Motoring Essex to Greece May 2005…any questions?

[stefan_r]

Finally decided this year that the boat isn’t getting enough use on these damp and dark shores and it’s time to move her to the Med. Chosen spot is Chios, Greece, just off the Turkish coast where my father lives – can at least be more certain of a reasonable summer and decent seas.

Have chosen to motor down after looking into shipping (more expensive) and trucking (cheaper but less fun).

Hired a skipper and his mate for the trip (he’s done it before and actually keeps his own boat near our destination) and he’s estimating under two weeks for the trip, motoring fairly much 24x7….seems a bit keen but we’ll see.

Anyway – why the post…does anyone here have questions to ask or interest in any aspect of the trip or any comments / suggestions / to make?

In the spirit of the forum I’m more than happy to share information on either preparation or the trip itself…but I don’t have any idea about what may be interesting to ‘you’ – if anything!!!!

Answers on a postcard or to athito@athito.com


Athito is a 46’ Mochi Craft flybridge motor cruiser with MAN D2848LXE engines.


<hr width=100% size=1>mailto: stefan@athito.com

 

[hlb]

What we want to really know about are all the disasters, the more the better. Dont think that you can just swan down there without a propper story to bring back!!.../forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1> No one can force me to come here. I'm a volunteer!!.

Haydn

 

[Bandit]

When I have discussed this with other people consider the cost of fuel Uk to Med maybe its cheaper to take the boat from a french port to the french med by road then motor by sea from there and avoid the fuel and other costs and time at sea Uk to GIB

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[stefan_r]

Yes but when you start to add in other incidentals it starts to add up.

Example,

£4.0k for UK>Marseilles
£0.5k Craneage at each end is upwards of £500.
£1.0k to remove & replace flybridge, props, rudders for road transport
£1.0k misc expenses (flights, car hire, hotel, storage ashore etc etc)
=====
£6.5k ish

TOTAL anticipated fuel bill UK>Greece £12k
If Marseilles is 2/3 of the way there (it's more than that) I am still about equal in terms of fuel. Skipper's fees are about £1,000 per week, saving £1k on total trip costs.

It isn't a big enough saving for the risk...though I admit there is a lrger risk in going the 'long way' in terms of weather / breakdowns etc....but i would incur those risks wherever I was sailing from apart from a truck to Athens!!! ;-)

For me the biggest downside was the uncertainty and time stripping the boat down in the UK where I can supervise to a degree with my local boatyard as well as having it all put back together again in Marseilles (or somewhere) by people I don't know, to THEIR timeframe, to fit in with their other work etc etc and that's without them breaking something, dropping a prop or the radar arch. Just added to the stress factor for a neglibible saving.


<hr width=100% size=1>mailto: stefan@athito.com

 

[tcm]

two weeks is indeed going for it 24x 7 ish and will need settled weather. I did the trip from southern france to uk last year, going back next year in same way as you (or your mate) plans.

Main issue i wd say is picking the start date for sensible biscay weather. I used wetterzentrale.de but there are others. May gives nice NE sometimes, that's when i'lll go, i think. I would guess you can do reasonable hops such as Brest-la coruna direct, but not sure?

Pumping fuel will occupy a load of time: best is to snack and drive overnight and arrive to fuel docks in the daytime, and cook/shop/shower whilst stationary. I would stay well well offshore 20miles ish to avoid fishing pots and rumble along at 20knots ish.

Going south past portugal, the outer shipping lane is southbound, inner is northbound, and i think i fancy being outside them at night, so as to keep watch on them permanently three ish miles away to the east. I was inside the lanes coming northbound. This gives a non-heartstopping radar pic cos ships stay in radar view and move (relatively) gently or not at all at 20knots, static stuff obviously closes faster - at whatever speed you run. But if inside, the northbound ships turn up 10miles distant at (relative) 40 knots. It's good to have *something* on the radar to ensure it's still working. In biscay, tho, you may easily be alone the whole way.

Weather in the straits also needs looking at carefully before leaving Cascais (lisbon) which is handiest for fuel. A blimmin forest of wind generators and loads of kitesurfing shops in Tarifa shows this as the wind capital of europe. It blows east or west.



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[stefan_r]

Skippy says 3 person watch rota 3 hours on 6 off...didn't have the heart to tell him I work in an office dear boy and enjoy my Saturday morning up at 2pm - we'll see how that works out during the first few days. He isn't booked again until June so if it takes a month the only thing it will hurt is my wallet!!!

100% agree weather-wise...start date is 1st May-ish and keeping an eye on wetterzentrale.de is a must. Got all the toys (NavText etc) too.

Brest>La Coruna may be a step too far....I reckon on 350 miles capacity with 20% margin which is tight. Also tight for Brest > Ile d'yeu > La Coruna.

What's your top end if you were running at 20kts...I was planning 15-18kts against max speed of 30kts, so I think we're about the same in terms of ratio?

Anyway fingers crossed...quietly excited I must say.



<hr width=100% size=1>mailto: stefan@athito.com

 

[itsonlymoney]

Sounds like a hoot. Me thinks I am in the wrong job /forums/images/icons/smile.gif
Ian

<hr width=100% size=1>Play the best game you can with the cards you've been dealt ! ! !

 

[tcm]

ooh no, we top out at 30knots as well. 15knots a bit blimmin borin and not much fuel saving. I wd say that you shd be ready to vary the overnight watches - ready for if people haven't slept and come on watch. Also, erm a paid skipper with no bookings till June?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[stefan_r]

you're probably right about the speed....I reckon the speed might well creep up over the first few days!!

Sorry - wasn't clear about skipper, he's booked Jan>end April...May free for my delivery then another starts 1st June.

<hr width=100% size=1>mailto: stefan@athito.com

 

[tcm]

ah, rightyho. Mainly, I spose, the game is to keep going, and at reasonable speed if wx is good.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[HenryB]

Re: Motoring Essex to Greece May 2005…any question

Stefan,
Just wondering why you decided on Chios. I was there for a few days in 2001 and it was by far the worst Greek harbour I've found.
The main harbour is very large so the meltemi kicks up quite a chop. The town's sewers flow straight into the harbour and it stinks high heaven.
I had to get up each morning at about 03.00 to prepare for the arrival of the Nel Lines super ferry which entered the harbour at full speed, then spun around through 180 degrees to go stern to the quay. This trick sent a huge wave across the harbour which was enough to damage 2 yachts while I was there.
There was a new, unfinished marina a mile or so out of town in what is best described as a "refugee" area - had no services, access roads or security.
I'm sure that there are much better places in Turkey.



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[stefan_r]

Re: Motoring Essex to Greece May 2005…any question

Your comments about Chios are well founded, the main port is busy, wavy and crap and the other local marinas are not much better.

The ONLY reason for Chios is that my dad lives there and can look after the boat. We are keeping Athito in a marina called mmmmmmm that is in the [long] process of being built.

Failing that if we find Chios is crap a marina in Turkey or Olympic Marina in Athens is our next choice.

Unfortunately the difference between EUR500 for Chios and EUR5,000 for Athens - facilities or not - makes a compelling case as well as the locality to my father for odd jobs etc....Turkey is half way between the two.

I rather hope that I won't 'see' the crap side of it as I will be cruising whenever in Greece and my daa will put up with the hassle of no facilities!!!

 

[HenryB]

Re: Motoring Essex to Greece May 2005…any question

Stefan,
My misunderstanding, I thought that your father lived in Turkey so couldn't understand why you intended keeping your boat in Chios!
I kept mine for 2 years in the Setur marina in Finike and I believe that they run one in Cesme. The Finike marina was excellent and much cheaper than any around Athens.
You should be OK however with someone at hand to keep an eye on your boat.
Good luck with your trip. I'm sure that you will enjoy the Aegean.

Best wishes,

Henry