Corsica-Marseilles in April

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lilianroyle

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Can anyone give me an idea of what the weather is likely to be like in early april between Sardinia and Marseilles. Obviously it will vary but I'm trying to decide whether a passage from Castel Sardo to Port Nouvelle is likely to be enjoyable or cold wet and unpleasant.
Thanks
pete

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April should be beggining to settle nicely, but gulf of lions is always a little dodgy, watch for a depression over central france, always a bad sign for trouble in the gulf. you will have the wids on your stb frd qtr, which shouldn't be too bad for an exhilerating sail if a little wet!

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OK if you watch for weather windows - you need to allow plenty of time say 4 weeks if you have to miss the Mistral/tramontane hoolies.
I'd recommend coast hopping, Castelsardo - Sollenzara - Elba - Viareggio - Antibes - Hyeres/Porquerelles - Marseille.

Wind mainly in W and N sectors, each of the above legs is an easy day-sail and the ports, with the exception of Viareggio reasonably easy to enter in heavy weather.

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I've done the opposite journey (by motor boat) in May and it was lovely. We crossed La Napoule - Calvi (100nm) and worked down the west coast of Corsica which is spectacular. Recommend the marina Porto in Corsica, very sheltered once you get in through the narrow entrance.

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Re: agreed

tho I think perhaps one could hop to corsica west side perhaps, to calvi from which it is 90miles to antibes. Viareggio-antibes is 130 miles. Some of the forecasts forother areas are a bit rubbish - good to call ahead praps by phone.



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I found

the forecasts good enough - the trouble is the Med is a series of little systems and most of the areas are too large to allow for local variations.

I got caught out on the way up to Viareggio by a line squall - wind went up from 12 to 38 knots and split one of the top panels on the spi as I was getting it down.
We had literally about 4 minutes warning and no mention on the "official" forecasts.

I found the very detailed continuous vhf forecasts pretty accurate

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Are you going up the west or east coast of Corsica
West is prety bad this time of year
Came from Athens to St Cyprien in late march early April
Weather was really bad hit a Gale force 11 in the Gulf of Korenth
Then bad again around Sically
If you can go up the east coast

RR


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In April it could be either, though if I had to bet I would say it would be nice. It is definitely feasible, though allow yourself plenty of time in suitable ports waiting for the right weather window. The CrossMed do really excellent weather forecasts (VHF79 in Corsica, VHF80 on the mainland) that give you several days warning of mistrals. If your French is not too good, Monaco radio also does good forecasts on 23 for CdA, 24 for Corsica, and 25 for Provence all in English, though you can't pick it up in Sardinia. Finally Genova Radio does a weather watch on 68 in English, though it is not really a forecast.

I'd concurr that if you want to play it safe go up the East coast of Corsica and stop off in Elba. You might not have any wind at all though! The West coast is much more beautiful though more challenging if you get caught in a mistral/libeccio.

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