Yet another routing question...

[MASH]

Getting a boat back towards Marseille from Turkey this autumn...

Gotta go via Malta, but then which way? Go S of Sardinia and then turn North or work up the Italian coast E of Sardinia and Corsica?

Views?

 

[Frankie-H]

Getting a boat back towards Marseille from Turkey this autumn...

Gotta go via Malta, but then which way? Go S of Sardinia and then turn North or work up the Italian coast E of Sardinia and Corsica?

Views?

Depends if you want the shortest route, with few stops or the scenic route with lots of places to see.

 

[Carolwildbird]

Depends on the weather and your timescale. We did a trip from greece (Ionian) to Port St Louis last year (14ish days: aug/sept) but I had a limited time window (crew).

We did fine up to north Sardinia (east side), and planned to go through the Bonifacio straights and up the western coast of corsica, but then got stuck because of a continual succession of storms in the Gulf de Lyon. In the end we had to go the long way round, up the east coast of Corsica and up to the south coast of France, to avoid F7-8 west of Corsica. Instead of F7-8 we had to motor much of the way - at least when we got north of Bonifacio (35-40 knots.. supposedly a F5). If we had time to wait (maybe at least another week, or more) then maybe our original route would have been OK.

At this ( or rather autumnal) time of the year storms in the gulf de Lyon must be a major consideration in route planning.. and flexibility to find alternative routes. Over to you!

 

[duncan99210]

We came from Greece to Mallorca this May. We came from Corfu to Crotonne to Regio De Clabria to Lipari to Cagliari to Porto Colom. The route is fine but as always subject to weather constraints. We waited at Lipari for a week for a westerly to blow itself out, then for 10 day at Cagliari. Heading for Port St Louis, as Carol said, you'll have Golf di Lion to contend with and just now there seems to be a pattern of about 4 days Tremontana, followed by 4 days of southerlys followed by Tremontana.... The Tremontana can be quite exciting with 35+ knots of wind with some really nasty gusts buried into it. Carol's route up Corsica is a viable alternative and it is somewhat protected from the Tremontana.

Have a good trip.

 

[tri39]

Having returned from Greece/Sicily twice to Corsica. I would transit thro the Messina straits and continue up the Italian coast and islands as far as Ostia, and maybe further towards Argentario. Then cross to east Corsica (via Giglio!)and wait around Bastia for a good fcst to cross to France. Especially in the autumn!
Working you way northwestwards thro the Bonifacio straits can be very hard work and leaves you on the exposed west coast of Corsica.