Richard10002
Well-known member
Having cruised a bit of the med this summer, I have, on more than 1 occasion, been dissappointed at the contents of pilot books in relation to certain places:
just as a couple of examples from the Italian Waters Pilot:
1) Porto Levante, Vulcano, Aeolian Islands, Sicily
The plan shows only a small portion of the bay, (the South), and shows mooring buoys just North of the harbour. He also limits his comments on depths to the fact that they get a bit sporadic near the shore.
The fact is that the mooring buoys are at the West end of the bay, from about 10m and shallower. The bay shelves very steeply from 50m to 5m very quickly. You can anchor anywhere in the bay, but you need to get close to the shore if you want to anchor in 20m or less. many, (local), boats choose to anchor in 30m+. Dinghying ashore is best achieved by crossing the entrance to the harbour, taking care to avoid the many ferries, and landing on the beach between the marina and the ferry jetty.
In respect of this place, the pilot book gave me no idea of what to expect, and I wondered if the auther had actually been anywhere near the place.
2) Taormina Bay to Naxos Marina
In respect of Taormina Bay, little is said other than it can be very busy and you have to take your chances with swimmers, windsurfers, and so on. He also says it is unlit, (which is true in respect of official navigation lights).
The fact is that the whole of this bay, from Capo Taormina to Naxos Marina, is a fabulous anchorage, with mostly a sandy bottom, masses of space under 10m deep and, even at the height of August, loads of space even at its' most crowded. There is a bit of an irritating swell at most times, at its' worse in prolonged S'lys, but no big deal.
At night, the edge of the bay is well lit with shore lights and there would be no problem for a boat unfamiliar with the area to enter the bay and anchor - perhaps midway between naxos and Capo Taormina, and in 10m until daylight. After a long passage, this might be a welcome refuge which seems to be discouraged by the author.
These are only 2 examples of many,
needless to say, despite the Authors foreward, where he suggests that he has spent a year visiting all the ports and anchorages, and updating, (so not starting from scratch), them from his previous volume, I have to wonder how many he has actually visited, and how much time he has spent investigating them.
I agree that it is a big job, and that he welcomes information from boaters, and I also agree that pilot books are a must have, but I also wonder if they are all that they are made out to be by their publishers and authors.
Anybody else feel the same, or disagree vehemently.
Richard
just as a couple of examples from the Italian Waters Pilot:
1) Porto Levante, Vulcano, Aeolian Islands, Sicily
The plan shows only a small portion of the bay, (the South), and shows mooring buoys just North of the harbour. He also limits his comments on depths to the fact that they get a bit sporadic near the shore.
The fact is that the mooring buoys are at the West end of the bay, from about 10m and shallower. The bay shelves very steeply from 50m to 5m very quickly. You can anchor anywhere in the bay, but you need to get close to the shore if you want to anchor in 20m or less. many, (local), boats choose to anchor in 30m+. Dinghying ashore is best achieved by crossing the entrance to the harbour, taking care to avoid the many ferries, and landing on the beach between the marina and the ferry jetty.
In respect of this place, the pilot book gave me no idea of what to expect, and I wondered if the auther had actually been anywhere near the place.
2) Taormina Bay to Naxos Marina
In respect of Taormina Bay, little is said other than it can be very busy and you have to take your chances with swimmers, windsurfers, and so on. He also says it is unlit, (which is true in respect of official navigation lights).
The fact is that the whole of this bay, from Capo Taormina to Naxos Marina, is a fabulous anchorage, with mostly a sandy bottom, masses of space under 10m deep and, even at the height of August, loads of space even at its' most crowded. There is a bit of an irritating swell at most times, at its' worse in prolonged S'lys, but no big deal.
At night, the edge of the bay is well lit with shore lights and there would be no problem for a boat unfamiliar with the area to enter the bay and anchor - perhaps midway between naxos and Capo Taormina, and in 10m until daylight. After a long passage, this might be a welcome refuge which seems to be discouraged by the author.
These are only 2 examples of many,
needless to say, despite the Authors foreward, where he suggests that he has spent a year visiting all the ports and anchorages, and updating, (so not starting from scratch), them from his previous volume, I have to wonder how many he has actually visited, and how much time he has spent investigating them.
I agree that it is a big job, and that he welcomes information from boaters, and I also agree that pilot books are a must have, but I also wonder if they are all that they are made out to be by their publishers and authors.
Anybody else feel the same, or disagree vehemently.
Richard