D
Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
Thanks again Hardmy. Sorry about your dad. I trust it hasn't put him off boating?
Cruise Reports The Greek Ionian - cruise report with lots of pics
- Thread starter Hardmy
- Start date
MapisM
Well-known member
Is it a firm plan then, B? I'm sure you won't regret the choice.
Not longer than a week ago, myself and S drove all the way from Trapani (W tip of Sicily) to Salerno, following the old coastal road, and I can confirm you that also the area further S from Amalfi (known as "Cilento" coast) is fan-bloody-tastic, with some breathtaking landscapes.
It's a good thing that we were there during a few days of pretty rough sea, which helped not regretting too much being there by car rather than by boat...
Oh, and +1 for Hardmy Dad, of course!
BartW
Well-known member
I'm about to send our planning to different guests for booking their flight tickets,
plan so far:
beginning june : sail BA to Monopoly (to discuss some work there with that yard remember)
1the week july: me and E sail to Sicily
2nd week guests get onboard in Catania, and sail via Eoli and Stromboli islands towards Amalfi.
rest of the summer with our kids and different guests, discover Amalfi and Naples region
in autumn will sail the boat to a yard for some major work (new gunwales and new teak)
might be in Monopoly, unless a better alternative comes along.
by the way P, do you know a good oem teak supplier in Italy
one of these small but experienced family businesses ?
excuse me V for TD,
but I need MapisM to start thinking about this, and make a list of the highlights I should visit on our trip to Amalfi,
I'll make a new thread for that.
MapisM
Well-known member
Copy that, I'll start thinking, till you'll post the specific thread. :encouragement:
oceanfroggie
Well-known member
Thank you Hardmy for such a superb series of cruise reports. Absolutely stunning and highly informative as well as entertaining (despite your fathers misfortune). I trust he made a full recovery. Top class cruise reports like yours make this forum worth while.
Hardmy
Member
Thanks for the kind words guys! Dad is close to full recovery, he is only not allowed to ski this season. Looking forward reading your reports as well
Vas, maybe the “boys” of Igoumenitsa or Patras should carry out a similar job in the Ionian. Several people complained about this, but nothing happened yet.
Trundlebug, yes we passed several times next to Scorpios but the new owners laid out buoys in order to prevent yachts approaching yet alone allowing anchoring there. It is of course completely illegal, but the CG is not willing to take action. Locals see the new owners positively because they offer jobs and money to the local community. Will try to unearth some pics of this island, but TBH I didn’t found it too spectacular.
Deleted User, fortunately the event didn’t put him off boating. But not sure whether my parents will take the boat alone anymore. They always felt that the boat was a bit too big for them to handle alone. Their previous experience was riding the bowrider on the lake and they never fully get theirs’s act together with the bigger boat. Especially with close quarter maneuvering. Maybe am I a bad teacher? Of course, my wife and I cannot always drive them around so I might need to find a driver or skipper whoever to help them. The idea is to use the boat as much as possible, and we won’t achieve this if only SWMBO and I are taking her out, and my brother is tied up in other projects right now so I might end being the only user :-/
Bart, sound like a fantastic plan! Please keep us updated, and we want a cruise report! Should you be shorthanded for the Kotor-Monopoli leg, you might have an additional deckhand at your disposal…
Will put together a next instalment asap. Thanks for reading.
Vas, maybe the “boys” of Igoumenitsa or Patras should carry out a similar job in the Ionian. Several people complained about this, but nothing happened yet.
Trundlebug, yes we passed several times next to Scorpios but the new owners laid out buoys in order to prevent yachts approaching yet alone allowing anchoring there. It is of course completely illegal, but the CG is not willing to take action. Locals see the new owners positively because they offer jobs and money to the local community. Will try to unearth some pics of this island, but TBH I didn’t found it too spectacular.
Deleted User, fortunately the event didn’t put him off boating. But not sure whether my parents will take the boat alone anymore. They always felt that the boat was a bit too big for them to handle alone. Their previous experience was riding the bowrider on the lake and they never fully get theirs’s act together with the bigger boat. Especially with close quarter maneuvering. Maybe am I a bad teacher? Of course, my wife and I cannot always drive them around so I might need to find a driver or skipper whoever to help them. The idea is to use the boat as much as possible, and we won’t achieve this if only SWMBO and I are taking her out, and my brother is tied up in other projects right now so I might end being the only user :-/
Bart, sound like a fantastic plan! Please keep us updated, and we want a cruise report! Should you be shorthanded for the Kotor-Monopoli leg, you might have an additional deckhand at your disposal…
Will put together a next instalment asap. Thanks for reading.
jfm
Well-known member
Hardmy, thanks for posting this great story - I'm loving it! Great pictures (you need a drone though, right?). My brother wants to cruise this area in 2018. Glad your father is ok (and can operate an x-ray machine!)
Hurricane
Well-known member
I've not yet posted on this thread.
But I AM reading it with great interest.
This is the area of the Med that I, personally, favour.
I have a long term plan to carry out a "Three year mission to seek out new civilisations... etc" of more eastern areas of the Med.
Maybe starting sometime around the end of 2018.
To this end, SWMBO and I will be flying out to selected places later this year.
Lefkas, Corfu and various places Italy are on the list.
So, I have found this thread absolutely fascinating.
But I AM reading it with great interest.
This is the area of the Med that I, personally, favour.
I have a long term plan to carry out a "Three year mission to seek out new civilisations... etc" of more eastern areas of the Med.
Maybe starting sometime around the end of 2018.
To this end, SWMBO and I will be flying out to selected places later this year.
Lefkas, Corfu and various places Italy are on the list.
So, I have found this thread absolutely fascinating.
MrB
Well-known member
Great post, very enjoyable read. :encouragement:
Hardmy
Member
Sorry for being slow with finishing this report. Quite some travelling for work those last weeks (I've been enough in London this year!). Thanks for the nice words, also for my dad. Yes, I definitively need a drone this year! To all of you thinking about cruising this area, feel free to ask questions.
After having left Nydri, we spent the last part SWMBO and I only. Porto Leone on Kalamos island. The great ionian earthquake in 1953 destroyed the village, only the church remains in activity.
A lot of fish waiting for bread.
Maybe someone can enlighten me. What are those guys fishing? This diver seems to collect items from the seabed and puts them in a sack which is being pulled by the fishing boat when it becomes full:
Next day we swam around the lovely island of Formikoula:
The islet has a beacon, but I wasn’t able to reach it. The vegetation was just too thick (I was wearing a swimsuit only). Tried from the southern bay:
as well from the northern bay, with no success. This bay is not suitable for anchoring the mother boat, too many rocks:
Next stop, Kastos which is much less hilly than Kalamos. There is no traffic on the island and one single path following the N-S ridge. The view towards E and the mainland.
On the other side of the ridge towards W, Kalamos island.
We thought that we were in a very secluded place, when suddenly this overloaded ferry wanted to dock. But a SY were in their way. Poor guys got really honked/shouted at. The trucks unloaded their load of sand, and it all became serene again.
We could have stayed much longer, but all good things must come to an end so we returned to Preveza and lifted the tub out of the water for the winter. Some of you may wonder why she doesn’t stay in the water for winter?
There are only two marinas in the Ionian which are safe enough for winter. Gouvia Marina in Corfu and Levkas Marina. All other places are either unorganized, need some local supervision or are simply dangerous during the winter. Then, there are no direct flights to the Ionian from N-Europe outside of the season. The domestic connections from Athens to Corfu are very scarce whereas Preveza closes completely. Such a shame! Being on the dry, gives also peace of mind for owners of old boats like mine (no risk of osmosis). It makes also maintenance planning much easier. My guy can carry out their jobs whenever they want.
What is funny in this yard, is this osmosis between goats, donkeys, dogs all leaving peacefully together. Some find this ménagerie ridiculous but seems the yard owner likes it, me too!
After having left Nydri, we spent the last part SWMBO and I only. Porto Leone on Kalamos island. The great ionian earthquake in 1953 destroyed the village, only the church remains in activity.
A lot of fish waiting for bread.
Maybe someone can enlighten me. What are those guys fishing? This diver seems to collect items from the seabed and puts them in a sack which is being pulled by the fishing boat when it becomes full:
Next day we swam around the lovely island of Formikoula:
The islet has a beacon, but I wasn’t able to reach it. The vegetation was just too thick (I was wearing a swimsuit only). Tried from the southern bay:
as well from the northern bay, with no success. This bay is not suitable for anchoring the mother boat, too many rocks:
Next stop, Kastos which is much less hilly than Kalamos. There is no traffic on the island and one single path following the N-S ridge. The view towards E and the mainland.
On the other side of the ridge towards W, Kalamos island.
We thought that we were in a very secluded place, when suddenly this overloaded ferry wanted to dock. But a SY were in their way. Poor guys got really honked/shouted at. The trucks unloaded their load of sand, and it all became serene again.
We could have stayed much longer, but all good things must come to an end so we returned to Preveza and lifted the tub out of the water for the winter. Some of you may wonder why she doesn’t stay in the water for winter?
There are only two marinas in the Ionian which are safe enough for winter. Gouvia Marina in Corfu and Levkas Marina. All other places are either unorganized, need some local supervision or are simply dangerous during the winter. Then, there are no direct flights to the Ionian from N-Europe outside of the season. The domestic connections from Athens to Corfu are very scarce whereas Preveza closes completely. Such a shame! Being on the dry, gives also peace of mind for owners of old boats like mine (no risk of osmosis). It makes also maintenance planning much easier. My guy can carry out their jobs whenever they want.
What is funny in this yard, is this osmosis between goats, donkeys, dogs all leaving peacefully together. Some find this ménagerie ridiculous but seems the yard owner likes it, me too!
Bouba
Well-known member
Beautiful pictures. Sounds like a sponge diver
Hardmy
Member
Et pour la fin, an overview of the trip in fall 2016:
Find also below a couple of people with whom I had good experience (I prefer this, than than naming the bad guys):
- Aktio Marina, a dry-dock yard in Preveza. At first sight all three yards (3600 boats altogether!) seem to propose the same tariffs. But Aktio will not screw you up later, and more importantly they let your own contractors work on your boat. In other places, you are obliged to engage people linked to the yard, and the quality is not always there. Have a close look how they propping your boat though.
- Pantelis Lolis (Energy Systems Lolis). A/C, electronics and electrics. He organized also the refurbishment of my rudder stocks, change seals of my Benett trim tab, etc. He’s very high in demand, but as soon as he gets on your boat he’ll do excellent work. Especially in electrics.
- Simon Trippier (Syvota Yacht Services). Very reliable CAT engineer. Fitted also new tides seals, seacocks and so on.
- Revoil fuel man (the petrol station on the main road south of Vlycho / ( +30 2645 095150 / Mob: +30 6977088175, +30 6932309530). Recommended by a friend living in Vlycho. I also witnessed this fuel man delivering fuel to all tourist boats in Nydri. Hence no worries with quality and old fuel. I refueled there many times with Revoil xtra4 revolution which is supposed not having any bio in it.
I was in Preveza two week-end ago. Locals said it was a strong winter with temperatures below 0. Hence, a couple of boats which did not drain their water system or did not add antifreeze in the engine coolant have had damages. Luckily, Simon is always wintering the engines he's looking after!
Anyway, March seems to be the right moment to start the season. What a shame that the boat was on the dry!
But where is the custard???
But the comité d’accueil was there.
They are really curious, like reconnoitre the WCs. One was standing guard outside, then they exchanged roles. Really funny!
With this final pic, I give you rendez-vous for the coming season!
I hope I’ll find the time to post 2015 with Corfu&co one day. We’ll see. Anyway, thanks for reading so far!
Find also below a couple of people with whom I had good experience (I prefer this, than than naming the bad guys):
- Aktio Marina, a dry-dock yard in Preveza. At first sight all three yards (3600 boats altogether!) seem to propose the same tariffs. But Aktio will not screw you up later, and more importantly they let your own contractors work on your boat. In other places, you are obliged to engage people linked to the yard, and the quality is not always there. Have a close look how they propping your boat though.
- Pantelis Lolis (Energy Systems Lolis). A/C, electronics and electrics. He organized also the refurbishment of my rudder stocks, change seals of my Benett trim tab, etc. He’s very high in demand, but as soon as he gets on your boat he’ll do excellent work. Especially in electrics.
- Simon Trippier (Syvota Yacht Services). Very reliable CAT engineer. Fitted also new tides seals, seacocks and so on.
- Revoil fuel man (the petrol station on the main road south of Vlycho / ( +30 2645 095150 / Mob: +30 6977088175, +30 6932309530). Recommended by a friend living in Vlycho. I also witnessed this fuel man delivering fuel to all tourist boats in Nydri. Hence no worries with quality and old fuel. I refueled there many times with Revoil xtra4 revolution which is supposed not having any bio in it.
I was in Preveza two week-end ago. Locals said it was a strong winter with temperatures below 0. Hence, a couple of boats which did not drain their water system or did not add antifreeze in the engine coolant have had damages. Luckily, Simon is always wintering the engines he's looking after!
Anyway, March seems to be the right moment to start the season. What a shame that the boat was on the dry!
But where is the custard???
But the comité d’accueil was there.
They are really curious, like reconnoitre the WCs. One was standing guard outside, then they exchanged roles. Really funny!
With this final pic, I give you rendez-vous for the coming season!
I hope I’ll find the time to post 2015 with Corfu&co one day. We’ll see. Anyway, thanks for reading so far!
MrB
Well-known member
I loved reading this account of your travels, superb. Thanks for taking the time to share. :encouragement:
Hooligan
Well-known member
The great thing about these threads is for those of us planning to go and visit new places. Even a few years later! Obviously things somewhat disrupted at the moment, to say the least, but your trip is exactly our plan this summer if able. So really interesting and will be fascinating to see how it has changed. Great thread.
Hardmy
Member
Oh, I forgot this one! Nice souvenirs coming back, but sad that many pics disapeared.
In the Ionian things did not evolve in a positive way, I'm afraid. What I heared from friends still in the area is that it was packed even in the Corona year 2020. Just too many boats, too many flotillas. With what boat and in which month do you plan your cruise?
We did an incursion in the Aegean in 2017 then relocated the boat in the S-Peloponnese and since last year we are based in the Dodecanese. The central Aegean became our new playground. It's more rough, more windy, more challenging but we love it.
Flax
New member
Great post, thanks for sharing. Brings back some great memories, chartered via Sunsail in Vounaki a few times back in the early 00’s to introduce my girlfriend to boats (better than the cold river Shannon!) found the Ionian area fantastic.
