Cruising From Barcelona To Croatia

[monte]

Hola,
Jen and I are planning to head from Barcelona in a week or so toward Croatia. We are thinking of heading along the Spanish and French coast, out to Corsica and Sardinia, back to the Italian coast, sicily, through the messina straights, down the coast of Italy , hop across to Albania and Montenegro or continue down the Italian Coast before heading to Croatia. We will do this over 2-3 months and spend a few months around Croatia before hauling out there in October.
Any tips from anyone that has been around this area would be much appreciated, must see places, decent marinas worth stopping in, islands to visit along the way, routes to take etc. We will probably do most of it in 60 mile day sails, maybe a couple of over night passages as well. Looking for uncrowded protected anchorages as much as possible especially during the busy season..
Thanks
monte

[Palarran]

Our highlights on the French coast where Cassis, Porquerolles, Saint Tropez, Ile Sante Marguerite, and Villefranche. But if we did it again we would sail from the Balearic Islands straight to Corsica. The French Rivera didn't have enough protected harbors and the marinas where too expensive for us.

I'd go to the Balearic's and spend 1 month there, head to Corsica and spend 1.5 weeks there, skip Sardinia, Elba (4 days), Giglio (over night), Rome (2 days), Ponza, Ischia , Capri, Amalfi Coast (2 days), Aeolian Islands (3 days), thru the straights then ? I can't recommend anything in the Adriatic as we haven't been there yet.

Elba was one of our favorite's. Calvi was great also. Maybe you will see us this year. Good sailing.

[jckb]

The Balearics will give you far more anchorages than the mainland coast.

Corsica west coast has some very dramatic scenery, lovely white beaches and neat little towns. A nature trip. But you'll miss Elba and Tuscany if you go that way, with opportunities to visit Pisa, Florence. An art and history trip. Your choice.

The archipelagos between Corsica and Sardinia again offer loads of anchorages. Porto Cervo, nearby, has to be the most expensive marina/port in the world, where the super-rich congregate in super yachts. You don't have to go there . . . Olbia is a lot cheaper!

Then decide between Vesuvius, Naples and Herculaneum (history) vs Aeolian Isles (awkward anchoring, but very diverse range of tiny islands)

Syracuse (Sicily) is a must visit. Great harbour and anchorage, and a town full of character. Probably Taormina too; spectacular setting.

Southern Italy is a bit dull. Consider an overnighter to skip it.

[goboatingnow]

Porquerolles islands are worth a visit , of the cote dazure. If you can afford a few nights ( especially out of high season ) then the cote d' azure is well worth a visit. Then swing right to Corsica as the Italian coast has little to offer.

As others have said the Corsica Sardinia Sicily is worth doing, much better them the western Italian shore.

[transformer]

I done similar but with motor boat. From cartagena to puerto de campos to cagliari to messina to otranto to dubrovnik.

[multihullsailor6]

Hey Rob!

From my limited Med experience:

- The Calanques between Marseilles and Cassis are A MUST DO.
- Porquerolles and the other islands are cute.
- The Aeolian Islands - I just love them, spent seven weeks there last year. Vulvano has two perfect horseshoe bays facing east and west so you can just move from one anchorage to anchorage depending on the wind. The islands are all vulcanic origin so steep shelving, expect to anchor 30m from the shore. Panareia is really nice, an anchorage in a bay at the SW.
- Porto Rosa on Sicily's north coast - avoid, horribly expensive and no atmosphere.

Off To Israel soon and then planning to spend the next winter in the Red Sea.

Say hi to Jen fro me.

Ciao
Roger

[monte]

Thanks very much for all the info guys. Looks like Calanques-Porquerolles-Corsica-Sardinia-Elba- Rome- Ponza-Aolians-Sicily....so far...
Bonjour from Jen and Balrog as well Roger, Hope all is well there and the weather is warming up.
Keep the suggestions coming and we will join the dots !
Cheers

[Charlie]

Keep our boat in Northern Italy. furthest South we made it was Elba. Fantastic place. Lots of free anchoring and beautiful. At first we avoided Portoferraio but ended up having a great time there. Good place to anchor if you don't want to pay the dockage fees but a night on the dock is great fun and a fabulous atmosphere. Lights are out around midnight so you can get some sleep. Porto Azzurro is another fabulous spot but the anchorage gets really tight on a Weekend night. If an Easterly blew in there would be a lot of carnage. The town is great and caters to German tourists. Overall we had a great time. We provisioned at the local market. Cavo was really nice as well but there has to be some west in the wind otherwise it is a nasty lee shore. Our first stop there was great our second we had to retreat back to Portoferraio. This year we are headed to Sardinia so maybe we'll cross paths.

[monte]

Thanks for the feedback guys. We are in El Balis Spain today and heading East. Can anyone reccomend low cost marinas along the spanish/french/italian coasts?
They vary a lot, some go to high season rates in May, some in June so we are looking for reasonable priced ones for the next month. Most of the marinas across this coast are asking around 90 euro/night for a 12m catamaran, El balis is 36 euro and its a decent marina, so looking for similar along the way. I think Roses sooks reasonable as well so that might be the next stop, then the French coast.
We will probably continue around the Italian coast and then out to Elba. The weather is good (20 C and sunshine) but not warm enough to swim yet..

[Palarran]

Monte,
I know your asking for low cost marinas but if you want to really treat yourself to beautiful experience, go to Cassis. It was 240 euro for us per night but worth every bit due to the view.

[Oliver L.]

Monte,

we went from Barcelona (Premia Marina) to Marseille last summer. In Roses you can anchor very well, so unless the weather calls for it I would avoid the marina. Further north you've got Canet en Roussilon, where they've got lots of catamarans (it's the Catana home port).

We will leave from Port Camargue next week - next stop Corsica and Sardinia...

Oliver

[monte]

Thanks guys, wow 240/night ! what was the view?! We are in Palamos commercial marina now @ 42 euro/night, then off toward France tomorrow. We might see you in our travels Oliver. Do you know Javier from Catamarans Barcelona? He has something to do with Premia Marina.

[Katiusha]

We're now in Calangues having started in Sete. So far Sete has the most reasonable prices, interesting (several canals and you can take you dinghy shopping to marine stores, building stores, and supermarkets), and their farmers market is very extensive (get there before 10) and half a minute walk from one of the canals. Cap d'Agde and Frontingan have similar prices to Sete, but for us Sete had more useful things. And we found people there to be the friendliest so far.

Camargue is a giant waterfront property and marina development. Current at max tide is very strong there with eddies forming near Capitanerie building, so watch out if you stop there. It's more expensive than Sete, but has very extensive marine stores. Their market is small. While we we there, we took a dinghy ride to Le Grau du Roi and up to Aigues Mortes - a scenic, but long ride and we saw flying flamingos (look like sticks with wings - very surreal).

After Camargue try fishing! We saw three different packs of giant tuna jumping out of the water as we were passing Rhone estuary. Unfortunately they didn't like our bait...

All marinas around Marseilles have the same price list and are more expensive than Camargue. Marseilles Veux Port is a high traffic area both on the water and on land. we ended up staying on Frioul and taking the ferry to Marseilles to see forts, Notre Dame, La Major and St Victor's abbey. note that Marseille Norte Dame is a protector of travellers, especially seamen. it was amazing to see plaques from different ships, airplanes, and cars.

Calangues so far are very pretty with a lot of boats coming from nearby towns for a day. The anchorages are rolly, but not unpleasantly so.

Fair winds.

[monte]

Thanks Katiusha, We plan on heading to Sete in a day or 2. George Brassens is buried there so thast a good enough reason! How are the Calanques? I hadn't heard of them till you mentioned it and a quick google, they look pretty amazing !
Currently we are in Canet en Roussillon. Beautiful weather for sailing !

[Barra]

Hey Monty

Did I see your 380 tied up at Canet en Rousillon about a week back? we are stuck there at moment waiting for some paperwork to be sorted but will be hot on your heels when we get going heading the same way.

Sailed from canet around the french coast and then over to corsica last year and really recommend west and south coast of corsica as the highlights for us so far. Calanques are good too but can be busy/cozy.

we plan on heading as far as croatia this summer so hopefully see you out there

Barra (Catalyst II)