What should you not miss when sailing the Mediterranean ...

[mtns2marinas]

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.

[donradcliffe]

If you are planning to sail the Med in the middle of winter, you will need a 100 meter boat.

[De.windhoos]

Originally Posted by mtns2marinas

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.

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by mtns2marinas

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.

[Zarih]

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.

[Anders]

Most people that sail in the med lift their boat over the winter and fly home.
The few that stay aboard usually go nowhere.

[stewie]

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.

[dsleyland]

Originally Posted by Zarih

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.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

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.

[sailcrazy]

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.

[Pete7]

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.

[yeloya]

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

[Wild Cherry]

Agree Uncle Bob - well said.

[Kelkara]

Originally Posted by sailcrazy

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.

[mtns2marinas]

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.