Hi,
Jayne and I are preparing for our biggest trip to date.
We are sailing our Hunter 38 from south of France across to and between Corsica and Sardinia then down and between Italy and Sicily, then across to main land Greece through the Corinth canal then round into the Agean where we will island hop for 3 months.
any one have any tips of passage??
Regards,
Zeb..(ª¿ª)

Haven't sailed through the canal, but have done a bit of island hoping in Agean.

Agios Elstralios was particulally nice if you have the chance to go there.

How much is it costing you if you don't mind me asking? Coming to the age where I no longer have to work and would love to fill my time with something like that.

Again, haven't done the canal, but while in greese you will hav a great time. Make sure you have a good supply of water and plastic bags. with the drainage system over there you maybe glad of your boat W/C, though can't complain too much. I guess you just get use to what you know.

Hi Zeb
What sort of time span do you have to do the trip from UK to Aegean? I bought my yacht in Mallorca in September 2004 then sailed to Malta in December 2004 taking 10 days then stayed in Malta for the winter until April 2005 (trying to get some work done to the yacht - unsuccesfull). Then sailed to Siracusa (Sicily) stayed a week then sailed to Pylos on the west coast of the Peleponnese. sailed round to Kalamata southern tip of Peleponnese stayed a month hoping to get work done then finally had to sail in May around 21st 2005 from Kalamata to Marmaris getting there on 24th May 2005. Missed many wonderfull islands. This was due to trying to get the work I needed done and also promising holidays for friends on 29th May from Kos (big mistake as you always need to rush). I am now enjoying meandering around the Turkish coast (there is just so much to sail and see). I do live permenantly aboard and base my self out of Marmaris yacht Marina. It is such a fantastic life and meet so many like minded people and the social life is just tremendous.

Hi Pirate,

If you want to e-mail me I can give you some ideas of costs that I have incurred to leave work sell up and sail as I am now retired at 51 yrs. E-mail foxyomp@msn.com

Peter you sound as if you are living the dream. Have you stopped in Datcha at all - they do fantastic pizza there.

The time span from UK to Aegean I would imagine is just under two weeks give or take. It depends on if you're stopping etc. This is only based on my experience of a few yacht deliveries though.

We have added a topic re our trip.
http://www.themainsail.com/gallery/images.asp?sp=&v=1&UAbN=103
We took 12 days from france to aegean(1092 Naut miles).Averaged 6 knots. Was really a non stop sail with three over night stops for provisions and 1 day waiting for a bridge to open!!!!
Cost really depends on what you want to spend, expenses are only food, fuel, berths if you stop. and float for boat spares and any personal requirements.
We will be there again next year too.
8 months hard work and 4 months sailing is a better balance than 11 months work and 1 month offish.( if you know what I mean).

The chance to possibly go for a 6 month trip in the middle of next year has arisen after meeting someone of the weather to sail course. It would be going through the canals into the med then into Asia. I am tempted and he is looking for other crew, but would be apprehensive about sailing in know pirate areas. What do you reckon?

Even sailing in the med when there is no land in sight you still wonder what if a boat appears and tries to board. So in a pirate infested water it would be very hard to relax and enjoy.

Hi Roxy sorry I did not reply earlier in the year. I have been to Datça and have been to some very beuatifull coastline especially in the South West area. I took a quick trip to Northern Cyprus in September lots of great sailing.
At some time I will put together an album on mainsail so you can see some of these places.

I have not heard of any real problems in the Mediterranean re piracy, but have known a few yachts to suffer thefts whilst at anchor in one or two certain bays in Turkey.

I also have met many people who have sailed the Red Sea and come from Thialand and they have had a great time, but I have also met one or two yachts who have had experienced problems and one certainly successfully dealt with some pirates in the Red Sea (Americans) who apparently shot one of the pirates. Which opens a debate as to what should you be prepared to do. But remember many sailers venture through the seas and never experience a problem.

Good passage planning with knowledge of the pirate areas and how to get round them is invaluable.

Hi Zeb,

Going down the gulf of patras towards the corinth ie west to east should be a great sail with the prevailing winds behind, we tend to stick to the north side of the gulf.Once through the canal have a look into korfos, vathi etc yo will be made most welcome no charges in korfos at georges taverner free water & electric.

hope you have a good trip.Harry.

Not in the Mediterranean - he wants to take it right over to Asia through Red Sea as you have mentioned. It would be port hopping I think, so should be fairly safe.

I do worry about going for that length of time and what happens when you get back. It must be hard getting back on the work ladder and going back to 9-5 monday to Friday.

Hi Zeb

We run a sailng school in the Aegean and have been through the Corinth Canal and up to the Ionian and back a couple of times.

The prevailing wind is from the west so you should have a good trip. A very big sea can build up in the Gulf which is horrid to come out into when you go through the Canal the other way.

Most of the best harbours are on the north. I really like Measlonghi but its a place you either love or hate.

The port policeman at Galaxidhi has a bad reputation for dishing out fines if your paperwork is not spot on. We're Greek flagged so have never had a problem but I have seen French boat owners almost in tears over what they've been charged. It's a pretty place but may be worth avoiding. There is another less attractive port to the east whose name I forget where you won't get any hassle.

The wind can come up very quickly in the Gulf so always keep a good check on the forecast and the barometer.

Corinth town has a good safe harbour and I like it. Good place to shop.

Travelling through the Canal is a real experience and quite straightforward if you follow what it says in the pilot. Check prices as it is cheaper on some days than others. When you get through Korfos is a good place to head for. Its a big sheltered bay where you can either anchor or go stern-to the tavernas.

If you want suggestions about places to visit (and which days to avoid which ports) in the Saronic please send me an email. It's worth buying the Greek waters 'pilot chart' by Elias if you want to find the lesser known anchorages and get lots of 'local knowledge'. It is fairly expensive but covers the whole of Greece and has good harbour plans and information about shelter.

I think there is a new port of entry marina on Corfu by the way - perhaps someone else can tell you about it as I haven't been there yet.

Have a great trip.

There is a fierce current in the Straits of Messina. Be wary if the wind blows against this current as the seas become very short and steep. There is a lovely little marina just along the Italian coast above the Straits (the name of which escapes me) where you can stop if the above conditions prevail.

Hi Zeb

If you've been reading the cruising section, you will see that I have just completed the passage from the South of France to Greece with the Hanbys.

My tips would be:

1. Rather than take the long offshore passage via Bonifacio, go up the coast to San Remo, then across to Elba. That way, you minimise the chance of getting caught by the frequent and unpredictable gales in that part of the world, but more important, you get to see more of the fantastic cruising ground you are going through.

2. Rest up for a whole 24 hours every two or three days, even if you feel like pressing on.

3. Crotone is not a good marina - no showers or electricity and they charge a lot - but its a good stopping point. Ionica is more difficult than the pilot book suggests. And plan at least one day in Santa Maria de Leuca - its southern Italy at its best. And the little man who runs the Supermercado is gold dust! There's a fantastic fish restaurant on the front, just behind the statue - turn left out of the marina and walk about half a mile, and its on the right - has a wood fire pizza oven on show, but does fish like you could die for.

Dont worry about the supposed shallows in the entry - no worse than many Mallorcan marinas.

Hope this helps.

Richard

Richard if you check back we made our trip in may 2006 check out http://www.themainsail.com/news/article.asp?UAN=932&v=1&sp= It was an awsume passage taking 12 days.
Hope you had as good a time.
Regards,
Zeb..
P.S check out our gallery of trip to
http://www.themainsail.com/gallery/images.asp?sp=&v=1&UAbN=103