Greece to Canaries advice

[azk101]

Hello,

I’m planning a passage from Preveza, Greece to Canary Islands soon in the year, potentially stopping in Mallorca for a wedding 03–07 Sept, or getting as far as possible then finding a good marina on the way and flying there, although just trying to save money as we're be live-a-board and living off savings for a while.

I’ve been working through Jimmy Cornell and other books, but I’m looking for real world experience and advice, particularly around timing, pacing, and whether this is realistically achievable. Also, suggestions on which points to beginning crossings.

Boat is a Moody 425. Crew will be myself, my wife, and our young kid.

We've put together three versions. The below is the fast version but wanted to check the feasibility. The 2. Hybrid is the below but if we don't think we're make it to Mallorca we're reassess and fly. And the slow version is take it easy and always plan to fly before hand.

(Dates are estimates / Understand there will be weather window issues)

1. Delivery Version

• 03-10 Aug — Prep boat for estimated 1 week
• 10 Aug — launch
• 10-13 Aug — Short shakedown towards Kefalonia
• 14-16 Aug — Cross Ionian to S.Italy (Early morning start, offshore)
• 17-18 Aug — Transit to Messina
• 18-23 Aug — N. Sicily westbound
• 24-26 Aug — Sicily to Sardinia (ioffshore)
• 27-29 Aug — Sardina
• 30-03 Aug/Sept — Sardina to Mallorca (offshore)
• 03-07 Sept — Friends wedding
• Sept — Move to good marina for phase 2 boat refit work (suggestions in the area that allow DIY work with good facilities / or just head to Gibraltar?)
• Oct — Complete re-fit work + prep for Canaries transit
• Oct-Nov — Gibraltar to Canaries

Cheers

 

[syfuga]

The individual legs look ok given the right weather conditions, but it is in my opinion fraught. You cannot be certain of the weather, and to attempt to do that with the fixed date of the wedding in mind may lead you to take risks. Is a week to fit out in Preveza realistic? How long have you owned and how well do you know the boat? You will need to pause, take a break, fix things, go shopping along the way. I am not sure why you have 5 days in northern Sicily westbound?

I have checked our log.. in 2007 we left Nidri on 24th October, and arrived Cagliari, Sardinia on 3rd November. 650 miles logged. South about Sicily. Just my wife and I. Majorca would be a couple of days beyond. We did stop along the way, but Nidri to Syracusa was non-stop.

You will now of course be subject to Schengen 90 in 180 days.. so what are your plans when you reach the Canaries that are Spanish? Unless of course you have residency there?

24th - 26th October	Nidri to Syracusa	271 nm
27th October	Syracusa
28th October	Syracusa to Pozallo	57 nm
29th October	Pozallo to Licata	57 nm	15 euros
30th October	Licata to Sciacca	52 nm
31st October	Sciacca		30 euros per night
1st November	Sciacca to Isola Favignana	50 nm
2nd-3rd November	Favignana to Cagliari, Sardinia	167 nm