sailing from Corfu to south of France

[Beaujolais]

Hi, We are taking Beaujolais back to the UK via the west coast of Italy from Prevesa to the south of France,we hope to set off mid August and early spring next year via the canals can anybody tell me or give me an idea of how long the sea leg may take, and some areas to avoid.
Reply With Quote

 

[macd]

You presumably have your reasons for preferring west coast of Italy, but much of it is a featureless coast with little natural protection. Marina prices are very high in season. A better option, in my view, would be via Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica.

That would probably involve you in two long hops: Preveza to (say) Rocella Ionica and Sicily to Sardinia, both approching 200 miles. You'll probably need patience to wait for helpful winds but in my experience they will arrive. The main weather issues are well-known: lows popping up (often at short notice) in the Gulf of Genoa and of course the Mistral. You'll need reliable access to weather info, especially in spring and sutumn.

P.S. If you do decide to drop in to Rocella, I posted a while ago about depths in the entrance, which (last summer, at least) definitely did not require the rather fraught approach recommended in the pilot book. If you can't find the link, do feel free to PM me for the information.

 

[Swagman]

We've sailed roughly same route and same distance two up, from E Italian coast to Balearics and in August.
Departed midday, overnight sail to N coast Sicily arriving mid arvo next day. One night stop over there. Day and a half sail to W coast Sardinia with two nights stop over there in same port. Then day and a half to Menorca but got caught by an unexpected F7 from Gulf half way over.
IMHO allow minimum of 6 or 7 days for the sea legs, unless you plan to plough through non stop.
Enjoy
JOHN

 

[Roaring Girl]

Would concur with going via Sicily, Sardinia, then west coast corsica and from Calvi to the Porqerolles then west along the French coast to the canals. Longest probably Sardinia to Sicily, followed by the op from Corsica, both fine if you have time to wait for the weather.

 

[blueglass]

Did this exact trip in reverse several summers ago in a mobo, so did not have the range to use the other routes suggested.. If you are looking for the shortest sea legs you need to work up to Othoni - most western Greek island NW west of Corfu. From there Santa Maria di Leuca on the boot of Italy is from memory about 70 miles. You then have several longish hops, starting with crossing the Gulf of Taranto to Crotone (about 80 miles) and then the Gulf of Squillace ( well named - be warned) to Rocella Ionica.
If going up the west coast of Italy - avoid August! The marina charges are eye watering at all times and are usually doubled for July and August. Anchorages are few and far between- I would wait and leave beginning of September if you can.
I disagree that the whole of the west coast of Italy is flat and boring - some is but there are some lovely places too if you want to make it a holiday and not just a delivery trip.Let me know if want any suggestions.

 

[duncan99210]

We did the trip in reverse last summer - well, at least as far as northern Corsica. If you look at the blog you can see where we anchored and where we put into marinas. Whilst there are one or two stretches of coast with no anchorages, there are places to tuck in all through the west coast, although none of them protected from all winds.

We crossed from Crotonne to Corfu in one hop, took about 30 hours and from Messina to Crotonne (about 48 hours). Other than that, we coast hopped all the way, 50 miles or so a day. If the weather's right, you can anchor off quite a number of ports without having to pay what are fairly inflated rates. However, if the wind's up, then you'll probably have to get into marinas for shelter.

Link to the blog is below. Have a good trip.

 

[Artemis_C2121]

Can confirm depths at Roccella are not as dodgy as in the pilot have spent the last three days here and very plesant it has been. (btw it has been free)

No shore power or showers but bar is good with free wifi and supermarket about 2km away

 

[blueglass]

No shore power or showers but bar is good with free wifi and supermarket about 2km away

not to mention the amazing pizzas sold by the metre!

 

[Dreamcatcher]

Pizza by the metre, it is talked off fondly by everyone who has been there.

As to the route, depending on how confident you are about sailing longish passages and how well sorted your boat is,
Rocella Ionica
Volcano good anchorage,
Ischia or Salerno, anchor off the marina and beach, sheltered unless wind is from the South.
Short hop to Ponza
Across to Olbia or other anchorages in and around Madellina.
Up either the west coast or east coast of Corsica, my preference would, depending on the weather forecast, be the west coast, as it leaves various options as to when to put in a leg to Porquorolles.