Advice for Genoa to Greece trip

[menta]

Hi all
I may have to bring sometime in March 2020 a 70 ft planning motor yacht from Genoa to Greece
At planning speeds range between refueling is about 250 miles while at displacement (10 knots) I would calculate over 350
Obviously ideally I would like to avoid any night travel unless really necessary
Any advice Suggestions re trip legs, night stops etc.?
Unfortunately due to work obligations it will have to be a transfer trip and not a real cruise as it should be!
Thanks
Menta

 

[BartW]

why no night travel ?
for all our long, open sea passages, we incorperated some night travel (at 10kn displacement speed) and liked the experiece,
ofcause weather forecast must be good,
and planning made accordingly, so that specific trajects are done in daylight.

at first we made sure we had one for helming and another for the lookout,
for the recent trips, it was just me and swmbo, alternating at the helm, and the other sleeping

 

[Portofino]

If you are not familiar with the IT coast , Sicily- Straights of Messina and the Ionian islands I would take a local Del skipper .
I found as well as obvious local knowledge, it the language skills mostly, speaking to marina staff and fuel berth phone numbers etc . Even Gardia Finanza .
Any guide book is just that a guide .Stuff happens on the ground / trip . Season is still part time hrs in March .
My guy managed to recall a fuel man to open up a closed for that day fuel pontoon .

He will also know where is best and who to contact for a “ fix “;
If you are on “ transfer “ as opposed to a jolly jaunt without a care in the world over timings then then you need to take a local “fixer “ so to speak .

A busted boat , or empty of fuel stuck in the arse end of no where will cost you dear .

Hire a professional to take along to maximise you chance of a success if it’s a mission .

Agree with day light only btw as most of the trip will coast hopping and the rivers in March will washing ( snow melt) crap into the sea .

I can recommend a guy btw , just PM me .

 

[wofff]

Get a copy of Rod Heikell's Italian Waters Pilot. SWMBO and I took our 50' safely around - couldn't/wouldn't have dome the trip without it.
There are plenty of places on the West side down to Messina, but much fewer on the East side and more likely not available in March.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Obvious first night stop out of Genoa would be Elba

 

[30feet]

I've done the part of this trip from Naples to Faliron five years ago, though on a quite smaller boat (Zaffiro 34).
I spend three weeks on that trip, so it was a real cruise and not a transfer trip and had the opportunity to visit many places.
Below I'll try to narrow the choices for a stop.

In the gulf of Naples there are a lot of marinas near Baia-Bacoli where you can spend the night there and refuel.
I used the services of Nautica Fusaro near the Baia shipyard where you can refuel.
You can find more marinas on that area on that site: Porto di Baia- Bacoli - Book your berth with Navily .

From Baia you have the option to sail direct to Rocela Ionica ( Porto delle Grazie - Marina di Roccella ) which is 235n.m.
I believe that you will have to sail a part of the trip at night as the distance is great and near the limits of your planning range autonomy.

You can break that leg in two by spending a night at Tropea ( http://www.portoditropea.it ) when you can also refuel.

From Rocella Ionica you can sail direct to Kefalonia as it is about 190n.m. or go further north if you don't want to make that crossing.
I went as north as to Santa Maria di Leuca ( Home - Porto Turistico – Marina di Leuca )and then sailed to Othonoi and Corfu.
From your question I assume that the unknown part of the trip is the Italian waters, so I stop here.
If you need more info about Greek waters you have to inform us about your destination in Greece.

You can also make a stop at the port of Regio di Calabria, right after Messina's straights but I can't inform you on that as I didn't stop there.

To have a skipper familiar with the area on board would be great, although it would render the trip less "adventurous".
If the vessel is new to you, I believe it would be even better to have an engineer familiar with the motors and drive train of the vessel.
Using internet you can check if your preferred stop locations will be open at the time of your trip.
It would be nice to have the contact details of ports and marinas in-between your scheduled stops. Just in case!
And yes, Rod Heikell's pilots are a must.

If you are Greek or in Greece, I can PM you my mobile for more info.
Should I wish "kalotaxido" ?