Advice on med cruise

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MAD DOG

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Hi

can any give advice and suggestions on the following

I have a Princess 64 and normally based in Vilamoura Portugal

We are going to the Valencia Grand prix for the 24, 25 26 June then over to the Balearics for a month then across to Sardinia Scilly and on to Malta for a wedding on the 25 July where we are going to mover winter the boat before returning via the Italian and French coast

Any ideas where to go in Ibiza and mooring availability ditto Majorca and Minorca the trip to Malta will only be a delivery trip but routing advice will help am I best going North of Scilly through the Messina straits
 
PM Hurricane I am sure he will be able to help, he has done similar runs in his Princess 67 quite recently, I'm sure he would be delighted to help.

I did 500NM Gib to Sant Carles last Feb in my F43, stops in Almerimar and Alicante and refuel only in Morayra. But Mike will know best stops for a boat your size......
 
Actually, we are planning to go to the Valencia GP this year as well.
Our boat is a Princess67 so similar size.
I'm not at home at the moment but I think I posted a blog on a trip round Ibiza that we did a couple of years ago.

Also, there are several reports on this forum on runs from Spain to Malta and Sardinia that we have done on the Princess.

I'll look them up and post links later.
 
OK these are the links.
Bit od bed time reading.
On the other hand - could be the most boring thing you've read.

This is a report on John's trip in his F43 from Gib - see his comments above.
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=265578

A cruise from Sant Carles (mainland Spain) round Ibiza and back
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=242521

Our plan from Spain to Malta
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=197922

And a report from Rickp who came with us to Malta
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=199268

There are more.
If you are interested, I'll look them up.
This one to the SoF last year for example.
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=273037
 
There was a thread 3-4-5 months ago by Waterbird which became a library of links to Med cruise reports. It covers some in Mike's post above, plus a few others. Worth a quick search for.
 
MAD DOG said:
the trip to Malta will only be a delivery trip but routing advice will help am I best going North of Scilly through the Messina straits
Click to expand...
If as I understand you'll go there from Sardinia, and since it'll be just a delivery trip (which means, I assume, no need/wish to stop anywhere along the route), I'd definitely go South of Sicily, not North.
The route is much shorter, and a bit more sheltered by the prevailing winds - though of course the specific weather forecasts at that time might suggest otherwise.
 
Oh yes MapisM reminded me.

Give Tunisia a miss - dont get drawn into the cheap fuel there.
It really isnt worth it - far too much corruption - IMO of course.

Instead I thoroughly recommend going from Mahon in Menorca to Carloforte in Sardinia.
You can easily reach Carloforte from Mahon within your usual planing range.
On the way out, we opted for a displacement/planing cruise to extend the range and get to Tunisia - it was a mistake.
I thoroughly recomend Carloforte (I think MapisM will as well).
The only worry is getting into the fuel berth but as long as you drive right down te middle of te entrance you will be fine.

So as MapisM says South of Sicily and use Carloforte.
Thats my advice anyway.
 
Hurricane said:
I thoroughly recomend Carloforte (I think MapisM will as well).
Click to expand...
LOL, you bet! I didn't make it my home port for nothing... :)
To the OP (and obviously also any other forumite): if and when you will be around there, during summertime it's likely that I'll also be there.
Just PM me if you need any help, suggestions on places to see, restaurants, diving spots, whatever.
Re.Tunisia, on top on what Hurric said, I also heard more than one horror story on awfully dirty fuel.
If you would eventually decide to go there, at least use the major marinas fuel pumps.
They won't be as cheap as some others, but hopefully a bit more careful towards their clients...
 
Another vote for Carloforte from me. I stop there everytime I am passing. Clean, friendly, organised and reasonable value. What more can you ask for. Fuel harbour can be tight if you are in big, but your 64 will be fine.

On one visit I arrived at fuel 5 minutes before closing. The guy stayed on so that we could get an early start. Needless to say he got a nice tip.

I you go to Sicily avoid Palermo. Both harbours are nasty. Rubbish on the streets and filthy dirty. Staff non to friendly as well.
 
Carloforte - entrance to the smaller harbour containing the fuel dock.
Our P67 in the entrance so you can see it's very do-able.

IMG_1301_Small.jpg
 
MAD DOG said:
We are going to the Valencia Grand prix for the 24, 25 26 June
Click to expand...

Hi

Just booked my berth in Valencia for this year's F1 even though there is a slim chance of it not happening - the Spanish are up to their usual tricks and want to change the contract!!!

The marina are very helpful though (we've stayed there before) and say that they have reserved a berth for us here (pic from previous year).

F1.jpg


Not cheap - mind you - but our whole family is coming along so it should be good fun - berthed inside the circuit.

Another pic

F1b.jpg


And one showing the various zones.

f1-darsena-interior.jpg


Small hangup - no electric or water and I'm not sure how long the holding tanks will last with the whole family on board - there will have to be some strict rules imposed on board!!
 
Wow, Hurricane. That looks a great spot. On the apex of the curve you will see about half the circuit including that excellent bridge. Am very envious.
 
Hurricane said:
Hi

Just booked my berth in Valencia for this year's F1 even though there is a slim chance of it not happening - the Spanish are up to their usual tricks and want to change the contract!!!

The marina are very helpful though (we've stayed there before) and say that they have reserved a berth for us here (pic from previous year).

F1.jpg


Not cheap - mind you - but our whole family is coming along so it should be good fun - berthed inside the circuit.

Another pic

F1b.jpg


And one showing the various zones.

f1-darsena-interior.jpg


Small hangup - no electric or water and I'm not sure how long the holding tanks will last with the whole family on board - there will have to be some strict rules imposed on board!!
Click to expand...

Hey Mike, if you let me raft my F43 you can run a discharge pipe into my holding tank.....! I would even let you my fwd berth...... Received your PM on SCMCHAT.
 
Hi

thanks for these sorry for delay in response but taking advantage of the great snow

If you fancy meeting up at the Grand Prix let me know we have a berth in Zone 2

I will arrive on the 12/13th of June from Vilamoura

Regards

Mad Dog
 
Hi

thanks for all the advice

will definitely let you know dates of arrival

do you think I need to engage a mooring agent ?

regards

Mad Dog
 
MAD DOG said:
Hi

thanks for these sorry for delay in response but taking advantage of the great snow

If you fancy meeting up at the Grand Prix let me know we have a berth in Zone 2

I will arrive on the 12/13th of June from Vilamoura

Regards

Mad Dog
Click to expand...

We aren't planning to get there until a week or so later.
Will be coming down from Sant Carles - about a day or so away but we may take a couple of days and stay overnight at Las Fuentes.
The whole family on board and we used to holiday in Las Fuentes when they were little so a bit of reminising.

I'm sure there will be plenty of time to get together though - maybe even exchange a few views on Princesses!!

Just looked at my pics on photobucket and here's one of our Princess in Vilamoura - 3 years ago now - doesnt time fly.

IMG_5388Medium.jpg
 
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