While a number of emerging marinas are offering increasingly better facilities and more space, berths for yachts over a 100 meters remain scarce. For a large yacht, staying in a marina can therefore be complicated.
Yacht Harbour has come up with a list of the top 12 ports with the largest berths, created in order of descending length.
#1 Porto Montenegro 250m
Porto Montenegro, located in the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro, has recently added a 250m berth to its offering. The marina is the largest in the region, and its flagship berth surpasses the size of any yacht built to date. This forward-thinking outlook on the industry reflects Porto Montenegro's ambition to become a go-to location for large yachts.
#2 Yacht Haven Grande 200m
Yacht Haven Grande is located in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Situated along the Charlotte Amalie Harbor, it offers side-to berthing for yachts measuring up to 200 meters in length. The marina has a total of 48 slips accessible by 5.5m-wide concrete docks as well as facilities specially dedicated to the yacht’s crew, owners and guests. The facilities include catering, laundry, chandlery and even a florist. The place is complemented by a shopping mall with 80,000 square feet of retail spaces that provide a variety of eating, entertainment and recreational options.
#3 OneOcean Port Vell 190m
The marina currently offers more than 150 berths and can accommodate megayachts up to 190 metres in length. A new development will see an additional 8 berths created to host vessels between 30 metres and 80 metres. It also offers a business centre, crew lounge and VIP concierge service. More superyacht berths will be available at OneOcean Port Vell, Barcelona once it completes the final phase of its transformation in August.
#4 Port Vauban 165m
Port Vauban is renowned throughout the sailing world as a place where super yachts gather. The harbour is home to more than 100 berths over the 23-metre in length, with some of these berths accommodating 165 m yachts. This is unique on this highly sought after coast of France. Antibes itself has long since joined the premier league of yachting destinations, with its superb restaurants, café’s and festivals. Port Vauban is surrounded by boating facilities of every kind.
The port with the old town of Antibes is a very attractive marina for yacht and boat owners to have a base. It is one of largest private and public marina along the Cote d’Azur, it is easily accessible from Nice Airport by road and the Bay of Cannes is just on the other side of the Cap d’Antibes.
In addition, Port Vauban has always been a harbour. You can feel the history along these walls and that life has always revolved around it. Since as early as 500 BC, Antibes was used by Phocean merchants (Greek) as a base for their trade routes. The name of Antibes is derived from “Antipolis”, which means “the town on the other side” as this harbour mirrored the one of Nice, which could be seen on the other side of the Baie des Anges (Bay of Angels). This marina has considerable historical heritages, such as Fort Vauban or the “Square Fort” from the XVII Century.
#5 Port Tarraco 160m
Situated in the Western Mediterranean, the marina provides a sheltered haven in close proximity to the major cruising destinations of the Spanish Coast, Balearic Islands and South of France.
Exclusively designed for super and mega yachts, the marina offers 64 deep-water berths ranging from 30 to 160m. The latest technology, standards and security levels for the visiting VIP vessels in combination with the signature concierge service, will ensure that each yacht and crew receives a warm welcome and any personal assistance they might need.
Located on Spain’s Costa Dorada the “Golden Coast”, Port Tarraco offers visitors a chance to explore the rich Catalonian culture, the area’s many beaches, mountains for hiking or skiing, famous vineyards, signature golf courses as well as renowned theme and water parks. The nearby cosmopolitan cities of Barcelona and Madrid make it an amazing destination and home port for owners, captains and crew alike.
#6 Grand Harbour Marina 135m
Grand Harbour Marina in Malta is one of the most popular superyacht marinas in the Mediterranean during the winter period due to its lower fees and location. Lying virtually in the centre of the Mediterranean, Malta is only about 2 days sailing from the principle European yachting hotspots. The majority of Malta's 460,000 inhabitants speak English which makes it easy for crew to communicate with locals.
#7 Port Hercule 130m
Port Hercule is amongst the most recognizable marinas in the world. In high demand during the summer season, the port also hosts a number of large yachts during winter. Amongst its most frequent guests are the Lady Moura, Atlantis II and Wedge Too. The marina can also accommodate yachts over 120 meters but these must compete for one berthing space with cruise ships during the summer.
In 2010 the Finnish manufacturer of marinas and pontoons Marinetek was hired to deliver three new pontoons to Port Hercule. Monaco's old fixed piers were replaced by Marinetek's floating concrete pontoons. The renovation was completed in 2011.
#8 Porto Mirabello 130m
Porto Mirabello is a unique Italian marina developed around a man-made island, built in the La Spezia gulf without sacrificing any of the city’s beach-front space. An innovative project, using avant-garde solutions, this site offers maximum accessibility and all the comforts needed for mooring craft ranging from 12 to 130 meters in length. The main oversized docks (from 25 to 34 meters in width) allow boat owners and their guests to park their cars near the mooring point itself. Anchorage depth varies from 5 to 8 meters depending on the specific point. The entrance is on the eastern side, behind the wave wall that extends along the west-east axis of the site, protecting the southern quadrants from the wind, fetch limited by a flood barrier 2 miles away.
Enchanting places such as Porto Venere, Lerici, Tellaro and the Cinque Terre are within a few miles' radius of Port Mirabello. The marina is also the ideal starting point for the finest destinations in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea: the Tuscan Archipelago, Corsica, Portofino and the Riviera. The Gulf of La Spezia and its surroundings are unrivalled in their natural and cultural attractions and scenery: from the uncontaminated waters of the Cinque Terre marine park to the emerald-green waters off the coastal bays and the islands of Tino and Palmaria, to the fine museums of La Spezia itself, and the charm of the old fishing villages perched on the sea.
#9 Vilanova Grand Marina 120m
The marina is located in Barcelona, Spain in an ideal environment in the port of Vilanova. It offers yachts and superyachts a range of facilities and support services. Since the opening in April 2009, Vilanova Grand Marina has rapidly earned the recognition and support of the industry and is now considered an international benchmark. It has 49 spacious moorings for sale and rent ranging from 25 to 120 metres in length, with a maximum draft of 6.5m.
The marina is only a 20 minutes drive from Barcelona's International Airport, which has a specific terminal for private jets, and is accessible by AVE (High Speed Train) via Madrid and Zaragoza. In addition, there is a helipad within the premises of the Marina for even greater convenience.
#10 Limassol Marina 110m
One of the most exclusive superyacht marinas in the popular Mediterranean yacht holiday location, Limassol Marina is the only superyacht marina in Cyprus. It has recently welcomed four of the finest superyachts in the world: second time visitor, the 88,5m superyacht Nirvana, was followed by the 99m luxury yacht Madame Gu, the 119m mega yacht A and the 72,6m motor yacht Queen K.
Operated and managed by Francoudi & Stephanou Marinas, in partnership with Camper & Nicholsons Marinas, Limassol Marina represents a safe haven for 650 yachts from 8m to 110m, and is a blend of local and internationally renowned excellence in services and facilities. Moreover, there are also luxury apartments and exclusive villas with private berths or direct access to the beach, with a mix of dining and shopping establishments, spa, fitness and cultural facilities.
#11 Port Palmarina 100m
Port Palmarina ( Yalikavak Marina) is situated in Yalikavak, 18 km away from Bodrum, Turkey. Owned by Mubariz Masimov, Azerbaijani businessman, the project for housing mega yachts is the first of its kind in Turkey, with over $45 million in investments.
The glittering grand opening party was held on June 22, 2012 with the participation of famous top model, Eva Herzigova and distinguished guests such as the owner of the Renault Formula-1 team, Italian businessman, Mr Flavio Briatore. Run by Mr Briatore, the famous Billionaire Club and Italian restaurant Cipriani have opened new branches at Palmarina and Istanbul.
Designed by famous Turkish architect Emre Arolat, the port is an entertainment island with various possibilities not only for yachters but also for tourists and locals. A variety of shopping brands are lined through the streets inside the marina. Palmabeach, the infinity pool of the Loft Beach Bar, fitness centre are also within the borders of this complex. The very adventurous boating events and races, including the 4th Gant Cup, the 16th Bodrum Cup, the World of Wonders Cup, are also held in Palmarina Bodrum.
#12 Marina di Stabia 100m
Marina di Stabia is set in the heart of one of the world’s most sophisticated touristic areas, close to Sorrento, Capri, Amalfi and Ravello, Italy. It offers much to those who enjoy a truly unique yachting experience.
The marina is a new generation superyacht facility with 900 berths, the longest of which can take boats in excess of 100 metres. Blending modern style, elegance and efficiency, this is a safe and secure international marina where a reliable team of professionals deliver year round, high quality service and assistance.
The marina offers twenty-first century berths in a setting of incomparable beauty, with Mount Vesuvius and Mount Faito spanning the marina and the profile of the Sorrentine Peninsula, Capri and Ischia on the horizon.