Winters in the Med

[binch]

Picking up on a previous posting. Why does everyone lay up for the Med winter?
There is lively and lovely sailing to be had off-season. Weather is not much different to a Scottish summer.

 

[RupertW]

For us in Croatia it's that cheap flights stop - we go out for lots of individual weeks in between work but can't from October to April, without long winter drives in inadequate hire cars or if lucky 9 hours house to boat instead of 4 and £400 not £150 fare

Nearly all restaurants and liveliness stops too but thats not the big issue.

 

[chinita]

Picking up on a previous posting. Why does everyone lay up for the Med winter?
There is lively and lovely sailing to be had off-season. Weather is not much different to a Scottish summer.

I don't. I lay up for the summer!

 

[noelex]

I agree

 

[sailorman]

I agree

So the Med doesnt get rough then

 

[Ariadne]

Having spent two winters in the Med, I have no idea why anybody would want to spend a winter there?? It's cold, wet, miserable, stormy, deserted, expensive & and I'm in a good mood! Did I mention cold, wet, miserable & stormy?

The Algarve is much better and easier to get to, more people and you can get for a sail now and again if you want to in the sun! The Canaries is even better as is the Carribean.

Sorry I can't seem to answer your question, personally I think they all may be a tad demented!

 

[noelex]

So the Med doesnt get rough then

It can get a breezy, at times, in winter

 

[jordanbasset]

Perhaps stating the obvious but the med is a big area with different weather patterns. Temperature and rainfall alone varies dramatically in the winter between, for example the Costa Brava and the Costa del sol. We found the weather in Almerimar very mild with little rain, although there were often very strong winds. However others in the Costa Brava reported lots of rain and low temperatures.
You can certainly sail in the med in the winter but you do need to keep a careful eye on the weather and have a safe port to run to as and when necessary. For many they find winter berthing fees in marinas are very reasonable and choose to stay in the relative comfort of a marina to recharge their batteries (personal not boaty!) and have a more settled social life before setting off again in the spring. It is a question of personal choice

 

[Ric]

You can certainly sail all year in the Med. There are periods of high pressure and sunny weather that are excellent for sailing that might last 4-10 days, but in between it can get windy, wet and unpleasant. I agree - a bit like Scotland but at least there are no midgies.


The main reason people sail here less in the winter is the short days - unlike a Scottish summer, it is getting dark here by about 1630 in winter.

Nevertheless, there are plenty of people still sailing and staying out at anchor here in south of France - but they mostly have a good heater, very good ground tackle and a good library and wine cellar.

 

[little_roundtop]

....Weather is not much different to a Scottish summer.

It's all relative. We're in the Med because of the weather - we used to sail in the Solent (a tad warmer than a Scottish summer?) and cold and wet sailing doesn't appeal. Now we've got used to Med summers (we've been here 7 years) the winters feel cold - plus we have a very active social life in the winter marina.

That said, we do get some severe storms in the winter. On Crete last December for example we had the worst storm in 50 years. It washed out part of the sea wall in the marina at Agios Nikolaos and it came over the outer wall in both Iraklion and Retimno. Bad weather in the Med is not nice at the best of times, in the winter it's downright nasty!

 

[OldBawley]

In spring 2001 we left the French canal system and started a coast hopping cruise direction Monastir. We took our time, did almost every little harbour or bay, much of the islands. By the end of summer we ware in Siracusa and Swimbo flew home for a month. During that month the weather was perfect. Had some visit and cruised the East coast of Sicily. Something came up, the return of Swimbo was delayed. I started boring myself. Then some war started and friends who ware in Monastir advised me not to sail to Tunisia.
End November the wife came over, the weather had been perfect for two months, I decided to sail to Greece. Had no experience with Med weather. Could not understand why we ware the only yacht cruising.
We never sail when there is a 6 Bf in the forecast, maybe that is why we are still sailing together.
So we started in December coast hopping to Greece. In those days, weather forecast was not as it is today, it was inaccurate and mostly one was out of range to get one.
Eventually we found ourselves pinned down in the small ( East one ) fishing harbour of Othenoy for weeks. Snow on deck, freezing cold, not able to get out. The ferry could not sail for Othenoy, the only shop- taverna ran out of food. Had to buy and kill chickens myself. We learned a lot in those winter months.
Now we look for a safe place and day sail from there during winter.

 

[noelex]

That said, we do get some severe storms in the winter. On Crete last December for example we had the worst storm in 50 years. It washed out part of the sea wall in the marina at Agios Nikolaos and it came over the outer wall in both Iraklion and Retimno. Bad weather in the Med is not nice at the best of times, in the winter it's downright nasty!

I was anchored a bit North of there and the storm was not much fun.
Winters in the Med provide some great conditions, but be prepared for some strong winds at anchor. My experience is that there is a least one storm like this each year and several lesser gales
Be prepared with good anchoring gear and have a safe anchorage within reach.

 

[mocruising]

Ariadne said it all the sensible ones head for the Red Sea. Me I prefer to work or holiday in the Far East.

 

[Squeaky]

Good evening:

It seems this sort of question comes up every year around this time and usually from someone who hasn't been in the Med for very long.

My response is that after a summer of full time cruising I have always been ready for a return to the quiet of some marina where I could just relax, socialize, do the work I discovered needed doing without worrying about the weather, cold and wind. A day spend moving from A to B can get darn cold after a few hours. Of course there is nothing to stop one from going for day sails during the winter - in fact in Marmaris there are many week-end races if one wants to have their yacht in condition for that - I like to "unpack' and spread out.

It also gives one time for something else other than being on the alert all the time concerned about "boaty" stuff like maybe exploring ashore.

Cheers

Squeaky

 

[chinita]

It seems this sort of question comes up every year around this time and usually from someone who hasn't been in the Med for very long.

I think you may just be 180 degrees out there:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb...field-keywords=bill+and+laurel+cooper&x=0&y=0

 

[charles_reed]

Picking up on a previous posting. Why does everyone lay up for the Med winter?
There is lively and lovely sailing to be had off-season. Weather is not much different to a Scottish summer.

Like many "global" statements it has sufficient truth to be a very successful piece of misinformation.
There are certain small areas of the E & Central Med where it's true, but speaking for the whole basin it would be a very unwise cruiser who didn't tuck himself away for the winter!!

 

[wazza]

I have no idea why anybody would want to spend a winter there?? It's cold, wet, miserable, stormy, deserted, expensive & and I'm in a good mood! Did I mention cold, wet, miserable & stormy

Sounds like a Swedish summer...!

 

[JamesFrance]

I think you may just be 180 degrees out there:

lol

It can seem cold at sea in the winter if you are used to warm starlit nights.

 

[lovezoo]

For the past couple of weeks we have been getting nice warm 20C daytime temperatures here, with very little wind. But it is winter, so to go with the nice sunny days, there are also stormy, rainy, cold days.

Also bear in mind, compared to summer 20C is cold, so lots of locals will not go out in their boats this time of year.

 

[BurnitBlue]

Sounds like a Swedish summer...!

No no no! I spent a week on the quay in Helsingborg watching the teenage eye-candy walk past my boat. Every one film star material. Some were absolute walking visions. Some sat on the park bench opposite to read or picnic. Some of them smiled at me. (Or laughed). I was in heaven. I am pretty sure the weather was OK.