Lefkas to Pythagorio Route Planning Advice Appreciated

[Irish Rover]

I've finally got round to thinking about my maiden voyage to take my boat from Preveza to Kusadasi. This is all new to me and so is the boat which is a FP Greenland 34 motor cat 10.3 x 4.45m with 2 x 75 HP Yanmars. I'm not at all familiar with the route or the marinas/harbours/anchorages. I want to sign out of Greece in Pythagorio because I know my way around there and will use it as my port of entry for future trips to Greece. My son is coming from Ireland to join me on the trip. He has around 2 weeks off so I see this as a delivery trip and would like to make the best time possible. I will not take any chances with weather and I want to tie up every night.
My plan is to take the boat from Preveza to Lefkas and spend a night there. All going well we'll leave Lefkas early on 04 April. Again, all going well, and not driving ourselves or the boat too hard, I hope to be able to average up to 80 miles per day @8/10 kph.
For my first stop I'm thinking in terms of Messolonghi, Patras or Nafpaktos. The latter would be preferable if I could be reasonably sure of getting a berth there. I don't know if there are any options on the south shore around Rio? Day 2 I'd ideally like to finish up east of the Corinth Canal but I'm not sure if there's any place close by which would accept a visiting boat for a night or could I just stay alongside at the pay station pier? The alternative is to spend the night west of the canal in Korinthos.
Hopefully starting east of the canal, I hope to clear the mainland on day 3 and I was looking at Vourkari on Kea for my next overnight and there to Kirikos next day [maybe too ambitious given this is likely to be the most weather affected leg but I have the option of Mykonos].
Any and all criticism, suggestions, advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

[duncan99210]

Messilonghi is a good overnight stop. Marina is not functional but there's the town quay or you can usually anchor in the lagoon (depends on the whim of the PP on the day). Town is a short walk away. Nafpaktos is a tiny harbour, which could accommodate your boat but the chances of a berth are not brilliant. I'd go a bit further on and aim to stop at Trizonia. Good sheltered 'marina' there: the concrete jettys are crumbling but usable and shelter is good. However, no local services beyond some bars and tavernas, which may not be functional in early April.
Alternatively, you could extend the day and head for Galaxidi, good shelter and that early on no problems with berth space. Right in the middle of town and it's a 're' town which will be open for locals as well as you. From there, I'd head to Corinth and overnight there before going through the canal early doors and heading for Korfos in the Saronic. From there onwards, choose islands to suit your pace.

 

[macd]

To add to the above, if you prefer to get quickly through the Corinth Canal, there's a reasonable overnight anchorage to port as you leave the eastern end. Because of heavy wash, the canal itself is no place to linger, even if they'd let you, although there are some berths at the W end.

 

[Cspirit]

Messilonghi is a good overnight stop. Marina is not functional but there's the town quay or you can usually anchor in the lagoon (depends on the whim of the PP on the day). Town is a short walk away. Nafpaktos is a tiny harbour, which could accommodate your boat but the chances of a berth are not brilliant. I'd go a bit further on and aim to stop at Trizonia. Good sheltered 'marina' there: the concrete jettys are crumbling but usable and shelter is good. However, no local services beyond some bars and tavernas, which may not be functional in early April.
Alternatively, you could extend the day and head for Galaxidi, good shelter and that early on no problems with berth space. Right in the middle of town and it's a 're' town which will be open for locals as well as you. From there, I'd head to Corinth and overnight there before going through the canal early doors and heading for Korfos in the Saronic. From there onwards, choose islands to suit your pace.

I agree that Trizonia is a good, sheltered place to stop BUT - do not be tempted to anchor/stern to, because the bottom is littered with mooring chains, etc. (Don't ask how I know...). Just moor alongside an empty/abandoned boat, of which there are plenty.

Bob

 

[cmedsailor]

If you were heading south east after the saronic I could give you some suggestions as I did that trip 4 times but you are heading east. In any case, don't exclude Aigina island before entering the Aegean from your options. Easy place to stop and will be empty from boats in April. Lots of tavernas, there's fuel (call the fuel truck) and electricity (you need to buy a card).
Loutra in Kithnos is also an option especially if you enter the Aegean and the weather gets nasty. Not sure if you can refuel there though in April (I suppose yes because it's the typical way of calling the fuel truck). There's electricity and you should find 1-2 tavernas open in April.

Patra is OK I think. I stopped there twice only for a few hours, never overnight. My only complain is that both times it took ages for the fuel truck to come....
I have never been to Siros island (Ermoupolis) but at least distance wise it looks a good option before heading further east.

Edit: Oh, do yourself the favour and cross the Corithian canal during daylight. I crossed it three times in the dark. Not very nice! Hopefully next time I am more lucky.

 

[Mr Cassandra]

Messilonghi is a waste of time for an overnighter, Nafpaktos is very charming, however, don't think you will find space for a cat. Patra would be the place to head for imo, then Kiato, once through canel, Aegina. then 8 hours Merichas or Loutra Kithnos. Finikas on Siros nextPatmos and you are there. Samos

 

[Irish Rover]

Thanks to everybody for your suggestions and advice. I've settled on a provisional plan as follows:
Lefkas to Patras 60 miles
Patras to Cornth 66 miles
Corinth to Vourkari 70 miles
Vourkari to Mykonos 59 miles
Mykonos to Pythagorio 78 miles
I've had a good look at most of the other stopover suggestions and they're all on the reserve list as I'm pretty sure things won't go entirely to plan. I'll have my copy of Greek Waters Pilot on board and websites like noonsite and Jimb bookmarked and at the ready. I'm hoping the weather Gods will be kind to me but I realise it's unpredictable especially in early April in the Aegean. Thanks again to everybody and if anyone has any more advice to offer it will be very welcome or any specific information, do's/dont's or tips regarding the stopover ports on my provisional plan.

 

[Caladh]

We did it the other way in June last year from Leros in the Dodecanese to the Ionian in May/June. See our blog(s) here. Scroll to the year you want to view. http://www.victoriashadow.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?id=122

 

[cmedsailor]

Keep in mind that the Corinth canal is closed every Tuedsay from 06:00 to 18:00.

 

[Irish Rover]

We did it the other way in June last year from Leros in the Dodecanese to the Ionian in May/June. See our blog(s) here. Scroll to the year you want to view. http://www.victoriashadow.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?id=122

Great read. Thanks

 

[Irish Rover]

Keep in mind that the Corinth canal is closed every Tuedsay from 06:00 to 18:00.

I hopefully won't be there on a Tuesday but thanks anyway. By coincidence I stayed in Loutraki for a night in October and had a nosey around the canal next morning which was Tuesday and it was definitely open and operating. A bigger risk for me if I need any services is that I will be traveling in Greece over Easter and everything will be closed for 4 days from 06 April.

 

[Caladh]

When you're planning to go thru the canal we like to go to Kiato instead of Korinthos the day before and then make an earlyish start for the canal which is about 10 miles away. It gets you through in good time and at the time of year you are going there shouldn't be too much hanging around. If you do have to wait to go through your either anchor or mosy about until called. Call the control up 5 miles out and listen to what other traffic is up to. Pay at the other end, watch the current and make sure you're well fendered to go on to the quay asap as you can where there are steps. Further down the quay is more difficult. Itea is another option instead of Galaxhidi and is also well sheltered and good for a trip to Delphi if you haven't visited. The town is typically unpretentious Greek.

 

[vas]

I hopefully won't be there on a Tuesday but thanks anyway. By coincidence I stayed in Loutraki for a night in October and had a nosey around the canal next morning which was Tuesday and it was definitely open and operating. A bigger risk for me if I need any services is that I will be traveling in Greece over Easter and everything will be closed for 4 days from 06 April.

although native, cannot really be of much help as I've never travelled on a boat the route you're planning.
However I have to warn you that you'd be extremely lucky to get anyone to do any work for you from the 5 to the 10th. 6th is Good Friday, day before is iffy, Easter Monday is definitely a no-no. Tue maybe, if they're sober
I'd avoid doing the trip on that week on a new to me boat, unless you got all the spares you'd need (yeah rite...)

good luck!

V.

 

[vas]

on the news tonight,
Corinth canal close for 15days due to landslides (lots of rain over the last few days down here)
So keep an eye on that, in case 15days turn to 25days or more and then there's a massive backlog or whatever that may delay you.

 

[Irish Rover]

on the news tonight,
Corinth canal close for 15days due to landslides (lots of rain over the last few days down here)
So keep an eye on that, in case 15days turn to 25days or more and then there's a massive backlog or whatever that may delay you.

Thanks for the tip off. I have just over 5 weeks so hopefully it will be sorted by then.

 

[Irish Rover]

Tied up safely in Kusadasi on Saturday afternoon having left Lefkas on Tuesday morning. We over-nighted in Galaxidhi, Vourkari, Mykonos and Pythagorio. Great trip and fantastic weather apart from Friday which was quite rough between Mykonos and Ikaria. Thanks again to everyone who offered advice and good wishes.