Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 12-10-2018, 22:45   #1
Registered User

Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 8
What should you not miss when sailing the Mediterranean ...

This novice Canadian is considering sailing to the Mediterranean next winter for 3 months and am trying to construct an itinerary. I was hoping that I could get a few ideas as to where I should visit and why.

Thus far, I have been planning to visit the following places: Corinth Canal in Greece ; Cala Luna, Italy ; Navagio Beach, Zakynthos, Greece to dive the Panagiotis; Saranda, Alabania to dive, and a few more places.

I am also considering sailing to Beirut, Lebanon & Egypt.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
mtns2marinas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2018, 22:54   #2
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Santa Cruz
Boat: SAnta Cruz 27
Posts: 6,711
Re: What should you not miss when sailing the Mediterranean ...

If you are planning to sail the Med in the middle of winter, you will need a 100 meter boat.
donradcliffe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2018, 23:56   #3
Registered User

Join Date: May 2016
Location: The Med
Boat: Catalina 36 MKI
Posts: 200
Re: What should you not miss when sailing the Mediterranean ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by mtns2marinas View Post
This novice Canadian is considering sailing to the Mediterranean next winter for 3 months and am trying to construct an itinerary. I was hoping that I could get a few ideas as to where I should visit and why.

Thus far, I have been planning to visit the following places: Corinth Canal in Greece ; Cala Luna, Italy ; Navagio Beach, Zakynthos, Greece to dive the Panagiotis; Saranda, Alabania to dive, and a few more places.

I am also considering sailing to Beirut, Lebanon & Egypt.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
1) this itinerary cannot be done in 3 months, at least not in winter and not if you don't want to be totally stressed out.
2) I don't think your insurance will cover Beirut and Lebanon. Egypt maybe. However I would not go to these places, and Im a very positive person and have sailed on the Med for years.
3) Greece is very wet during the winter.
De.windhoos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13-10-2018, 01:00   #4
Registered User
 
Uncle Bob's Avatar

Join Date: May 2010
Location: Sydney Australia
Boat: Fisher pilothouse sloop 32'
Posts: 3,416
Re: What should you not miss when sailing the Mediterranean ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by mtns2marinas View Post
This novice Canadian is considering sailing to the Mediterranean next winter for 3 months and am trying to construct an itinerary. I was hoping that I could get a few ideas as to where I should visit and why.

Thus far, I have been planning to visit the following places: Corinth Canal in Greece ; Cala Luna, Italy ; Navagio Beach, Zakynthos, Greece to dive the Panagiotis; Saranda, Alabania to dive, and a few more places.

I am also considering sailing to Beirut, Lebanon & Egypt.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
There are several points that stand out to me in this question,
1 novice Canadian
2 sailing to the Med
3 Winter in the Med
4 Extremely solid itinerary
Perhaps I am/have become a somewhat cynical old bastard but this reeks of a troll like question or at best a query from someone that has absolutely no idea of the proposed plan.
__________________
Rob aka Uncle Bob Sydney Australia.

Life is 10% the cards you are dealt, 90% how you play em
Uncle Bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13-10-2018, 01:15   #5
Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 16
Re: What should you not miss when sailing the Mediterranean ...

Winter in the Med is the wrong time of the year and I recommend that you put those thoughts aside. You need longer to visit those places unless you like to go when the weather is bad and being stressed. There is so much to see, that 3 months doesn't even cover a small bit. Think again.
Zarih is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13-10-2018, 05:32   #6
Registered User

Join Date: Aug 2008
Boat: Trident marine Voyager 30
Posts: 814
Re: What should you not miss when sailing the Mediterranean ...

Most people that sail in the med lift their boat over the winter and fly home.
The few that stay aboard usually go nowhere.
Anders is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13-10-2018, 09:17   #7
Registered User

Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 113
Re: What should you not miss when sailing the Mediterranean ...

Anders remaks are spot on the money. The Med is no place to be sailing in the winter. However, wintering can be fun a time to explore places such as Palma de Mallorca.
stewie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13-10-2018, 10:30   #8
Registered User

Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Kas Turkey
Boat: Catalina 42 MKII
Posts: 5
Re: What should you not miss when sailing the Mediterranean ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zarih View Post
Winter in the Med is the wrong time of the year and I recommend that you put those thoughts aside. You need longer to visit those places unless you like to go when the weather is bad and being stressed. There is so much to see, that 3 months doesn't even cover a small bit. Think again.
These remarks are spot on. Winter weather in the Med is miserable And 3 months? Does the Canadian understand the size of the Med? Think again.
dsleyland is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13-10-2018, 10:47   #9
Senior Cruiser
 
skipmac's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: 29° 49.16’ N 82° 25.82’ W
Boat: Pearson 422
Posts: 16,306
Re: What should you not miss when sailing the Mediterranean ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by donradcliffe View Post
If you are planning to sail the Med in the middle of winter, you will need a 100 meter boat.
What a silly exaggeration. A 90 meter boat should be more than enough.
__________________
The water is always bluer on the other side of the ocean.
Sometimes it's necessary to state the obvious for the benefit of the oblivious.
Rust is the poor man's Loctite.
skipmac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13-10-2018, 12:24   #10
Registered User

Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Cruising, now in USVIs
Boat: Taswell 43
Posts: 1,034
Re: What should you not miss when sailing the Mediterranean ...

If you look at a world map, you'll see that the Medd is about the same latitude as where you're at....and the wx will be similar. Winter in the Medd is a good place to get into a marina and explore the land; sailing is not a good plan. BUT....summers are a totally different story. Yes, there are Melatami's and some not-good wx, but there's lots of good wx days. We sailed Turkey, Greece, The Adriatic up to Venice, and Italy. DO NOT miss the Adriatic-make that your Must See place above all others.
sailcrazy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13-10-2018, 12:56   #11
Moderator
 
Pete7's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Solent, England
Boat: Moody 31
Posts: 18,429
Images: 22
Re: What should you not miss when sailing the Mediterranean ...

I do like the first sentence "considering sailing to the Mediterranean next winter". What across the North Atlantic during the winter?

Don't worry its not going to happen.
Pete7 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 13-10-2018, 13:26   #12
Marine Service Provider

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Marmaris
Boat: FP Orana 2010, Hélia 2013, Catana C 47 2013, Nautitech 46 Fly 2018
Posts: 1,345
Re: What should you not miss when sailing the Mediterranean ...

Sailing the Med in winter is not fun, I agree. But it's of course doable but the question is "is it worth ?"
-the winds are not as strong as some OP's suggested. You can have all kind of wind in every season in the Med, yes, a bit more in winter. The biggest trouble are the southerlies for which there are limited shelters.
-check again the map, Lebanon, w/out even talking about Turkey is not a good idea.
-most nice places in summer will be deserted in winter. You may not even find an open restaurant or fuel station in some places.
-the days are very short and can get pretty cold, down to 5 degrees C in the night. Yr boat should be equiped with some sort of heating system and water maker.
-Yes, it's wet most part the Med in winter. Sea water will be pretty (around 10-16 degrees C) cold with the exception of Cyprus and south east of Turkey.


If all that is OK, why not ?


Cheers


Yeloya
yeloya is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13-10-2018, 14:15   #13
Registered User
 
Wild Cherry's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Cruising the Med (Italy)
Boat: Beneteau Oceanis 50
Posts: 39
Send a message via Skype™ to Wild Cherry
Re: What should you not miss when sailing the Mediterranean ...

Agree Uncle Bob - well said.
Wild Cherry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13-10-2018, 16:06   #14
Registered User
 
Kelkara's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Vancouver Island
Boat: Hullmaster 27
Posts: 1,042
Re: What should you not miss when sailing the Mediterranean ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by sailcrazy View Post
If you look at a world map, you'll see that the Medd is about the same latitude as where you're at....and the wx will be similar.
I think that is the first time I have ever heard of Canada described as having a Mediterranean climate ... especially in winter.
Kelkara is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13-10-2018, 23:49   #15
Registered User

Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 8
Re: What should you not miss when sailing the Mediterranean ...

I appreciate the insights and realize a rethink is in order. Having done all my sailing in the Strait of Georgia and Howe Sound, I am not familiar with the Mediterranean but I thought that it is a spot ideally suited for cruising rather than touring by land.



Unfortunately with my work, winter really is my only free time. As this was planned for next winter 2019-20, I threw out the post to get a few ideas and appreciate everyone's insights.
mtns2marinas is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
mediterranean, sail, sailing

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
What Do You Miss the Most? What Do You Like the Most? sww914 Liveaboard's Forum 41 08-12-2023 11:31
Favorite Destinations, Do not Miss! Lundy Other 49 26-02-2021 10:38
Sailing from Seattle to Tofino - best times to go? What to avoid/not to miss? andrewembassy Pacific & South China Sea 17 29-12-2015 16:50
Do Not Miss Places when in Bermuda pogo Atlantic & the Caribbean 30 13-08-2015 21:28
What do you miss most when sailing? LawrenceM The Sailor's Confessional 9 16-04-2012 18:07

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 05:29.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.