Cruising to the Med

[samuel]

I am leaving with the wife for the Med( nearly missed out the " with " then) on May 1st next year & if we don't have a " domestic"!! on the way , hope to spend 20 weeks getting there, We will dump the boat & go back the following year for another basinful. What I cannot find is a source of information on wind directions & averages for the route. If we decide to give in & come back what will be the prevailing wind? ( Cannot return via canals as draft is 1.750 )
Plus I need details of wind directions & strengths for the Western Med in the summer.
Can anyone direct me to a website with the info?
Are there any cruising or weather sites I can tune in to?


<hr width=100% size=1>Justisla

 

[MedMan]

Its great to see you have given yourself a decent amount of time for the passage to Gib. So many rush the journey in their haste to reach the Med that they miss out on some of the best cruising coastline and best sailing weather they are likely to encounter.

Take time cruising the French islands of South Brittany and Vendee. Take even more time in the Spanish Rias. If the weather isn't right for a passage, stay in port, or even better, at anchor. Relax and enjoy. Soon you will wonder why you ever asked about weather routing - or at least, I hope you will!

In the meantime, until you reach that relaxed Nirvana, take a look at some of the sites below:

http://www.franksingleton.clara.net - A mine of information on weather for sailors

http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/sail_euro.htm - Excellent forecasts for the Med

You might even find something of use on my site - see link below.

P.S. You could get back through the canal system - 1.8m is the limit for certain routes.


<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.yachtretreat.com>http://www.yachtretreat.com</A>

 

[Trazie]

Sounds good,
We did it to Portugal in 6 weeks, no rush just enjoying places on the way.
Spanish rias are beautiful, make sure you get a peep!!
Good luck,
If you are in Lagos, give me a call
Will always treat a travellinng sailor to a beer!!

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[Trazie]

sorry about spelling mistakes

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[samuel]

Thanks for the web addresses. lots of info that will take a while to search
I found Yacht Retreat web site a couple of days ago & found it so facinating I have printed a lot of it off for a more relaxed read.
I really wanted the info from that site about sending Email but I am more confused than ever.
Some people just advise me to rely on internet cafes but I am not sure if this will be enough.
I am watching the chat site to see what else turns up about the subject.

<hr width=100% size=1>Justisla

 

[rrees]

You go on about not being able to use the canals

I thing it is only a problem on the Canal de midi

If you go via Calais route depth would bo OK
Many people come up this way from Marseinne

RR

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[Sailorbuoy]

You will find charts and statistics for Biscay in the Admiralty Biscay Pilot (and presumably in similar pilots for Portugal/Atlantic.) Also look at Routing Charts which give monthly predictions. In the time you have got just get the long dated forecasts ( go to www.walterreed.co.uk for wx and radio info)
Good luck

<hr width=100% size=1>Sailorbuoy

 

[charles_reed]

Your prevailing winds from UK to Coruna will be in the W sector, mainly SW but some NW.
You might be tempted to strike across Biscay, but at that time of year I'd not recommend it and you'll miss some of the best cruising grounds, S Brittany and the Vendée.

N Spain is fairly pleasant and totally unspoilt and round the corner the Rias Baixas are fantastic. The best cruising in the world after the Western Isles.

By late May or early June you'll have the Portuguese Trades established and an easy reach/run down the Portuguese coast to Sao Vicente and the Algarve.

Beware the coast from Bayona to Cap Sao Paulo - any heavy onshore wind makes all except Nazaré and the Tagus impossible to enter.

I'd suggest you overwinter the boat outside the Med - if you're staying aboard the Guadiana is a delightful and cheap spot with easy cheap flights back from Faro. In 20 weeks you'll only have time to get that far and do the coast justice.

In fact you'll probably, as I was, be bitterly disappointed in the Western Med - as a very distinguished sailor and writer said to me, "It's only there to get through to the eastern Med."

If you want to PM me I'll give you details of worthwhile places to visit - it took me the best part of two years (15 months boating time) and I definitely cut some corners.

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[charles_reed]

Internet cafes

Quite enough, ample numbers and very cheap in Spain.

In Portugal walk into any public library and you have 1/2 hour for free, but can't use any floppies.

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[chrisc]

it is in fact very easy to come back via canals -either canal de l´est or mosel and
rhine or even via paris. I have been there and back in last two years in Bavaria 34
(1.85 deep) a delightful experience......

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[chrisc]

it is in fact very easy to come back via canals -either canal de l´est or mosel and
rhine or even via paris. I have been there and back in last two years in Bavaria 34
(1.85 deep) a delightful experience......

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[PeterGibbs]

May I offer you a heads-up? Sailing back up the Atlantic coast is by all accounts a testing experience, requiring lots of time much of the year - prevailing winds etc.

Then there's Biscay, of course. I travelled the W coast of France this year - first class, and great facilities - preferable to a wet dash across Biscay.

If you can complete a return via the canals, you will be a happier bunny.

Went to a lecture recently at the CA and got a poor impression of value for money in the West Med - as per other postings. Be prepared for this as well as the Medi weather which can be trying!

PWG



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[samuel]

Here's one for Chrisc.
I originally persuaded the wife to go to the Med on the basis of going thro the canals. We bought a new boat ( Hanse 311 ) then found out that the draft of 1750 was too big for the canals. hernce we have changed plans to go the long way & do it in 20 weeks hikes over 3 or 4 years.
I say we cannot go thro the canals because the magazines & routing pilots all say that a 1750 draft boat plus extra cruising gear will draw 1800.
I bought several canal cruising guides & the depths seem to indicat that some routes have 1800 depth as long as there is not a drought etc. plus 1800 draft cannot get into the banks for mooring.
I have had stories of boats ploughing through mud at 1500 deep even though depth stated was 1800. I have been told some locks have concrete cills at 1800 . It would be embarrassing to say the least if we got stuck in a lock.
We are on the East coast so would prefer to go Calais , Paris etc
My question is :-- If you have actually done it What route did you take & what time of year? Did you actually manage to moor up OK?
Did you have any bother with depths?
Did you take your mast with you? We will if we can.
I really would like the info from someone like you who has actually DONE IT as I get so many conflicting info from sites like this one & I some times wonder if some subscribers have ever been in a boat.
It would be absolutely devastating to go 75% of the way & get stuck & have to turn back.
Really hope you (& any one who has actually DONE IT & not just dreamed about it) have time to reply
Many thanks

<hr width=100% size=1>Justisla

 

[polarity]

"What I cannot find is a source of information on wind directions & averages for the route. If we decide to give in & come back what will be the prevailing wind? "

You might look at this <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.digwave.com>http://www.digwave.com</A> their product Visual Passage Planner has all average winds from the pilot books for the world in it. Very good for dreamers as well as planners. Free evaluation download.

Confession: Yes I have a small link with this company - they sponsored me with a copy for my OSTAR entry next year!


<hr width=100% size=1>Paul
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.polarity2.com>http://www.polarity2.com</A>
Class II OSTAR/Transat 2004