ROUTE QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Every charter itinerary involves balancing crew expectations against wind direction, hull speed, and port capacity. Here are clear operational answers to the questions planners ask most when putting island stops in order.
01. How many nautical miles should we plan per day on an island-hopping charter?
For a 7-day holiday charter, 12 to 22 nautical miles per day (totalling 90 to 135 NM for the week) works best. At 6 knots, a 15-mile leg takes 2.5 hours. That lets you depart at 09:30, drop the hook in a secluded bay by 11:30 for a three-hour swim and lunch, and still arrive at your evening port by 15:30 before prime berths fill up.
02. How do monohulls and catamarans change route and harbour choices?
Catamarans have shallow draft (1.1m–1.4m) and twin engines for tight pivoting, making them ideal for shallow Caribbean reef lagoons and overnight anchoring in calm bays. However, marinas charge a 50% to 80% beam surcharge for catamarans, and small historic Mediterranean quays (like Hydra or Kioni) quickly run out of double-width gaps. Monohulls slot effortlessly into narrow town quays and track better when beating upwind.
03. Are one-way yacht charters better than circular loop routes?
One-way routes (such as Athens to Lavrion/Syros, Split to Dubrovnik, or St. Lucia to Grenada) eliminate the need to beat back upwind against prevailing summer winds. However, they carry a one-way relocation fee (€400–€900) and require strict timing. Circular loops around a central island group give you total freedom to shorten the radius if winds turn light or boisterous.
04. What is the best time of day to arrive at a Mediterranean town quay?
Aim to cross the harbour entrance between 13:30 and 15:30. Morning charters and flotillas typically vacate berths between 10:00 and 11:30, leaving a golden midday window before afternoon thermal winds peak and before late-afternoon arrivals crowd the basin.
05. How do we avoid crossing anchors in crowded horseshoe harbours?
Before dropping your hook, observe the angle of neighbouring anchor chains leading off the bows on either side of your target slot. Motor well out toward the centre of the harbour (at least 3.5 to 4 boat lengths) and drop your anchor parallel to your neighbours' chains—never across them.
06. What happens if the Meltemi, Bora, or Mistral forecast jumps above 25 knots?
Treat every published itinerary as provisional. If a gale warning is issued, abandon exposed outer islands immediately and move to your pre-selected leeward gulf (for example, shifting from the western Cyclades into the Saronic Gulf, or from outer Vis into the sheltered bays around Trogir and Šolta).
07. How often does a charter yacht need to enter port for water and battery charging?
Most 40-to-48 foot charter yachts carry 350 to 550 litres of fresh water. With six people taking brief transom rinses after swimming and washing dishes prudently, tanks last 2.5 to 3 days. Running the engine for 60 minutes during morning passages and motoring in and out of bays keeps house batteries topped up on days without shore power.
08. Why do Caribbean routes emphasize midday sunlight for reef approaches?
Coral heads and sandy shallows in the British Virgin Islands, Anegada, and the Tobago Cays are navigated partly by "eyeball navigation." Between 10:00 and 14:30 with polarized sunglasses, deep channels appear dark navy, coral reefs appear brown/amber, and sand patches glow bright turquoise. Low afternoon glare hides underwater hazards.
09. Can we use the schematic route diagrams on this website for navigation?
No. Every map and island diagram on Bexumirounduppi is a simplified vector schematic designed solely to illustrate stop sequences and conceptual relationships. Always navigate using official hydrographic paper charts, updated electronic chartplotters, and published pilot books.