Porto Heli

[roadtownsailor]

Does anyone have recent experience of keeping their boat in Frank's Yachtstation at Porto heli in Greece? I have had reports that it was quite grubby, but since then the management has changed and it may be better. Would appreciate any views please. Cheers, Tony

 

[HenryB]

I used it as a base in 2004 and 2005 while still run by Frank. I enjoyed being there. There were decent toilets, showers and a washing machine and friendly and skilled staff. We sailed for 4 months each summer (3 trips) and used one of their moorings when we returned to the UK, and was lifted to their yard during the winters. I would be very happy to return there.

 

[jimbaerselman]

Its most useful feature is the ability to leave the boat securely on moorings in season, as wel as ashore in winter. However, 4 hours to Athens is a snag.

Kalamata marina is the same time to Athens by bus, with annual contracts for 12m around €2,800, and much better town and marina local services, so maybe worth a look as an alternative.

More on my web site - including bus timetables to Kalamata!

 

[HenryB]

Jim,
There's a fast catamaran service from Athens to Porto Heli - takes less than 2 hours from memory.

 

[minquiers]

frank has sold it to another austrian guy called christian,it is still grubby and they still have the old crane, and apparently he insists on doing any work, no contractors i believe are allowed, he still has all the moorings also,there is a much nicer yard at khoilada, which is just up the coast a bit toward navplion, all the latest gear, and good prices,

 

[bigbigben]

My boat wintered afloat in Porto Helli: good shelter, efficient boatyard (good and cheap enginer), a small chandlery nearby and easy buses connections to Athnes (3 hours).

I visited Khoiladi last summer: is a bit out of the world!!

 

[charles_reed]

Yanni

Jim,
Saw him remembered you to him (wish I could say he had immediate detailed recall) and had a coffee with him (Easter Monday) He couldn't help, not having an appropriate pump on the shelf, but proposed an alternative he could get from Athens by Wednesday, (€115 + €5)+VAT. I ordered the direct replacement from Cleghorn-Waring for (£54+£35)+VAT. Promised in 3 days, but they've gone to pot after ITT takeover and are still faffing about on Wednesday (a very wet Wednesday).

Note that they use UPS who, from Germany, deliver <5kg for €12 anywhere in mainland EC. What an expensive la Manche that is.

I'd confirm comments about Kalamata, every one amazingly friendly, stockists of engineering tools better then most in mainland Europe, but marina does suffer from surge, (but probably the cheapest in Greece) so I'd be wary of leaving a boat on E, F, G pontoons, unattended over a winter. Their standings are still utterly packed.

 

[jimbaerselman]

Thanks for that input, Henry. I'm afraid I forget the ferry links sometimes - usually because so many only run 2 or 3 times a day, compared to hourly buses, so linking up with flight timings is more of a pain. They've obviously improved the bus times from Porto Heli, too, down to 3hr from 4hr is quite a bonus, but the utility of this time will also depend on the frequency of buses.

Charles, surge in Kalamata, correct. Those three pontoons are not suitable for wintering. The rest are OK though, if bumpy and uncomfortable in the occasional very big southerlies which visit about twice a winter. And this winter saw some serious winds. Had to use a bulldozer to clear the sand dunes dumped on our beach road - 6m above sea level and 100m from the shoreline!

 

[charles_reed]

apologies for thread drift

I think its been pretty general. As I entered N end of Levkas canal, noted crane dredger, two bulldozers and a grader at work on the big Santa Maura spit.

And the depths just off the entrance - down to 2.3m.

 

[Davy_S]

Re: apologies for thread drift

Just a bit of a comment to all, the Ionian in particular has had its worst winter for many years, wet we expect, monsoons is what we have had! but the Southerlies this winter have been severe, force 7,8,and9 plus 10 at times, we have seen trees uprooted and serious landslides causing much damage. I have never seen it so bad before. Even today snow fell on Northern Greece, although we have had temperatures of 25c and 27c in the last week, today is 16c and hammering down!