Mediterranean
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The Mediterranean Cruising Guide
An online cruising guide for sailing the coasts and islands in the Med.
Background
The Mediterranean is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Europe, on the south by Africa, and on the east by Asia. It covers an approximate area of 2.5 million km² (965,000 sq mi), but its connection to the Atlantic (the Strait of Gibraltar) is only 14 km (9 mi) wide. In oceanography, it is sometimes called the Eurafrican Mediterranean Sea or the European Mediterranean Sea to distinguish it from mediterranean seas elsewhere.
The Mediterranean Sea is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the Strait of Gibraltar on the west and to the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea, by the Dardanelles and the Bosporus respectively, on the east. The Sea of Marmara is often considered a part of the Mediterranean Sea, whereas the Black Sea is generally not. The 163 km (101 mi) long man-made Suez Canal in the southeast connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.
Being nearly landlocked affects the Mediterranean Sea's properties; for instance, tides are very limited as a result of the narrow connection with the Atlantic Ocean. The Mediterranean is characterized and immediately recognized by its deep blue color.
Evaporation greatly exceeds precipitation and river runoff in the Mediterranean, a fact that is central to the water circulation within the basin. Evaporation is especially high in its eastern half, causing the water level to decrease and salinity to increase eastward. This pressure gradient pushes relatively cool, low-salinity water from the Atlantic across the basin; it warms and becomes saltier as it travels east, then sinks in the region of the Levant and circulates westward, to spill over the Strait of Gibraltar. Thus, seawater flow is eastward in the Strait's surface waters, and westward below; once in the Atlantic, this chemically-distinct Mediterranean Intermediate Water can persist thousands of kilometers away from its source.
Cruising permits/Requirements
See "Med Cruising Regs" for details of what is required for both the yacht (EU registered & non-EU) and crew (EU passports & non-EU).
Climate
The Mediterranean climate is characterized by by hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters.
Sources for weather forecasts for the whole region:
- Wind Guru A surfer's site with worldwide wind forecasts
- Frank Singleton's weather page
- Passage weather Worldwide Weather Maps
- Weather on Line provides detailed 7 day forecast charts for the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Atlantic
- France
- Meteo France Photographs from Weather Satellites, covers France
- Athens Observatory Gives 3 day (every 6 hrs) detail graphical forecasts for the Greek Seas
- GRIB files - download software, free. It is easy to use.
- Navtex Broadcasts List of all the Navtex broadcast times and frequencies
Countries/Islands in The Med
- Egypt (Has data)
- Israel
- Turkey (Has data)
- North Cyprus
- South Cyprus
- Greece (Has data)
- Croatia (Has data)
- Slovenia
- Italy (Has data)
- Monaco
- France (Has data)
- Spain (Has data)
- Libya
- Tunisia (Has data)
- Algeria
- Morocco (Has data)
- Gibraltar (Has data)
- Sicily
- Malta (Has data)
- Corsica
- Sardinia (Has data)
Charts
- BA 4300 Mediterranean and Black Sea
- BA 4301 Mediterranean — western part
- BA 4302 Mediterranean — eastern part
- NIMA W310 Mediterranean Sea
Radio Nets
Also see Cruiser's Nets
Passages
References & Publications
- Heikell, R. Mediterranean Cruising Handbook, Imray Laurie and Wilson, Cambridgeshire, ISBN 0852887795
- Rod Heikell and Lu Michell, Mediterranean Almanac , Imray Laurie and Wilson, Cambridgeshire, ISBN 9781846230837
- RCC Pilotage Foundation, John Marchment Mediterranean Spain - Costa del Sol and Blanca, Imray Laurie and Wilson, Cambridgeshire, ISBN 0852888392
- R.C.C. Pilotage Foundation North Africa - Gibraltar to Maroco, Algeria, Tunisia & Malta, Imray Laurie and Wilson, Cambridgeshire, ISBN 0852888406
- Rod Heikell, Mediterranean France & Corsica Pilot , Imray Laurie and Wilson, Cambridgeshire, ISBN 9780852889695
- Rod Heikell, Italian Waters Pilot, Imray Laurie and Wilson, Cambridgeshire, ISBN 9780852889138
- Trevor and Dinah Thompson, Adriatic Pilot - Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, east coast of Italy, Albania, Imray Laurie and Wilson, Cambridgeshire, ISBN 978085288970
- Rod Heikell, Greek Waters Pilot Imray, Laurie and Wilson, Cambridgeshire, ISBN 9780852889718
- Rod Heikell, Turkish Waters Pilot, Imray Laurie and Wilson, Cambridgeshire, ISBN 9780852888414
Forum Discussions
List links to discussion threads on the Cruiser Log Forum
External Links
Personal Notes
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