50Isea&iISPRING-SUMMER 2012OLD FAVOURITESmediterranean highlightsSuperyachts have been exploring the varied and distinct coastlines of the West Mediterranean for decades. sea&ireviews the best theseidyllic waters have to offer charterersByMiriam Cain

SPRING-SUMMER 2012I sea&iI51aboardashoreWhat's not to love about the WestMediterranean? Almost 2,500 miles fromend to end, it has long been one of the mostpopular cruising grounds in the world. Thisis where yacht chartering first began and much of the region'scelebrated lifestyle remains the same, with long mornings spentstretched out in the sun before lazy lunches on the promenade,afternoons spent browsing the boutiques, glamorous eveningsat Michelin-starred restaurants, and heady nights in slick casi-nos and nightclubs. From the glitz of the Côte d'Azur to the effortlessly elegantshores of the Amalfi Coast and the rustic shores of the Balearics,Corsica and Sardinia, these cruising grounds provide the per-fect mix of class and charm. ?