How to get an annual berth in greece in a municipial harbour?

[billskip]

There was a guy Bobt , aka rboss, aka somat else, casandra? possibly, of this parish, had a Jeanneau 44 sun legend?
Good bloke is Bob, He and a greek guy that had a taverna on Poros put trots down in the Poros channel or that area I think.Anyways I think if you could locate Bob, he may give you a starter for 10.
It really would help if we knew the island you are going to be on.

 

[Davy_S]

Yes you are right, i remember him as Bob.

 

[Dellquay13]

I got a berth in Greece the informal way, through making friends with locals who asked around for me, but it was a different world in 2000, it was a remote NE Aegean island off the beaten track and it was only a Dory that was berthed amongst the fishing boats and their drying nets.
The port policeman drank in a bar where I went occasionally. I used to say good evening and smile. He always seemed to be interested in something else when he saw me by the harbour. I guess he liked an easy life not dealing with a little red flagged pleasure boat.
It was the town harbour not a marina, and because it wasn’t completed (and still isn’t to this day) I think nobody had to pay any dues in the 10 years I was there.

 

[dgadee]

A lot of EU money went into building Greek harbours. Most of them seemed to fill up with small fishing motor boats. You could stand at the edge and look down to see how much depth they had - plenty for cruising boats. I think the idea was to get money into the local economies, but without harbour masters the purpose was never met. We also came across some totally empty marinas which were never completed:

 

[Dellquay13]

According to the latest edition of Rod Heikell’s Greek pilot, there is now a water tap on the harbour, but not connected yet. That’s new since I left in 2010

 

[Irish Rover]

Quite a few of the town quays in the Aegean are being given to local agents to run, and it's a disaster. The nearest port of entry to us is Pythagorio on Samos, and that's now being managed by an agency. The fees have skyrocketed and they've banned anchoring in the bay, forcing you to take a berth just for check-in or check-out. Many of these agents also handle for the charter flotillas, so guess who gets priority .

 

[Dellquay13]

Quite a few of the town quays in the Aegean are being given to local agents to run, and it's a disaster. The nearest port of entry to us is Pythagorio on Samos, and that's now being managed by an agency. The fees have skyrocketed and they've banned anchoring in the bay, forcing you to take a berth just for check-in or check-out. Many of these agents also handle for the charter flotillas, so guess who gets priority .

I’m chartering a local Bav38 this summer, to visit old friends again. I’ll be checking with them for any changes beforehand, but I think things are still the same as before on Thassos and Samothraki.
The nearest flotilla is way over in Thessaloniki, so few yachts other than weekend locals from Kavala frequent these parts

 

[dunedin]

.....
It really would help if we knew the island you are going to be on.

And the size / type of boat.
Much easier to fly below the radar with a 5m open dory than a 12m deep keel yacht.

 

[Dellquay13]

And the size / type of boat.
Much easier to fly below the radar with a 5m open dory than a 12m deep keel yacht.

Not very much under the radar when said 4m Dory is flying past at 30knots. It’s quite a big white roosters tail of spray that follows a boat like that

 

[billskip]

Not very much under the radar when said 4m Dory is flying past at 30knots. It’s quite a big white roosters tail of spray that follows a boat like that

Also, it's ok "doin a deal" with someone but the problem is its not the same someone that may happen to be on duty on the someone's day off...or the patrol boat that may asked for details....

 

[Dellquay13]

Also, it's ok "doin a deal" with someone but the problem is its not the same someone that may happen to be on duty on the someone's day off...or the patrol boat that may asked for details....

Like I said, it was a different world back in 2001. Greece didn’t have EU technocrats poking their noses into everyone’s disdain for paperwork
The only done deal was friends asking the fishermen (who they’d known for generations) which spaces were empty (plenty). The Port Policeman vaguely knew of me, that I spoke hilariously bad Greek, knew my local friends (for generations), that I had insurance, a red ensign and ICC, and looked the other way.

 

[billskip]

Like I said, it was a different world back in 2001. Greece didn’t have EU technocrats poking their noses into everyone’s disdain for paperwork
The only done deal was friends asking the fishermen (who they’d known for generations) which spaces were empty (plenty). The Port Policeman vaguely knew of me, that I spoke hilariously bad Greek, knew my local friends (for generations), that I had insurance, a red ensign and ICC, and looked the other way.

I remember it well.....

 

[dunedin]

Not very much under the radar when said 4m Dory is flying past at 30knots. It’s quite a big white roosters tail of spray that follows a boat like that

You must had a different view of “dory” from mine, like a heavy and slow Dell Quay Dory.

 

[Dellquay13]

You must had a different view of “dory” from mine, like a heavy and slow Dell Quay Dory.

It was a 1970s Dell Quay dory 13’, with a 40hp short shaft for the low transom

 

[billskip]

It was a 1970s Dell Quay dory 13’, with a 40hp short shaft for the low transom

Very desirable in the 70's,a must have runabout..

 

[Dellquay13]

Very desirable in the 70's,a must have runabout..

Very much fun as a high speed lilo. A 30kt shoebox lid that would crack your spine slamming in the slightest chop

 

[ylop]

Surely the thing about any unofficial "friendship" based route to jumping the queue is that it would be a local arrangement with local "policies". I'd have thought that speaking Greek would be a distinct advantage; having anything except a Greek flag on your transom would stand out (when you want to be inconspicuous). One harbour master might be friendlier than another. One might have a genuine queue of locals who will angrily object to anyone jumping the queue.

 

[billskip]

Surely the thing about any unofficial "friendship" based route to jumping the queue is that it would be a local arrangement with local "policies". I'd have thought that speaking Greek would be a distinct advantage; having anything except a Greek flag on your transom would stand out (when you want to be inconspicuous). One harbour master might be friendlier than another. One might have a genuine queue of locals who will angrily object to anyone jumping the queue.

Even back in the days 25yrs ago, there was always the occasional thorough check and inspection, we got to know when the official checks were happening and moved to another port for a couple of days, I got stopped once by the CG and had a 4hour grilling and told to report to the office in the next port, as it happens the boss in the next port was a friend , but even he said it'll be difficult to swing this one...well he did and I kept clean after that.

 

[spudnukem]

Oh, I am sorry. I will immediately delete my account. I have not been made aware that ybw is only for UK citizens.

1000% Stay! The clue is in the last letter of YBW...

 

[DangerousPirate]

Well it's definitely who you know not what you know, also I think priority is given to Greek flagged boats, is yours Greek flag?

And the size / type of boat.
Much easier to fly below the radar with a 5m open dory than a 12m deep keel yacht.

Surely the thing about any unofficial "friendship" based route to jumping the queue is that it would be a local arrangement with local "policies". I'd have thought that speaking Greek would be a distinct advantage; having anything except a Greek flag on your transom would stand out (when you want to be inconspicuous). One harbour master might be friendlier than another. One might have a genuine queue of locals who will angrily object to anyone jumping the queue.

Well, when I make my move to greece, I will get a greek flag on the transom. Currently it's british, because I am in the UK and have been for a number of years, but once I go over there, the boat won't be under british flag. I'll arrive with the greek flag. Greek though, well, I will have to learn when I am there. I don't remember much besides Ouzo, Souvlfaki, Esfaristo and Kalimera/Kalispera haha

My boat is Maxi 95 (9.5m or 32ft) with a 1.6m draught.

I am buying the house on Aegina, which of course would be the best option to keep the boat, but I have looked around the area. Only one thing to consider is the commute from Aegina to the boat if it's anywhere else but on the island. I have looked at Poros, and even though the direct ferry only goes like once a day in high season and once a week in low season, you can always take a ferry to Piraeus and from Piraeus to Poros every day.

Other places I considered were Methana, Agistri and Nea Epivadros. But those places are difficult to reach from the island, the commute would be annoying.

So when it was said to make friends with the local trades, I thought of that boatyard on the north of Aegina. I have not actually been myself, but I kept reading about it.

From what I know, there is the port of Aegina in the west, and "Agia Marina" in th east. The latter seems to be a private Marina, probably more expensive. But I couldn't find out the pricing anywhere. I only find that hotel there.