Flares in Greece ?

[affinite]

No not a fashion question ...
My offshore flares are now (ahem) a little out of date. Im interested to know what flares people carry as a matter of course in the Med/Greece and does anyone know of a stockist near Messolonghi/Patras ?
I called into Paleros Chandlers in Lefkas a couple of weeks ago but they said they had to order them in.
Does that mean that not many are sold, or is it a Greek H&S issue re storage?

I meant to ask the Messy liveaboards when we were holed up there for a week (courtesy of a certain Icelandic Volvano) last week but got so exited by the opening of the new toilet block I clean forgot.

Oh and is there such a thing as flare disposal facilities in Greece?
I suspect anyone who knows Greek attitude to waste disposal will laugh out loud at that but before I send the old flares to Davy Jones I though Id ask ...
Thanks

 

[Davy_S]

You should be able to buy flares from the Chandlers, (not the Pirate ones) I bought hand held Reds, Parachute Reds and Orange smoke, no probs. Cannot help in the location you require though, also, check expiry dates Carefully!

Disposal? your avin a larf, but you could take them here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwYrPhLBvz8

 

[rtchina]

Real flare pistols are available, and much safer.

 

[grumpygit]

Real flare pistols are available, and much safer.

I am led to believe that one should have a firearms certificate for such a pistol ?

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[KellysEye]

RORC requirements are: 4 red parachute rockets, 4 red hand held, 4 white collision hand held flares and 2 orange smoke hand flares. Although I seem to remember that it was two large orange smokes not handheld. We have the big orange smokes.

A large group of us recently let off out of date flares. None over five years worked and one rocket exploded in someone's hand.

 

[Ariadne]

You didn't try asking in the chandlers near St Spiridons church (the church on the round about, about 5-10 min's walk from the marina)?

As for disposal, just do what the Greeks do; let them fly whenever there is a party or excuse to do so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[rtchina]

I am led to believe that one should have a firearms certificate for such a pistol ?

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Seems not. You need a licence to transport the flare pistol in the UK, but since they are legal in most countries, on the boat in the Med they would not be a problem.

 

[jimbaerselman]

Oh and is there such a thing as flare disposal facilities in Greece?

Yes. Easter Sunday midnight. Whenever the Greek team wins a soccer match. Local weddings. Usually accompanied by shot gun fire and thunderflashes.

One Easter Sunday my flares were ripped by a thunderflash. That disposed of them. I still have the scar on my leg. Shows my age . . .

And if by 'flare pistol' anyone means a Very Pistol, yes, in most countries they are classified as firearms, must be declared to customs, and kept in locked cupboards.

 

[affinite]

Must try harder

Thanks all
Must admit I did forget to try the chandlers near St Spiridons church in Messy. Back in a few weeks so I'll try then.

Re Easter in Greece, I've often wondered about the chances of a flare used in a genuine emergency being noticed on Easter Saturday, Sunday.

Incidentally, we were in Vathi on Megannissi a couple of years back when a firework let off on Easter Sat night burnt a house down, so that isnt my prefered disposal method.