Hello, I'm planning to spend 2023-2024 winter in the mediterranean cruising around with no destination and no time limit. I'm not sure what are the best cruising grounds, Sicily and Ionian Greece, Eastern Greece Islands, Turkey. I would appreciate suggestions or guides to try to plot a rough itinerary, marinas and anchorages, good places to exchange crews. Vivaldi is an American Flag vessel so I need also to consider my limitations. Thanks in advance for any comments.
Gian Luca
s/v Vivaldi

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Gian Luca Fiori - 15 Sep 2022

More specifics. I'm planning to be in the Mediterranean from July 2023 until November 2024 and I'm starting to sketch a plan for the winter months, November 2023 to March 2024 in the lower latitudes of the Mediterranean. I'm thinking that the greek islands could be a good place to spend those months. In the Aegean Sea, which island are a must destination because the beauty, or the history, or the marinas. What should I expect for weather, it seems that it would be a little cold, some rain but you can pick up good days to move from one place to the other. How complicated is to follow the rules: it seems that you need an agent so, how you choose a reputable one. I appreciate any input to help me to gain more knowledge.

Thanks,
Gian Luca
s/v Vivaldi

Hi Gian,
What you are proposing is eminently do-able, but very few do it.
My memory of the Med in the winter (3 winters over-wintering in Turkey) was that we had 4-5 days that were just gorgeous: cold in the mornings (0-5C) and lovely afternoon (up to 15C) and when the sun set ~~1600 it got cold fast.
Then after that string of days, some really gnarly weather would come through and you would want to be somewhere protected for a couple of days. And then, once a month or so, it would really get ugly for a few days, gale winds, rain etc.
We left early and sailed late and we encountered some of the above and were fine, but it was challenging cruising and we needed to move in high winds at times.
The Greek Islands are wonderful, but many of the usual wharfs that one stern ties to will be too exposed for comfort and safety in the winter so you must pick and choose.
We never needed an agent for any of the countries we visited in the Med. Dealings with officialdom was fairly straightforward and well described in the guides we used.
I have lost track, but a couple of the Greek marinas seem to be preferred over-wintering spots. Turkey had the Marmaris area, Fethiya (sp?), and Kemer with one other around the corner from Kemer whose name escapes me.
My best, Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy