Advice on leaving Greece

affinite

affinite

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We are moving on to Croatia later this year after 3 very happy years in the Ionian. We will be going via Corfu(Gouvia), Italy and Montenegro and Im interested in peoples experiences/advice on 2 questions.

When I leave Corfu, should I go to Port Police/customs and sign out of the country officially, hand in my cruising log etc or should I just quietly slip away.

Secondly, if the advice is to exit "officialy", would I get away with checking out in Gouvia and then spending a day in a quiet bay on one of the islands north of corfu before an overnight crossing to Brindisi. I think the official line is that I should leave the country directly having checked out. (Wife doesnt fancy beating to windward during afternoon Meltemi - in case you are wondering why the night crossing)
Any advice gratefully received
Thanks
Steve
 
I assume you're UK flag. Book out of Gouvia, telling them your next destination is (presumably) Albania or Italy - wherever. They'll stamp your 60 entry DEKRA, hand it back to you, and they won't expect to see you again until you book back into Greece in a couple of years time . . . if at all . . . when (current practice) your DEKRA will still be valid.

Don't forget Q flags and immigration when you're entering any EU port from a non-EU country!
 
MMMM- I thought this was going to be a posting on 'how to cut the ties after so many years'.

If it were me I would just go and if you go back, pretend its your first time.

The less you have to bother the port police the happier they will be. They don't want to know really. Would you?

I didn't have a DAKPA and only paid harbour dues once [Paxos] "as I was under 10 meters".
 
Agree with JimB: check out correctly with the Port Police. You don't have to hand in your 'transit log' or DEKRA (or whatever it is called nowadays). You keep it and you can use it again if you return to Greece.

Furthermore, you do not have to leave 'immy'. You officially have 24 hours to leave after having checked out, but if you stretch that hanging at anchor in a nice bay; who would be checking that out? Take your time and select the correct window to leave regardless of officialdom.
 
If you went to the trouble of getting a transit log then you may as well go to the port police at Gouvia and get it stamped that way you will have no problems coming back if you want to as far as staying on one of the islands up north this is allowed if you are on anchor and even if you do get stopped you will still have your up to date transit log.
 
We did the trip twice last year Corfu Montenegro Croatia and this year Montenegro Corfu. We did check out the second time we left Greece as we were new we would be away for a season. When I arrived back this March we went over to the port and had the book stamped but they were not really interested.

One word of warning. Once we sailed direct to Dubrovnik from Montenegro due to the prevailing winds. We were in trouble with the authorities they said we should have stopped at Cavtat and were going to fine us but quick thinking me said we came direct from Italy and out side their territorial waters it seemed to satisfy them.
 
If you leave Gouvia early morning after checking out you will be motoring north thro the Corfu channel till the afternoon northwesterlies pick up. You will then tack all afternoon and arrive off Erikoussa in time to anchor in the south bay for sundowners. Unless there are southerlies when you might as well continue overnight to Brindisi.
With the prevailing maestral the second day's beat on stbd tack will bring you to Otranto in time for dinner at anchor below the fortifications. Beating up to Brindisi the next day is a long slog so start early (or take a day off). You will still be sailing into the huge Brindisi outer harbour in the dark and continue right in to the town where you can tie up at the end of the Appian Way!
Then daysail up the Italian coast, as far as Monopoli or Vieste b4 crossing the Adriatic again on port tack this time to bring you to Montenegro.
I'll see you there in late July.
Mind you I suspect that nowadays it's feasible to close haul up the Albanian coast from Corfu to Montenegro. Would be a long haul if you don't want to stop in Albania!!
Thnx mocruisin for the tip about Cavtat, I was indeed going to leave it out on the way back!
 
Thanks all. I Must admit I thought you had to give up the DEKRA but if you dont then I'll just stamp out as suggested. I am thinking of motoring overnight to Otranto as my wife isnt too keen on a hard beat to windward.
Mo - I was aware of the need to go via Cavtat from Monty - (we wanted to check out Cavtat as an airport pickup for friends anyway) but thanks for the tip. BTW anyone who has watched "Distant Shores" on TV will be aware of the Shards getting fined for not promptly checking in with Croatian customs - so I am aware that they are quite zealous.
 
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