Ionian Greece Anchorages 2014
This last summer we decided do a third visit to Greece,
as we wanted to explore the many anchorages of Ionian Greece as the last time
we only visited Ithaca and Cephalonia for checking out of Greece. After
spending a glorious month in many anchorages around Malta we left on the 8th
of June 2014 with a decent weather window thanks to www.predictwind.com. After 3 days we
anchored in Katakola, this was our second visit here. Our plan was to head up
the Greek coast and island chains leaving early in the morning and trying to
arrive at our destination before the Maltemi picked up very strong from the
north at around 13:00 and sometimes lasting into the late evening ours. We
arrive in Katakola on the 11th of June2014, in 2days 22hrs. All
coordinates are actual anchorages.
Katakola
mainland Greece: N 37 39.031
E 021 19.369
We dropped anchor in 16 ft of water over short weed close to the harbour entrance which makes for a short dingy ride, you can tie up the dingy to the east wall or just under one of the waterfront restaurants they are all safe we never had a problem here or anywhere in all of Greece but we always lock the dingy. Katakola is a cruise ship destination because of its proximity to the ancient site of Olympia, a must see site where the first Olympic games started and where every 4 years the Olympic torch is lit. Port police and Immigration is along the waterfront west of all the restaurants. Supermarket in the village with good supplies and a bakery located one road over from the main road. Bus service to the main city of Pyrgos you can get the schedule from the kiosk at where the bus stops. It is only a 15 min ride to Pyrgos where all provisions and anything for repairs can be gotten, including alternator repairs bearings motor brushes tubing etc... etc… There is also a train that will take you directly to Olympia and also stops at Pyrgos but the return time are unreliable from Pyrgos so you will have to return by bus from the bus station located a few meters to the west of the station, ask and you will be directed. The anchorage is excellent with no gusty winds at all and coverage very good from most angles except the south which rarely blows with and strength during this time of year.
Zakynthos Island: Keri Lake Beach N 37 41.215
E 020 50.412
.JPG) |
| Zakynthos small boat harbour |
This was our second time here we anchored in 14 ft. over sand and
clear water, the holding is excellent with spectacular settings all round, nice
beach, you can tie the dingy in the small fishing harbour but ask someone where
it would be good to leave it as there are tour boats and fishing boats going in
and out. In the afternoon you will get katabatic winds here when the maltemi
start. We had those most of the day and night here for two days. There is a bus
to Zante but you need to be at the beach early ask around for details and
schedules, it is cheap, a taxi ride is €32.00 each way, bus is around €3.50
each way.
In Zante you can med moor to the wall where directed the town is
very pleasant for walking around with many coffee shops and restaurants and
anything else one would expect from a capital city.
After Zakynthos we headed back to Katakola to spend some more time
there, we found a very nice lady her name is Denise who runs the Gyro
restaurant on the main road she can help anyone as she speaks very good English.
Skrofa Point mainland Greece: N 38 17.986
E 021 08.788
This was our longest leg besides the 3 day frm Malta and 2 days to , we anchored here in 14 ft. over sand
very good holding but open, however there is no swell as you are in the lee of
Okseia Island, the surroundings are a little dull but the water is crystal
clear. There were six more boats here with us. We tried the north bay of Ormos
Oxia but the bottom is foul with many small moorings, our anchor grabbed a line
and would not dig in we had to cut the 1/4" poly line to release the
anchor. Then headed south to here. Considering it is open, the motion with the
strong wind from the North was not uncomfortable and we slept very well. There
is a bar on the beach but that is all.
Petalas Island, mainland Greece: N 38 24.219
E 021 06.504
This is an all-round anchorage with protection and excellent
holding over mud. One way in and out of here through the south west channel. Very
picturesque place we anchored in 10 ft of water. The water is murky but nice
colour just the same. I snorkeled right to the shore and could not see the
bottom until the depth reached 2 ft. but it is a very nice cove to spend a few
days of relaxation away from anything, the surroundings are picturesque we
anchored right under the cave. There is a house at the top of the bay but never
seen anyone around. Very peaceful. Lots of black ugly muck came up with the
chain, had to power wash it. The anchor took the longest to remove the mass of
muck on it, all is good and are on the way up the coast to Astakos.
Astakos, mainland Greece: N 38 32.008
E 021 05.159
%2B(1).JPG) |
| Astakos waterfront |
Anchored in 23ft over mud. It is very pretty here and the
mountains on the west coast look like they are just going straight up trying to
reach the heavens, also a nice sail from the south close to the west shore, we could
smell sewage at the anchorage it did go away when the wind picked up. The wind
from the south got rid of the sewage smell. Lots of provisioning options here,
there is also a hardware store with some boat essentials. Tie your dingy in the harbour where
convenient at the SW corner, the sewage smell there is even worst.
This place is good for provisioning there is also a hardware store
with limited amounts of marine parts but he can have anything in within 3 days.
Many restaurants and coffee bars at the waterfront and also a couple of good
bakeries. This
anchorage gets a lot of wind from the W to NW and the waves sometimes ¾ of
meter, come at you from the SW, it can get very uncomfortable at times, would
not recommend this place unless you have to. One can also go med moor in the
small harbour. There is a ferry dock which you have to stay clear off or you
will be asked to move.
Kostos island east coast anchorage: N 38 33.598
E 020 54.449
.JPG) |
| Incredible waters of Kostos |
We anchored in the 3rd bay south of the village of Kastos. Crystal
clear water with sand and weed bottom, but large areas of sand make this place
perfect, we had a few boats come and spend a few ours 2 other boats staying the
night. If you like sea urchins this is a good place for you, the snorkeling is
very nice even though not much fish to see but geologically very pleasing. It
is only a short dingy ride to the village of Kastos you can also med moor but
it gets very crowded there with all the charter boats. There is very limited
provisions in the village and be prepared to pay a hefty premium. There is a
nice coffee-bar on the beach run by a young friendly couple, they have tasty
pastries and cakes every morning. Tie the dingy in the inner fishing harbour.
Garbage is all collected in the morning so leave it near other garbage and it
will be gone by the time you leave. We spent a few days here before heading off
to another special surprise.
E 020 57.657
We tried the Port Leone, is a very nice setting but unfortunately
you have to take a line to shore which did not make it suitable for us so then
we tried the Kalamos Harbour area to the north but we couldn't make the anchor
grab so we carried on up the island and found this spectacular place with sand
bottom and very nice beaches tucked in between rock formations extending into
the sea. We met up with Giancarlo & Sabrina of Youth for drinks then the next
day on their boat for pasta dinner.
This is a lovely spot even though it gets a little busy with tour boats
during the weekend, it does get busy with the local boats during the day but
everyone clears out by 18:00 hrs. Still worth the stop. The holding is
excellent and well protected from the Maltemi, very nice snorkeling, the trees
on the shore are a bright green like we never seen before, just incredible.
Meganisis island, Elia Bay, Spatokharion: N 38 39.319
E 020 47.957
This is a very nice and quiet bay with no gusts of wind and very
good holding over sand and weed, sea urchins can be picked from the shore line.
A short walk to Katomeri where you will find limited supplies and a bakery, and
Taverna. The wasps are here in abundance
but will not touch you unless you get them caught in your clothing or under
your armpit, when they fly into the boat just open a hatch for them and they
will happily fly back out. We spent a few peaceful days here and we each got
tagged once by the wasps it wasn’t so bad. We will miss this wonderful spot and
I am sure we will come again if we are around.
Lefkas island, Desimi Bay: N 38 40.375
E 020 42.849
All good things must also come to an end and today was a sad day
for us leaving Elia Bay but we need to keep moving north towards Korfu and Albania. Very nice anchorage with excellent holding in 30 ft over sand and weeds. The
surroundings are beautiful and the holding is very good although deep. There is
a few bars on the beach were you can also beach the dingy. It got extremely
busy and noisy during the day.
Too bad but we had to leave from here early the next morning, one
day was enough, it is too noisy with kids from the camp grounds all day till
sunset and not much to do ashore.
Lefkas island, Tranquil Bay: N 38 42.109
E 020 42.644
We anchored in 23 ft over mud and weeds with excellent holding. Tie
the dingy on the pontoon close to shore in fornt of Nydri Marine. Very good
anchorage with all round protection and close to the town of Nydri. Nice walk at the waterfront of, very good
provisioning for anything you may need, two chandleries, Nydri Marine and
Georges in town on the main road. Nydri Marine has a used parts area well stocked maybe you can find what you need in there first. The anchorage is a bit crowded but be patient and you will find a spot. There is a larger bay to the south at Vlycho Bay with very good holding and all round protection, there is also many marinas if one prefers.
E 020 47.240
Anchored in 14ft over sand, crystal clear water very peaceful surroundings. Some rocks closer to the beach but deep enough if we swing toward it. Gets very busy by the afternoon with power boaters and mega yachts, but amazingly still very peaceful. There is more anchorage all along the beach plus another bay at the north east of this position. There are no dingy spots you will have to beach it. There is a few nice walks with great scenery towards Pogonia to the NE. We left here but we will surely miss this place and the swimming and the scenery there is places like this everywhere but few and far in between.
Lefkas island, Ligia: N 38 47.395
E 020 43.344
We anchor in 25ft over mud. Went to shore to have a Gyros lunch
ended up with 2 large beers instead of one. Excellent holding over mud and very
good protection from the Maltemi. Not much in town with some basic supplies. Only
24 min to the bridge opening of the Lefkas Channel. In town, there is a small
mini market some bars and taverns in the water front, dingy may be left in an
empty spot at the SW corner of the fishing harbour.
Previsa mainland Greece: N 38 57.976
E 020 45.444
Started out from Legia at 0800 hrs to make the 0900 bridge
opening, we got there a bit early and had to wait pointing towards the bridge,
it was easy as the light breeze did not move us that much as it was behind us.
The bridge opened and everyone started going past it, both north bound and
south bound at the same time, there is enough width to accommodate everyone. We
set a course to the offshore markers marking the buoyed channel into Prevesa. Got
in and slowly inched our way in shallow water without seeing the bottom north
of the harbour, dropped anchor in 8ft of water over sand and mud. Very good
holding and protection all round. It is like you are on a small lake, it is an
easy ride to the harbour, tie your dingy close to the slipway near the fishing
boats and then walk west towards the town. Previsa has a very long waterfront
with restaurants and coffee/bars all along and it also accommodates the marina
complex. Some boats tie up alongside to the very south part of the wall there
was 3 boats there when we visited. It is also a short dingy ride across the
channel if you need fuel or a chandlery.
Provisions are plentiful and the old section has a lot of charm.
Vonista, mainland Greece: N 38 55.434
E 020 54.131
We left early and headed over to the fuel dock at Cleopatra Marin
€1.51/L took in 296.65L.
Then headed the 9 odd nm towards Vonista for a day or two.
Anchored in 16ft over sand and mud, very nice surroundings on the east side of Koukouvista
Island. Lillian I dinged over to the small fishing village on the other side of
the island and walked over to the village a short distance away. Visited the
Venitian Caslte, we came back with anchovies and bread for a very nice lunch.
We decided to stay another day here as it is so peaceful and the scenery is
very relaxing. There is good provisioning in the village and the usual waterfront
restaurants so common in the Greek harbours. You can anchor also in front of
the beach close to the main harbour and you can also find space to med moor
inside if you prefer. For best protection is the anchorage we chose. The
Maltemi do not seem to affect the mainland so much as the islands.
Ullisi Bay, (Two Rock Bay) mainland Greece: N 39 12.607
E 020 29.473
Anchored in his very nice bay with a few beaches scattered around
on the east side and one sandy beach at the head of the bay. Very good
protection from the W to E but open to the south. Good holding over a sand
bottom, we anchored in 16 ft. over crystal clear water. The snorkeling to the
east is super with nice sea urchins and coral growing everywhere. The bay is made
picturesque with the rock formation on the way in from the south. No services ashore except a small kiosk on
the cliff above the sandy beach, keeps a generator running all day till
sunset.
Warning: Mosquitoes by the
thousands came rushing on us in the evening as the sun set, we had a sleepless
night itching. Some bad swell came during the night even though there was no
wind outside.
E 020 07.941
This is the prettiest anchorage we have been to this year, we
anchored in 9 ft. over white sand and crystal clear water, surprised to find
water like this in a closed natural harbor like this. Good protection from most
point except the SE to NE. Very nice old village ashore with many tavernas and
bars also some provisioning and a bakery. Tie your dingy to the waterfront wall
at the village.
Plataria, mainland Greece: N 39 26.878
E 020 16.387
.JPG) |
| Plataria Boat Harbour and waterfront |
Anchored in 15 ft. over muck water looks clean but cannot see the
bottom. We came here because of the predicted force 7 blow from the south
Monday and Tuesday. The harbour is full
with charter fleets and some boats had to anchor out as space is limited. Tie
your dingy in a vacant spot near the NW corner. Bakery and other provisions in
the village, many Tavernas and coffee bars along the waterfront all the way
from the Marina to the South corner of the beach. This is not a good anchorage during the normal weather with the winds blowing from the W to NW.
On the way up here we checked out the anchorages around Sivota Island
but we found them very crowded and the bottom with tall weeds and hardly any
sand patches to drop the anchor over. We motored over the sand bar that is indicates on the charts as 1.9 meters but our depth sounder showed 3 meters.
The
front passed, we had lots of wind from the south plus lightning and thunder but
no waves, some gusting but not to bothersome. This was a very good choice. We really enjoyed this place as it is not crowded with tourists and
traffic is minimal, good provisioning and very nice surroundings. Some beach
bars along the beach made for real relaxing afternoons without the crowds, not
very good for the bar owners though.
Valtos Cove, mainland Greece: N 39 31.280
E 020 10.978
Anchored in
17 ft. over mud and sand, excellent holding and excellent protection from any
weather, Very nice and peaceful surroundings. This is part of the Lygaria
Peninsula There is nothing ashore except some fishing huts and some fishing
boats moored alongside rickety docks. This is an excellent place if you love
nature and to weather out a storm.
Sayiadha,
mainland Greece: N 39 37.530
E 020 10.727
Anchored in
8ft over sand/mud NW of the harbour behind the old mole. Very good holding in
sand and weed. This anchorage is only good in settled weather and should not be
attempted in heavy winds from the SE to NW sector. Not much ashore it is a
sleepy town with some tavernas and a coffee shop at the harbour waterfront. The
harbour can accommodate about 10 keel boats there are no lazy line. Dingy can
be landed near the tavernas. The ferry no longer ties up here as the dock has
collapsed into the water. It now goes behind the harbour.
Paganias,
mainland Greece: N 39 39.589
E 020 05.869
Anchored in
25 ft. over mud/sand mixture in the same place we were a week before, there was
2 other boats with us in the anchorage but still lots of room for others. We
love this place there is a few fish farms on the way in but once you turn south
it is like heaven, with Grey Herons and storks flying and landing with
precision on what seems like weak tree limbs. One fishing boat comes in every
evening and you can go buy fish from them, the captain speaks English as he
lived in the USA for a long time. The swimming is good around the boat but
close to shore you can start seeing the bottom at around 5 foot depths with a
lot sea urchins and pen shells.
Corfu island, Corfu Town: N 39 37.062
E 019
55.474
%2B(360x270).jpg) |
| Corfu Fortress |
Checking in/out:
Note this only applies to
non EU registered boats and Non EU Citizens: Check out is best done at the Corfu Cruise ship terminal you can
walk from the old town Corfu over to the other side or take the #16 bus that
drops you right at the office building where you will find both the customs and
the immigration police who will stamp your passport. You also need to give them
back the Greek cruising log.
Corfu Island, Gouvia: N 39 39.656
E 019 51.256
This morning we moved here as we had a bad night with all the
noise of planes taking off and landing plus traffic nonstop off the coastal
road. This is a much nicer place we anchored in 25 ft over weed bottom anchor
grabbed first time. Went to shore to check out of Greece but it got complicated
because we are non EU Boat and are Non EU citizens. This is a better
place to provision with a large supermarket just a short walk from the marina,
also sail makers and chandleries, one in the marina and one opposite the
supermarket before you get to the main road. Haul out available here with many
boat services available, there is a small supermarket within the marina complex
and is also well stock but the prices are a little higher. Many restaurants on
the main road there is also a Lidle supermarket a short bus ride towards Corfu
town, the bus to Corfu old town is #6 and it cost €1.50. Large marina here if
you prefer to winter or just to spend some time here.
Corfu island, Kalami Bay: N
39 44.603
E
019 56.081
We anchored in 35 ft over sand and weeds, the water is clear and
the surroundings are very nice with a few tavernas ashore plus some
provisioning. The anchorage is not too good and we had a sleepless night with
waves coming in from the channel as ships and ferries passed by. Some load
music from the shore did not help either.
Corfu island, Kassiopi: N
39 47.378
E
019 55.004
We anchored in 15 ft. over weeds, dove to check the anchored but
found it buried under thick weeds. The wind is from the south but still light.
Lillian went to do some provisioning while I stayed on the boat making sure we
do not drag as I am a little suspect about the holding here.
13:00 hrs.
The following wind was not predicted anywhere on any website or
grib files: Dark clouds started forming from the north and the wind veered to
the NE it picked up in strength with white caps that could be seen outside of
the bay, one boat started to drag and was coming on us they re-anchored another
boat started to drag, they picked up anchor and left, we started to drag as the
wind and waves picked up we hoisted anchor and also left during our exist the
rest of the boats dragged and also departed. So out of four boats anchored here
in the small bay in different area all dragged and had to leave. This is not a
place to be in strong winds, there is no sand patches anywhere.
The wind was only up to 18kts when we dragged.
Corfu island, San Stefanio Bay: N
39 45.968
E
019 57.022
.JPG) |
| San Sefanio Bay just beautiful |
Anchored in 30 ft over unknown bottom but grabbed very well. Very
nice surrounding, small bay with minimal space go closer to shore if space
permits. Tie your dingy to a free spot on any of the docks ashore, ask for
permission. A few restaurants ashore but not much else.
Mario Borg
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