How does one sail OUT of the Med in 4 weeks?

okolehao2

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I may be crazy, but I want my boat back home in Northern Europe and not down in the sunny Med. I have looked at boat transist possiblities and a reasonable 5000 EUR trucking solution + associated crane costs. But now it looks like I just want to sail the thing back to Denmark, after all its a 14 meter sail boat, not a truck.

My plan looks like a 4 week vacation in September down the Adriatic to the atlantic coast of Spain or southern Portugal. Then comming back 6 months later after the winter and crossing the bay of biscay up to the North Sea in June or May. Isn't this when the worst storms come through the bay?

Does this plan seem reasonable? I have poured my head over the pilot books, but what kind of unknowns should one plan for. Is the wind around Gibraltar and on the Atlantic coast ALWAYS blowing southward? Therefore will there be lots of tacking and strong current to fight the whole way home? What kind of stops should one plan for. Right now, I have a stop in Italy, Silicy, Sardina, Mallorica, Malaga and then Cadif. What marinas would one recommend along the way and for the winter months? I see Puerto Sherry as be mentioned as a good wintering place.

Thanks in advance
-Arthur
 

Swagman

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Hi Arthur,
Maybe worth checking those pilots again..........
In reverse order:
May / June across Biscay normally sees N'ly sailable breezes - in your face but not too tough to hurt. Usual recommnedations are to skip along N Spanish coast - slip over to French coast - and coast hop onward.
Back one stage:
You are correct and breezes down the Portuguese coast from May through the summer will have N'ly trends. But you can coast hop, stop up daytime and sail nightime when the breezes usually die or allow you to benefit from E'ly land breezes.
Back a further stage:
I've experienced more E'lys off Gib than W'lys - which should help you. It is usually one or the other.
Sorry - no personal experience of Puerto Sherry.

Cheers
John
 

Stevie_T

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I aim to be doing this trip myself this Summer, there is another option assuming you have a capable vessel, that is to depart Gibralter and head way out West, maybe even to the Azores and then head for the Channel. Time allowing of course.
 

boatmike

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You don't say what type of boat, but subject to dimensions have you considered the canal routes? The Rhone can indeed link you not only to the French canal system but you could also link to the Rhine and home that way in much less time.
Usually for the Paris trip the depth is the limiting factor but if you were to go Rhone,
Rhone au Rhin, Rhine your least depth is 1.8 metres and often more than that. Just a thought......
 

Sea Devil

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With great difficulty!
I did it up the Atlantic coast year before last - hell. All to windward, some quite strong winds on the nose now and then and not that much fun if in a rush.

I have laid out the options in the sailing - Canals part of my web site - for canals/coastal/Azores route north..

One of the many reasons I have just purchased a catamaran (with a shallow draft) is so I can commute - winter and summer to the med via the canal systems. Going south down the Portuguese coast is fine - done it lots of times but north bound - horrid.
 

graham42

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looking to do same.
im coming from greece in a catamaran and the azores looks the best bet. friends have used the in shore route past portugal and hated their decision. 4weeks may be difficult but, 10/12 days faro to brest looks do able.
drop me a line if you need any help.
graham gingell
 

okolehao2

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Good info. The boat is a Beneteau First 456, with 2,4 meters of draft. So it looks like the canals are out of the question. I do not have that much time so I don't know if sailing out to the Azores are a good bet. On the other hand, the boat does point pretty well to weather with a deep fin keel.

Man plan is as follows:
Sail from Croatia across the Med to Cadif or southern Portugual. I have a 4 week vacation in September. Any advice here, I am assuming the wind is not on my nose here. Any advice about sailing through the Med? In looking at the pilot charts, it looks a close reach from Silicy to Sardina.

Later lay there for the winter and then sail in 10 to 12 days in May or June up to Brest.

Thanks for the help
/Arthur
 

Sea Devil

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Getting across the med fast is possible but you will need to motor a lot - try to stay off shore and do it in one hit if you can - once you start day sailing it takes for ever... I am convinced that the wind increases close to shore - land breeze which is fine - if it is not on the nose.... and the med has no wind or wind on the nose.............

Once you leave Gibraltar and head for Portugal intending to 'coast' up, most people tuck up in one of the bays under Cape St Vincent and wait for a fair wind then go for it - as long and hard as you can till the wind turns foul and then head into a port or anchorage - by foul I mean 20 knots + when motoring becomes a misery and it is a dead beat.

Once up near Vigo you have almost cracked it. Good chance of fair winds across the Bay if you wait for them.... If you have run out of time there are lots of place to leave the boat all the way up the Atlantic route provided it in not summer - June to September when you will have problems finding a 'home' for the boat whilst you return to the UK...
 
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