By comparison with the northern Mediterranean, marinas in Tunisia seem able to offer similar services at a fraction of the cost, particularly on berths.
With a huge shortage of marina berths in the Mediterranean today, and those that are available sometimes setting you back more than the yacht itself, it is no surprise that yachtsmen are looking further afield. Step forward the northern coast of Africa as an alternative cruising area and destination for winterisation or repair. By comparison with the northern Mediterranean, marinas in Tunisia seem able to offer similar services at a fraction of the cost, particularly on berths. In some French marinas where the cost of a berth can fetch €1 million a year, a similar size yacht berthed in Yasmine Hammamet marina might typically cost only 100,000 dinars per year (about 60,000 euros). European and American boat owners can also take advantage of the low cost of labour and excellent craftsmanship of local workers to refit their boats or simply give them a fresh coat of paint.
Dwarfed by its two huge neighbours of Algeria to the west and Libya to the south east, the northern and north-eastern boundaries of Tunisia lie to the south of Italy, just a short distance from Sicily. Despite its relatively small size, Tunisia has great geographical and climatic diversity; its population is just under 10 million. Inland, the climate can be very hot in summer, but the winters are mild. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit. Westerly winds prevail along the north coast, but in summer they are usually interrupted by the daily alternating land and sea breezes. Along the east coast, the prevailing winds of summer are from the south east; the occasional sirocco arrives with gale force winds from the south, but it is usually short lived. For the sailing fraternity Tunisia’s year-round sunshine is unquestionably an attraction, as it extends the traditional cruising season normally enjoyed in France or Italy.
On the cultural side, Tunisia has a lively mix of North African and European influences. Its 1,200 km sandy coastline is punctuated with pretty little fishing villages still active with local fisherman launching their colourful vessels in pursuit of the daily catch. The local towns retain their sense of exotic history, dominated by ancient medinas and souks, where donkeys and bargain-hunters navigate the labyrinth of Aladdin’s caves packed with treasures like carpets, brass ornaments, jewellery, traditional kaftans, pottery and leather goods. The narrow winding alleys also conceal bright, whitewashed windowless houses behind splendid ornate doors, whilst ancient mosques are overshadowed by medieval castles or kasbahs. Many of the towns still have public baths; these hammams house steam rooms, cold plunge pools and, for just a few dinar, you can indulge in a massage surrounded by exotic ferns and intricately tiled walls.
Not so long ago, few people would have considered investing in Tunisia, a country many have associated with cheap package tourism. A recent relaxation in its overseas ownership laws, however, and a recognition of it being one of the most moderate Islamic states has brought significant interest from overseas investors. Over recent years, the pace of construction and development has been very fast, with new highways, bridges, airports, harbours and IT communications springing up everywhere. This has opened up the property market to overseas buyers and, with the 2006 relaxation in the purchasing laws, the process has been simplified. And there are more improvements to come. Buyers need permission to purchase from local authorities – a process which can take anything from six months to a year – but this is usually a formality and the purchase can go ahead in the meantime. Because Tunisia was a French protectorate until 1956, the legalities of the sales process are similar to those of France, and contracts are in French or Arabic.
For boat owners the benefits are similar – with the Tunisian coastline currently housing six operational marinas, with a total capacity of 2,100 docking spaces. This includes 740 berths at the Yasmine Hammamet port, 386 at Monastir, 360 at Sidi Bou Said, 300 at El Kantaoui and 50 in Tabarka. Sfax and Djerba are under construction and should be ready soon. A luxury purpose-built marina is already under construction at Bizerte with a guaranteed completion date of May 2011. Marina Bizerte promises huge cost savings to owners, an unrivalled central Mediterranean location and state-of-the-art, modern facilities. Sales of berths are already underway, with Morley Yachts listed as central agent.
Sidi-Bou-Said, one of the Tunisian coastline's six operational marinas,
We asked Tim Morley what Marina Bizerte had to offer. He told YachtWorld.com that the financial benefits of buying one of the 700 berths at the marina are overwhelming, with the annual cost for the duration of the 48-year lease at Marina Bizerte being over twelve times cheaper than the cost of a mooring in Antibes. The development also includes 200 luxury apartments which, at €1,400 per square metre, is over seven times cheaper than an equivalent property in Antibes.
Furthermore, the cost of fuel in Tunisia will be roughly 50 per cent lower than European prices. The VAT breaks from being located outside the European Union provide significant savings to owners looking to moor their yachts in luxurious surroundings with first-rate facilities. The captain of a 57-metre yacht said of the marina “with the cost savings the owner will make, he can put the senior crew on rotation and still be way ahead”.
Marina Bizerte is perfectly positioned in the heart of the Mediterranean, allowing easy and quick sailing to all the key yachting destinations, as well as idyllic local cruising opportunities along the beautiful untouched Tunisian coastline. The marina will benefit from superior features such as a swimming pool, gym, spa, yacht club, sailing school and even an aquarium. The dedicated Concierge Office will facilitate any of the owners’ requests, and other services such as childcare, a wide range of shops and a bank will ensure that the guests’ stays are seamless.
After sunset, marina visitors can enjoy top quality restaurants, bars, pubs, cafés and a nightclub. There is also a new 5-star hotel located next to the marina. The marina has its own helipad and is only 40 minutes from Tunis International airport, with connections to most European and Middle Eastern cities.
Now is the time to look at this alternative. It will not be long before the Southern Mediterranean becomes the new jetsetting paradise to which the smart set will flock – with Tunisia leading the dance.
Editor’s Note: For more detail about the Sidi-Bou-Said marina, read our post about Testing the Azimut Magellano. For charter information in the area, visit the Yachtworldcharters.com Mediterranean page. This story originally appeared in the December 2009 issue of Yachtworld Magazine.
