Corinth canal turn left, right or straight on?

[affinite]

Autumn is just about here and I'm already suffering from withdrawl symptons so Im planning next years Greek cruising. We had a few great years in the Ionian followed by last couple of years in Montenegro & Croatia but we are now turning our sights to the East ...

At the end of May I intend to transit the Corinth canal and will need to leave the boat somewhere in the Saronic gulf (or maybee east coast of pelaponese) for a couple of months before moving on for the summer cruise.

Q1 - Anyone recommend anywhere within 3-4 days sailing of the eastern end of the Corinth canal where I can leave the boat for 6-8 weeks. I guess Im looking for a cheap marina berth (yep I know) as I dont want to simply anchor in a bay leave someone with the keys. (as per Vliho on Lefkas)

Q2 - then, where next ? Our summer cruise will be 3-4 weeks.

Background - we sail shorthanded, dont like too much wind, (F3-5 up the pushpit is just fine for us) Will do night sails if reqd but prefer day sails. We DO like calm anchorages or town quays with pretty villages/tavernas. We DONT like marinas & MOBO wash. (Looking fwd to Saronic)

Looking left - The Mama Mia Islands are of interest but is there anything else in the Sporades other than Skopelos and Skiathos and are they worth visiting ?

If we turn right what can we expect? Is the Pelaponese as good as Jim says ?? Is Crete as limited an option as Im led to believe?

Finallly, The straight on option ... The sick ladies sounds nice and the 1st Officer wants to see Santorini but the old Meltemi will at full strength in Jul/Aug and we might be better aiming for a spring visit to that region. Is it as bad as Sir Rod suggests it can be ? (We have experienced a couple of Boras in Croatia and are prepared to give respect where its due but is the effect of MELTEMI is a little overstated ??

At the end of our 3-4 weeks I will need somewhere to drag the old girl ashore for the winter

(Oh and somewhere to store the boat)

Any suggestions recomendations gladly received

 

[anderson]

sailing onto crete

be carfull about this island ,once you get on its not easy to get off.

 

[jhr]

Looking left - The Mama Mia Islands are of interest but is there anything else in the Sporades other than Skopelos and Skiathos and are they worth visiting ?

We spent a couple of weeks on a flotilla holiday in the Sporades and had an excellent time. To be honest, we left Skiathos as soon as we could and didn't come back until the end of the holiday, to return the boat. The town is Party Central, though shops and supplies are easily sourced. Mooring is a bit of a problem as a number of charter/flotilla companies have more or less carved up the space in the harbour between them, erm, allegedly....

Skopelos has several worthwhile places to visit, including Panormos, and Skopelos Town itself (though beware, the approaches are dangerous in any kind of a blow, particularly from the North, and once in you can get stuck for several days). Alonissos is delightful, with Patitiri a particularly nice little town but uncomfortable in any kind of a blow, Steni Vala a pretty but popular destination, and a couple of desolate but picturesque anchorages on Peristeri were well worth a visit.

Pelagos, to the North, was beautiful and deserted. We didn't get to Skyros but a couple of other crews did, and enjoyed themselves. The sail back was apparently a particular blast, with F5-6 up the chuff

As a general observation, you'll be mostly in the lee of the islands, which gives you good sailing winds with relatively flat seas. The acceleration zones between the islands can make things interesting at times. The further north you go, the more "Greek" the islands become and the less tourism there is. It is, however, a popular area for Flotillas, and small, tranquil destinations can quickly seem over-run when 10 or 12 boats come in - but you'll know all this if you've sailed in the Ionian.

I loved it, and I want to go back some time.

More gibberish - and some pics - from me on this thread.

 

[jimbaerselman]

Errm. Slightly radical suggestion.

Spring trip go south along the west Peloponese. Park in Pylos marina (not operational, €4 a day if they bother). Or, further round in Kalamata marina - usual marina prices, regular buses to Athens (4hr) or local weekend charter flights if you're lucky.

Then make your summer trip around the Peloponese, possibly extending your trip to Mylos if you're got a bit of time to spare. Plenty of characterful stops en route with few yachts around. Then North via Monemvassia (wind astern from there), several stops en route to Navplion. Saronic is pretty crowded in August. Don't even think of going into Hydra town by boat.

Leave boat on mooring in Porto Heli (scrubby place, bit of a trek to Athens) or Methana (2m max depth, very cheap) if you're staying afloat. Aegina if you're pulling out (not Asprakis. He keeps changing his mind about 'agreed prices').

If you insist on the canal, the Sporades is a lot of trecking to get there, rather than cruising for the summer. You'd leave the boat at Volos probably - or in the yard in the SE of Volos bay.

A circular Cyclades trip is great. Do a clockwise. You may have to hole up for three days if the wind goes F7 or over. Thyra would be a bit far south - climbing back up wind is a bore, and it sure gets bumpy at times. If you're over 34ft, not prone to seasickness, and don't mind 8 hours to windward in a F6, fair enough. Do it. Otherwise do a closer Cyclades trip. Down thru Kea etc, trun right for Mylos, go back north along the Pelops coast with the wind behind you.

I envy you the trip. Great cruising.

 

[vyv_cox]

This August the meltemi rarely let up throughout the month. We spent a week in Mikonos, quick dash to Siros, three days there, then ten days in Loutra on Kithnos, followed by four days at Sand Bar Bay on the west side of the same island. Throughout this period the wind was mostly F7, with big seas. As soon as we managed to get away back to Poros we were in ideal sailing conditions again.

Last year we went through the canal at end July, then headed south. It was never too crowded, although as Jim says Hydra is almost impossible. Poros is busy but there is plenty of space. The further south we went the quieter it got. Winds were almost always reasonable and mostly astern as we went south.

Leaving the boat may be problematical. Methana was packed full this year in September and most other places rely on anchoring stern-to. Anchoring in Kilada may well be your best bet, there is a reliable man at the yard there who does gardienage. Holding in the bay is excellent and it is well sheltered.

 

[steveallan]

You could try Messolongh, www.messolonghimarina.com New marina being built, good shelter faily cheap about 100 miles west of the canal.

 

[vyv_cox]

You could try Messolongh, www.messolonghimarina.com New marina being built, good shelter faily cheap about 100 miles west of the canal.

Mesalonghi is looking quite good, we called in there last week for a chat with the owner. Electricity was turned on the day we were there and water is already available at all berths. Progress is to plan, so it should be complete by end 2010. Unfortunately it is at the wrong side of the Corinth Canal for the OP.

 

[KellysEye]

In our experience the Pelopponnes can get seriously windy. Three low pressure tracks meet there and it's why Sunsail closed their base there. But it is quiet and pretty.

If you want to get off the beaten track pass the Sporades and head up to the Halikdiki peninsulars. Quiet, small fishing villages, Mount Athos and the monastries, a wonderful area. Winds are fairly light (winds tend to be less in the north Aegaen and more in the south). You will see very few yachts compared to other areas

 

[vyv_cox]

.If you want to get off the beaten track pass the Sporades and head up to the Halikdiki peninsulars. Quiet, small fishing villages, Mount Athos and the monastries, a wonderful area. Winds are fairly light (winds tend to be less in the north Aegaen and more in the south). You will see very few yachts compared to other areas

But very few facilities for yachts. We spent several weeks there this summer. Difficult to get water and gas. Berths extremely limited in most ports. Neilsen have based a flotilla there this year for the first time and they seemed to anchor far more than they were able to get against a wall. The Akti peninsula is just a big barrier, 50 miles right round, no ports and no women allowed within a mile of it! The middle finger is OK and very nice on the NE part but it's a very long way to go for this small pleasure. I wouldn't go again. But then, it just depends what you are looking for.

 

[Onyva]

Levkas is excellent & staff very keen. Crete is a fantastic island and has an excellent marina on the east coast (Ayos Nikalaos). Spent a month there a couple of years ago and flew back a few weeks ago due to withdrawal symptons.....

 

[KellysEye]

> But then, it just depends what you are looking for.

Exactly. We loved it and the fact there were few berths was a plus to us. There are so many pretty places to anchor. We didn't have trouble getting water, it was available wherever there were fishing boats. Didn't need gas.

Obviously you are not allowed to land on the Athos peninsular but we sailed down the west side to see all the monastries perched on cliffs - awesome.

 

[pelissima]

They r watching u

> But then, it just depends what you are looking for.

Exactly. We loved it and the fact there were few berths was a plus to us. There are so many pretty places to anchor. We didn't have trouble getting water, it was available wherever there were fishing boats. Didn't need gas.

Obviously you are not allowed to land on the Athos peninsular but we sailed down the west side to see all the monastries perched on cliffs - awesome.

Actually you are not allowed closer than 500m. Two years ago we also sailed down (motored) the west side and SWMBO was cooking and sweating, coming out occasionally for fresh air and sightseeing. I complained to her to present only her head and not the full body and small bikini but of course she would not listen. At a certain point we sailed closer that the allowed 500m and then a fast patrol boat appeared, requested papers etc and insisted to write a report. I offered beers and suggested I move well clear and them to forget the incident.
'Well, I cannot my friend' he said, 'So far I have received 40 calls from monks who are watching you with their binos'

 

[affinite]

Gnatsis - sorry to correct you but I suspect the monks werent watching you !
Vyv - you covered some ground this summer ! - Thx for the feedback

Thanks for all replies - all useful opinions but still cant decide though. I guess thats what the winter is for ...