We considered bimini before going into the Med from N Europe. I'd already chartered in the Caribbean, and seen how important one was with the vertical sun . . . but we thought we'd test first.

The first year without worked fine, but we definately needed serious shade when at anchor, so designed our own (more comprehensive) sunshade. The arrangement was more fiddly tha a bimini, calling for an erection and stowage routine that was more complex than using a bimini. But more thorough shade and heat protection in harbour.

We fitted a bimini later, but never sailed with it up. Couldn't see the sails . . . and the sun. But it did make the sunshade routine much easier - and more robust.