Crete close to Chania, winter mooring and guardinage

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DrCS

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Hello,
I just bought my first boat (bav 30) from Lefkas where it is moored currently. I'm looking to move it to a place were I can have easier access to it for weekend sailing geataways over the winter months. Crete seems like a good destination, cheap airlines connecting multiple times per week.

1) Does anyone have any recommendations on were to moor?
2) Are there any options for guardinage?

Searching through these forums and on line revealed no guardinage options.

Any advice appreciated, thanks in advance.
 
Hello,

The only workable year round marina in Crete is Agios Nikolaos, which has a waiting list (as of 2 weeks ago) of 28 boats. It usually gets fully booked for the following winter by Feb. The direct flights to the UK dry up at the end of the season, late October, then you have to fly via Athens.

A note on gardienage: in the 17 years we have been afloat, I have only witnessed one person do it properly. Most give it a good clean a few days before you arrive. Don't waste your money, do it yourself on arrival.

Sorry if this sound like doom and gloom, it's not meant to be, it's just the way it is in our experience.
 
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Thank you Carmel,
I absolutely agree with you regarding guardinage, that's why I came to this forum to ask for some advice.

The boat was only lunched in June, with the vliho yacht club. I was there this summer during a storm and they definitely did something. They had a guard posted during the day to evaluate conditions and the movements of each boat and all their stuff worked on securing any boats. I was away from the boat with my family and they had attached a second lazy line on mine by the time I got back.

I was hoping someone would recommend a similar establishment in Crete. If there isn't one, then I will simply keep the boat at Vliho and just bite the bullet in terms of cost to travel there the couple of times I plan on going in the winter.
 
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Carmel2 said:
You could try Rhodes new marina, others on here will be able to give the low down on the place.
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If last winter was anything to go by, Rhodes new Marina is not a place to leave a boat in the water. See this http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f60/two-boats-sank-in-rhodes-marina-177196.html

The Marina needs a long breakwater building to protect the entrance, and I don't know if one has been built or even planned. I went in to it some years ago because Mandraki was full. That was before it had any pontoons. I anchored and it was fine for one day, and on the second a swell made it untenable.
 
Thank you both for the information,

I talked to a friend who spend some time there last year and he had similar comments to Norman. So thus far the best option it seems is still Vliho. Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated.
-Athos
 
DrCS said:
Thank you both for the information,

I talked to a friend who spend some time there last year and he had similar comments to Norman. So thus far the best option it seems is still Vliho. Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated.
-Athos
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DrCS: to the good advice that's already been given, I'd add that if it's your hope to have occasionally winter weekends actually sailing, the sheltered waters around Vliho are far less intimidating than anywhere around Chania, or most of Crete in general, which couples a large fetch from almost every direction with not much by way of natural shelter.
 
Don't forget that a lot of boats have left Turkey, so there are spaces in nearly all the marinas and deals to be had. I am perfectly happy to keep my boat in YachtMarine in Marmaris.
 
What about Lefkas marina, the winter deal is very reasonable, it's safe and there is a good community over those months. The only issue potentially is the traveling, it would pretty much have to fly to Athens and then coach to Lefkas (unless you hired and drove)

Just another option!
 
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