Ayios Nikolaos, Crete as a winter berth for 2015

[Chief Charlie]

We are looking for advice on Ayios Nikolaos in Crete as a location to over winter afloat next year (We are presently in Ragusa).

Is there a reader out there with experience of this port over the winter months who is willing to share their knowledge?

 

[Tony Cross]

Yes there is - me. We've wintered there (here actually) for 9 years. I was PMd recently by another YBW poster asking the same question and this was my response (with personal identifying bits removed):

We've wintered (and spent a few summers too) in Agios Nikolaos Marina for 9 years now, so we know it pretty well. If you go to http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/25934908/Crete%20Pilot.pdf you can download my pilot for Crete. AFAIK it's the most comprehensive and complete pilot for the island, it's also free so please give it away to anyone who would like a copy. That will help a lot I think, it certainly will when you come down here.

On the plus side, the marina is relatively cheap, there is a 2015 price list on their website at http://www.marinaofaghiosnikolaos.gr/. You'll get a 5% discont on those prices for booking for six months and 8% for booking for a year. Also, if you're over 12m LOA and you book for a year you'll get an additional 7% discount (to help offset the new boat tax that's not even implemented yet). It's all there in the small print.

Each boat gets two bow-lines and the spacing between boats is typically enough that you're not rubbing against the boats next door. They have 24-hour marineros (of course) a 65-ton travel hoist and good toilets and showers, though we could use a few more.

The town is right outside the marina and it stays open all winter. There are usually 8 or 10 boats here with people aboard all winter and another half-dozen where people go home for Christmas and the New Year. So we have a fairly active social life, I lead the weekly hill walks (at least I will next winter when my broken hip has recovered), we have a regular Sunday BBQ, several group meals out, and anything else that anyone cares to organise.

On the negative side it's often quite windy here. Typically from the N or NW at around F5, in mid-winter these winds are cold. When we get southerly winds, which we do several times in winter, they are strong (F6 and above) and gusty because of an acceleration zone (a valley) nearby, these winds are warm however. None of the strong winds do any damage but they do blow the boats around (especially the strong southerlies) and that can be annoying and uncomfortable.

Temperature-wise the coldest we get here is around 6deg C but it's only that cold on a handful of days. January and February are the wet months, typically it will rain for two or three days and then we'll get a couple of sunny days. We don't get the constant grey days you get in the UK. That said, we had snow on the pontoons for a day recently, the first time we've seen that in 9 years. The cold temperatures lasted only four days though and it then climbed to a sunny 16deg C.

The only major negative issue here is the occasional surge (or scend) inside the marina. These happen when the winds are N or NE and strong in the Aegean. They blow a wall of water into Mirabello Bay which is funnel-shaped so the swell builds as it gets into the end of the bay (where the marina is located). There are three underwater holes in the outer wall to "ventilate" the marina and the strong swell pumps in through these holes causing the surge inside. All boats here use large metal springs in their shore-lines to take the shock loads off the cleats and in a surge boats move around quite a lot, especially in a fore-aft direction, the sudden stop as the lines tighten can be very annoying, especially at night. That said they rarely do any damage to boats, those that do suffer minor damage are usually moored with their lines too slack. As I've said, this is our ninth winter here and if these surges were a real problem we wouldn't be here (nor would the four or five others boats that winter here year after year). We generally only get four or five of these surges during a winter and only one or two are really bad, even those are mostly uncomfortable and annoying. The worst we've had is stern lines parting, though they were old and that was during the worst storm to hit Crete in 50 years (in 2011).

If you do want to winter here then booking is essential and they will want a 30% deposit (refundable under certain circumstances - see the booking conditions).

 

[RichardS]

But check out my post 18! :encouragement:

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?418163-Weather-where-you-are

Richard

 

[Tony Cross]

But check out my post 18! :encouragement:

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?418163-Weather-where-you-are

Richard

Well I did mention we had snow on the pontoons recently.

This is a cold year it seems, the locals tell us that they get a cold year every 11 years (I wonder if that's sunspot related?). When all that's said, Crete is the most southerly of the Greek islands, the most southerly point in Europe is the southern cape of Nisis Gavdos, just a few miles south of Crete. So you can expect (and we generally get) the mildest winter climate in Europe, it's certainly the mildest in Greece.

 

[rivonia]

Hi Tony, whats this about a fractured Hip/ Hope that you and yours are well

 

[Tony Cross]

Hi Tony, whats this about a fractured Hip/ Hope that you and yours are well

Yes, I'm fine thanks. I broke the ball in my femur last Wednesday when I tripped up the curb and fell on my left hip. I now have three long screws right down the length of the head of my femur holding the two halves together. All looks good I just have a fairly long road to full mobility again....

 

[Carmel2]

Get well soon Tony.

Cheers
Nicky and Paul

 

[rivonia]

Yes, I'm fine thanks. I broke the ball in my femur last Wednesday when I tripped up the curb and fell on my left hip. I now have three long screws right down the length of the head of my femur holding the two halves together. All looks good I just have a fairly long road to full mobility again....

Dear me, sorry to hear that. Go well old friend and DO take it easy. I know that will be hard for you as you are so active ....But needs must.

Peter

 

[Tony Cross]

Thanks for the good wishes guys.

Sorry for the thread hijack....