Sailing SV Cordeliavideo

Caribbean or Mediterranean Sailing? We've Sailed Both. Here's Our Verdict

May 8, 2026 · 21 min · 15K views · Belize District, Belize

Acropolis ruins crown cliff above turquoise Mediterranean bay

What this video covers

Steve and Annette aboard Cordelia, a Venus 46, compare the Mediterranean and Caribbean after 2.5 years in the Med and three years in the Caribbean, covering 15,000 miles across 22 countries and islands over seven years of full-time liveaboard cruising.Watch On wind and weather, Caribbean trade winds of 15–25 knots from a consistent direction beat the Med's unpredictable Meltemi, mistral, and katabatic gusts — one unforecast 70-knot blast in the Med lasted an hour.2:31 The Caribbean also allows year-round cruising; the Med typically forces five to seven months in a marina.3:51 Anchorages in the Caribbean are plentiful, shallow, and uncrowded; Med anchorages run deep, require stern-to mooring, and marina costs can reach €350 per night in the Balearics.5:02 Caribbean underwater life — coral, turtles, rays — is a clear winner over the heavily overfished Med.6:31 Provisioning and boat parts favor the Med: Carriacou had no eggs or potatoes for three weeks, and chandlery stock in the Caribbean arrives intermittently.13:05 Customs are easier in the Caribbean, especially French islands with online check-in; Schengen rules limit non-EU sailors to 90 days in 180 in most of the Med.16:22 Culture and scenery are rated a draw. Their overall verdict: the Caribbean wins on sailing, but the Med's history is irreplaceable.20:15

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