Safe marinas in the Aegean?

[citybubble101]

Hello everyone and thanks in advance for your help.
Me and my partner currently own a sailing boat that we have (luckily) been able to spend the summers on for the past couple of years. As life happens, at times we must leave the boat unattended for a few days at a time which always causes some levels of stress. So, looking to the experts in this forum, if there are suggestions of marinas we could easily get to and also feel that the boat will be safe from weather and traffic. Thanks in advance

 

[vyv_cox]

The Aegean is a big place, so difficult to know where exactly you will be. In the Cyclades there is nowhere afloat that would be safe to leave a boat. Very few places on the west side unless you were very lucky. There is a secure marina on Aegina but it is private and fully occupied.

Zea and Olympic on the north mainland. Kos, Leros, Samos and Lesvos are all secure but well to the east.

All these have ferries reasonably close by. All have airports but at varying distances: Samos and Leros less than half an hour, Kos about an hour and Lesvos about the same. However flights may be few and far between, especially Leros.

There is a free, abandoned marina on Chios that is secure but is planned for redevelopment, not sure how this is going.

Two others, Kythnos and Kufonisia might be worth considering. With a bit of negotiation with the harbourmaster you could arrange a berth alongside. Some berths on Koufonisia are on lazy lines and the Athens ferry berths less than 100 metres away. There are 'marinas' in many other Cyclades islands but I would not leave my boat in any of them for more than a few hours. Best of the rest may be Ios, where people leave their boats for a day to visit Santorini. Mostly you are on your own anchor, too risky to leave.

 

[citybubble101]

The Aegean is a big place, so difficult to know where exactly you will be. In the Cyclades there is nowhere afloat that would be safe to leave a boat. Very few places on the west side unless you were very lucky. There is a secure marina on Aegina but it is private and fully occupied.

Zea and Olympic on the north mainland. Kos, Leros, Samos and Lesvos are all secure but well to the east.

All these have ferries reasonably close by. All have airports but at varying distances: Samos and Leros less than half an hour, Kos about an hour and Lesvos about the same. However flights may be few and far between, especially Leros.

There is a free, abandoned marina on Chios that is secure but is planned for redevelopment, not sure how this is going.

Two others, Kythnos and Kufonisia might be worth considering. With a bit of negotiation with the harbourmaster you could arrange a berth alongside. Some berths on Koufonisia are on lazy lines and the Athens ferry berths less than 100 metres away. There are 'marinas' in many other Cyclades islands but I would not leave my boat in any of them for more than a few hours. Best of the rest may be Ios, where people leave their boats for a day to visit Santorini. Mostly you are on your own anchor, too risky to leave.

Thanks vyx_cox! i was not specific on the area as frankly, I would be willing to sail an extra day or two for the pice of mind of a safe harbour. Zea and Olympic are always "full" when I've tried them so I've given up for the Attica region (even though that would be ideal).
Thank you for your suggestions of Kythnos and Koufonisia.. I assume you mean the main marinas on both those islands. Those are two islands I haven't visited as yet but may have just made this years' list

 

[Shaddickp]

If you are in the Attica area then you could always try the Yacht Club in Khalkis. Fairly convenient for Athens airport, you can walk from the yacht club to the railway station and go by train to Athens metro, then jump on the airport metro line (ask in the ticket booking office for details of where to get off train).
The guy who runs it is in charge of the harbour office by the swing bridge, just go in and ask for him.

 

[vyv_cox]

Thanks vyx_cox! i was not specific on the area as frankly, I would be willing to sail an extra day or two for the pice of mind of a safe harbour. Zea and Olympic are always "full" when I've tried them so I've given up for the Attica region (even though that would be ideal).
Thank you for your suggestions of Kythnos and Koufonisia.. I assume you mean the main marinas on both those islands. Those are two islands I haven't visited as yet but may have just made this years' list

The Kythnos recommendation is Loutra, one of the few harbours safe in all winds. Not the main harbour on the west side, which is quite exposed.

 

[vyv_cox]

If you are in the Attica area then you could always try the Yacht Club in Khalkis. Fairly convenient for Athens airport, you can walk from the yacht club to the railway station and go by train to Athens metro, then jump on the airport metro line (ask in the ticket booking office for details of where to get off train).
The guy who runs it is in charge of the harbour office by the swing bridge, just go in and ask for him.

Yes, the Khalkis marina is safe and convenient. I was assuming he meant further south when he asked about Aegean.

 

[citybubble101]

If you are in the Attica area then you could always try the Yacht Club in Khalkis. Fairly convenient for Athens airport, you can walk from the yacht club to the railway station and go by train to Athens metro, then jump on the airport metro line (ask in the ticket booking office for details of where to get off train).
The guy who runs it is in charge of the harbour office by the swing bridge, just go in and ask for him.

Super - thanks! That would be ideal as I didn’t know you could get a train to Athens and then the airport!

 

[citybubble101]

Thanks all for the info! I am surprised at how few options there are to safely leave a boat for a few days for the whole of the Aegean! So, if I suggested we add the Saronic Gulf and Eastern Coast of the Peloponnese as options, I am wondering if there are any other suggestions forthcoming?

 

[vyv_cox]

Again, very few where berthing is not on your own anchor. There is a small pontoon at Korfos where berthing is alongside. We have always berthed alongside at Poros but occasional purges force everybody to go stern-to, plus there have been severe storms here in which much damage was caused. There are moorings at Porto Heli although I am not sure of availability. There are also some across from Poros at Galatas.

 

[citybubble101]

Again, very few where berthing is not on your own anchor. There is a small pontoon at Korfos where berthing is alongside. We have always berthed alongside at Poros but occasional purges force everybody to go stern-to, plus there have been severe storms here in which much damage was caused. There are moorings at Porto Heli although I am not sure of availability. There are also some across from Poros at Galatas.

Porto Heli was full of gypsies last year who were hussling all over the quay - it didn't feel particularly safe. Poros (down the end) felt ok in terms of security but as you said, the through traffic is mad in high-season.
Do i just need to get comfortable with leaving the boat at anchor for a few days? (yikes!)

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

My home ground of Zea Marina and the adjacent Kastella in Piraeus are safe and good but summer time is full with "superyachts", so it is difficult to get a place. Further down the Attiki coast, there are marinas along the Faliro area and beyond. with good access to airport and Athens centre. On the east side of Attiki, there are only a few small marinas/harbours, Oropos, Chalkida, Agii Apostli and a few more further down near Sounio, but there are a bit remote although, I have never heard of any problems.

 

[vyv_cox]

My home ground of Zea Marina and the adjacent Kastella in Piraeus are safe and good but summer time is full with "superyachts", so it is difficult to get a place. Further down the Attiki coast, there are marinas along the Faliro area and beyond. with good access to airport and Athens centre. On the east side of Attiki, there are only a few small marinas/harbours, Oropos, Chalkida, Agii Apostli and a few more further down near Sounio, but there are a bit remote although, I have never heard of any problems.

Are these all lazy lines or alongside? I have visited a couple and think we were on anchor. I would not want to leave my boat stern-to on anchor for several days.

There are a few places where it is safe to leave a boat at anchor for some time. one being Koiladha, an enclosed bay with thick mud seabed, good holding. Last time I was there a guy who worked in the boatyard would provide gardiennage.

 

[citybubble101]

My home ground of Zea Marina and the adjacent Kastella in Piraeus are safe and good but summer time is full with "superyachts", so it is difficult to get a place. Further down the Attiki coast, there are marinas along the Faliro area and beyond. with good access to airport and Athens centre. On the east side of Attiki, there are only a few small marinas/harbours, Oropos, Chalkida, Agii Apostli and a few more further down near Sounio, but there are a bit remote although, I have never heard of any problems.

Thank you for your comment. In the past couple of years I have repeatedly called and emailed 9 marinas on the south coast from Zea, to Faliro, to Floisvos, to Alimos to Agios Kosmas, to Glyfada (x4) and none of them ever have room for a 12m sailing boat irrespective of if I have called them 2 days before arrival or 2 months.. Hence, my earlier comment on giving up on Attica even though it would be most ideal. It sounds like if you winterise the boat in one of the marinas its extremely convenient but if you are looking for a berth for a short period of time it seems impossible to do so in the vicinity. Any ideas very much welcome!!

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Are these all lazy lines or alongside? I have visited a couple and think we were on anchor. I would not want to leave my boat stern-to on anchor for several days.

There are a few places where it is safe to leave a boat at anchor for some time. one being Koiladha, an enclosed bay with thick mud seabed, good holding. Last time I was there a guy who worked in the boatyard would provide gardiennage.

To my knowledge, all harbours on the east side of Attiki are stern-to using lazy lines; they are non-flotilla, quiet and trouble free.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Thank you for your comment. In the past couple of years I have repeatedly called and emailed 9 marinas on the south coast from Zea, to Faliro, to Floisvos, to Alimos to Agios Kosmas, to Glyfada (x4) and none of them ever have room for a 12m sailing boat irrespective of if I have called them 2 days before arrival or 2 months.. Hence, my earlier comment on giving up on Attica even though it would be most ideal. It sounds like if you winterise the boat in one of the marinas its extremely convenient but if you are looking for a berth for a short period of time it seems impossible to do so in the vicinity. Any ideas very much welcome!!

Unfortunately, the marinas along the Faliro bay all the way down to Glyfada and Voula give priority to the flotilla yachts. The only thing you can do is to phone them or better still, go there in person if possible.

 

[ALEX_D]

Hello Ladies and Gents,
There is a boat trailer launch sites near Piraeus? I will drive my trailed with my boat and I try to find a launch site on google maps but for now I can't seem to find one!
Tks in advance for any info