Route from Greece to Portugal August / September

[Stevie_T]

I am thinking of moving the boat (sail) from Western Greece to Portugal this year. I know August is not a good month with the wind as it is right then but I have little choice in that matter.
I have been wondering weather to route. Sicily -Sardinia - Balearics - Spain / Gib in 4 or 5 hops or whether to try and go round the coast, bearing in mind how much of a hell hole it could be at this time of year, but with shorter sails if the wind turns too strongly against us. Then if we dont make Portugal I have Port Carmargue as a back up.

Any thoughts?
Thanks

 

[jimbaerselman]

Hmmm.

The coastal route creates periods of consistent big headwinds north of Corsica, and steady diurnal headwinds along the southern Costas. The routes thru Sicily/Sardinia will be kinder.

Crowded August is the biggest problem though. It really is difficult finding space in marinas in August, when the whole world seems to be on the move. But South Sardinia and South Sicily do escape the biggest crushes. In the Balearics Port Colom (Majorca) and the anchorages of Formentera and Ibiza can always squeeze a few more in, but to go alongside for shopping and fuelling a bit more determination and patience might be needed. As would be the case around the coast, too.

My website may help a bit. Certainly, the Southern route is more interesting - but I suspect 'getting there' is more your objective, rather than a 'nice cruise'! Be prepared to use the engine quite a bit on the southern route . . . light weather is common there in high summer.

 

[Mrnotming]

Seems good advice Jim, you are very helpful to the forumites! I would agree that the Marseilles area can a holdup or holeup, because of the mistral and this can have effect down as far as Corsica /Sardinia.So a passage plan further south would seem sensible.Have a happy new year all!

 

[Swagman]

Hi Mate,
We did this same route this past year same time from Croatia to Lagos - and apart from picking up tail end of a storm midway twix Sardinia Balearics - it was a fast run mainly offwind.
Did keep a daily blog so you can check out places we chose to stop and what we found if it helps.
Cheers
JOHN
We stopped into

 

[Amphitrite]

Have you thought about Malta and Tunisia as stopovers? Might both be well less crowded then Italy in August.

 

[vyv_cox]

The last two Augusts have seen repeated mistral winds affecting the area between the Gulf of Lions and Corsica/Sardinia. In 2006 we had 50 knots for days on end in northern Sardinia during the first fortnight of the month. By this August we were in the Ionian but we seemed to be hearing plenty of strong wind warnings on channel 68. This seems to imply going south of Sicily, then just touching the south of Sardinia, followed by a long leg to the Balearics in a suitable weather window. Going this way should also be a little less crowded - mainland Italy is an utter nightmare in August.

 

[Stevie_T]

Jim

Yeh getting there is important as we don't have all summer to cruise, though I may be able to extend it until the end of September taking 2 months or so if necessary. However I would want to get the bulk of it over with and then be able to relax a bit more when we are pretty sure of reaching our destination.
My wife only has the school holidays and so I need to use this time effectively, though I may take crew on later if needs be.

 

[Stevie_T]

Funny we tried to do it in 2006 and there were constant gales off Sardinia and Corsica. The original plan had been to sail via Malta with the option of carrying on if weather permitted. It didn't, so we went back via Sicily and Southern Italy all in a ll a good cruise.
Last year didn't want to do the same again so we went round the Pelopponese, a nice trip but I noted that the weather was much better for heading west. Knowing my luck it'll be a bad'un again this Summer. But we may try again as I can take more time this year though I have to earn a living so want to get back when I can.

I will have a read of your blog, thanks

 

[Stevie_T]

I agree with your report of 2006, we heard the same constant gale warnings day after day. Not sure about last year though, it did seem better.

 

[jimbaerselman]

The probabilities (source - Admiralty Pilot wind roses) indicate the southerly route should be pretty light weather. But you're quite right - your chosen timing can co-incide with that one session of strong westerlies!

 

[richardwatson]

Hi. I did this trip Sept/Oct 2006. Chania - Malta - Favagnana,Sicily - Carloforte, Sardinia - Palma - Gib. It took us 11 days at sea plus stopovers. Had strong easterlies from Crete to Malta, holed up in Malta a few days when they turned north, then had to shelter again in Favagnana on the western tip of Sicily two days while a mistrale blew through. It had already lost some of its strength by the time it reached the southern Tyrrhenian, but the seas had piled up, otherwise we had variable force 3-5 most of the time. With regular forecasts there's no reason why you should not be able to pick good weather windows. I found the RTTY forecasts from Hamburg to be the most consistent. The Italian forecasts were without doubt the worst. You ought to be able to find places to put in most places in September, but Malta gets packed out just before the Middle Sea Race, and Palma is always full. Fair winds.

 

[Stevie_T]

Thanks Richard, a useful angle on it.
I use the Hamburg forecasts myself, a very good service, and generally tune in to Ch68 the continous Itala service though not sre if this is still running. I didn't hear it in Greece tis year, hough have done other years.