Over winter in Greece

[rolfbudd]

Hi all we are new to this live aboard lark, we finally cast off our lines and are living the dream well nearly. Elderly parents are forcing a trip home for September October and maybe even a it longer. So we need to find somewhere safe for our little home. We do need a lift out, so we can do some stuff, antifouling, stern gland, cutlass bearings etc. So maybe a bit cheaper to store ashore but we will need to be able to stay on board when we come back and we will also want to do some of the work ourselves, till we are finished. Once back in the water we might even consider staying for the rest of the winter if there is a social side in the place and the price is right. If not what are the islands like during the winter? Is it feasible to stay afloat and anchoring during the winter? We have never been here during the winter so........ As i said we are new to this wonderful life so any advice or recommendations gratefully recieved

 

[sailaboutvic]

I am guessing when you say Greece your talking about the Ionian well there a few option , ther are yards around Preveza , I know two will let you work on your Own Boat and live on board why in the yard , not sure about the third one , some one will come along and tell you soon , but there are on an island although there is a yard boat that goes over to the town a few times a day .
Then there corfu yacht yard , they use to let you live on board and my feeling is they still do but you will have to ask , 15 min walk to the town .
Messilonghi Liveaboard community you can stay on board in the yard and you can work on the boat your self , nice town open all the year round .
Living afloat on the islands over winter , well there quite a few that do but unless your near a Marina with a Liveaboard community it can be quite lonely there are a few anchorage where a small group winter out Nidri for one and Meganisi is another also you get a few on lefkes quay the advance there is there the Marina to socialise in .
If you are new to being a Liveaboard my suggestion would be give the other half a chance to mix the women love this and it also give you both a chance to make new friends .
Hope this helps

 

[duncan99210]

The Preveza yards (Aktio, Ionion and Cleopatra) all allow you to live on board in the yard and allow you to work on your own boat. Reasonable rates. However, the yards are on the southern shore of the strait into the Gulf of Amvraki whilst the town is on the northern shore. The yards lay on a minibus to town but that only runs May to November.

Gouvia and Lefkas marinas are run by the same company. Their policy is to allow owners to work on their own boats but you are not allowed to live on board on the hard. Prices are the most expensive but the facilities are good and both marinas are well served by chandlers and shops near by.

Messilonghi is fine if basic. Work on your own boat is allowed and you can stay on board on the hard. The town is twenty minutes walk away and has good shops and an excellent chandler, who can get stuff from Athens within about 48 hours if not in stock. Prices are reasonable.

Those are the places we've been to. Hope it helps.

 

[NornaBiron]

Anchoring in the islands is perfectly doable as long as you look for somewhere with adequate all round shelter and a local community. We have spent four winters anchored in the lagoon at Spinalonga/Elounda on Crete with no problems.

When looking for a winter anchorage we have a checklist: is there a local community, a bus to a larger town, a water supply we can access and adequate shelter (not necessarily in that order)?

If you are considering anchoring for the winter you do need to ensure that you have a decent dinghy and outboard to get ashore or back to the boat in inclement weather. There are plenty of places that are hospitable for the winter. Our second winter in Greece wa spent sailing between Lefkada and Meganissi, we anchored in Vliho or Nidri when we needed shopping and company and in Abelike and Kapali Bays on Meganissi when we wanted some solitude, the combination made for a wonderful winter with plenty of company and us time.

 

[rolfbudd]

That's great we have been thinking about the Ionion as we have chartered here many times in the past but this is our first year here in our own boat. We are picking up family in Athens in Aug and were wondering if there was nowhere in the area that would meet our requirements

 

[Tony Cross]

The Ionian is generally pretty wet in the winter.

 

[sailaboutvic]

The Ionian is generally pretty wet in the winter.

Yes I can vouch for that , Lefkes 2014/ 2015if felt has if it didn't stop after Dec messilonghi 2012/2013 we waited from Jan to mid March before we could get five days of no rain so we could copper coat .
Offcause after saying that the wind every where isn't been that good the last few winters

 

[macd]

The Preveza yards are no place to live in the winter, unless you're hermits. Utter ghost towns.

 

[Melody]

There are a couple of good boatyards on Aegina (and one I wouldnt use) with regular ferries to Piraeus and airport bus. Angina is close to Athens and has a good-sized year round population so it doesn't close in the winter linke some islands do.

We sometimes have a winter berth available for a short time as well. PM me if you're interested.

 

[rolfbudd]

Hi Melody, PM sent I think! Not sure if it went through ok, wifi here a bit hit and miss

 

[Melody]

Received and replied.

 

[brownsox]

There are a couple of good boatyards on Aegina (and one I wouldnt use) with regular ferries to Piraeus and airport bus. Angina is close to Athens and has a good-sized year round population so it doesn't close in the winter linke some islands do.

We sometimes have a winter berth available for a short time as well. PM me if you're interested.

Hello Melody. I have also PM'd you. Thanks, Brownsox.