kalkis / chalchis bridge prices

[homer]

Can anyone disambiguate the information on Noonsite. It says that there is a 75% premium to use the bridge on Sundays (elsewhere , it says at weekends!). It also says that the bridge only opens at night - usually about 02:00. So, if I book to go through on a Sunday, I won't actually transit the bridge until the early hours of Monday morning will I have to pay the Sunday premium? Similarly, if I arrive on a Saturday and actually transit in the early hours of Sunday morning, does the premium apply?

 

[Caladh]

Unaware of Sunday premiums. Yes the bridge will open anytime between 0930pm and 4am in the morning. Cost is around 18 euros. Best option is to go thru' on neaps as they can pretty much estimate currents and you normally can transit before midnight.

 

[tennisgirl1]

We last transited in June 2013 and the cost was 18€ for 10.75 metres so cost is not exorbitant. I don't know about extra charges.
Going north you can stay in the marina where staff are very helpful or wait in the anchorage just south of the bridge. Going south you tie up on the very noisy quay just north of the bridge. Last time we were there the marina was offering one free night for boats transiting.
It's useful to take a look at the current in the water and the local boats riding it when you go off to the Port Police office. It's a modern building on the south east side of the bridge but set back in the town slightly. The PP give you instructions about when to expect them to call you up on VHF. It varies quite a bit - we have gone through at 2300 and 2350 and have never had to wait a day.
We like Chalkis - it's a big town and not too touristy.
http://yachtvigdis.wordpress.com

 

[BobnLesley]

OLD, but perhaps still valid?

We last went through in June 2011, in the early hours of a Monday morning and were only charged about €18, however, we were advised that this was a 'special price' as our planned transit had been delayed since the Friday due to a bridge-operators strike and the normal rate for a Sunday - including on in the early hours of Monday morning - was about €30.

I think the discrepancy/confusion (unless I'm now just adding to it?) is that a transit paid for on Friday afternoon and made on Friday night pre or post midnight is at the 'standard' charge, as is one paid for on Saturday afternoon and made prior to midnight. But if a Saturday transit's actually made in the early hours of Sunday morning and any Sunday Transit, whether it's late Sunday evening or after midnight in the early hours of the Monday morning, you're liable to the surcharge?

If you're heading south, it's definitely worth paying the surcharge and going Sunday night: One of my fondest memories from our time in Greece was sitting alongside the Khalkis town-quay, just north of the bridge on both the Saturday and Sunday afternoons/evenings; our eye-level in the cockpit was at 'leg level' with the seemingly never ending parade of attractive and scantily clad young girls promenading up and down the quayside - I reckon that Khalkis definitely has more attractive girls than anywhere else we visited in Greece

 

[Seren]

Unaware of Sunday premiums. Yes the bridge will open anytime between 0930pm and 4am in the morning. Cost is around 18 euros. Best option is to go thru' on neaps as they can pretty much estimate currents and you normally can transit before midnight.

Have tried to locate tide times for early September without luck. Any advice to find out when neaps occur around that time?
Seren resting on buoy in Poros at present with Dekpa unstamped since Ios in June - this following advice that if not asked for by PP then don't offer. As boat papers needed for Chalkis Bridge passage would it be wise to get them stamped up in Poros before departure?

 

[Caladh]

I recall being asked for boat papers but I now understand that your DEKPA only has to be stamped once a year - see other threads for more info.
As for "neaps" look at Moon information (or eve half-moon information on your plotter or other sources.) When you get to Chalkis you'll understand
a bit more about why the traverse through the bridge is somewhat difficult. See our blog here
http://www.victoriashadow.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?id=122 for our cruise up that in 2012. (scroll to the bottom of page 1).

 

[Seren]

Doh! Of course I can work out the Neaps myself from the Moon phases - been in the Med too long! Many thanks Caladh - looks a very good blog.

 

[homer]

Having transited the bridge yesterday, i can now report that the premium of 75% applies if you book on a Sunday - even though you may not actually go through until the small hours of Monday. The fee is 18.77 Euro. (The police station (where you have to pay - unless you are Greek?) is far from obvious. From the bridge, head SE along the alley and it is about 50m on your left.)

 

[Debs15]

We transited the bridge last night, can confirm price is the same. Told we were to be on standby from 10pm as they didnt know when the bridge would open even though sign at the traffic lights to the bridge says bridge closed at 2.30am! Its obvious when the slack water is so dont know why they cant confirm....oops sorry forgot we were in greece for a minute! anyway all went well and moored to the town quay and got help with the lines at 3.30am!
Waited before the bridge on the port authority wall, good spot. Also spent two nights in the yacht harbour, excellent place, sheltered, secure, 5min walk into town, very cheap! €20 for two nights with elect & water, note; even though first night is free, if you go over 12pm on the day you leave then you are charged another day, something they failed to mention, however wasnt going to argue over €8!
Khalkis is a nice town, buzzing bars, nice people, bit rough around the edges but where isnt! Lots of beggars and stray dogs which is sad. Great watching the fisherman riding the tides under the bridge.
So for the journey north now to end at Orei. Any recommends for stops on the way?