2012 Cruising Plan Revised

We've refined our thinking a bit regarding this year's cruising plan. Here's the latest:

Leg 1: Biscay Crossing; May 15 – June 2 (530 nm)

May 13 – 14 Air travel, Denver to Cork.

May 15 - 25 Seasonal commissioning at Crosshaven Boatyard and Trident Marina, County Cork, Ireland. Conduct safety inspections; test sails; provisioning. Participate in Personal Survival Techniques STCW short course, National Maritime College, Ringaskiddy, County Cork, Ireland.

May 26 – Jun 2 Monitor and take optimal weather window for 500 nm Biscay Crossing from Kinsale, Ireland, to A Coruña, Spain.

Leg 2: Western Iberia; Jun 3 – 30 (645 nm)

Jun 3 – 15 Coastal cruising, A Coruña, Spain, to Porto, Portugal.

Jun 16 – 21 Coastal cruising, Porto, Portugal, to Lisbon, Portugal

Jun 22 – 30 Coastal cruising, Lisbon to Gibraltar, UK

Leg 3: Costa del Sol; Jul 1 – 20 (360 nm)

Jul 1 – 8 Sail from Gibraltar to Port Marina Smir, Morocco. Morocco land excursion.

Jul 9 – 20 Return across the Strait of Gibraltar and hop up the Costa del Sol coast to Alicante.

Leg 4: Balearic Islands; Jul 21 – Aug 8 (325 nm)

Jul 21 - 23 Cross from mainland Spain to Ibiza.

Jul 24 – 28 Ibiza

Jul 29 – Aug 3 Mallorca

Aug 4 – 8 Menorca

Leg 5: Sardinia; Aug 9 – 28 (340 nm)

Aug 9 –12 Monitor and take optimal weather window for 200 nm overnight crossing from Menorca to Sardinia

Aug 13 – 28 Coastal cruising, Sardinia

Leg 6: Sicily; Aug 29 – Sep 14 (310 nm)

Aug 29 - Sep 2 Monitor and take optimal weather window for 155 nm overnight crossing from Sardinia to Sicily.

Sep 3 - 14 Coastal cruising, Sicily.

Leg 7: Malta; Sep 15 – Oct 8 (60 nm)

Sep 15 or 16 Day sail from Sicily to Malta.

Sep 17 - Oct 8 Explore Malta. ARC prep.