Sailing in the Western Med - February

[rivonia]

We are currently in Almerimar and will be having some work done in January and are thinking of heading east as soon as the work is completed towards the Greek Islands via the Balearics, Sardinia, Malta, but most of the yachties here are staying in Almerimar until the beginning of April and think we are crazy to be even thinking of setting off any earlier!

Has anyone done this trip at this particular time of the year?

[barnakiel]

Cold, wet, cold, wet, cold. Loooong waits for weather windows in not so very inexpensive ports of S Spain, France and Italy.

b.

[Ram]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Cold, wet, cold, wet, cold. Loooong waits for weather windows in not so very inexpensive ports of S Spain, France and Italy.

b.

you forget to mention winds of 40-50 knots and 15 foot seas that blow from France all the way to N. Africia and can come up when you least expect them! The only good part is the likly will be off your stern

[anjou]

Hey, it was nice and sunny in Bosa, Sardinia up until 2 weeks ago.
The weather is changeable and wind comes off the Alps in New Year.

[rivonia]

Thanks for the replies so far - don't mind the 50 knot winds or the high seas, but the cold and rain really isn't good for my health. Have been based in the Eastern Med for the past few years and their winter is so different to Spain, so looking forward to making our way there.

Feliz Navidad

[anjou]

Nadoleg Llawen (Welsh)

[swagman]

Take it easy and wait. April you'll get a goodly mixture of wind condtions but it will be a more relaxed sail than going now. Plus places to visit on route will have woken up from the winter.
Enjoy
JOHN

[Joefloki]

When we were sailing from Rome to Greece in April this year (2009) it was most of the time extremely cold, specially when sailing (wind chill), it became warmer only towards end of April, weather had changed from one day to the other from cold to hot.

[bjvarley]

We just sailed Palma to Tunisia (Tabarka then Tunis) and yes the seas can be big and the wind strong and sometimes cold just watch the weather forecasts. What I think you need to avoid is the west coast of Italy where the storms in the gulf of Lyons spill down and get quite nasty, which is why we headed south from Palma to Tunisia. Good luck but its not that bad.

[Jad]

We are also living on board and for the moment we are in Palau, in front of the Maddalenas islands. We intend to sail to Tunisia as soon as possible. But the weather is quite complicated. Today we had sun (more than 20º Celsius) and no wind. But the forecast for the coming days are winds up to 38 kn. and rough sea. So, very often if the wind is reasonable, you still have a rough sea from the previous days. It has been like that for the last 3 weeks. Conclusion, we will stay a little longer and wait the proper time. We have no rush and prefer to sail carefully.
PS: if you read french have a look at our site (lots of pictures and marinas in Portugal,Spain and Sardinia.
Happy new year
Jad
www.ovnijad.com

[barnakiel]

Gulf of the Lyon - BEWARE - have not been, but very bad reputation with whoever I asked.

b.

[Yiorgos]

Hi, the passage to Greece is a point, however, a good weather+time schedule will bring you in the Greek islands soon where you can spend the rest of the winter in a good climate for your health. Moreover, during the "rough" daysof the winter you'll probably find an extremelycheap & quite good shelter in Rethimnon marina and accordingly, toany of the Greek islands. During the winter time, the Greek islands isa great &romantic experience. If you finally find yourself here,send me a hint

Yiorgos

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by Yiorgos

... in the Greek islands soon where you can spend the rest of the winter in a good climate for your health....(...)..... During the winter time, the Greek islands isa great &romantic experience...

Winter in Grece good for your health?

I thought winter in Greece is cold, windy and pretty rainy!

b.

[bjvarley]

Not always the gulf of Lyon to blame apparently.. todays 'Passageweather' forecasts show 6 to 8 m waves and force 7 starting from Gib.

[Jad]

JAD is still in Palau, in the North of Sardinia. Today we have registered 39 Kn. and Météo France forecasts for the south of Corsica (less than 20 Nm from here) Force 9 to 10 for today and tomorrow. We will stay for sure an other week quietly (way of speaking!) in the marina.
www.ovnijad.com