Is this the clearest water in the med? Paxos photos

I have many shots like that, but must admit I just used something I found on the web!

It actually does the location little justice... beautiful coral walls, huge turtles and rays, friendly sharks... the whole place is just buzzing with life. That particular island has its own covert security force and radar... no one gets close. Makes for a fantastic breeding ground.
 
It's a spawning ground for much of the west pacific. Nestled between Palawan (arguably the most unspoilt part of the Philippines) and the main islands.

There are many ongoing situations between the Philippine "navy" and mainland Chinese fishing boats who have no regard for the protected nature of the sea.
 
Please don't tell everybody - it gets busy enough as it is!

If you want even more spectacular waters stop in the bays on the NE coast of Anti Paxos. The best is called Emerald bay. Only downsides are that tripper boats arrive regulalry to party swim and make noise, and the holding is not good - fine white sand thinly spread over white rock. This does however give the water its stunning colour.
 
Hi blueglass, I have been following your posts and articles with interest. We are in Majorca at the moment but we are thinking about moving on somewhere else. I have heard good things about Corfu and the Ionian. May I ask some questions?
How do you find Gouvia Marina in terms of facilities for maintaining your boat ie. engine mechanics, aircon/fridge specialists, electronics engineers etc?
What about guardiennage? Is that readily available?
How windy does it get particularly during the winter? I've heard it can rain a lot during winter?
What's the price of diesel?
What about winter flights from UK? Are there any direct flights from London in the winter now?
Any major disadvantages you have come across?
 
Deleted User,

I think you would find it very different here after the Balearics. Very laid back cruising, lots of anchorages and free or very cheap harbours. Very few marinas. Next nearest one is about 60 - 70 miles.

Gouvia marina is well run and we have had no problems getting work and maintenance done. We have a private guardiennage guy for the winter who is well connected and seemingly can come up with useful contacts for pretty much anything he can't do himself. The marina do this as well , but more expensive. Several OK restaurants bars etc on site at the marina, also chandlery, car hire and even seaplane tours if you want. More good tavernas in Gouvia village behind the marina, although this area is a bit tatty, in that Greek half finished way.
re wind, so far we have found it much less of a problem than S of F, Italy etc. although of course it does blow at times. prevailing NW wind with most stopovers well shelterd from that direction. Sometimes blows from the south which needs more care. Haven't been here in winter but your info re the rain is correct. Apparently just doesn't know when to stop once it starts. Also no direct flights in winter, you have to go via Athens. Summertime is brilliant, though. We have had great Easyjet prices all this season.
re diesel. last fillup 2 weeks ago was 1.12 Euros/litre

drawbacks? not for us - we love it, but you mention AC which we don't have. a problem with that is that shorepower is a rare find outside the big marinas. If you are looking for sophistication, fine dining, glitzy shops etc, forget it. But if you like down to earth traditional Greek taverna food, quiet anchorages and harbours, stunning scenery etc - I would fully recommend checking it out.

Did you read my article on Corfu in this month's MBY? actually found even nicer places to go this season, although dodging sailing boat flotillas is something of a local sport. For mobos though, usually no problem getting in before them.
Feel free to get back to me if you need any specifics.
Dave
 
Think bluegrass has covered most things about Gouvia. I have been there for over 10 years and it has changed dramatically, particularly in the last 3 years. It is predominantly sailing orientated, despite their being little wind! Mobos are increasing in number, but are still a small minority, at a guess less than 10% by numbers.

Gouvia is trying to reposition itself away from sail and trying to attract bigger boats and particularly Italians. Prices this year have gone up about 40% in sterling terms by euro increase of 8% (and another 8% for next year) and withdrawal of a rebate scheme to get the annual rate. My mooring this year for 11.5m would have been 4800euros or 4200 if I paid upfront in January. This compared with 2800 euros last year. Not surprisingly I have taken my boat out, but the options are not very good and not good at all for Mobos.

With regard to services, I think you will find little related to modern Mobos and their systems, simply because of low demand. I have found Greek tradesmen usually technically good but difficult to tie down. I now have my boat looked after by a Brit who has been there for nearly 30 years and runs his own small charter fleet.

Access to Corfu has improved since Easyjet came on the scene. Daily flight from Gatwick and 3 times a week in the summer from Bristol and Manchester. Charter flights at weekends. Nothing between November and April except through Athens. Very little visiting activity in the winter because it is cold and wet - snow this year! Good liveaboard social scene around Gouvia.

Hope this helps - if you do move it will help the marina management, but not all the people like me who have been p*****d off by their attitude!
 
Tranona, I read your post with some apprehension. That's a whopping increase in the annual mooring fee. We also are 11.5 metres and paid similar fees last year and we come up for renewal in 4 weeks time. I expected an increase but had no idea of the scale. I may well look around for alternatives too - Preveza perhaps? where are you moving to? So, if they remove the rebate for paying up front fora year I wonder if its better to just pay monthly for the summer and then have her lifted out somewhere like Preveza for the winter.
 
Thanks, blueglass. What pisses us off the most about the Balearics (apart from matriculation tax) is the lack of visitor spaces in marinas so you can't go anywhere in the high season and, if you can, mooring charges are very expensive. So the idea of loads of uncrowded anchorages and cheap to visit harbours is v appealing
As for AC, well we have our own gennie so lack of shorepower in visiting ports is not a prob. My main concern is finding somebody responsible enough to look after the boat properly whilst we aren't there and a network of maintenance co's that can competently handle boaty probs. As for lack of fine dining, well, the Balearics isn't exactly fine dining either and SWMBO is best kept away from glitzy shops
Haven't read your MBY article yet but will do
 
Thanks, Tranona. We've had snow in the Balearics more than once since we've been parked there so dodgy winter weather is nothing new. To be honest, it's very rare that we visit our boat between October half term and Easter but the odd sunny winter long weekend would be nice. I'm rather perturbed about rising marina prices as one of the attractions is lower cost. What do you reckon a 15m berth in Gouvia would cost this year?
 
Deleted User Gouvia marina tarrif is here;

http://www.medmarinas.com/MarinaDisplay.asp?ITMID=46

The moorings thing is what will swing it for you. It is up on last year but still way cheaper than solent for example, not sure of Balearics. But that lack of available berths was what drove us out of the S. of F and Italy. it just takes all the freedom out of it.

I wouldn't worry too much about the maintenance thing. In our absence this winter our guardianage guy got the boat antifouled, stern gear cleaned, boat polished, anodes changed, gennie and engines serviced (he got a volvo penta agent on that one.) etc etc. I know he also does electronics, electrics, etc etc. He speaks good English but IS Greek and therefore still a bit manana but he does seem to get the job done.
 
Yes, you will find that you can no longer pay monthly and then get the last 3 months free. So to get the 17% discount you have to pay up front. Then you will find that your payment up to December will be at this year's rate but the Jan-Jun will be automatically at 2010 rate which is I think 8% increase.

There was a mistake in my last post - it should have read £2800 for last year, not euros. I got an average of around 1.30 last year, so if I had continued to pay monthly based on an exchange rate of 1.1 my fees would have been over 40% higher in sterling terms.

Preveza is the obvious alternative and Cleopatra was less than I paid last year. However, access is not so good, the marina is a long way from town and there are arguably less places to visit unless you go south through the Levkas canal.

I have moved the boat to Corfu Boatyard (near the main ferry port) and have it launched and taken round to Gouvia when I need it. Cost 1900 euros for the year including one lift and launch and 200 for each additional lift/launch. Does not suit everyone but a lot of people who use their boats say 2 or 3 times a year in spring and autumn like it.
 
Off the beach at formentera, water just as clear, sandy bottom reflects the sunlight wonderful, like being anchored in a giant swimming pool!
 
lighten up EME Its just just a friendly chinwag. we weren't discussing WHY it was clearer. I have a degree in environmental science and am fully aware of the med's biological shortcomings. Doesn't stop me appreciating the aesthetic appeal.
 
7432 Euros inc VAT less 17% if you pay up front for the year plus a further 5% if you belong to the RYA. When I was there last at the end of May, I heard that next year increase is 8%.

If you are looking long term and you like the place they are selling 15 year leases at a good discount. Triangle Berth Brokers on the Hamble are the agents.
 
Symphony a Bavaria 37 Always looks lost in a sea of similar charter boats - was a charter boat but now retired.
 
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