Gouvia Marina, Corfu, winter liveaboard

[Pasarell]

I will retire at the end of October and have bought a Moody 44 that is currently ashore in Preveza. I plan to launch her early November and spend the winter in Gouvia Marina before cruising for the summer next year in the Ionian.
Is Gouvia a good option for living aboard? There will be 3 of us living on board, wife, young son and myself. The boat is in good condition but there are bound to be jobs I want to do as well as getting to know it properly. I know it's low season but will I be able to source any bits I want in Corfu? Do many people winter aboard in Gouvia?
Any suggestions or advice gratefully received.

 

[jonrarit]

Our first season in Gouvia (not liveaboard though) G pontoon is very popular with ex pats and I think liveaboards too. Very friendly helpful bunch of people & recommended if you get a choice of berths.

Say Hi if we're on board..... "Mr Fox" (G11)

Jonathan

 

[duncan99210]

Gouvia is a large marina (1200 plus berths) and there aren't many liveaboards based there. Therefore, they tend to be spread about somewhat and it's difficult to get much of a community thing going. In addition, there's quite a large expat community based in the area (mainly land based) which tends to be a bit difficult to break into. There's quiz nights at the Beer Bucket and any significant sporting event will be on the TV there, so it's it as if it's dead but compared to other places we've over wintered, it's behind the curve.

As regards work on the boat and getting bits, then there are several chandlers either in the marina or just outside it. Orders from Athens usually take four or five days to arrive and prices are reasonable. There's sailmakers, engine fixers etc etc so most things can be done.

Lift outs are expensive! Cheaper to take the boat to one of the Preveza yards to lift and they'll let you stay on board on the hard: Gouvia currently forbids this, so you have to factor in accommodation into the already high lift out charges.

Electricity and water are included in the price but the water isn't drinkable (foul taste), so you have to get it from metered taps if you want potable water. Not expensive, just need to be aware of it!

Good AB supermarket on the main road outside the marina which stocks all you need on a day to day basis, which is a good job as the local businesses in Kontokali and Gouvia villages shut down en masse for the winter in mid October. Corfu town is a twenty minute bus ride away with busses every twenty minutes or so.

If you need more info, try trolling through the blog entries for 2010/11 which is when we were there for the winter. Been back several times since as its a good spot for land based family to join for a holiday.

 

[SamanthaTabs]

Fully agree with everything on the previous post. We spent the month of June there out of which I was nigh on 3 weeks alone whilst the Boss was away. Speaking to the semi permanent ex-pats (working on boats, charter etc) and another couple who spent their winter there for extensive repairs, it's not a place of the usual liveaboard community. A few "get togethers" happen but infrequently. Making local friends in the little village of Kontakali and at the small gym (just outside the north exit) they confirm that many restaurants etc close for the winter. Depending on the age of your youngster, there truly isn't much in the form of entertainment for the little one and certainly wouldn't be children for your child to socialise with unless enrolling in the small village school. The marina is so big it felt, to me, rather impersonal.

 

[macd]

I've spent some time in Gouvia (but not over winter) and have wintered in Levkas. The latter is smaller, more intimate, and right in a town which continues to bustle through the darker months. There's something of a liveaboard community there, although smaller than it once was. I'd suggest you visit both places before making up your mind. Both are part of the same group, with similar prices. 'Sourcing bits' is generally straightforward in both. (And even carriage from the UK can be reasonable, although this varies enormously between suppliers. Levkas usually counts as mainland Greece; not sure about Corfu.)

Flying to the UK is easier from Corfu, as you probably already know.

The Preveza yards are definitely not a place to spend a winter aboard: like a ghost down from December to Feb, inclusive. I've wintered across the water in Preveza town harbour. It's OK, but I wouldn't particularly recommend it (unless cheapness is an overriding concern.)

 

[Tony Cross]

We've only wintered once there (2005/6) and can certainly agree with the lack of a marina community. We found the local ex-pat community to be very friendly however and were welcomed in. Gouvia is a bus ride away from Corfu town, Kontokali, the community outside the marina, is tiny but with a good AB supermarket. Gouvia itself is a short walk away but is mostly closed in the winter. On top of all that, Peter's excellent chandlery there has closed.

The real problem we had with Gouvia though is the weather. It's cold (we needed heating almost all winter) and it's wet. Very wet. Monsoon wet.

 

[macd]

The real problem we had with Gouvia though is the weather. It's cold (we needed heating almost all winter) and it's wet. Very wet. Monsoon wet.

+1
But without the leeches. (Unless the new cruising duty comes to pass?)

 

[Pasarell]

Thanks for all the comments. I'm beginning to wonder if Lefkas might be a better bet for the winter now. I was thinking of Corfu mainly for the airport as I will probably have to make 2 or 3 short trips during the winter (when my retirement falls apart!) but I suppose the bus to Athens does not add too much time to a Middle or Far East trip. I've been to both places before, even out of season, but not for long enough to understand weather properly. Will it be much drier in Lefkas?
I had a couple of days checking the boat out in April prior to purchase and my next sight of it will be in November. Can't wait for the next few months to go by in the heat of Abu Dhabi and get to the cool Greek weather! Rain will be nice to see, for a few days, but I think the novelty will wear off pretty quickly!

 

[Carmel2]

On top of all that, Peter's excellent chandlery there has closed.

That is a shame, even though we have only passed through the place, he was extremely helpful on both occasions.

 

[nimbusgb]

Get a heater ( or two ), when the wind blows off the snow covered mountains in Albania it can be bitter. ( get an East facing berth if you can. Keeps that friggin breeze out of the boat. )

 

[macd]

Will it be much drier in Lefkas?

Not much.