Ionian/Croatia

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iona

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We are heading east from the Balearics to Corsica/Sardinia for this summer, but also thinking about our next step..... Shall we go on to the Ionian and Croatia? Not sailed these areas before and now with 3 young children sandy beaches seem to be high up the priority list (plays havoc though with our varnished floorboards!). So any advice please, Ive heard Croatia isn't very sandy but what about the Ionian? Also we are tied to school holidays, any good ideas on where to go in August toavoid the crowds in the Med?
 
Sand? You want sand?

Can't stand the stuff myself but we got plenty of it in the Ionian AND most of the big marinas have swimming pools and kiddies playgrounds full of yet more sand . Croatia is full of it too.
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As to visiting places off the charter run, well I'm not going to tell here otherwise our secret little places WILL GET onto the charter runs but rest assured, there are plenty of places to fit your desires and they're ALL full of sand! Ugh!!

Steve Cronin

I just noticed that the "sand" on the first shot is a little coarse in grain but a little further round from where our friends are standing it's real smooth!
 
You can't go far wrong by investing in Rod Heikell's pilot for those islands. It will give you lots of fun planning the trip.

You'll find a fair few pics of Croatia and the Ionian on my site www.zingano.com too.

You'll love it. Just stay away from the popular places in high season.
 
Just a couple of points to add......

Firstly, for the Adriatic, the Thompsons* write the definitive pilot/cruising guide and for the Ionian, there is much better detail in the Heikell "Ionian"* guide than his all encompassing "Greek Waters Pilot"* Even when buying the latter avoid some of the remaining copies of Edition 8 still in the bookshops. The revisions in #9 are very useful.

*All of these guides are published by Imrays out of St Ives, Cambs. (where there is NO sand).

Steve Cronin
 
IMO the best guide for the Ionian is "Ilias". It contains all charts, plans, weather tips, prevailing winds, general info, nearly everything. The charts are reproduced (with permission) from the Greek Navy ones that are the only that can be relied upon.

This is the one I used when I sailed the Ionian a couple of years ago (and decided to stick to the Aegean) as no mere guide replaces the charts. It is on A3 format, bilingual (Greek/English) and costs about 80 euros.

This a link to a Greek bookstore that sells it (Although the page is in Greek i 'm afraid /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif)

I haven't checked Heikell's Ionian although I use the Greek Waters and I like it, because I assumed that it does not include the charts which I consider a must-have.
 
I strongly agree with Glyka in recommending the "Elias" (or Ilias") series of guides, rather than Rod Heikell's: we have found Elias's books to be much more up-to-date and detailed,mentioning a lot more places, easier to use as you get more information "at a glance". IMHO well worth every Euro!
 
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The Ionian can be very crowded in August with RIBs driven by Italians.

Most of them are a pain in the ar*e to be honest.

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I already said that I'll stick to the Aegean /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

More islands/places and windy enough to be even alone in August in some bays.
 
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More islands/places and windy enough to be even alone in August in some bays.

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Depends if you like your lunch in the cockpit:-

Head in hatchway

Plate in hand

Lettuce blowing away in the wind

Wine all over the cockpit.


After a few days the Meltemi gets a little tiring!

Steve Cronin
 
[ QUOTE ]
After a few days the Meltemi gets a little tiring!


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It depends on:

a. The places you go
b. Your luck

In the long run, there is no comparison. SWMBO, who is no old salt by no means, always pressed to try the Ionian having heard that it is calm. So, after 6 years in the Aegean, we gave it a try. She no more wants to hear about it.

On the other hand, three or four years ago there was "Garbis" (SW) all the time. That was very tiring because everything in the Aegean is made with the Meltemi in mind. Add to this the fact that Garbis creates big seas and that it is not predictable like Meltemi and you find yourself in an unpleasant situation.

For me, the fact that Meltemi is tiring if you don't know how to deal with it, is a blessing. I wouldn't bear the nightmare of an Aegean full of Italians and noisy flottilas...

And, of course, I love having lunch in the cockpit /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
Mine likes it smooth which is why we moved from Kalamaki two years ago. Also when in Kalamaki we got our steering wheel "swapped" by some villain, leaving us his tatty bent one.

As work doesn't allow us to get out to the boat as much as we would like, Athens did enable weekend use courtesy of Stelios but the milk run to Poros and or Aegina was getting too repetitive. We have looked at olympic Yacht yard as an alternative but we'll be staying in the Ionian for a year or two more yet.

Steve Cronin
 
Thanks for all the advice. Where would you leave a boat in the Ionian? We have flights from Exeter to Corfu in the summer so thatmight be favourite. need somewhere cheap and close to an airport. From previous posts have seen Preveza mentioned.
 
Rod Heikell

Didn't write the Adriatic Pilot for Imrays - it was by the Thompsons and is alleged to be inaccurate and out-of-date.

Whilst Rod has his occasional errors (his Pilots are not up to Anne Hammick's revision of Atlantic Spain & Portugal) I would hate for him to be tarred with responsibility for the Adriatic Pilot.

If you're referring to his general Mediterranean Cruising handbook I'd reckon that as being far too general to be of real value/
 
I'm told that it is cheaper at Preveza but we are at Gouvia Marina Corfu and pay around £2500 pa for a 44ft boat. Discounts are available for various memberships.

Didn't fancy the bus ride up to Igoumenitsa from Aktion or the inconvenience of flying from Gatwick. We get to Corfu with Thompsonfly in the summer and Olympic in the winter. I'm going in a couple of weeks to do a few jobs but I'm sure that the boat is safe as it is looked after by a brit Ex-pat who lives on a boat in the marina.

Picture is a bit dark but you can see how secluded we are.
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Re: Rod Heikell

we KNOW Heikell didn't write the adriatic pilot for Imray, but the Ionian islands aren't covered by the adriatic pilot anyway, they're in Imray's Greek Waters pilot, which WAS written by Heikell...
 
But....

..for the Ionian get his "Ionian2 guide. In it's latest edition it has far more detail that the GWP.

Unless you've actually seen it - shut up! because you aren't qualified to comment, are you?

Steve Cronin
 
Hi if u like sand don't go to croatia as there isn't any. But the + points
just done 2.5 years livingaboard sailing from uk to french canals to spain+ islands to italy+islands. Croatia is the best VERY FEW BLUE FLAG W#NKERS!. CHARGE £110 for 10M if u go to busy places £10 to 15 on anchor. But super clear water just outside these areas u can pick an island bring a tent and make it yours for however long u want(1900 isiands have no people).most liveabroads go on to greece etc, but croatia has the best winds i have seen. but the charter lot do mess it up in july/aug. make sure you have 30m line to tie ashore its a must!!!!
 
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