Lefkas approach from the north

[youp]

Coming weekend Nimbus2000 will be launched at Cleopatra and after 11 months will finally touch the water again. Cleopatra claims that the floating pontoons are out of order so off we will go to Lefkas to get the boat ready for a tour around the Pelop. Anybody approached Lefkas recently? I recall from last year that works were going on in the basin north of the bridge. Wonder how this turned out? Anybody an update? Thanks for any reactions from the Netherlands. Youp

 

[AndrewB]

I crossed the bridge by car last week and it seemed to be working normally. Can't tell you where the best line of approach now lies, or how the works are progressing, but clearly you can get through from the north.

 

[macd]

Youp: I know the entrance well, but that means nothing with all the changes. I hope there is some informed local guidance, but the situation seems so fluid because of the continued dredging and groundworks that there might not be. We crept in after passage from Sicily late last October, with someone conning at the bow and another glued to the depth sounder. It felt distinctly odd going right over the old spit on the chartplotter. The least depth we found was around 4m.

If you can't get anything more definitive, my advice would be to pick a day with conditions which allow you to creep in slowly. And don't go too far south towards the mainland shore: that was where yachts ran aground in the old days, and I doubt that area has seen any dredging. If you can find out when the dredgers have a day off, the water will be clearer: it was fairly murky when we passed through.

 

[Bitterend]

Youp: I know the entrance well, but that means nothing with all the changes. I hope there is some informed local guidance, but the situation seems so fluid because of the continued dredging and groundworks that there might not be. We crept in after passage from Sicily late last October, with someone conning at the bow and another glued to the depth sounder. It felt distinctly odd going right over the old spit on the chartplotter. The least depth we found was around 4m.

If you can't get anything more definitive, my advice would be to pick a day with conditions which allow you to creep in slowly. And don't go too far south towards the mainland shore: that was where yachts ran aground in the old days, and I doubt that area has seen any dredging. If you can find out when the dredgers have a day off, the water will be clearer: it was fairly murky when we passed through.

 

[Bitterend]

Informed local guidance is probably best given by the manager or deputy manager of Lefkas marina.

 

[Mr Cassandra]

Informed local guidance is probably best given by the manager or deputy manager of Lefkas marina.

Unless its change since I was last there "2000" you have to enter from the North to get to talk to the deputy...lol

 

[overstag]

Hi Youp,
If you find out next weekend, could you post your experience here please?
I will be going the other way somewhere 26-28 april.
Bedankt!

 

[macd]

Informed local guidance is probably best given by the manager or deputy manager of Lefkas marina.

I wouldn't be so sure of that, but no harm trying. I'd be very doubtful, anyway, if they'd be able to offer anything as useful as transits or waypoints: the best would probably be "keep this way a bit then that way..."

 

[nimbusgb]

In 10 years or more the best way in has always been as close to the sand spit as you dare with an eye on the sounder and the throttle as low as you can. With the sand 4 or 5 metres away the depth is usually 3.5m+.

I'd rather touch the sand than the concrete and rocks on the South side of the entrance. The blocks were apparently buoyed and moved last year, or was it the year before, but no way do I want to find them.

 

[macd]

In 10 years or more the best way...

The sand spit is no more, Nimbus, nor the dredging crane. Lots of changes -- hence the OP's concern, and my earlier comment that "It felt distinctly odd going right over the old spit on the chartplotter".

 

[jonrarit]

Hi Macd

Is it buoyed at all at the moment?

Last time I entered from the north it was blowing a good 25 knots from the north so it was proper buttock-clenching stuff being that close to a lee shore...... that was bad enough .... don't fancy repeating the exercise if it's all changed and no buoys

jonathan

 

[sailaboutvic]

Best advise so far , was to keep your eye on the depth sounder , last time we went tho last yea r there wasn't any problem with depth , keeping close to the north side of the spit is good advise , keeping away from The red bouys is good advise too . All the problem I know of is because boat have got too close to the port bouys

 

[macd]

Hi Macd

Is it buoyed at all at the moment?

Hi. I can't speak for the present: as said I last went through in late October when the approach and entry was unrecognisable from previous years. I was rather hoping someone with current knowledge would post on this thread. IIRC there were a few of the old port-hand buoys in place, but I never went near them, anyway; there was nothing to starboard, which is the side that's been changed (and as far as I know is still changing).

If no solid up-to-the-minute info appears, I'd advocate an approach in light airs, preferably when the dredgers aren't stirring up silt. In fact in those conditions the ultra-cautious approach would be to anchor off (holding is excellent) and recce by tender.

Surely someone wintering in Levkas Marina has info?

 

[macd]

Best advise so far , was to keep your eye on the depth sounder , last time we went tho last yea r there wasn't any problem with depth , keeping close to the north side of the spit is good advise , keeping away from The red bouys is good advise too . All the problem I know of is because boat have got too close to the port bouys

Greetings, Vic. Yes, keeping away from the south side was and is good policy. But I suspect you wouldn't believe just how much has changed. The spit was well on the way to being removed entirely last Autumn, and they were still at it.

 

[KellysEye]

>to get the boat ready for a tour around the Pelop

Bear in mind three depression tracks meet at the Peloppenese Sunsail shut thier base there after six months, so keep a close eye on the weather, we have sailed there.

 

[youp]

Will do Overstag!

 

[jimbaerselman]

>to get the boat ready for a tour around the Pelop

Bear in mind three depression tracks meet at the Peloppenese Sunsail shut thier base there after six months, so keep a close eye on the weather, we have sailed there.

From early May to the end of September, very few depressions track this far south in the Med, and they're well forecast. Most summer depressions are diurnal developments over the mainland Peloponnese. This is the sunniest part of mainland Greece.

Yes, gusty winds blow in the lee of the Mani and Cap Malea when stronger northerly/north-westerly winds are forecast. Similar to the Dodecanese - mostly flat water, but be ready to reef quickly when you see white water ahead.

Sunsail chose a base in Gythion. The nearest alternative quay with any significant entertainment was 60nm distant. Anchorages nearby were mostly empty, and each looked like the other. Gythion had little room for boats, which often had to raft up in a harbour which was, at times, exposed to some northerly chop. Wrong choice of base. Not enough destinations within pottering range for local charter to work.

Excellent as coast of passage, especially between Navarino bay and Kalamata. You'll fill 10 days or more with some lovely experiences down here, all documented on this page of my web site. I've run two Cruising Association rallies down here for people rounding the Peloponnese. Both were much appreciated. Local walks etc are all documented on the website if you're logged in.

 

[noelex]

Coming weekend Nimbus2000 will be launched at Cleopatra and after 11 months will finally touch the water again.

Congratulations.

The other option is to ignore the N entrance and go around the west side and enter from the south.

It is longer, but easy and very safe.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Congratulations.

The other option is to ignore the N entrance and go around the west side and enter from the south.

It is longer, but easy and very safe.

There nothing difficulty about the North entrances , it use to be a lot shallower then it is now .
the only really problem over the years has been , some skippers have seen the sand split and panicked about going aground and decided to hug the port buoys which ended up hitting the rocks close by ,
we have watch many time while waiting for the bridge to open yacht that close to the buoy almost hitting it and the odd one leaving the red buoys to their starboard ,
then coming to a quick stand still .
We wintered out last winter 2015 in Lafkas and there was a lot of dredging going on then , when we cross we had a good 4 mts under us .
Has you says if your that unsure then take the long way around .
I know of two yacht personally who have damaged there keel by hitting the rock , or has one told me the concrete block that held the buoy .
As far as asking the Marina for info , forget it . There are a few Liveaboard who are there every year and they may have some info , but as I said there nothing that difficulty about it .
If the OP want some good advise , use your eyes , watch your depth sounder and turn off your plotter .

 

[sailaboutvic]

Greetings, Vic. Yes, keeping away from the south side was and is good policy. But I suspect you wouldn't believe just how much has changed. The spit was well on the way to being removed entirely last Autumn, and they were still at it.

Hi Mac
Yes it was a lot deeper last year then I have ever seen it