Mediterranean
From CruisersWiki
The Mediterranean Sea Cruising Guide
An online cruising guide for yachts sailing the coasts and islands in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea off 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) and and it is approximate 2,080 nM (3,860 km) long, but its connection to the Atlantic (the Strait of Gibraltar) is only 7.6 nM (14 km) wide. Its average depth of 1,500 metres (4,920 ft) and the deepest recorded point is 5,267 meters (about 3.27 miles) in the Calypso Deep in the Ionian Sea. The Mediterranean coastline extends for 24,800 nM (46,000 km or 28,600 mi). 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 Bosphorus 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 88 nM (163 km) 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.
Mediterranean 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).
- Schengen Visas - Official Website - for the OFFICIAL requirements for Schengen countries.
Mediterranean Climate
The Mediterranean climate is characterized by hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters.
Sources for weather forecasts for the Mediteranean:
- 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 (West Med) List of all the Navtex broadcast times and frequencies
- Navtex Broadcasts (East Med) List of all the Navtex broadcast times and frequencies
Mediterranean Charts
- BA
- 4300 Mediterranean and Black Sea
- 4301 Mediterranean — western part
- 4302 Mediterranean — eastern part
- NIMA
- W310 Mediterranean Sea
- Turkish
- 2 Mediterranean
See also NIMA Pub. 132 - Eastern Mediterranean
Radio Nets
Also see Cruiser's Nets
Countries in The Mediterranean
Clockwise starting from Gibraltar
= Featured article, = Article/page link needs more data.
Gibraltar Spain France Monaco Italy Malta Slovenia Croatia | Bosnia and Herzegovina Montenegro Albania Greece Turkey Cyprus Syria | Lebanon Israel Egypt Libya Tunisia Algeria Morocco |
Major Islands in The Mediterranean
Sicily Sardinia Cyprus Corsica | Crete Evia Majorca Lesvos | Rhodes Chios Kefalonia Corfu |
Major Seas in The Mediterranean
Mediterranean Passages
These passages can be used for both East to West and for West to East voyages.
See also Mediterranean Distances Table.
Forum Discussions
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
External Links
- Mediterranean (Wikipedia)
Personal Notes
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
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