Who is planning to cruise the Med?

[lizatrix]

Is anyone out there planning a future cruise of the Med? My husband and I are planning to sail from Brighton all the way round the Med, including a trip through the Suez canal, taking at least a year. Would love to hear from anyone planning similar or anyone who has already done it. Particularly where are the most interesting ports and marinas and those lovely fishing coves.

[Kenomac]

There are thousands of interesting ports and places to see that can take a lifetime to see and enjoy. A year isn't nearly enough considering the Med cruising season is limited to four months of good weather. The Med has a winter.

[chuckr]

You can get to the Red Sea in the 6 month Med sailing season but you wil not get a chance to stop and see things or experience things or anything else - that is for most days. Of course the days the wx stops you you can do some on shore stuff.

Once in the Red Sea you got all winter down there assuming the problems do not get any worse down there.

[dlymn]

You can do the trip in 4 weeks with the engine running 24/7, but that's not the point. There's a port every 30 miles or so. The chance to visit well known and unknown places is an experience not to be missed. We budgeted 1 days travel for 2 days just looking around. So far we have visited 120 ports in4 years coastal cruising at 3 months a year. We’ve got to the Ionian islands and might stay there for quite a while.
Must go to places: Barcelona, Dali's house, Marseille, Bonifacio, Acciaroli, Santa Maria di Leuca, Sivota Mourtos, Lakka Paxos, and many, many more. Keep north and watch out for the Mistral.
Every stop is a time to savour the variety and the differences. We have loved the journey and will continue for as long as we're able. For a cruiser, the phrase "time is of the essence" means take the time to enjoy the essence of life.

[rivonia]

We took four years to sail from West coast Scotland to Cyprus. Meandering is the thing to do. The coast of Portugal/Spain/Gibralter/Balerics/Sicily Greece and its Island and so on and so forth.

Good luck

[Sarayu]

We left Gocek, in Turkey at the start of 2013, heading West. The intention to cross the Atlantic that same year. Presently our yacht is wintering in Tunisia, last year in Messlonghi (Greece), maybe we will get out of the Med this coming year?
We will be day sailing again this year heading north and west wwith the intention of exiting vvia Gibraltor around December 2015. There are so many kodak moments, so much history and so much to see.......
Enjoy the cruise no doubt you will find a comfortable pace.

[Barra]

Like the others say SLOW DOWN!!!

3 seasons into our original 1 season west to east cruise and we will probably be here for another season more before leaving via atlantic. First season we did too many miles chasing crew change deadlines etc which puts you into some pretty variable weather patterns in all but the dead of summer and has you sail past some wonderful destinations. The med is bigger than it looks on a chart since there are so many nooks and crannies.

Once you learn to slow down its so much more enjoyable

[svBeBe]

To sail that whole route in one year or even two would be a race! We are westbound now, wintering in Marina di Ragusa on southern coast of Sicily. Arrived in the Med in April 2011 in Marmaris and enjoyed inland travel all over Turkey very, very much. Sailing in the Med in general, not so much enjoyment. And westbound is arduous.

Next spring we will sail down to Malta for a routine haulout, plus a survey and a rigging inspection since we will be crossing Atlantic early January 2016. After Malta, then possibly to Tunisia if political situation there remains stable. As to Sardinia and Balearic Islands, depends on the weather. If weather permits sailing directly to Spain then that is what we will do. There is a lot to see but one cannot see it all.

As for interesting marinas, we have never visited an interesting marina. Nice ones and not-so-nice ones, but never an interesting one. Or found a fishing cove yet in the Med. But inland travel -- that is where we have found most enjoyment of 'cruising or sailing' in the Med.

Judy

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by svBeBe

To sail that whole route in one year or even two would be a race! We are westbound now, wintering in Marina di Ragusa on southern coast of Sicily. Arrived in the Med in April 2011 in Marmaris and enjoyed inland travel all over Turkey very, very much. Sailing in the Med in general, not so much enjoyment. And westbound is arduous.

Next spring we will sail down to Malta for a routine haulout, plus a survey and a rigging inspection since we will be crossing Atlantic early January 2016. After Malta, then possibly to Tunisia if political situation there remains stable. As to Sardinia and Balearic Islands, depends on the weather. If weather permits sailing directly to Spain then that is what we will do. There is a lot to see but one cannot see it all.

As for interesting marinas, we have never visited an interesting marina. Nice ones and not-so-nice ones, but never an interesting one. Or found a fishing cove yet in the Med. But inland travel -- that is where we have found most enjoyment of 'cruising or sailing' in the Med.

Judy

I've been on loads of interesting marinas. Some were old Roman basins etc.

As for beautiful coves. My goodness have you sailed Croatia , Greece or turkey !!!!

The med is one of the most beautiful sailing destinations on the planet. Unfortunately that's why there are so many boats there.

Dave

[svBeBe]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

I've been on loads of interesting marinas. Some were old Roman basins etc.

As for beautiful coves. My goodness have you sailed Croatia , Greece or turkey !!!!

The med is one of the most beautiful sailing destinations on the planet. Unfortunately that's why there are so many boats there.

Dave

Of course! Just spent 2 months in Croatia (did NOT like it) and spent 3 years Turkey, Greece and Cyprus. Still have seen no fishing coves. And the sailing in the Med sucks. We have 'sailed' a total of 4,932 NM thus far in the Med. We keep a spreadsheet tracking our fuel and engine hours and miles 'sailed.' Thus far, we have motored 82.6% of the time and actually sailed 17.4% of the time, averaging only 5.25 kts.

There are beautiful places in the Med, but the sailing sucks most of the time. Please do not tell me that one must wait for the good weather. Some of us have that silly 90-day limit to adhere to and distances must be covered whether the weather is good for sailing or we have to motor on.

Judy

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by svBeBe

Of course! Just spent 2 months in Croatia (did NOT like it) and spent 3 years Turkey, Greece and Cyprus. Still have seen no fishing coves. And the sailing in the Med sucks. We have 'sailed' a total of 4,932 NM thus far in the Med. We keep a spreadsheet tracking our fuel and engine hours and miles 'sailed.' Thus far, we have motored 82.6% of the time and actually sailed 17.4% of the time, averaging only 5.25 kts.

There are beautiful places in the Med, but the sailing sucks most of the time. Please do not tell me that one must wait for the good weather. Some of us have that silly 90-day limit to adhere to and distances must be covered whether the weather is good for sailing or we have to motor on.

Judy

Im a big Med fanboy , so Ill admit I biased. Im not sure what you define as a "fishing coves", but Ive anchored in some of the most beautiful coves anywhere , around the med.

As for sailing, yes its a very difficult place to sail in. If the wind blows its usually gale and the seas build up into forms that do greater damage to boats then the mid atlantic in my experience. The rest of the time its motoring.

But for example it isn't all bad, went from France to greece, three days sailing, two days motoring, 6 days storm bound !, 4 days hungover bound.


as for the 90 days, sorry bout that, we have to keep the foreigners out you see, too many already there:

dave

[steve77]

Greetings! We plan to winter our boat next winter in Tunisia. How is the marina? What are costs for 49' boat? Did you get your info for area from local cruisers or available materials you can refer us to read? THANKS!

[Sarayu]

We are over wintering this year in Tunisia. Some good info on Noonsite to consider. Our costs for a 40' cat on the hard,are cheaper than Greece or Turkey.
That said it is quite distinctly in Africa as far as conditions go.Depending on how you look at it that can be good or bad, we enjoy it. it can be difficiult to source simple things there, ship chandler stuff you would consider easily procured. My advice would be to stock up on as much gear as you will think you need from Europe before crossing over.

[steve77]

Originally Posted by Sarayu

We left Gocek, in Turkey at the start of 2013, heading West. The intention to cross the Atlantic that same year. Presently our yacht is wintering in Tunisia, last year in Messlonghi (Greece), maybe we will get out of the Med this coming year?
We will be day sailing again this year heading north and west wwith the intention of exiting vvia Gibraltor around December 2015. There are so many kodak moments, so much history and so much to see.......
Enjoy the cruise no doubt you will find a comfortable pace.

Greetings!
Looking forward to wintering later this year in Tunisia. Can you please give me your opinion of the marina you are staying with, the name and amenities, and estimated costs for 49 foot monohull? Are you enjoying the stay there? Any recommendations?
Thanks so much! Fair winds!

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

as for the 90 days, sorry bout that, we have to keep the foreigners out you see, too many already there:

dave

That could change.. since the Charlie Ebdo atrocity there's calls across Europe for scrapping Schengen for a while..
The 'Cousins' will love that as it'll be back to 90 days/country..