Cant believe there is no nice spots in greece

[Artic Warrior]

Hi all, ive been in Turkey for a few years now and want to sail slowely through the greek islands, ive seen some of it, but not much, and want to take the next few years seeing it.
Ive asked people i know and i keep recieving mixed messages, they didnt like greece that much they say,,,I cant believe that there is no where nice to see there...
Come on there must be,
I became all deflated hearing their comments and that they prefered Turkey,
Im all set up well for good anchoring, and dont go into marinas if i can help it.
Im hoping that you guys and gals are going to reasure me about this.
I google earth places i want to go and it all looks fine and dandy to me,

Waiting in anticipation,

Colin,

 

[charles_reed]

Lots - can be cheap and Greeks are very friendly.

Avoid the Ionian, overcrowded, expensive and suffering tourist blight and all popular holiday destinations.

 

[binch]

Greece

Have been cruising Greek islands and Turkey since 1954, and only stopped last year due to age.
Both Greece and Turkey have changed character. Turkey was wonderful before any of their marinas were built, so was Greece. The difference is that Turkey did market research and set up marina management quite well. Greece has built marinas but, by and large, they are badly and often rudely mismanaged.
Having said that, go in Greece as far away from the blasted flotillas and Sunsail as you can get.
On the whole the Ionian is overcrowded with grockles, the tavernas do little but pork chop and chips, and the private yacht is often pushed to one side by arrogant flotilla leaders.
Islands we have enjoyed:-
Limnos. Lesbos. Xios. Oinoussa. Paxos. Paros. Ios. Minos. Serifos. Andros. Siros. Skyros. Elaphanisos. Kithera. Agios Evstratios.
The deep bays at the southern end of the Peloponnessos have some nice harbours and good places to anchor.
I also enjoy the Gulf of Corinth which is not so much used by grockles. There are some nice little harbours and anchorages.
Kala Taxidi

 

[jimbaerselman]

Extract from jimbsail.info/drupal/mediterranean/turkey

The coastline, around 3,000 miles, is deeply indented in the south west, and includes areas rich with small anchorages. These are very popular and become crowded with boats and Gülets (large Turkish tour boats). Marina facilities, many excellent, dot the coasts just a day sail apart. New ones spring up every year. Some justify international prices, as do an increasing number of hotels and restaurants. Chartering is well developed. However, escaping the crowds is always possible, especially for those prepared to cruise further afield. Going east of Antalya, or north of Ceşme, will show an older take on Turkey, little affected by tourism and with few visiting yachts. For those with 4 weeks or so in hand, a cruise first along the Turkish coast, then returning through the Greek offshore islands (or vica versa), is a rewarding experience of contrasts. There are plenty of ports of entry which must be used when entering or leaving the country. Entry and exit bureaucracy takes time. Entry costs around €50, plus about the same amount if you use an agent to do the footwork - €100 all together. . Agents do save time. See Rules and Regulations, Turkey for the full story.

Followed by detailed pages reached through the right menu. Now, if you agree or disagree with the descriptions given there, that'll tell you how much to trust the greek pages:

Meanwhile, extract from jimbsail.info/drupal/mediterranean/greece :

With thousands of miles of deeply indented coastlines and over sixty islands (ranging from the primitive to the height of sophistication) Greek cruising offers enormous variety. Sailing is easy, though some areas have challenging winds. No passages need to be longer than 70nm, the water is warm. Only two places have significant tidal streams, and fog is unlikely to affect more than half a day through the whole summer. Most areas are rich with ports and anchorages, so it’s easy to see why the Inland Ionian and the region around Athens have become very popular. Both are crowded with yacht traffic in peak season, as hectic as parts of the western Mediterranean, but much cheaper, since there are few marinas. Even in popular regions it's still possible to escape the crowds, and away from these regions there are relatively few yachts. All together, Greece has one of the world’s great cruising areas, one which would take years to explore thoroughly. It is a great shame that the regulations for visiting yachts are unclear, poorly explained and inconsistently applied.

 

[SHUG]

Having sailed extensively in both Turkey and Greece , what I would say is you can't generalise about either. Wherever you sail you can have good and bad experiences and the blanket remarks about the Ionian and Greek food by Binch are really pretty sad. I note that his "occupation" is "being grumpy about youth". Now that is really sad.
Of course it's all changed since 1954 but judge by today's standards and you can have a great time if you stop muttering "things aint what they used to be".
Flotilla yachtsmen are just trying to do the same as you....enjoy the experience and ...rude flotilla leaders... haven't met one yet.They are presumably selected for their good "people skills" Perhaps you have to be rude first!!
Jim has always given a balanced view and I have found his notes very useful and relevant.

 

[little_roundtop]

I became all deflated hearing their comments and that they prefered Turkey,

There is a lesson on the validity of statistical samples in here somewhere. Of course if you ask a bunch of yachties in Turkey whether they prefer Turkey or Greece you're likely to get an overwhelming vote for Turkey - otherwise they wouldn't be there!

Don't listen to these doom-sayers, of course there are some fabulous places in Greece, otherwise we'd all be in Turkey as well. We have spent time cruising both Greece and Turkey and we're now in Greece and likely to stay here too. What does that tell you?

Anyway, it's your views that count (for you anyway) so come on over and make your own mind up.

Tony C.

 

[r_h]

In my opinion, the Aegean islands are one of the world's best sailing areas, especially if you can happily cope with a degree of self sufficiency without ready access to boat yards, chandlers and full-service marinas.

 

[Davy_S]

Having said that, go in Greece as far away from the blasted flotillas and Sunsail as you can get.
On the whole the Ionian is overcrowded with grockles, the tavernas do little but pork chop and chips, and the private yacht is often pushed to one side by arrogant flotilla leaders.

I find your flippant remark quite sad really, you are obviously not very willing to search beyond the tourist traps, it's your loss. Unfortunately (or fortunately)though, the Ionian is nowhere near as crowded as it used to be, sign of the times, as for arrogant flotilla leaders, of course there are the odd one you have unfortunately encountered, you cannot surely condemn them all on that basis, they have been known to help yachtsmen!

 

[vyv_cox]

I find your flippant remark quite sad really, you are obviously not very willing to search beyond the tourist traps, it's your loss. Unfortunately (or fortunately)though, the Ionian is nowhere near as crowded as it used to be, sign of the times, as for arrogant flotilla leaders, of course there are the odd one you have unfortunately encountered, you cannot surely condemn them all on that basis, they have been known to help yachtsmen!

Fully agree, there is excellent cruising in the Ionian, very quiet if you want it. Even in August it is possible to anchor for days without seeing many others. Avoid places described in Heikell's pilot as lonely, deserted, remote, and you will find plenty of emptiness. The Aegean is less busy with plenty of challenges and enjoyment.

 

[nickf]

Ive asked people i know and i keep recieving mixed messages, they didnt like greece that much they say,,,I cant believe that there is no where nice to see there...
Come on there must be,


Colin,

Nope - you wont like it - stay in Turkey!!

 

[Mr Cassandra]

I find your flippant remark quite sad really, you are obviously not very willing to search beyond the tourist traps, it's your loss. Unfortunately (or fortunately)though, the Ionian is nowhere near as crowded as it used to be, sign of the times, as for arrogant flotilla leaders, of course there are the odd one you have unfortunately encountered, you cannot surely condemn them all on that basis, they have been known to help yachtsmen!

Fantastic

I find your remarks about Binch hilarious, I think you will find his name is Bill Cooper of "Sell up and sail" fame
On the other hand, if his bloody books were not so successful ,there would be nobody here to pi$$ us off

 

[Appleyard]

Recommend that the OP gets a copy of "Greek island guide" written by Nicholas Elias (sp?) .
It is expensive but a much better guide than Heikell as it goes places that he omits,and also includes the charts ,so is good value for money.

PS whats a Grockle?

 

[lenseman]

. . . . Ive asked people i know and i keep recieving mixed messages, they didnt like greece that much they say,,,I cant believe that there is no where nice to see there...
Come on there must be, . . . . . .

Nah, don't bother, TERRIBLE place, stay in Turkey and I'll go and try and make Greece nice for you.

ps: just kidding

 

[Artic Warrior]

:0)

Cheers everyone,,,,
Its ok regarding the flotillas,,,,
Im a steel 46footer ,,,so plastic floatilas tend to steer away from me,,hee hee...Hello to you Binch ,,as i think your a bit of a legend.
Sorry to hear your retired,,Im 40 so have a few years yet.

Greece Here i come

 

[grumpygit]

Recommend that the OP gets a copy of "Greek island guide" written by Nicholas Elias (sp?) .
It is expensive but a much better guide than Heikell as it goes places that he omits,and also includes the charts ,so is good value for money.

PS whats a Grockle?

++++1 . . . . . a foreign invading tourist on holiday and spoiling the place(s) for the locals, (and liveaboards) !

-

 

[Appleyard]

++++1 . . . . . a foreign invading tourist on holiday and spoiling the place(s) for the locals, (and liveaboards) !

-

Hmm.

 

[mocruising]

We have spent the past four seasons cruising the Ionian, Gulf's of Patras and Corrinth and the Pelloponese. There are some wonderful places esp. in the Pelloponese, quiet unspoilt away from the traps. For a change we are heading to Turkey in April perhaps we should meet up and swap stories over a glass.

 

[Davy_S]

Fantastic

I find your remarks about Binch hilarious, I think you will find his name is Bill Cooper of "Sell up and sail" fame
On the other hand, if his bloody books were not so successful ,there would be nobody here to pi$$ us off

I am well aware who Bill Cooper and his good lady are! As you can see i do not fear voicing my opinion if I think they are wrong, and unjustified. The world is full of so called celebrities, it does not make a damning statement right does it.

 

[SHUG]

re: comments about binch

This seems to be case where you should judge a book by its cover.

"Sell up and Sail and Moan"

 

[jimbaerselman]

PS whats a Grockle?

Someone who carries a Grockle box . . .