Med sailing

[kdf]

Ok - have nearly bought a replacement boat. Its on the West coast of Italy and I was originally going to ship it back on a truck. However costs for this are running at about £4,500 'ish which I think is crazy.

So now for plan b. I'm going to leave the boat in the med for the winter but move it from Italy to the Western med, maybe Majorca or Spain. That way come April/May next year it will be closer to the Atlantic and I'll have a nice short trip home. I intend to take my time moving it to the Western med and try and get to see as many places as possible. The idea is that I'd spend a long weekend sailing to a new spot, leave it there, fly back home and then a couple weeks later move it again.

Anyone got any suggestions on the weather down there this time of year plus places to go, avoid etc.

thanks

 

[ccscott49]

TCMs' neck of the woods, but one place I would be very wary of at this time of the year, would be gulf of lions!

 

[Twister_Ken]

I remember it snowing in Cannes one new year's day.

 

[MedMan]

The weather in that area can be pretty variable at this time of year, particularly in the northern half of the Western Med. You can get a good five day forecast from http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/sail_euro.htm. I suggest you make good use of it.

 

[EME]

I live down there as well. Truth of the matter is that the key factor ( i.e. wind ) is a variable throughout the year in the Med. Yes , winds do get higher more often in Autumn/ Winter but not so that you would change your plans for .

If I had to generalsie I would suggest that November and April are the wettest months of the year all the way around to Marseilles..but temeratures are always pleasant. As I'm sure you know the first part of your journey around to Marseilles there are LOADS of marinas , your problem will be more a cse of which ones to avoid. If you are going to do it over a series of weekends/long weekeneds, I might suggest finding the airports and plotting the close by marinas.

You will be pleasantly surprised that Genova to Nice is your biggest stretch !! Even then if you went sardinia/Corsica there are more airports !! Howver weather more consistentaround mainland..

Ignore comments about Snow in Cannes (IMHO) ,and it was actually Xmas Eve , not New Years Day in 1994 or 5 !! I'm originally from mid-Wales and remember snow on August Bank Holiday, doesn't mean neversail in britain in August !!

Generally weather pleasant although marinas VERY quiet. Only boring bit is Marseilles across Golfe du Lion I would suggest and probably where you meet worst weather but given that it will be March by the time you get there so what !!!

I'm envious sounds a great plan

<font color=black>I am WHAT I say I am

 

[kdf]

Thanks for the feedback. I've never sailed the med so this is all useful information. I am also thinking about Genoa to Corsica/Sardinia then to Majorca rather than sticking to the mainland coast. From Majorca I'd then bring her to the Spanish coast/Gib and Portugal in late Spring/early summer. Would this route make sense or is it better to stick to the mainland coast all the way around.

Thanks

 

[EME]

Sorry, I'm just not qualified to talk about that.

AlI know is teh MED can cut up very rough...matter for your experience and comfort as to how close to port you stay.

Apologies other may have done it.. I haven't

<font color=blue>I am WHAT I say I am</font color=blue>

 

[tcm]

hi kdf.

www.meteo.fr and so on will give forecasts, and the universial word for weather forecast is "Meteo".

mainland spain is cheaper and better place to overwinter than balearix, which is miles more expensive. On a sailyboat in the med in winter, i'd stay inshore cos the weather can zoom in, and (say the pilot books) the sign for this in the gulf lions is a clear calm day! duh? So, cut a few corners and get thee down to west coast spain, nice cheap place like blanes etc. Not majorca imho 2 spensive to stay long term and may be totally totally full. Marseilles old town is full of apprentice policemen who would like to look round you boat and tick things all day, so if you go there, get out by 8.30 am.

Yes, gulf of lions is heavy stuff, force 6+ for 50% of days, gales 8+ on 50 days a year, prediominantly N or NW so hug the shore and rush in anywhere if it goes badly, and the weather develops dead quick - such that one day i thought i saw a load of racing dinghies, but realised it was a v fast-moving wind coming at us, kicking up white water all the way.

Dealers of boats who advertise in the uk press speak english, so use their numbers and make contact, and they are used to doing much more for brits as well as speaking english. Anywhere west of st tropez starts getting much cheaper, and west of marseilles they migh have a space too! Ccscott is doing the rite thing leaving boat mainland spain imho.

"Livre de Bord" is all you need for port information.

Weather was ok for powerboat from antibes to w coast italy in nov, and better be ok soon cos i have to get w coast italy to antibes too in december. Viaregiio on the inside of the northern harbour wall is free! Probly free on the other wall too, but er no water. Out of season, harbours ain't too intersted, so not always a huge need to callem up on vhf, just nip in to the visitors quay and see what happens, usually nothing. In fact, if you arrive after 7 and need to leave before 8, there'll be nobody to give money to anyway AND twill be cheaper than uk cos out of season, see? Genoa is a total dump of a town. San remo is also a dump, but the new marina is nice. Nice is a bit full and not protected. St tropez quite nice short stop, loads of space in winter cos crap shelter, need to put anchor down in the old port, but if a long stop, go to cogolin which is 3 miles into the bay, better protection from w gales. Be faily sure wx is okayish before going for it across golfe de Lion, which starts at cap sicié just before Toulon. Sea are bigger in atlantic, but seem more vicious winds in med. Mobile phone is more use in spain and france for emergency services, imho.

 

[vyv_cox]

Mallorca is very short of berths. No doubt you can get in if remaining on board (or close by) but you may struggle to find somewhere to leave the boat for a while.

 

[kdf]

that brings up a very good point. Am I going to have a lot of difficulty getting marina berths for a couple of weeks at a time? Is it the same situation in South France and mainland Spain.

Also does anyone have any recomendations for cruising pilots. I've taken a look at the Imray site and they have a couple on the West med and South France.

thanks

 

[Guest]

Similar question

Maybe this should be a new thread but...

I'm in a situation similar to kdf. New boat is near Nice, silly money needed to ship back - what can I do with it until may/june? I could probably get down for one (long) weekend to sail west, but I won't be able to sail home until the summer.

Any experience out there? Is it worth sailing west nearer Toulon/Marseilles? What does it cost to moor/store a boat down there all winter?

 

[tcm]

Re: cogolin

i have a contact brit boaty dealer type in cogolin cheap yet 3miles from st tropez , Repco i think is the name of the company, who will plonk it ashore, will post termorrer.

 

[Petercatterall]

I visited Barcelona the other weekend. I may try to visit with the boat and spend some time in the Marina.
Has anyone been there? What are the rates? can you get a berth in summer? is it a possible winter layup?
The Marina did seem fairly convienient for shops/eating etc.

 

[ccscott49]

I'm in the marina there, for the winter. They have a website, just do a search for marina port vell, the prices etc are there, they are cheap for the winter. But you will need to book early. Great spot, bars and restautrants everywhere, the architecture is wonderful, markets all overthe place, supermarkets etc. It's also secure and well looked after. In short a wonderful place to winter. I'm on F40.

 

[EME]

Re: Similar question

also Andre Yachting in La rague plus someone who 's got a place on road To Pegomas from mandelieu...can find out name if you really want to lay up..

<font color=blue>I am WHAT I say I am</font color=blue>

 

[tcm]

supermarkets in Port Vell

Where a nearby supermarket then? We had to walk miles, to just opposite Port Olimpico. Mind you, when i say "we" i mean emma plus the kids whilst i sat about.

 

[philmarks]

I heard that if you ar e> 6mths in a Spanish port then you have to import the boat? Is that correct if not are there any tax issues etc (I'm UK reg'd vat paid) if there > 6 mths?

 

[mldpt]

is that good or bad, i will have my skis with me.