Sailing across the Mediterranean attracts many enthusiasts every year. Amateur or experienced sailors keen to taste the freedom of the open sea, enjoy stopovers, and experience the diversity of this cruising ground… Whether under sail on a monohull, catamaran, or even a trimaran, this kind of voyage always blends adventure with the pure pleasure of being under way.
At the end of 2025, several itineraries will let you sail across the Mediterranean as a passenger. Among the boats planning passages on the Big Blue, our ORC57 catamaran Avel Vaez offers a complete program combining blue-water legs with stopovers in storied ports. Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or a first-time passenger looking for a berth, our cruises give you the chance to live a unique Mediterranean crossing under sail!
Between mainland France and Corsica, France and Italy, Italy and Sardinia… Many travelers cross the Mediterranean simply to get from A to B – for example as a foot passenger on a ferry. Others commit to a truly unique experience: an adventure under sail in the strict sense.
Sailing in the Mediterranean means pairing the richness of coasts and islands with the intensity of long passages. Coastal or offshore sailing, discovering bays, gulfs, straits, and island stopovers across multiple countries… few cruising grounds offer such diversity!
While mass tourism in high season clusters in specific areas – say, along parts of Croatia – sailing across the Mediterranean lets you experience a different kind of voyage, off the beaten path. For passengers, stepping aboard is a chance to live for days or weeks to a new rhythm: that of the sea, sunrises and sunsets, and a wide horizon – often with dolphins and other marine mammals as company.
For sailors choosing this journey, the start and finish points of a “trans-Med” are typically very convenient – easy to reach from just about any European airport!
You can sail the Mediterranean Sea almost year-round. Spring and fall are especially favorable: winds are often more regular and temperatures pleasantly mild – cooler than the peak of summer. The light is gentler too, which further enhances the beauty of coastlines and seascapes.
In spring and fall, with a suitable vessel and an experienced skipper, conditions are generally ideal for a fine crossing. At this time of year, marina and anchorage crowding is far lower than in summer, which makes every stopover that much more enjoyable!
A globally renowned cruising ground, the Mediterranean offers a thousand and one places to explore. The sea itself covers about 2.5 million square kilometers!
In the Aegean or Ionian Seas, the Adriatic, or farther west in the Balearic or Alboran Seas… From one country to the next, the landscapes, villages, and beaches change dramatically. Natural, architectural, and culinary heritage is consistently rich throughout.
For a Mediterranean sea crossing, several options exist – depending on destination:
If you want to cross the Mediterranean by sail, Avel Vaez deserves a close look: our very efficient catamaran is also extremely comfortable, promising an extraordinary experience – close to nature and the elements. Thanks to its ability to maintain high averages over long distances, our ORC57 helps you cover bigger legs quickly – so you can savor your stopovers in Greece, Italy, France, Spain, and Gibraltar.
Aboard Avel Vaez, two professional mariners supervise a crew of up to eight passengers. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed: Christian, our skipper, will be delighted to share his deep sailing experience. If you wish, you’ll be welcome to take the helm yourself.
Finally, to our knowledge there’s no other cruising catamaran that will give you, when conditions line up, the chance to top 20 knots. We challenge you to make your Mediterranean crossing truly unforgettable…
Sailing the Med on a monohull or catamaran means dealing with weather, passages of varying lengths, and sometimes busy sea lanes. On our ORC57, the professional, experienced crew handles navigation and safety – as well as onboard comfort. Managing daily meals and stopovers, Christian and Pavlina will do everything they can to help you make the most of your experience.
In fall 2025, we’ll offer a Mediterranean catamaran crossing from Greece to Gibraltar. Our ORC57’s route will be split into four successive segments, which you can book separately or combine. You can sail just part of the journey – or the entire track. Your call!
In total, Avel Vaez’s east-to-west trans-Med will cover a little over 1,700 nautical miles.
Sailing across the Mediterranean with Avel Vaez
Departing from Olympic Marine in Lavrio, 40 minutes from Athens airport, this first leg sets a westerly course toward the famed Greek island of Corfu. The itinerary crosses the Saronic Gulf, transits the mythic Corinth Canal, then runs along the Ionian coast, stopping at several picturesque islands. Stopovers will reveal fishing villages, beautiful beaches, and storied sites.
As part of our ORC57’s east-to-west trans-Med in fall 2025, the second cruise runs from Greece to Italy and includes an Adriatic crossing under sail.
Along the way, you’ll stop at Othonoi, Santa Maria di Leuca, Crotone, and points along the Calabrian coast. A highlight will be transiting the Strait of Messina between Sicily and the Italian peninsula. From there you’ll head for the Aeolian Islands, known for active volcanoes and spectacular scenery, before arriving in Naples – a vibrant city rich in heritage, where the contrast between sea and land is striking.
The third segment of our grand voyage takes passengers from Naples, Italy to La Grande-Motte, France – still driven by the wind and enjoying the comfort and remarkable performance of our catamaran.
Avel Vaez will skirt the Tyrrhenian Sea, call in the Pontine archipelago, then set a course for Sardinia. We’ll continue to southern Corsica, with stops in Bonifacio and Calvi, then run up the French Mediterranean coast via Girolata, Port-Cros, and Marseille. This catamaran cruise packs in scenery and variety: offshore legs, coastal hops, and the discovery of protected anchorages.
Avel Vaez’s final Mediterranean crossing of 2025 traverses the Alboran Sea. Between two sailing passages aboard our catamaran, you’ll visit the Balearic Islands, with two days in Menorca and Ibiza. We’ll then follow Spain’s coast with stops in Alicante, Cartagena, Almería, and Malaga, before you disembark in Gibraltar – just as our catamaran leaves the Med for future adventures.
All itineraries are indicative and subject to change.
If you join an Avel Marine cruise in the Med, your voyage will always begin with a crew briefing: our skipper Christian will present the cruise plan, the intended itinerary, and everything you need to know about onboard safety.
Then, your days will unfold largely at your own pace, with, if you wish:
Watch-standing
Taking part in maneuvers
Relaxing on deck
Depending on the route and weather, you’ll alternate between fast offshore legs, time near the Greek, Italian, French, or Spanish coasts, and time ashore – from beautiful anchorages or a marina.
Prepared by our crew, meals are shared convivially – either around the cockpit table or in the catamaran’s salon!
Find answers to frequently asked questions below, plus a few tips for your future Mediterranean crossing by sail aboard our ORC57 catamaran.
Spring and fall are ideal: you’ll usually enjoy fair weather and avoid crowds at stopovers. Each year, Avel Vaez makes an eastbound trans-Med in spring and a westbound trans-Med in fall.
From March through November, conditions are generally pleasant in the Mediterranean. If you want to join a sailing voyage, be ready for short and long passages, by day and by night.
Aboard Avel Vaez, Mediterranean cruising starts from €162 per person per day (fall 2025 rate on certain route segments, based on a double cabin). See the page dedicated to each segment of our trans-Med for detailed pricing.
No. All passengers are welcome aboard – whether or not they know the Med and whether or not they have sailing experience. That said, good overall fitness, a spirit of adventure, and a willingness to take part in onboard life are recommended.
Between Greece and Gibraltar – or the reverse – there are plenty of standout stopovers: the Ionian Islands before crossing the Adriatic, the Aeolian Islands off Sicily, the Pontine Islands in Italy, Sardinia and Corsica, and the Balearics with Menorca, Mallorca, and Ibiza. Between fast sailing legs, we’re sure you’ll find the ones that make you dream!