Where to In Med for extended cruising

[DavidBolger]

I am lucky enough to be able to take a bit of a sabbatical from my work and have 7 weeks holidays this summer. Any time that we have taken sailing holidays in the med (particularly Greece I have seen the attraction of living aboard for an extended time so my plan is to take 7 weeks on a boat from June this year. It will be myself, wife and two teenage boys (14 and 16). My question is where should we go?

France/Monaco/Italy
Spain/France
Balearics
Sardinia
Greek Ionian
Croatia

Any advice and experience from members much appreciated.

regards

David

 

[vyv_cox]

Is your budget a factor? If largely using marinas they will cost a fortune in Croatia, Italy and the Balearics at summer time. Sardinian marinas are expensive too but there are some good anchoring alternatives. Greece has few marinas, lots of reasonably priced ports where you will need to master stern-to berthing and thousands of safe anchorages.

We need more information about your budget and preferences. Also, you have not mentioned Turkey.

 

[DavidBolger]

Is your budget a factor? If largely using marinas they will cost a fortune in Croatia, Italy and the Balearics at summer time. Sardinian marinas are expensive too but there are some good anchoring alternatives. Greece has few marinas, lots of reasonably priced ports where you will need to master stern-to berthing and thousands of safe anchorages.

We need more information about your budget and preferences. Also, you have not mentioned Turkey.

Hi Vyv,

Thanks for your reply. A man after my own heart - we have a Sadler 34 since 2001 which we sail out of Dun Laoghaire (and you have helped us with on many occasions) so another option would be the British Isles but we did a three week cruise a couple of years ago and the vote was to go to the sunnier climes for this break.
Budget is always a factor, but in this case we haven't set a budget yet - it will depend on the options. We are thinking about a 12-15m boat such as a Bavaria 44 or that range.
I haven't mentioned Turkey as it is outside the EU and therefore we would lose that safety net. We did a couple of Sunsail cruises there a number of years ago and we didn't really enjoy the Turkish culture (particularly my wife) so we have discounted going back there but I would be interested in the arguments to change our view.

Thanks again.

David

 

[vyv_cox]

No arguments for Turkey from me, we have never sailed there. Greek Aegean would always be my choice. Such variety seems difficult to match.

 

[vas]

if you follow Vyv's advice and since you are not explicit on start dates, I'd do Cyclades first and once Meltemi arrives in July I'd try and do more protected areas (Sporades, or east Aegean/Turkey)

V.

 

[vyv_cox]

if you follow Vyv's advice and since you are not explicit on start dates, I'd do Cyclades first and once Meltemi arrives in July I'd try and do more protected areas (Sporades, or east Aegean/Turkey)

V.

Yes, good itinerary. Dodecanese gets pretty windy in the meltemi so I would go west at that time. Argolic is good and all down the Pelepponese coast.

 

[alan]

Turkey without doubt! Less crowded than Greece and most things are cheap as chips if you stay out of the big marinas. Most small places don't charge for a berth if you eat at the local restaurants.
I live and sail in Italy, and it is hideously expensive in July and August and in a lot nice bays you are not supposed to anchor !!!

Alan.

 

[V1701]

I'd say the Aegean as well, you'll sail more than you would in the Ionian. Or you could start off in the ionian, then Aegean via Pelopponese & then wherever the wind takes you & then back to the Ionian via the Corinth Canal?

 

[Davy_S]

The Ionian without a doubt, prices are reasonable, the weather is favourable, the locals are friendly and welcoming, there is plenty to do and see, you have varied scenery and plenty of anchorages should you wish for a quiet night, and most of all, your wallet will not be attempted to be emptied at every port you call into!

 

[RupertW]

Croatia for me every time with 7 weeks - and you need only call into a marina or harbour wall once a week or so for water and fuel if you are happy at anchor.

You need never pay for an anchorage unless you choose one of the concessions which are all on a website. In 5 years of cruising there we never needed to choose one. If you are going for a meal out then other places have free bouys if you eat there.

Far too many highlights in South, Middle and North to mention but picture endless islands with anchorages always available on the side away from the wind that night and 25 degree water for swimming, far better and more varied food than Greece or Italy (they take a lot from Ottoman and Venetian cuisine as well as Slav), and uncountable numbers of old ports with well kept Venetian stone architecture. A visit to Venice itself is easy if your charter company allows it. And when you do mood up, no anchors needed so nothing to tangle. And the wines are stunning if you step away from house and especially if you buy for meals on board.

Downsides - price of marinas (so don’t) and eating out can vary from Greek cheap to Michelin starred, so be careful. Also they dont smile and promise the earth then forget. If you get a Croatian to agree to do something it generally gets done. My favourite description is “Yorkshiremen with tans”.
Otherwise Sardinia is amazing and the Southern end beautiful and less crowded, and Balearics also a real treat but they make the Croatian marinas look very cheap.

 

[Bellacruiser]

I have to agree with Rupert on Croatia, but I am also biased. It is my singular most favourite EU country and sailing destination by far (albeit we plan a sabbatical in 2022 when I'm expecting Turkey to make a play for my heart )

In practical terms; you'll potentially need to be contacting charter companies soon to find a single boat with the 7 weeks available (depending on which bit of "summer" you have but given your sons' ages I'm imagining school hols) and might have to do some haggling to make sure you don't end up just paying for nearly 7x weeks charter (you should be getting money off for one single long booking etc and not needing weekly cleaning). Should you settle on Croatia by any chance, our boat (too small for you!) is in charter with a small family operation that has just 6 boats, impeccably maintained and a business owner with whom you can negotiate directly with for an extended charter; he has an excellent Bav 44 that could be of interest (I've been aboard and seen his teenaged son's labour of love polishing the woodwork and hull!). Shout if you'd like any details.

Whoever and wherever you go with, by going for 7 weeks you may be long out of reach of the charter base and its staff so ensure you clearly agree what happens if any repairs/help are needed. Even large charter companies are sometimes run as franchises etc with bases not necessarily the same "company"; so worth checking what support there would be and if none, who pays/how you recoup any costs as things can/might go wrong in 7 weeks even on the very best maintained boat, it's just life!

Don't forget that subject to permission etc Montenegro/Slovenia/Italy (and as Rupert says, Venice even) are possible from Croatia in that timeframe

 

[Irish Rover]

As an ex-Paddy, long time resident of Turkey I'm sorry to hear you or your good wife didn't enjoy your visits here. We love it here, as do all our family members from Ireland who visit us frequently. The people generally are wonderful, friendly and great craic and the beer is good, plentiful and cheap. Anyway I'd like to endorse what has been said about the Aegean islands. The variety is just amazing and it's still possible to do it on the cheap between excellent uncrowded anchorages and very reasonably priced town port facilities.

 

[DavidBolger]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. Seems like Greece is the winner by a large margin. To answer some of the queries, our kids get off school in last week in May so we can start in the first week of June. We did Croatia earlier this year and we found it expensive and slightly unfriendly. The sailing was better than Greece and the anchorages absolutely fantastic. I suppose we just got tired of no longer had we dropped an anchor but a rib would appear with a man and a ticket book and his hand out.

regards

David

 

[coopec]

Greece, Aegean, Ionian and Croatia. They sound great! I've often thought about the Mediterranean but it is a long way from Australian now the Suez canal is a "no go" area.

 

[vyv_cox]

Greece, Aegean, Ionian and Croatia. They sound great! I've often thought about the Mediterranean but it is a long way from Australian now the Suez canal is a "no go" area.

Suez canal/Red Sea is apparently much safer than it was. In the past two years I have met several yachtsmen who have come through that way.

 

[coopec]

I read that about five years ago but I think the pirates have returned since then Just the other day I read they are building machine gun post on new ships but I suppose that would onlt be for ships traveling in danger areas.

 

[DavidBolger]

Thank you for all for the replies, it really helps to take all the advice to make the decision.
We are now looking at dates and various events are cropping up which means that rather than go fo 7 weeks from the 1st June, it looks more do-able to make it 6 weeks from the middle of July up to the end of August.
My question to the forum is whether we are mad to head to Greece for that time in July and August - Does it just get too hot and crowded to be any fun?

Looking forward to hearing people's views.

regards

David

 

[AndrewB]

Thank you for all for the replies, it really helps to take all the advice to make the decision.
We are now looking at dates and various events are cropping up which means that rather than go fo 7 weeks from the 1st June, it looks more do-able to make it 6 weeks from the middle of July up to the end of August.
My question to the forum is whether we are mad to head to Greece for that time in July and August - Does it just get too hot and crowded to be any fun?

To my mind the Ionian gets too crowded from mid July to end August, and recently too hot as well. It reached 40degC daily for a week during last July. That sort of heat is manageable while sailing, or in anchorages where you can just jump in the sea, but not in marinas or crowded town quays unless you have air-conditioning.

With seven weeks in hand, you could start from the Ionian and get to places away from the worst of the crowds. A leisurely circumnavigation of the Peloponnese would take four weeks. Or, taking the full seven, head north from the Ionian to Dubrovnik or even Split, across to Italy and back.

 

[vyv_cox]

Anywhere in the Mediterranean is going to be busy in July and August but top of the list is the Ionian. Don't even contemplate it.

I agree with the suggestion to circumnavigate the Pelopponese, maybe with detours on the east side to Argolic and Saronic. We have enjoyed that trip without too much crowding.

Heat is mostly a problem in ports. If you are mostly anchoring you will probably cope ok, given suitable awnings and screening. Research this part, take a windscoop, ensure the boat is well equipped.

 

[coopec]

Anywhere in the Mediterranean is going to be busy in July and August but top of the list is the Ionian. Don't even contemplate it.

I agree with the suggestion to circumnavigate the Pelopponese, maybe with detours on the east side to Argolic and Saronic. We have enjoyed that trip without too much crowding.

Heat is mostly a problem in ports. If you are mostly anchoring you will probably cope ok, given suitable awnings and screening. Research this part, take a windscoop, ensure the boat is well equipped.

Of course I am still building at this stage but I am very pleased that I have a sandwich hull/deck (painted white) as it never seems to get hot on the hottest days. I also have oscillating fans in each cabin as well as six dorade vents. I'm sure an awning will make the yacht much more comfortable though.