Aegean to West Mediterranean Passages
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Aegean Sea to Gibraltar Passage
Aegean to Gibraltar Passage | |
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MORE notes about the passage |
Introduction
Depending on the time you will like to complete the passage, your departure point, and personal preference you must decide whether to take a southern route along via Malta (south of Sicily) or a northern route along the Mesina Stait in Italy (north of Sicily).
In general the southern route is shorter and faster while the northern route has shorter legs and more places to stop.
Climate & Weather Information
See Mediterranean.
Weather Windows
The months to be avoided for the passage are from November to April when violent storms are possible.
The best time of the year for this passage is either in May - June or in September - October when various ports and marinas are less crowded and the weather is usually benign. In October, however, there is a possibility of thunderstorms so one has to be cautious.
Radio Nets
Also see World Cruiser's Nets
List radio Nets covering this passage.
See Mediterranean.
Also see the charts for individual countries or islands.
Possible Departure Points
Some of the possible departure points from the Aegean Sea are:
- Dardanelles in Turkey
- Kusadasi in Turkey
- Pythagorio, Samos in Greece
- Kos in Greece
- Bodrum in Turkey
- Rhodes in Greece
- Marmaris in Turkey
- From any of the Cyclades islands in Greece
- Athens Region in Greece
Route/Suggested Stopovers
- Southern Route Via Malta to S of Sicily. This is the shortest and faster route for traversing the Mediterranean. Depending on your point of origin and whether you need to formally exit Greece (see Arrival/Departure procedures for Greece) you have several choices:
- Via Crete to Malta - In Crete you can clear customs in either Iraklio (about 525 nM) or in Chania (about 460 nM). The passage is straightforward with an almost westerly heading. There are no stopping possibilities. Both of these departure ports are good places for obtaining provisions.
- Via Cythera to Malta - The main harbor of Cythera, Kapsáli is NOT a port of entry. So, this route is not suitable for yachts that need to clear customs. The distance is about 420 nM and the passage is straightforward with a westerly heading. There are no stopping possibilities. Kapsáli is a good place for obtaining provisions.
- Via Pylos to Malta - Pylos is a laid-back place to clear customs and a good place for provisioning. The distance for this passage is about 352 nM and it is straightforward with a westerly heading. There are no stopping possibilities.
After Malta possibilities:
- Malta to Tunisia - describe
- Malta to Cagliari then Balearics - describe
- Malta to Balearics - describe
- Via Strait of Messina (2 possibilities)
- Via the Corinth Canal - This route is desirable for yachts that start from northern Aegean as it is shorter. However, thecanal fee is appreciable. Yachts usually arrive early at the canal entrance because there can be considerable delays before the transit (almost all other vessels have a higher priority). After transiting the canal a yacht may stop at the Port of Corinth, or at the delightful island of Trizonia. Once you cross the Culf of Corinth and the Gulf of Patras a natural stopover before crossing the Ionian Sea is Zakinthos (Zante). There you can clear customs and provision. The distance from the canal to Zante is about 115 nM. From Zante you can sail directly to Reggio di Calabria a port of entry into Italy a distance of 270 nM. There are no stopping possibilities.
- Via S of Peloponnese - describe
- Via Cagliari
Possible Arrival Ports
Distance & Duration
Iraklio | Chania | Kapsáli | Pylos | Valletta | Corinth Canal | |||
Dardanelles | 285nM 2d | 290 2d | 285 2d | 350 2d + 10h | 710 5d | 225 1d + 14h | ||
Kusadasi | 200 | 210 | 230 | 305 | 650 | 190 | ||
Pythagorio | 175 | 195 | 215 | 290 | 640 | 185 | ||
Kos | 145 | 180 | 220 | 290 | 640 | 225 | ||
Bodrum | 150 | 190 | 220 | 300 | 650 | 235 | ||
Rhodes | 170 | 225 | 260 | 350 | 675 | 275 | ||
Marmaris | 180 | 240 | 275 | 365 | 700 | 285 | ||
Syros | 125 | 125 | 125 | 195 | 530 | 105 | ||
Athens Region | 160 | 137 | 107 | 175 | 530 | 32 | ||
Iraklio | 62 | 525 | ||||||
Chania | 62 | 460 | ||||||
Kapsáli | 420 | |||||||
Pylos | 352 | |||||||
Valletta | 525 | 460 | 420 | 352 | ||||
Corinth Canal |
Iraklio | Chania | Kapsáli | Pylos | Valletta | Corinth Canal | ||||
Dardanelles | 2d | 2d | 2d | 2d + 10h | 5d | 1d + 14h | |||
Kusadasi | 1d + 9h | 1d + 11h | 1d + 14h | 2d + 3h | 4d + 12h | 1d + 8h | |||
Pythagorio | 1d + 5h | 1d + 9h | 1d +12h | 2d | 4d + 11 h | 1d +7h | |||
Kos | 1d | 1d + 6h | 1d +13h | 2d | 4d + 11h | 1d + 14h | |||
Bodrum | 1d + 1h | 1d + 8h | 1d + 13h | 2d + 2h | 4d + 12h | 1d + 15h | |||
Rhodes | 1d + 4h | 1d + 14h | 1d + 19h | 2d + 10h | 4d + 17h | 1d + 22h | |||
Marmaris | 1d + 6h | 1d + 16 h | 1d + 22h | 2d + 13h | 4d + 21h | 2d | |||
Syros | 21h | 21h | 21h | 1d + 9h | 3d + 16h | 18h | |||
Athens Region | 1d + 3h | 23h | 18h | 1d + 5h | 3d + 16 h | 5h | |||
Iraklio | 10h | 3d + 15h | |||||||
Chania | 10h | 3d + 5h | |||||||
Kapsáli | 3d | ||||||||
Pylos | 2d + 10h | ||||||||
Valletta | 3d + 15h | 3d + 5h | 3d | 2d + 10h | |||||
Corinth Canal |
Passage Description
FULL description of this passage.
CruiserLog Forum discussions
Links to discussions on the CruiserLog Forum
External Links
Links to relevant websites.
References
Books, guides, etc.
Personal Notes
Personal experience?
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