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Nowhere in the world is there a sailing area as rich in history and cultural significance as the Mediterranean. Sailors from all over the world come here each year to charter a yacht and to share their passion for sailing and to trace the early voyages of ancient Greek and Phoenician explorers. From the magical isles of Greece and Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean to the French Riviera, and Corsica in the Western Mediterranean, your yachting vacation will provide an exciting variety of sailing conditions, superb vistas and memorable sightseeing.
The popularity of the Mediterranean as a sailing destination lies in as much in the ideal climate as in the beauty of its shores and variety of sailing conditions. The sunny Mediterranean enjoys an average of 315 cloudless days each year. During the most popular yacht chartering season, April through October, blue skies and warm weather prevail. As the days lengthen, sailors especially enjoy the typical long evening period before sunset, when winds and seas become quiet and still.
Continue the tradition of thousands of years of sailing the Aegean with an unforgettable sailing adventure beginning in Athens, the crown jewel of the Mediterranean. Breathtaking sights from the sea abound-ancient temples, charming ports, stacks of white houses on hillsides and beaches like no others. Your yacht charter vacation choices in the Aegean, the Ionian, the Sporades and the Dodecanese are tailor-made for a wide range of sailing experiences.
The sailing conditions here are the most favored and predictable in the world. The Meltemi winds, varying from 7 to 35 knots, begin in May, peak in July and then subside in September. In the northern Aegean, the Meltemi winds are northeasterly, shifting to a stronger northerly as one enters the central Aegean.
You will set sail on a yachting voyage that is not your own personal odyssey into history, but your own pleasure cruise through Europe's favorite places in the sun.
An Islamic country, with generally liberal attitudes, Turkey is the meeting place of Europe and Asia. In many ways Turkey may remind you of Spain twenty or thirty years ago, not organized in every way but also far from being totally spoilt or overdeveloped. The coastline of Turkey has a plethora of world class historic sites with enormous amphitheaters, fortresses, temples and cities all with easy, informal access.
You'll sail along the rocky and pine-covered Turquoise Coast of the Aegean Sea to idyllic, secluded bays, quiet coves, and deep gulfs stretching for dozens of mile. You'll cruise through the heart of a region steeped in history and see the ruins of ancient cities, Frankish castles, and remnants of Byzantine glory. Sailing in Turkey allows you to experience a truly enriching cultural exchange with the hospitable and gracious people of the coastal villages and towns.
Turkey is a sailor's dream, the cruising is superb with good
breezes and sheltered anchorages. In the summer months, the winds
in the Sea of Marmaris and the Aegean are predominately from the
north and west. The Aegean and Mediterranean coasts of Turkey
offer excellent cruising spring through autumn. The days are sunny,
dry, and warmer in the summer, with consistent winds. Temperatures
average in the mid-70's spring and fall and in the low 90's in
the summer. The pleasure of yachting in Turkey will tempt you
back again and again, to explore yet another stretch of coast
and to relive the luxurious ease of like on the ocean.
Just the mention of the French Riviera evokes images of white sandy beaches while offshore, fabulous charter yachts ply the Mediterranean's incredibly blue waters. Not only is summer the time for sailing-it is the season for art exhibits, concerts, festivals, fireworks and revelry. Visit the chic resort towns and picturesque fishing villages, spend several days in the lovely Iles d'Hyeres or venture further along the coast to glamorous Monaco. As always, food and wine are essential elements of your South of France experience. Depending on your port of call, you'll find elegant restaurants, stylish bistros, or intimate cafes and in all of them, you'll savor marvelous wine and superb cuisine.
There is excellent cruising in the French Riviera May through September, with sunny, warm, dry weather. The exciting coast follows the foothills of snow capped mountains which shelter the sailing waters and provide a scenic background. Regardless of your charter itinerary in the French Riviera, you will find countless charming harbors and quiet anchorages among the more well-known stops offering superb dining, shopping and nightlife.
Named "The Scented Isle" for the maquis, a scrubland that abounds in Corsica that blankets the landscape and sends its fresh herbal scent out to the sea in early summer. The island of Corsica is the most mountainous in the Mediterranean and is a spectacular yacht charter destination. You will find picturesque villages, crystal-clear water, and your choice of splendid cruising itineraries.
The west coast of Corsica is the most physically dramatic and has many small towns and harbors. The pretty port of St-Florent is perhaps the busiest in the north, but within a few miles, the deserted coast 'des Agriates' provides rocky bays and sandy beaches with no roads or houses in sight-and often no other yachts, even in August. The east coast of Corsica is less dramatic in terms of mountains and less populated with small harbors and villages but it has a charm of its own, with long stretches of deserted beaches.
Sail the east coast of Corsica; with its ancient towns and
cathedrals; circumnavigate the island; or visit Italy's Tuscan
Islands. With over 600 miles of coastline to sail, the island
of Corsica lures people from all over with an almost perpetually
sunny and dry climate with warm westerly winds in the summer months.
