cruising greece

[duncanb]

I'm planning a bareboat cruise out of Kalimaki around the Peloponese Sept 16-22 with Exas Yachts. Any tips for a first time bareboater, and advice on places to visit and weather I can expect (hot and breezy is the hope) would be mightily appreciated.

 

[sailbadthesinner]

Welcome
niot sure about that particular area of greece is that on Zakynthos?
but my experience around greece has been extensive but my tips are

1 Weather

Winds normally light in morning building for exciting afternoon sails Can be generally NE in afternoon, otherwise it is normally from where you are heading to. Katabatic winds also possible at night in narrow bays.

There are local forecasts, the info will be in the stuff you get with the yacht. I have found the radio forecasts worth listening to They once predicted a storm to the hour off Paros, was mighty glad we set of to be in on time as all hell broke loose.


other stuff.

Take lots of stong high factor suncream and a hat and use both. Standing on one tack for an hour at the helm can burn v quickly in first few days. There is nowhere to hide, esp if you donot like being below in the heat when boat is moving.

Provision with as much as you can when you can. Bottles of water and heavy non perishables should be stacked up on when it is convenient to get them from point of purchase to the boat. provisioning in the heat walking with bags is not fun. do take the time to venture in shore to see the local villages if you find somewhere out of the way.

Buy perishables at different stages of ripeness if you can, to extend your span between shops.

If you take ice packs for cool bags. for a modest fee some bar owners will freeze them over night for you to pick up next day. This means they can be used in conjunction with ice box to cool stuff where you donot want ice melting. taking a collapsible cool bag and packs can extend your possibilities too. the quality of notas ice boxes varies out there, some are really good and need a morning and evening top up on power to keep them cool, some need ice added, which is messier.

Read the pilots. They give good hints if not definitive in all cases of where to go and how to approach.

my other advice would be if it has been a while since you went on a boat
take your time, donot rush off to the first deserted bay, find a quiet empty pontoon from where you get the boat and practice coming bows/stern to at least five times. it will get the crew and you up to speed without ruining someonelse' gelcoat.
NB bows to can be better in some harbours as the greeks can dump rocks in front of walls so if wind gets up stern too you can bash your rudder. Pilot book will give advice.

finally have a great time


...It was like that when i found it!