The Big One

[KenLee]

I have a motorboat down in Poole and am now planning the big year off with my wife (in a couple of years time). The dream is to buy a substantial motor boat and cruise the Med for 12 months. Can anyone please reccommend any books/publications that will help me in the planning and help make our dream a reality? The best route to travel and at what time of the year? How we deal with ports? etc?
Mnay thanks

 

[Rachelle]

Hi,

Rod Heikell has been mentioned in an earlier thread for his books on Med cruising - I see that Amazon offers them but it's probably worth checking them out in a marine bookstore before handing over £36 for the hardback copy.

People we know have recently done something similar - they have a website detailing the countdown and recent experience buying the boat. See http://www.kahawi.co.uk/ for details.

Rach

 

[colinroybarrett]

Thanks for the ‘mention’ Rachelle,

We are now ‘well on our way’ having sold the car, the boat, house etc. Simba has been micro-chipped for his Pet Passport and we’ve just bought the ‘Dream Boat’ - over in Holland.

Our current plan is to depart the UK in March/April of 2003.

Cheers,
Colin & Urszula Barrett
www.kahawi.co.uk

 

[Rachelle]

Colin,

I saw the pictures of your new toy - are you sure it will be large enough?? Seriously though, very impressive.

I'm sure there will be a winter 'meet' before you leave, you would both be very welcome to sail with us if you like. I'll post on the other site when we get back from NZ (end Dec) and see what everyone feels like doing.

Rach

 

[MedMan]

You may care to have a look at my account of the same trip - details are given in my profile.

Best wishes,

David

 

[Robin2]

Read "sell up and sail" - even if you are not intending to sell up.

 

[tcm]

Hi ken.

1. Publications
2. When to go.
3. Dealing with ports

1 Publications. We have a boat in the med. There are lots of UK hardback (expensive £30quid+) publications but these tend to fall out of date with telephone numbers and much else being either lightly-reasearched and in anycase changing quite often but not updated with an impossible-to-use "addendum". Easily the best practical books IMHO will be macmilan/reed almancs for outbound to gibraltar, then the "Livre de Bord" which is a french publication costing only 16 euros, buyable everywhere in french ports, and covering the whole of the western med. Hopefully some have better idea of more solid almanc info than Rod Heikells Greek Pilot, which doesn't tell you much more than a half-hour run ashore would reveal - usefull but not exhaustive, imho. The hardback books are interesting mainly for their background chat, and for aerial photos of the ports. Othwerwise the Michelin red guides show restaurants (definitive for if wsomewhere really is good or simply not listed) and the green guuides sort out what areas are worth seeing and what is so-so, all grimly awarded a mere listing or between 1 and 3 stars.

2. If going the long way around to med via gib, the outbound and return across biscay are likely to be toughest weather-wise. April-October will be likely safest, (avoiding grimmest atlantic weather nov-march) or there'll be a weather window soon enough anyway. Going early will help you sort yourselves ready for winter which is quiter and with less space in marinas which need boooking inadvance for winter. Going later will mean you are at southern spain when it is cooler.

3. Dealing with ports. Most are okay with English, but there's no doubt that a bit of foreign language shows you-re making an effort and much appreciated. A mobile phone is an absolute must: you need to know if there are spaces ahead, and not all answr channel 16, and for longer distances you won't be able to call them anyway. Note also rescue services in spain and france don't listen to ch16 anywhere near as religoulsy as in the uk- find the emergency numbers and store them.

have a fab trip!

 

[LadyInBed]

Re: 12 Months

IMO 12 Months is either too long or too short.
A 6-7 month trip will only give you a quick look-see (which is what I did).
12 Months will give you a good long summer to enjoy yourself, (shorter if you don’t leave till mid May) a winter of semi-hibernation, then instead of another summer of exploration, you will be heading for home.
I reckon to make it worthwhile you need to aim for two summers of exploration, then the mid cruse winter can be used for planning the next summer with the advantage of experience, and a quick visit home if it takes your fancy.

 

[Sunny_Jim]

If it will interest you we used "Brighton to the Med" by David & Pat Teall as our basic passage planner for 2001 (chichester - La Rochelle) and 2002 La Rochelle - Torrevieja. If anyone would be interested I have a set of Pilotage Notes to expand the RCC Pilot Books.

Do you belong to the Cruising Association (CA)? We have found their 2nd hand chart exchange and Local Reps service of great help in our Baltic trip 2000 Chichester - St Petersburg - Chichester and our 2001 & 2002 seasons. If not - visit the CA stand at the Boat Show.

Best wishes for your trip

 

[Sunny_Jim]

Twelve Months is not enough! Think 5 years...

If it will interest you we used "Brighton to the Med" by David & Pat Teall as our basic passage planner for 2001 (chichester - La Rochelle) and 2002 La Rochelle - Torrevieja. If you would be interested, I have a set of my Pilotage Notes to expand the RCC Pilot Books.

Do you belong to the Cruising Association (CA)? We have found their 2nd hand chart exchange and Local Reps service of great help in our Baltic trip 2000 Chichester - St Petersburg - Chichester and our 2001 & 2002 seasons. If not - visit the CA stand at the Boat Show.

Best wishes for your trip