Time is one of the most precious commodities. And if we have it, and of course, a sufficiently prepared boat, we can enjoy the best routes to sail the Mediterranean. Most of the time, it will be difficult to plan a single crossing or voyage. However, we can consider the best routes for sailing the Mediterranean in three major voyages or navigations.
We have taken into account that boat trips are usually round trips. We therefore propose three routes around the Mediterranean. Depending on the time available, these can certainly be combined to get to know this great inland sea. For the time being, we have omitted sailing in North Africa. This is because in recent times it seems to have become more complicated due to different aspects. Therefore, we talk – or rather, we write – about the best routes for sailing the Mediterranean, focusing on the old continent: Europe.
This means that in planning the route we should basically focus on aspects such as: the boat, its correct equipment and safety, navigation, the weather and the necessary supplies. However, we leave behind other aspects or “dangers” that may exist that could divert us from the best routes for sailing in the Mediterranean. For example, acts of piracy, administrative facilities, etc.
WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN
SPANISH LEVANTE – COSTA BRAVA – CALENGUES – PORQUEROLES – CORSICA – SARDINIA – SICILY – BALEARIC ISLANDS.
CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN
ADRIATIC – IONIAN SEA – MALTA – PANTELLERIA – SICILY – VUELTA.
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN
AEGEAN SEA – GREECE – TURKEY
For reasons of proximity, we are going to focus on sailing in the Western Mediterranean. We have named this route as route 1, simply pointing out the later possibility of route 2 and route 3.
Route 1: Western Mediterranean
SPANISH EAST – CATALONIA – COSTA BRAVA – CALENGUES – PORQUEROLES – CORSICA – SARDINIA – BALEARIC ISLANDS – HOME PORT
Spanish Levant
We begin our voyage in search of the best routes to sail the Mediterranean. We can do it from any point of our Spanish Levante. It is true that we will have to adapt to where our boat is moored before the crossing. Even so, we can connect with the stage that suits us best.
Our first port of call may be somewhere near the Ebro Delta. This has unusual ecosystems of great variety. Then, we can continue sailing towards the Northeast. This way, we can visit Barcelona arriving from the sea, which can be a novel experience. We continue up the Catalan coast, where we will undoubtedly discover a magnificent coastal environment. This is the Costa Brava, from Blanes to the South of France.
The Costa Brava
As its name suggests, and as described by the writer Josep Pla, this is a long stretch of coastline where the cliffs, rocks and pine forests reach the sea, offering unparalleled scenery. The southern Costa Brava is more protected from the Tramuntana wind than the northern Costa Brava. Here, without a doubt, we must take extreme precautions. When the aforementioned north wind blows, conditions can be very harsh.
Calanques and Porqueroles
Continuing our navigation towards the Northeast, we cross the Gulf of Lions. Once in France, we can head towards the Calanques area, near Marseille. This is a beautiful environment to sail in a kind of small fjords, with its inlets inland on the Mediterranean coast. Following the same direction of our navigation we go up to Porqueroles and the islands of Levante, almost untouched and with practically no human action. From there we set out on our first “crossing”. Specifically, we head for Corsica, where there are many options.
Corsica and Sardinia
Here, we can choose to go around the island. For this, we will logically require more time than to simply get to know the southwest coast of the island. We are aware that our next inter-island crossing, on this occasion a shorter one, will be to Sardinia.
We pass close to the Strait of Bonifacio, where we must once again take extreme precautions and decide whether to descend southwards to the east or west of the island of Sardinia. Each option will require special preparation, especially, once again, in terms of time. Going down from the East, on the Italian side, crossing the so-called Tyrrhenian Sea, means going around the whole island to face our next stage towards the Balearic Islands, specifically Menorca. On the other hand, the option of going down the West allows us to control the times and decide the crossing at the point of the Sardinian coast that most interests us. Probably, looking for the minimum number of miles and opting for a perpendicular crossing between islands.
Balearic Islands and return to home port
Menorca, Mallorca and Ibiza are the most familiar landings for all of us, and there are many variants and options. We can consider round trips around the islands or simply crossings. Likewise, pleasant sailings between islands, longer or shorter stays, according to our possibilities and desires.
Finally, we will decide, once we are on the island we are on, to head back to the mainland to finish our great voyage in our home port. Once we have lived this experience, the proposed crossing will undoubtedly be for us one of the best routes to sail the Mediterranean.
Our time will determine whether we choose to do the whole route or, on the contrary, divide it into the stages that suit us best.
Finally, it is worth giving a brief outline or orientation of the other two major routes:
Route 2: Central Mediterranean
BASE PORT – ADRIATIC – IONIAN SEA – MALTA – PANTELLERIA – BALEARIC ISLANDS – BASE PORT
Route 3: Eastern Mediterranean
HOME PORT – AEGEAN SEA – GREECE – TURKEY – HOME PORT
The best routes for sailing in the Mediterranean presented are just one option of the many possibilities that will depend on the shipowner and the approach to any major voyage they wish to consider. The possibilities are many and varied.
There are many places that we have not included in the text, which is too generic for an article and for the millions of corners of the Mediterranean basin. Whatever the approach and voyage chosen, we are sure that it could also be included as one of the best routes for sailing in the Mediterranean.
