibraltar is OUTSIDE the EU Customs Territory · the only spot in the Mediterranean where you can reset VAT status without leaving · the natural staging point for Atlantic crossings + W-bound transits.
Speed limit 5 kt in Gibraltar waters · yachts must yield to all naval + commercial vessels · 2 chandleries (Sheppard’s + Gib Yachts) with VAT-free supplies · the Rock rises to 406 m
Gibraltar is the central station for anyone crossing the Atlantic to or from the Mediterranean — and the 3 marinas at the foot of the Rock are the practical entry point for cruisers. The territory is a British Overseas Territory of just 6.7 km² with the iconic 406 m limestone Rock rising vertically from the Bay of Algeciras. Critically for cruisers: Gibraltar is OUTSIDE the EU Customs Territory (like the Canary Islands), which means yachts can reset their VAT status here without leaving the Mediterranean. Combined with VAT-free marine supplies, year-round Mediterranean climate, English-speaking services, and direct flights from London to GIB airport (~5 min walk to the marina), it’s no surprise Gibraltar is the busiest yacht-transit point on the W Mediterranean rim. The 3 marinas: Queensway Quay (largest, accommodates vessels to 100 m + 500 amp power) and Marina Bay (small craft to 15 m, full duty-free chandlery + amenities) are both on the Gibraltar (UK) side · Alcaidesa Marina sits on the Spanish side in La Línea de la Concepción, 5-min walk N across the airport runway, with deeper draft (5 m) and more transient space for yachts up to 80 m. ⚠ Sailing condition reminder: the Strait can be challenging — strong currents, Levante winds, heavy commercial traffic — and yachts must always yield to naval and commercial vessels in this heavily-monitored bay.
⚠ Reality check before you arrive:
→ ⚠ Speed limit 5 kt in all Gibraltar waters · the British marine police enforce
→ ⚠ Yield to all naval + commercial vessels · this is heavily-monitored international + military waters
→ ⚠ Levante winds 30-40 kt · come over the Rock as accelerated downdrafts · gusts near the cliff
→ ⚠ Airport runway = land border with Spain · pedestrian crossing possible · queue to enter Gibraltar can be 30-90 min
→ ⚠ Currency: Gibraltar Pound (1:1 with GBP) · most places accept Euros + GBP · ATMs available
→ ⚠ All visiting yachts MUST berth at one of the designated marinas · no anchoring inside the Bay
→ Customs: Gibraltar is OUTSIDE EU Customs · clear in/out properly · the VAT-reset benefit is real but procedural
⚓ Approach & Lighthouses
Identifying the Bay of Algeciras
→ Gibraltar Rock 406 m · visible from 30 NM in clear weather · the unmistakable landfall
→ From the S + E (Strait): Europa Point Lighthouse · the southernmost tip of Gibraltar · 49 m white tower with red bands · 1841 · range 19 NM
→ From the W: Punta Carnero Lighthouse · marks the SW entrance to the Bay · on the Spanish side
→ Bay of Algeciras layout: Gibraltar (UK) on the E shore · Algeciras commercial port on the W shore · marinas all on the E (Gibraltar + La Línea) shore
⛵ The 3 Marinas — Compared
1 · Queensway Quay Marina · Gibraltar (UK)
→ Location: Gibraltar’s main inner harbour · S of Marina Bay
→ VHF: Ch 71 / 08 · Phone: +350 20044700
→ Capacity: vessels to 100 m · Max LOA: 40 m (most berths) · Max draft: 3-4 m
→ Power: up to 500 amp supply
→ Note: high-quality marina but limited transient space · pre-book in summer
2 · Marina Bay · Gibraltar (UK)
→ Coordinates: 36°08’56.5″N · 5°21’22.0″W
→ VHF: Ch 71 · Phone: +350 73300
→ Max LOA: 15 m · Max draft: 2.2 m · ⚠ small craft only
→ Services: boat moorings · cash point · chandlery · diving · duty-free · launderette
→ Note: directly under the Rock · 5-min walk to GIB airport + town
3 · Alcaidesa Marina · La Línea de la Concepción (Spain)
→ Coordinates: 36°09’30.1″N · 5°21’35.5″W
→ VHF: Ch 9 · Phone: +34 956 02 16 60
→ Max LOA: 80 m · Max draft: 5 m
→ Services: marinas · marine fuel · standard EU services
→ Side: Spanish (EU + Schengen) · standard EU customs apply
→ Note: 5-min walk N from the airport runway (= the border) into Gibraltar town · combines Spanish prices + Gibraltar access · the practical choice for many cruisers
Customs & VAT — Why Gibraltar Matters
The procedural reality:
→ Gibraltar is OUTSIDE the EU Customs Territory · same exception status as the Canary Islands
→ Yachts that have been in EU waters for 18 months can reset their VAT status by clearing into Gibraltar + clearing back into Spain — without leaving the Mediterranean
→ Marine supplies + chandlery are VAT-free in Gibraltar — the 2 main chandleries are Sheppard’s of Gibraltar + Gib Yachts · sails, electronics, hardware, paint, rope are typically 20-25% cheaper than EU prices
→ Fuel is also VAT-free (white diesel) · significantly cheaper than EU fuel
→ Entry procedures are streamlined for foreign yachts · all visiting vessels must berth at one of the designated marinas
→ For latest information visit: www.gibraltar.gov.gi
Things to See in Gibraltar
→ The Rock of Gibraltar · 406 m limestone monolith · cable car to the upper rock
→ Barbary macaques · the only wild monkey population in Europe · ~300 individuals on the upper rock · do NOT feed them
→ St Michael’s Cave · vast natural limestone cavern with stalactites · used as a concert hall for centuries
→ Great Siege Tunnels · 18th-century British military tunnels carved into the Rock · 55 km total network
→ Gibraltar Nature Reserve · 40% of the territory · the upper Rock + cliff vegetation
→ Europa Point · the southernmost tip · lighthouse + Trinity Lighthouse · views to Africa
→ Gorham’s Cave Complex · UNESCO World Heritage 2016 · evidence of the last Neanderthals (~40,000 years ago)
→ Main Street + Casemates Square · the duty-free shopping strip · pubs + restaurants
Weather & Sailing Conditions
→ Mediterranean climate · mild winters · warm summers · year-round sailing
→ Levante (E wind) · the dominant strong wind · accelerated by the Strait + the Rock · 30-40 kt sustained possible
→ Sudden gusts near the Rock · downdrafts on the lee side · be alert as you round Europa Point
→ Bay of Algeciras anchorages · NOT recommended for visiting yachts · use the marinas
→ Best months: April–June + September–November for milder weather + fewer Levante storms
Contact & Emergency
Queensway Quay Marina: +350 20044700 · VHF Ch 71/08
Marina Bay Gibraltar: +350 73300 · VHF Ch 71
Alcaidesa Marina (La Línea): +34 956 02 16 60 · VHF Ch 9
Gibraltar Government (entry formalities): gibraltar.gov.gi
Gibraltar emergency: 999 (UK system) · Spanish side emergency: 112
Gibraltar SAR: VHF 16 · Maritime Rescue covers Strait + Bay
Spanish Maritime SAR (Tarifa): 900 202 202 · the Tarifa SAR centre coordinates Spanish-side rescues
Closest airport: Gibraltar International (GIB) — directly adjacent · the runway IS the border · regular flights to UK (London, Manchester) + Morocco
⛵ Continue Exploring
SeaTV Andalusia docking pages:
→ Tarifa & the Strait of Gibraltar — ~20 NM W · the Strait crossing
→ Puerto de Barbate — ~40 NM W · the last Atlantic shelter
→ Cádiz · Marina Puerto América — ~60 NM NW · UNESCO city
→ Mazagón (Huelva) — ~160 NM NW · Doñana + Algarve gateway
E-bound continuation into the Mediterranean:
→ Balearic Islands — Mallorca + Menorca + Ibiza
→ Mediterranean Coast Spain — Costa del Sol + Costa Blanca + Catalonia
Cluster hub:
→ Andalusia hub — full Atlantic + Mediterranean Andalusian coverage
“Gibraltar is the central station for anyone crossing the Atlantic to or from the Mediterranean and the three marinas at the foot of the Rock are the practical entry point for cruisers · the territory is a British Overseas Territory of just six point seven square kilometers with the iconic four hundred six meter limestone Rock rising vertically from the Bay of Algeciras · critically for cruisers Gibraltar is outside the EU Customs Territory like the Canary Islands which means yachts can reset their VAT status here without leaving the Mediterranean and combined with VAT free marine supplies and year round Mediterranean climate and English speaking services and direct flights from London to GIB airport which is a five minute walk to the marina it’s no surprise Gibraltar is the busiest yacht transit point on the western Mediterranean rim · the three marinas are Queensway Quay the largest accommodating vessels to one hundred meters with five hundred amp power and Marina Bay for small craft to fifteen meters with full duty free chandlery and amenities both on the Gibraltar UK side and Alcaidesa Marina on the Spanish side in La Línea de la Concepción a five minute walk north across the airport runway with deeper draft of five meters and more transient space for yachts up to eighty meters · sailing condition reminder the Strait can be challenging with strong currents and Levante winds and heavy commercial traffic and yachts must always yield to naval and commercial vessels in this heavily monitored bay · respect the speed limit of five knots and respect the wind and the Rock · sail accordingly.”
— SeaTV · Andalusia · Gibraltar & La Línea · The Mediterranean Entry Station
