Moraira Bay Anchorage Guide
Also known as: Bahía de Moraira, Cala Moraira
Moraira is the Costa Blanca's most upmarket sailing town — a low-rise resort with a good marina, quality provisioning, and a bay anchorage offering reasonable shelter. The white-sand bay is well protected from the Tramuntana and Levante, making it one of the more reliable overnight anchorages on this stretch. Posidonia is present but sandy patches are findable. The impressive Peñón de Ifach (Calpe) is visible 3nm to the SE, making for spectacular sailing between the two anchorages.
Quick Reference
GPS Coordinates
38°41.0'N 000°07.9'E
Depth
4–10m
Bottom
sand, Posidonia
Holding
Good HoldingProtected From
N, NW, NE, E
Exposed To
S, SW, W
Best Months
May, June, September, October
Anchoring Fee
Free
Mooring Buoys
None
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
85m for bay anchorage. Keep well clear of marina approach channel.
Set this in Safety Anchor Alarm — FreePosidonia Alert — Critical
Posidonia oceanica meadows are present in this anchorage. Before dropping anchor, use the free DONIA app to identify sandy patches. Anchoring on Posidonia is prohibited under EU law and Spanish Law 42/2007 — fines up to €200,000 in the Javea area are actively enforced. Yellowish-green patches visible from the surface indicate Posidonia — do not anchor there.
The Anchorage
Anchor in 4–8m outside the marina zone in the central bay on sandy patches. Keep 100m clear of the marina entrance. The Ifach rock (Peñón de Ifach, 332m) 3nm SE gives some channelling to the Tramuntana, making Moraira more sheltered than bays to the S. Good holding in sandy patches between Posidonia.
Setting Your Anchor
The bottom at Moraira Bay is primarily sand and Posidonia with reliable holding when properly set.
- Approach slowly — at 4–10m, deploy minimum 7:1 scope (70m chain at 10m depth).
- Drop into the wind or current and pay out chain steadily.
- Set firmly in reverse — 30–60 seconds moderate throttle astern.
- Snorkel to verify Posidonia-free hold — visually confirm anchor buried in sand.
Recommended anchor types: SPADE, Rocna, Delta.
Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm
Overnight stays at Moraira Bay are feasible but require monitoring — exposed to S and SW and W winds and swell.
Set your GPS anchor alarm to 85m radius before going below. 85m for bay anchorage. Keep well clear of marina approach channel.
April–October. Good year-round provisioning base.
Navigation Hazards
- Marina approach channel — maintain clearance
- Posidonia throughout bay — use DONIA app
- SW afternoon Poniente (W sea breeze) builds swell
Rules & Regulations
- Anchoring fee: Free
- Key restrictions: 100m exclusion from marina entrance. Posidonia restrictions apply.
Facilities
- Fresh water: Available
- Fuel: Available
- Restaurant: Multiple restaurants in Moraira village (15 min walk or dinghy to quay).
- Provisions: Available
Skipper's Tips
- One of the few Costa Blanca anchorage bays with good provisioning nearby.
- The market in Moraira village (Wednesday and Saturday) is excellent for fresh produce.
A note on this guide: Data researched from multiple sailing sources and provided in good faith. Always check current weather, NAVTEX bulletins, and the DONIA app for Posidonia mapping before visiting. Use a GPS anchor alarm and never rely solely on a guide for navigational decisions.
Sleep peacefully at Moraira Bay
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