First time charter in Med

[terah]

I'm looking for suggestions for where to go for our first time chartering in the Med next summer. I have been racing and coastal sailing in Scotland for several years, and dinghy sailing before that, but not been further afield. Will have 3 crew with me, all relatively inexperienced.

We're looking for a fairly relaxed holiday, so short (4h?) hops between stops, nice places to see, swim, and eat. Would really like to charter a cat, as we're considering purchasing one, though that's not essential.

While we won't have kids with us we need to stick to school summer holidays, so it will be between 1st week July and 2nd week August.

So far have been looking at Croatia and Greece, where prices are fine for monohulls but quite expensive for cats. Also started looking at Turkey where cat prices seem much more reasonable, but I know very little about the area.

[yeloya]

Just sent to you a PM


Cheers


Yeloya

[dlymn]

Any of the island groups in the Aegean are fine as long as you don't catch a week when the Meltemi starts to blow. This site might help JimB Sail | Helping Skippers plan European Cruises
We sail in the Ionian. A charter out of Preveza, Lefkas Paleros,Nidri will give you good, but occasionally light winds sailing almost all of the season. Getting there needs some planning. Easiest access is Corfu and pick up a boat at Gouvia.

[Seaworthy Lass]

I would go for the Dodecanese. The region is much less crowded than the Ionian. Many anchorages you could have to yourself. The Meltemi is not nearly as ferocious as it can be in the Cyclades.

July would be better than August. Summer holiday time for the Europeans is August, so the area is busier then. Also it is less hot in July.

Sorry, but I have no recommendations for charter companies.

SWL

[terah]

Thanks both.

Will check out the JimB site tonight.

What's the water temp like in July?

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by terah

Thanks both.

Will check out the JimB site tonight.

What's the water temp like in July?

Around 24°C (76°F) in the Dodecanese:
Kos Sea Temperature July Average, Greece Water Temperatures

[Seaworthy Lass]

This was an an anchorage in the Dodecanese in July of 2013.

The tiny white spec in the bay is us:

[Screwdiver]

Consider Corsica, lots of scenic harbors and beautyful bays, excellent food, low prices for chartering a boat. extendable with a short visit to Sardegna.

[Boudicca]

We tested our desire to live on a boat by chartering a boat out of Bodrum, Turkey. Lots of anchorages and beautiful sites to see. Another charter is out of Orhaniye Turkey. We sailed one way to Fethiye. The season here is longer. We sailed in Sep - Oct. We have been now living on our boat 3 years. So clearly it was wonderful.

[Mithril Bham]

Absolutely Croatia

[nuvaslacker]

Originally Posted by magellanyachts

Absolutely Croatia

I'd second that. Chain of islands just offshore, short hops. Roman remains onshore.

The food when I was there was rather unsophisticated, mostly charcoal grilled meat, but may well have developed in the last 25 years.

[David B]

Originally Posted by dlymn

Any of the island groups in the Aegean are fine as long as you don't catch a week when the Meltemi starts to blow. This site might help JimB Sail | Helping Skippers plan European Cruises
We sail in the Ionian. A charter out of Preveza, Lefkas Paleros,Nidri will give you good, but occasionally light winds sailing almost all of the season. Getting there needs some planning. Easiest access is Corfu and pick up a boat at Gouvia.

Thanks for the tip regarding the JimB site - excellent !

[David B]

Originally Posted by terah

I'm looking for suggestions for where to go for our first time chartering in the Med next summer. I have been racing and coastal sailing in Scotland for several years, and dinghy sailing before that, but not been further afield. Will have 3 crew with me, all relatively inexperienced.

We're looking for a fairly relaxed holiday, so short (4h?) hops between stops, nice places to see, swim, and eat. Would really like to charter a cat, as we're considering purchasing one, though that's not essential.

While we won't have kids with us we need to stick to school summer holidays, so it will be between 1st week July and 2nd week August.

So far have been looking at Croatia and Greece, where prices are fine for monohulls but quite expensive for cats. Also started looking at Turkey where cat prices seem much more reasonable, but I know very little about the area.

We still have a lot to explore, but highly recommend Corsica and Sardinia.

Suggest you pick up a copy of 'Letters from the Med' by Ian and Andrea Treleaven. Gives you a good overview and feel for most of the Med.

If you decide you want to go to the Corsica/Sardinia area, PM me and I can send you a link to my narrative of our experiences in that area (our first real experience of Med cruising)

[eddi]

Try Montenegro, the small country at the south of Croatia. Very beautiful, besides you can visit Croatia. Could help to get a cat if needed, got a variety of "Lagoons" though monohulls are more popular here. May mail me to ebigova@gmail.com

[Mithril Bham]

Originally Posted by nuvaslacker

I'd second that. Chain of islands just offshore, short hops. Roman remains onshore.

The food when I was there was rather unsophisticated, mostly charcoal grilled meat, but may well have developed in the last 25 years.

No doubt they love their meat. Great meat stews and lots of it but good seafood as well. Try some of the great seafood in Opatia or the Italian restaurant at the Grand Adriatic Hotel (I think I have that right)