Pacific vs Mediterranean

[Lukeinge]

hi!
I’ve just been pondering the pros and cons of cruising grounds and I find it quite hard to decide where would be “better”.
Just wanted to get some information regarding the beauty, adventure, isolation, dangers, and just overall experience of sailing the Mediterranean vs the south pacific, which did/would you prefer?

Thanks for any contribution!

[boatman61]

Med.. crowded, touristy, expensive, over rated,
S Pacific.. Gorgeous..

[Greg4cocokai]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Med.. crowded, touristy, expensive, over rated,

S Pacific.. Gorgeous..

+1 [emoji106]

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Med.. crowded, touristy, expensive, over rated,
S Pacific.. Gorgeous..

Well, no experience with the Med, but we've been enjoying being caught in the South Pacific Eddy for 28 years now, and I think Boatie has it about right~

Jim

[JPA Cate]

To the OP,

It will really depend on what you like most, or want. For instance, if having brown skinned natives bump their wooden canoes into your topsides is a problem for you, go to the med, where you will find plenty of history, lots of very interesting folks, "Culture", and great eating out. The history you will read of the South Pacific is rather depressing, it is not greatly sophisticated, and the eating out is [pause, to build suspense] adventuresome. There are plenty of interesting folks, though.

We've met cruisers who love the big cities' music, foods, sophistication, and people who prefer a more anthropological look at what's left of the Polynesian, Melanesian, and Micronesian societies after 150yrs. or so contact with the Europeans. Do not expect "Typee".

This is a very personal opinion, but I think if you're happy to meet ALL kinds of people with an open heart and mind, you'll find all kinds of new friends. And this may be true in the South Pacific or in Europe, or in South America, or Siberia. It all depends on who you are, what your expectations are, and how you interact with your experiences..... And that is why I can't answer the question any better.

Ann

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Luke.

[sailorcherry]

If you want a lot of info about cruising the Pacific (South Pacific, SE Asia, Mexico) I recommend my favorite blog: wingssail
To my knowledge it is the oldest cruising (with a lot of racing where they cruise) blog out there about a very inspiring couple, winning regattas still in their late 60s and 70s. Great photography and excellent log, chart and weather info along with candid tales of local culture.
Also, they are a deep draft vessel so I found it a good read dispelling concerns of cruising with up to 8'.

[Pelagic]

As Ann advises but, plan on visiting both and then you will know for certain![emoji4]

[Sojourner]

I live in the Med but am heading west next year... Can't speak for all of it, certainly not by sail (just got our boat 6 m ago), but I have traveled around the med by VW bus for almost a year. Expensive, crowded, sure. You can always find value and some level of isolation if you look, but it's getting hard. Croatia has been sounding worse and worse bureaucratically speaking, lots of new fees and private chumps patrolling anchorages claiming you have to pay them. Bad weather in winter and short sailing season...it's almost June and here in northern Italy it's still almost too cold to swim, and it's been raining near every day. But everything is a short distance away, different cultures and countries in just a few days sail, so that's nice. Food of course is off the proverbial charts too... Never been to SP by boat, so since it's new to me, I'm more excited about that than splashing around here any longer.