Ionian overwintering.

[BirvidikBob]

Having done two years of passage making, we thought we'd have a relaxing year of pottering this season, so intend to pop across from Malta to the Ionian and then spend the whole summer blundering around there.

The rough idea at the moment is to then overwinter somewhere in the Ionian and then go through to the cyclades and on to Turkey the next year.

Anybody any experience/knowledge of good spots to overwinter? We intend to spend most of the winter afloat, but to haul the boat for two months, one month of which will be spent in the UK.

Being softies and not proper hairy sailors, we like our comforts in the winter and value a good social milieu as well. So 'leccy, other yotties, and good (cheap) flight connections are on the wanted list. Oh - and we're addicted to wifi in the winter.

Gouvia looks a possibility. As long as it's not too too wet in the winter.

Any ideas/comments?

 

[jimbaerselman]

My website covers most of your questions. Levkas, Vliho (Levkas Island), and Kalamata should also suffice. More details on the site . . .

 

[Tranona]

Gouvia ticks almost all your boxes. Main exception is no direct flights in the winter, but if only one return trip there is a daily bus to Athens (cheap) or daily flights with Olympic and Aegean with connections to UK. Levkas is also a possibility with an all year round community.

Plenty of places to keep you busy sailing on that side of Greece and Croatia for a season and good departure point for going thru the Corinth Canal to the Aegean and on to Turkey.

 

[chrisgee]

Done exactly what you are proposing over the last 3 years --
Malta to Levkas --then a year later Levkas to Fethiye Turkey via a few beautiful Cyclades islands.
Personally I don`t like Gouvia at all --much prefer the newer,cleaner marina at Levkas.There are a few liveboards around during the winter but it`s hardly buzzing! Flights are not so easy during the winter but you can fly to corfu and get down to levkas via ferry and bus in a couple of hours or you can drive from Athens. You could alsp haul in one of the three yards at Preveza --we like Axtio -- lots of brits there getting there boats ready during the winter and a really friendly and helpful guys and girls that run the place.

 

[jimbaerselman]

[ QUOTE ]
good departure point for going thru the Corinth Canal to the Aegean and on to Turkey.

[/ QUOTE ] But if you've got time, the route around the southern Peloponese will be far more interesting . . . you can always return through the canal (in fact, that would be the return route of choice).

 

[mithril]

We wintered in a great marina, loads of yotties, free WiFi, good air links to the UK but a bit pricey. Its to the very very western end of the Ionian, a place called Lagos. Hiya Bob. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[cliffb]

I'm confused. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I thought Lagos was in Portugal.
Is there one in the Ionian as well?? /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[Tiercel]

Hi Bob,

The only reason you are looking for a liveaboard community in the Ionian is to find a group of yotties who have not yet been exposed to your nasty wee pub quizes.

How Ya Doin,

Bob and Gina

 

[affinite]

Barry did say the very very western end of the Ionian - just past Argostoli I think /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[mithril]

Sorry for the confusing reply, you obviously couldn't see that my tongue was firmly pressed into my cheek. Also Bob and Bob both wintered here in Lagos Portugal last year.

Re the quizz nights. Jardim das Dunas has now closed so we have had a few months without quizzes. I believe Terry is starting them at a new venue soon.

BTW I've posted an update on our web site for those who are interested.

Good luck in The Ionian Bob. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[cliffb]

Doh
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif