A delivery from Turkey to Italy is a multi-day passage leaving the Aegean, rounding southern Greece or passing the Corinth Canal into the Ionian Sea, and on to Italy. EU entry, season and stops are the basis of the plan.
We do not offer deliveries on this route. This page is a guide for owners planning the passage themselves. Our skippered deliveries run along the Turkish coast between Istanbul and Fethiye, and we can survey the boat before departure anywhere on the Turkish coast: calculate the survey fee.
Route options
- South of the Peloponnese
- Mostly open sea; depends on the weather window.
- Through the Corinth Canal
- Depends on the transit fee and the canal being open; a more sheltered route.
- Ionian and Italy
- The Ionian crossing and Italy's southern coasts; if passing the Strait of Messina, current and traffic are planned for.
Paperwork and rules
- Exit from Turkey; entry formalities at the first EU port.
- Schengen conditions for crew.
- The boat's VAT status and use in the EU.
- Insurance navigation limits: must include the western Mediterranean.
Planning
- Season. Spring and autumn passages are common; summer meltemi and winter storms are allowed for.
- Legs. Stops for fuel, rest and weather.
- Crew. A watch system for a multi-day passage.
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- Croatia and Malta: Other western routes.
Crew
A delivery from Turkey to Italy is a multi-day voyage with night passages. So the crew must be large enough to sustain a watch system; a crew of three gives each person enough rest between watches. Everyone's long-passage experience and Schengen conditions are checked before departure.
Capes
On the route south of the Peloponnese, wind accelerates noticeably around the major capes and the sea can become confused. These areas are weighed specifically when choosing a window and, where possible, rounded in calmer hours.
Corinth Canal
If transiting the canal, whether it is open, the fee and how it works are checked in advance. The canal is closed from time to time for maintenance or other reasons; the route then shifts south of the Peloponnese.
Strait of Messina
If continuing to Italy's west coast, current and traffic in the Strait of Messina set the transit time. Current direction and strength are planned from the tables.
Leg plan
The route is split into legs with stops for fuel, rest and weather. At the end of each leg, the decision to continue is made afresh on the latest forecast and the boat's state. The leg plan and refuges are shared with the owner.
Communication
On long open-sea legs, regular position reports are planned; the owner knows how often and by what means they will come.
Arrival
Entry at the first EU port of entry is arranged in advance, with the agent's contact and office hours known before landfall.
If the boat stays in Italy a berth is booked; if not, the next leg and crew change are planned before arrival. On long legs, consumption can run above plan in a head sea, so tank level is measured at the end of each leg and the next leg's plan updated accordingly.
At the end of each leg, a short status report goes to the owner: position, boat condition, consumption and the next leg's plan. These reports also form the basis of the passage log handed over on arrival.
A long voyage's success is usually decided by preparation before departure: technical check, spares, provisions, papers and a rested crew.
That preparation pays back every day of the voyage.