Located in the heart of the Mediterranean, Italy is probably one of the best places in the world to get the most refreshing on-sea experience. It has over 5000 miles of coastline, as it is surrounded by other water bodies like the Adriatic, Tyrrhenian and Ligurian seas.
Best time to take a cruise?
Throughout the months of July and August, the coasts are densely populated; making this period a time to be avoided. The coasts are more peaceful and the weather much more pleasant in the spring and autumn.
Best Cruising Spots
Across the rim of the Tyrrhenian Sea is a group of islands that alternate with attractive habours with mainland. These locations are the best to take a cruise in. Also, cruises around Amalfi& Sicily, Corsica, and Naples to Monte Carlo, Venice, the Lagoon Islands and the Po Delta could be extremely fun too.
Requirements to be met before the big sailing trip
Before you set sail in the Mediterranean, you must have a skipper on the yacht you choose for the cruise. This skipper must be above 18 years of age, capable of handling a yacht at close quarters and able to use navigation skills to know direction and position of the boat at all times.
It is also required that he has either an International Certificate of Competence (ICC) or an International Proficiency Certificate (IPC).
Vessel to use
Any yacht at all built for cruising purposes is a wonderful choice. However for large family cruising, as well as cruising with a lot of crew members, Chef and Captain, a 70-ft long boat is probably the best option.
Precautionary measures to ensure safety
If you’re carrying a huge amount of money, split it into bits and store them in various different parts of the ship, make sure the small stash is large enough to appease a robber.
Ensure you pull the boarding ladders and close the guard wires at night.
Refugees and Other Dangers on the Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a passage route from northern Africa to Europe, and so many Afri-cans take this deathly path to escape wars in their land and in the search for better lives in Europe. These refugees travel at night in rubber dinghies too low to be detected by radars. It is therefore important to keep an eye out for this situation and attempt to rescue them when their raft gets def-lated.
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Keeping an eye on the Weather
Generally, the weather on the Mediterranean is normally mild during the summer, with gentle winds. However, the skipper of the yacht should have navigation tools and details to stay ahead of the weather at all times. He should also have contact with authorities for emergencies.