Mediterranean Yacht Charters

The Mediterranean offers a great range of yachtThe climate is typical of the Mediterranean and
charter and this includes; bareboat yacht charter,provides for pleasant holidays throughout the year.
luxury crewed yacht charter, skippered yachtThe best season for sailing in Croatia is early summer
charter, monohull and catamaran charter and both sailwith good winds in May and June mainly from the S
and motor yacht charter. Both Croatia and TurkeySE. Mornings tend to be calm with the wind increasing
offer crewed Gulet charterslater in the afternoon to around 15 - 20 knots. The
The Balearic Islands or Islas Baleares are to be foundmonths of July and August see calmer conditions
western Mediterranean several hundred kilometres ofwhich is OK for those who don't mind motoring.
the eastern coast of Spain. This island groupSummer temperatures average between 26 to
comprises Mallorca, Minorca, Ibiza, Cabrera and30°C and the sea temperature in summer is
Formentera. There are three airports in the islandsabout 25ºC.
making access extremely easy. At Palma de MallorcaThe Cyclades is the central group of islands in the
on Mallorca, Ibiza on Ibiza and Mahon on Minorca.Aegean Sea but is still considerd part of the
Access is also possible from the Spanish mainland viaMediterranean Sea. They can be split into three
ferry from Barcelona, Denia and Valencia.groups, Northern Cyclades, Central Cyclades and
The Balearic Islands yacht charter season generallySouthern Cyclades. The areas prevailing wind during
runs from April to the end of October. July andthe summer months is the infamous Meltemi blowing
August are the hottest and tends to have lighterfrom the N-NW. It is first felt in June and becomes
winds; it is also the most expensive time to charter astronger through July, August and September when
yacht. April-May and September-October have a lotit can reach force 8. It dies down in October. In the
of plus points, the temperatures are morespring and autumn gales are common from the N and
comfortable, those sailing are likely to getter betterthe SE. The summer months are hot, average
winds, it is not as expensive and while ashore you willtemperatures are 25 deg C and temperatures often
avoid crowds of July and August.reach 35 deg C.
Corsica is a French island in the Mediterranean Sea.The Dodecanese is a complex of over 163 islands
After Sicily, Sardinia and Cyprus, Corsica is the fourthand islets of which only 26 are inhabited. The islands
largest island in the Mediterranean It is locatedform part of Greece's eastern border with Turkey. In
southwest of Italy, southeast of France and to norththe summer the prevailing wind is the Meltemi that
of the island of Sardinia. Corsica is an exceptionalblows from the N and NW. It blows from June
place for a yacht charter holiday. Known for itsthrough to October and at its peak may reach a
rugged mountains and towering cliffs, Corsicaforce 7. The spring and autumn sees winds from the
contains many fishing villages and unspoiled placesSE, usually with strengths between 2 and 4. Summer
that make for ideal yacht anchorages.temperatures can rise to 35 deg C. The winters are
With six hundred miles of coastline to discover, theremild.
is a lot to explore on Corsica. A two week charter isSardinia is the second largest island in the
necessary if you aim to completely sail aroundMediterranean being only slightly smaller the Sicily, the
Corsica, a trip of 330 NM. A popular alternative is tolargest. It lies in the western Mediterranean off the
combine Corsica and Sardinia in their charter. Thewestern coast of the Italian peninsula and just to the
southern part of Corsica is separated form Sardiniasouth of the French island of Corsica, separated by
by a short strait, only few miles long.the narrow Strait of Bonifacio. Mountains dominate
The climate of Corsica is typically Mediterranean andmuch Sardinia's interior; the highest point is Monti del
provides sunny warm and dry summers. In the heightGennargentu at 1,834 metres. The coast boasts
of summer, the coast of Corsica sees averagesome of the most wonderful beaches in the
temperature of 25°C but it can rise to 35°.Mediterranean.
As a general rule the north is hotter than the south.The yacht charter season in Sardinia generally runs
The sun shines for an average of 280 days per year,from April to the end of October. High season is July
concentrated from April to October, making theand August, when the temperatures (around
Mediterranean summer, the perfect time for a yacht35ºC) and prices are at their highest. May and
charter in Corsica.June, September and October are well worth
Crete is the largest island in the Aegean Sea andconsidering. Prices are lower, the temperature more
marks the boundary between Europe and Africa. It iscomfortable and for those wanting to sail rather than
140 miles long (E - W) and around 20 miles wide (N -motor round Sardinia the winds are likely to be more
S). The centre of the island is mountainous and it issuitable.Turkey is well known for its Gulets. Traditional
rocky and barren in the main. The exceptions beingmotor sailors that carry holiday makers around the
the plains on the north coast and Lasithi Plateau inTurkish coast. The boats are wide beamed and
the mountains.roomy compared with the conventional charter yacht.
In the summer the prevailing wind is the infamousThe Gulets are crewed and hands on sailing will be
Meltemi from the NW - WNW. July and August seeslimited. For those wanting a little more independence
the winds at their strongest, force 5 - 6 on thethere plenty of yacht charter companies in the area
northern coast but more often a more gentle force 3offering the more normal bareboat deals.
to 4. The spring and autumn sees winds form theTurkey is well known for its Gulets. Traditional motor
south, force 2 - 4. The southern coast is notorioussailors that carry holiday makers around the Turkish
for strong squalls the blow down from the mountains.coast. The boats are wide beamed and roomy
There is little in the way of warning and they can becompared with the conventional charter yacht. The
violent close inshore. It gets very hot on the islandGulets are crewed and hands on sailing will be limited.
during the summer months with the average dailyFor those wanting a little more independence there
temperature reaching 35 deg C in July and Augustplenty of yacht charter companies in the area
and temperatures as high as 40 deg C are notoffering the more normal bareboat deals.
uncommon.Mid July through to mid September are the busiest
Croatia's beautiful coastline with more than oneand most expensive months to cruise the Turkish
thousand stunning islands only a short distance fromcoast. Temperature can exceed 40 deg C. May and
the mainland offers safe easy navigation in clear bluelate September are a little cooler and cheaper. April
waters. The mainland coast consists of Istria, theand October see some rain but it is still pleasantly
Croatian Riviera and Dalmatia and in addition there arewarm. From May to October this area experiences
an incredible 1,187 islands of which only 67 arethe Meltemi wind. It blows from the N and NW and
inhabited.can make sailing in that direction hard work. There is
Croatia is situated on the Adriatic Sea, opposite Italy,more detailed information on weather for the
in the Northern Mediterranean Sea. With a historyAegean Coast of Turkey yacht and gulet charter
going back over a thousand years, it first appearedarea.
on the political map of Europe in 1992, following theBodrum, Marmaris and Fethiye are the chief yacht
break up of Yugoslavia after a bloody civil war.charter ports.