Cruising Northern Greece

[Caladh]

Having done the Messolongi to Peloponense round trip via the Ionian this year, thoughts are moving towards next year with N Greece a possibility. Anyone been up there recently and can offer feedback and recommendations etc etc I hear that midway up the Evia channel it can be challenging what with the bridge opening only at midnight and strong currents. Plan would be to leave early in May and return in September giving us plenty of time.

 

[donde]

Evia bridge

Went through the Evia Channel last year (2010). The bridge opens some time during the night depending on the current. The bridge is opened when it is slack so no problems. You have to find the harbour office, they will tell you the planned opening time and just before opening they will inform you via VHF that it is time to go. If I remember right you have to pay a modest fee.

 

[KellysEye]

The Halkidiki peninsulars are well worth sailing. It's a beautiful mountainous area with small fishing habours and villages. One thing not to miss is the Mount Athos peninsular with wonderful Monastries along the coast, you can't land and don't sail close to the coast. Being north the winds tend to be light with the odd blow. When we were there we saw only one other yacht but that may have changed.

 

[jimbaerselman]

North Aegean

My site gives reasonable detail for planning a trip through the N Aegean. See jimbsail.info

If you're around London, I'm also giving a talk to the Cruising Association on Wednesday November 2nd evening on "The Eccentricities of Cruising Greece". Details here. Ring 020 7537 2828 to book.

 

[vyv_cox]

We cruised most of the northern Aegean two years ago. Evia was excellent, many very attractive small ports and anchorages. The Sporades were good, quiet by comparison with the Ionian and with spectacular anchorages in the northern islands.

We then sailed north to the Halkidiki 'fingers' but quite honestly it wasn't worth the effort. Getting there from Skopelos was a 50 mile motor and by-passing the Athos peninsula is another passage of well over 50 miles with no possibility of stopping anywhere. There are one or two pleasant places but if I was doing it again I would head east to Limnos from the Sporades and spend time in the islands over that side. Thassos, Samothraki, Lesvos, Limnos, Chios etc have far more to offer than Halkidiki. IMO.

 

[Caladh]

Went through the Evia Channel last year (2010). The bridge opens some time during the night depending on the current. The bridge is opened when it is slack so no problems. You have to find the harbour office, they will tell you the planned opening time and just before opening they will inform you via VHF that it is time to go. If I remember right you have to pay a modest fee.

I suppose there must be anchorages either side of the bridge and then almost certainly we'd be re-anchoring in the dark - not that it's a problem, but forewarned is ....

 

[jimbaerselman]

I suppose there must be anchorages either side of the bridge and then almost certainly we'd be re-anchoring in the dark - not that it's a problem, but forewarned is ....

Quays and berths suitable for waiting both sides.

 

[binch]

N.Argean

The Sporades? Full of bucket and spaders.
Limnos. One of my favourite islands because it has retained its Greekiness.
The fish restaurant there is splendid.
In the town one can get kokoretsi, octopodi,
Thank God the ferries now berth outside the harbour
Round on the south side is Moutros bay. Huge. It took the whole British Med Fleet in the days when we had a navy.
In the entrance you will find four low hills: Yam, Yrroc, Eb and Denmad. Their names reflect the respect of four junior surveyors for their Captain.
We also like Lesvos. Try the harbour of the petrified forest at the western end.
We had a very happy fortnight in the little island harbour of Bozca'ada. Turkish so some bureaucracy but worth it as a fine place to caatch the ferry and go over to Troy and buy some "genuine antique" arrow heads fired by Achilles himself.
We also liked the little Turkish port of Dikili. Scruffy.
While up there go into the Dardanelles.

 

[Chris_Robb]

I suppose there must be anchorages either side of the bridge and then almost certainly we'd be re-anchoring in the dark - not that it's a problem, but forewarned is ....

On the south side you can anchor under the fortress on the left hand side of the bay. The museum in the fortress is newly opened 2011 and is really worth the effort to go and see whilst you wait for the bridge.

Above the bridge, there is plenty of berthing space on the starboard side, just above the bridge. You will be able to walk up during the day, having visited the port police who are now on the Evia side, to inspect where you will moor. Plenty of background light as well.

We gave up waiting this year in June as they were is the midst of strikes etc and decided not to wait for a bridge that might not open.