No Swinging to Anchor in Messolonghi anymore; got it?

[Steve C Cronin]

Police are pushing you into the marina or onto the disco ridden quay. This doesn't just mean keeping clear of the coasters' manoeuvring area it means every square inch of the Messolonghi Lake. Turtles perhaps or expressions of support for local enterprise or even "Backhandelos Megalos". Who knows?

 

[alexsailor]

well...really nice... :ambivalence:

 

[Chris_Robb]

Police are pushing you into the marina or onto the disco ridden quay. This doesn't just mean keeping clear of the coasters' manoeuvring area it means every square inch of the Messolonghi Lake. Turtles perhaps or expressions of support for local enterprise or even "Backhandelos Megalos". Who knows?

They seem to do this every year. Usually there is an imminent arrival of a rare ship. Just carry on anchoring.

 

[Steve C Cronin]

I guess Charles will be along soon to inform us that anchoring in Messolonghi Lake has ALWAYS been prohibited. However, I can't see that as being correct since the anchorage has been a feature of not only Heikell's Imray charts but also of those published by the Hellenic Hydrographic Office (& used by CMap for their cartridges for a very long time.

 

[Backwoodsman]

Aha, I was there twice last month. The first time I used the marina, but noticed two yachts anchored there , where Heikel indicates. A week later I called in again and thought I'd anchor. Chose the same spot as the yachts had used during my previous visit, just got nicely dug in, when along come the Limenchario and tell me to go to the port or the marina, as ' the big ships come here."
As I recorded depths of 3.5M in the dredged channel, this seemed unlikely ! A yacht anchored just after I moored to the quay and he was told to sling his hook as well.

 

[vyv_cox]

As I recorded depths of 3.5M in the dredged channel, this seemed unlikely ! .

Not sure that 'big' is really the word but coasters of appreciable size get up there. We have seen several unloading steel RSJs, timber and large pallets of those hollow tiles the Greeks use to fill in between their concrete pillars in buildings.

 

[Steve C Cronin]

Not sure that 'big' is really the word but coasters of appreciable size get up there. We have seen several unloading steel RSJs, timber and large pallets of those hollow tiles the Greeks use to fill in between their concrete pillars in buildings.

There is often a limestone carrier too and ships carrying the dissembled components for the wind turbines and their towers.

There is a notably shallow bank right in the middle of the lake <2.2metres, so how you could be any danger to anything behind that, I cannot imagine! We got asked to move once, so I did and anchored near to the SW corner as far away from the port as possible and near to the marina breakwater. They didn't come back but these recent reports seem to suggest that even that is no longer acceptable.

 

[Steve C Cronin]

Not sure that 'big' is really the word but coasters of appreciable size get up there. We have seen several unloading steel RSJs, timber and large pallets of those hollow tiles the Greeks use to fill in between their concrete pillars in buildings.

** Yes, like Battenberg cake without the sponge!

 

[vyv_cox]

** Yes, like Battenberg cake without the sponge!

:encouragement:

 

[charles_reed]

They seem to do this every year. Usually there is an imminent arrival of a rare ship. Just carry on anchoring.

As Chris says It always has been "illegal" (I'd suggest Steve does a little research instead of saying the 1st thing that comes into his head , but invariably the Port Police, overcome with the exercise, give up, after a time!!

 

[sailaboutvic]

As Chris says It always has been "illegal" (I'd suggest Steve does a little research instead of saying the 1st thing that comes into his head , but invariably the Port Police, overcome with the exercise, give up, after a time!!

i would hate to disagree with you , we have anchored there for years and years well before the marina was there and never once once was we ask to move or told it was illegal , except three year ago , so i not sure where you getting your info from ,
this all started to happen once the marina was build . ( wonder why , hey Yannis )
Three years ago we was ask to move when i refused to move as we was no where near the channel and there was no law to say I couldn't anchor there, I was ask to speak to the PP sergeant , the short ( can I use fat ) lady , she told me i was right it wasn't illegal and there was no local by law to say we couldn't anchor there , but they had a ship coming in early in the morning and as the captain hasn't been in before they wanted every one out of the way , but we could go back on our anchor once the ship was in , unless the local law have chanced in the last two year , the information that it illegal is rubbish .thats not to say that the PP cant stop you anchoring if they wanted to .
at time there use to be plus 20 boat anchored there for weeks on end , people even wintered on there anchor there once .

www.bluewatersailorcroatia.webs.com

 

[Steve C Cronin]

As Chris says It always has been "illegal" (I'd suggest Steve does a little research instead of saying the 1st thing that comes into his head , but invariably the Port Police, overcome with the exercise, give up, after a time!!

My research, Charles was on an Hellenic chart where there is a distinct anchor slightly to the east of the centre of the lake. I think we can assume that THEY know their own laws?

 

[prv]

I think we can assume that THEY know their own laws?

Seems a rather rash assumption.

I doubt even the UK is that joined up.

Pete

 

[charles_reed]

i would hate to disagree with you , we have anchored there for years and years well before the marina was there and never once once was we ask to move or told it was illegal , except three year ago , so i not sure where you getting your info from ,
this all started to happen once the marina was build . ( wonder why , hey Yannis )
Three years ago we was ask to move when i refused to move as we was no where near the channel and there was no law to say I couldn't anchor there, I was ask to speak to the PP sergeant , the short ( can I use fat ) lady , she told me i was right it wasn't illegal and there was no local by law to say we couldn't anchor there , but they had a ship coming in early in the morning and as the captain hasn't been in before they wanted every one out of the way , but we could go back on our anchor once the ship was in , unless the local law have chanced in the last two year , the information that it illegal is rubbish .thats not to say that the PP cant stop you anchoring if they wanted to .
at time there use to be plus 20 boat anchored there for weeks on end , people even wintered on there anchor there once .

www.bluewatersailorcroatia.webs.com

I had my information from what would be called in the UK the clerk to the Town Hall.
GYYB

 

[charles_reed]

My research, Charles was on an Hellenic chart where there is a distinct anchor slightly to the east of the centre of the lake. I think we can assume that THEY know their own laws?

As is mentioned in most Pilots and electronic charts.

However such markings are best treated with a little caution, as I found out to my cost (well embarrassment) in Croatia.

The only real way to change it is for some poor person to be arrested, or fined and to take the matter to the European Court - expensive, time-consuming and possibly the Demos has the right to make such bye-laws!

PS the best answer is to point out you've anchored to change an impeller or such like and are unable to move - most PP don't know that you can sail a boat onto a berth.

PPS Either they'll give up or the marina have actually paid the €2000 sweetener originally requested? It was suggested it was for a CCTV installation.

 

[sailaboutvic]

I had my information from what would be called in the UK the clerk to the Town Hall.
GYYB

you mean Theano ? well that says it all Yannis brother in law .

www.bluewatersailorcroatia.webs.com

 

[JanZ]

We also got moved in early August. Went onto the "disco ridden!" quay outside the YachtCafe, and were robbed overnight, somebody very quietly removed our washboard, came below and helped themselves to mobile phone & wallet whilst we were asleep.

To add insult to injury, when we returned a couple of weeks later the PP lady came along and invited us to report to the PP office as we had to pay for the privilege of mooring on their quay! We have never paid here before; has anybody else been asked for payment?

 

[Glyka]

PS the best answer is to point out you've anchored to change an impeller or such like and are unable to move - most PP don't know that you can sail a boat onto a berth.

An excellent idea. Especially if you don't mind having to pay for a survey saying that everything is ok before leaving.

 

[AndrewB]

We also got moved in early August. Went onto the "disco ridden!" quay outside the YachtCafe, and were robbed overnight, somebody very quietly removed our washboard, came below and helped themselves to mobile phone & wallet whilst we were asleep.

To add insult to injury, when we returned a couple of weeks later the PP lady came along and invited us to report to the PP office as we had to pay for the privilege of mooring on their quay! We have never paid here before; has anybody else been asked for payment?

There were about 10 yachts anchored directly outside the marina when I was there a couple of weeks ago. We sailed in (broken fan-belt) so didn't risk the marina until we had found a replacement in town. No probs with PP. As you say, the town quay has a bad reputation: it is certainly a bad mooring in a strong westerly.

 

[daveg45]

I think I must have missed something. Why would you want to go there anyway?