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The Mediterranean represents for many the epitome of the charter experience. To explore Europe from a private yacht on one’s own schedule is far more rewarding than any traditional tour!
- Dry, hot and sunny climate from May through mid-September
- Strong winds throughout the Mediterranean in July and August
- Be prepared for crowds in July and August
- Moorings cost can be quite high depending upon the port
- Saturday to Saturday fixed charter week
- Check into one-way itineraries
- Sailing license required for bareboat in many areas
- Consider the necessity of crew carefully
- Travel lightly and use the train to reach the marina
Tempted to navigate in the Mediterranean? The choices span from the extravagance of the French Riviera to the natural beauty of the islands of Greece. The entire region is rich with culture, history and fabulous food.
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It is particularly important to plan ahead of time a sailing vacation in Europe. Not only are the “local” Europeans seasoned sailors but the rest of the world is competing for a limited number of yachts. Catamarans throughout Europe are booked well ahead of time, in some places as early as December. The sailing destinations in Europe and Greece are very popular, combined with quite a short season of operation. Although the Mediterranean is one of the largest yacht charter vacation grounds in the world and has an incredible choice of charter boats available, remember to book as early as possible.
Berths and anchorages in the Mediterranean during the height of the summer season are extremely demanded. Do not expect to find berths in the more popular ports during July and August. One can spend many hours waiting for a berth to open up only to be frustrated. It is in fact likely that a berth won't be available in many of the well-known ports and the implications of that may involve rocking and rolling at anchor at night, especially as it can be quite windy in August. |
In addition, there may be too much traffic for comfortable or safe swimming. Remember, the Mediterranean is a sea and not an ocean. Its waters may not always be pristine particularly near the popular ports, which are so crowded.
We have had very disappointed sailors share their frustrations with us about this issue particularly for the following areas, French Riviera, Corsica, Sardinia and Greece. One way to avoid this problem is to consider planning your trip from April-May or September-October. Places like Sicily are an even longer option as the season goes from March to November. At each end of the season feel free to ask for a 10 day charter for the price of a 7 day – you may find the charter company happy to oblige. Greece is cheapest in March, April and November but we have had the best feedback from sailors choosing May, June and September, as the crowds are almost unbearable in July and August. |
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First time yacht charterers are often surprised by the separate cost of the mooring fees. These fees are almost never included in the price of the charter as they depend on the port and its popularity and the size of the yacht. As they can change on a daily basis according to the itinerary, clients are charged at the end of the charter. Mooring fees can be quite high in Europe, particularly in the French Riviera.
Yachts in the Mediterranean often do not provide linens, towels, outboard engines, or end cleaning. Be sure to inquire, you may be able to negotiate the inclusion of some of these costs with the charter company.
The sailing season in the Mediterranean works on a Saturday to Saturday schedule from May to October for the most part. Yacht charter companies are organized to turn the boats around on those days. Getting back to the marina in time with everyone else can be challenging. This is why most companies require yachts to be returned to the marina the Friday night before. However, feel free to request a sleep aboard that last night as it is almost always offered as long as you are ready to disembark early Saturday morning.
One-way itineraries can work out very well in Europe. They allow a more extensive exploration of an area, no doubling back. You can often take advantage of the direction of the strong summer winds. Some popular itineraries for the Mediterranean include: French Riviera to Corsica, Sardinia to Corsica, Tuscany to Sicily, Split to Dubrovnik. In Turkey there are one-ways between Bodrum, Marmaris and Gocek. Keep in mind, in Greece the wind known as the Meltemi is quite strong, making a return to the starting point very unpleasant. It is important to weigh the different options for the itinerary ahead of time as the effort can really make for a fantastic trip.
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Throughout the Mediterranean there are strict laws concerning bareboat sailing and required licenses. If planning to bareboat it is crucial to confirm that a license will be acceptable by the charter company and to have in writing that confirmation. Laws are changing constantly in Europe concerning this matter and it is best to fax a license over to be sure it will be accepted. Even within a country, laws vary by region and each charter company has its own interpretation and requirements. It is better to be an experienced sailor in order to manage tricky harbors and crowded piers. Common in Europe is the docking system known as “Mediterranean Mooring”. This means that the anchor is dropped and the boat is backed in stern to the dock and tied up.
The Mediterranean can be very crowded at the height of the season and hiring a skipper may be useful even for the seasoned sailor. Having a local skipper on board will ensure that your charter experience will be more carefree. A local skipper will know how to negotiate the often overcrowded, small, tricky harbors of Europe. He will also know the best beaches and the best restaurants and markets. At the same time, a hostess/chef may or may not be necessary. If you are planning on docking in a port and exploring fabulous cafes, restaurants or taverns, a hostess/cook may just be useful for serving drinks and making beds. Extra crew can take up valuable room on a tight ship. However if you are planning on more long distance sails, for example the Aeolian islands, a local cook could be responsible for your favorite memories.
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Prepare to travel lightly as there is no excess room on a yacht. Bring your necessities in soft luggage so that all may be stowed easily on the yacht. After disembarking from their flight, most of our clients found arriving by train to the marina very convenient. The marinas in Europe are almost all easily accessible via the extensive rail system, renown for running on time. Train tickets for all of Europe may be organized from home and at a discount via Rail Europe: www.raileurope.com. Charter companies were always ready to offer free transport from the train station, whereas transfer from the airport could be very expensive, for over 4 passengers we have seen rates of over 500 euros charged. Rental cars may also be problematic as their return can also be quite a distance. Any car left at a marina should always be left in paid secured parking which also ran up quite a tab. Our experience has shown, arrival from the train station to the marina to be the best bet. Be sure to negotiate a free transfer from the station when booking your charter in Europe.
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 General Tips on Sailing Europe |
Ed Hamilton & Company
http://data.ed-hamilton.com/start-sa
Transfer by Train to Marina:
www.raileurope.com
Please e-mail us at info@sailing-advisor.com for more information about any of these companies or if you have a story, good or bad, to share about this destination. Call us toll-free at 1-866-754-7256.
The information provided in Sailing-Advisor.com is based on the opinion of the writers and is presented in good faith. All information is subject to change.
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