SAILLING IN GREECE

[amrad]

I AM PLANING TO SAIL TO GREECE THIS YEAR AS THE CHOISE IS ALLMOST INFINITIVE I WONDER IF YOU CAN HELP IN TELLING ME WHICH IS YOUR BEST CHOISE ISLAND -ONLY ONE THE BEST YOU RECOMEND
THANKS

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[boatless]

Ithaka.

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[Davy_S]

Kefalonia

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[Trevor_swfyc]

IONIAN, OK its not an island but if pushed I would agree Cephalonia favourite port Fiskardo. We pick up a Bavaria 44 on Sunday below is our proposed route.
<pre>(1) Nikiana - Gaios (Paxos) stopping for swim at emerald bay Anti paxos.
(2) Gaios - Lakka via the west coast rugged coast and best chance to see dolphins.
(3) Lakka - Mourtos
(4) Mourtos - Mongonisi Paxos.
(5) Mongonisi - Spartahori on Meganisi good Taverna
(6) Spartahori - Sivota (South Lefkas) visit the bat cave, very rare bats inside.
(7) Sivota - Fiskardho, we fell in love with this place.
(8) Fiskardho - Agia Euphemia
(9) Agia Euphemia - Poros.
(10) Poros - Vathy on Ithica.
(11) Vathy - Astokos stopping at one house bay for lunch and swim.
(12) Astokos - Kalamos or Kastos.
(13) Kalamos - back to Nikiana.
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The reason why I prefer this area is the predictable weather and wind which is very light to zero overnight with light airs am and nothing more than force 3 - 4 pm which then usually dies away by 1800 hrs. So the holiday can be enjoyed by all the family with plenty of places to visit, swim and eat. Finally the crystal clear blue water, what a treat after the East Coast.

Trevor






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[boatless]

What - no Kioni? My favourite - walk up to the windmill for a better view. Also, have you tried the bay just south of Vathi (Ithaka) - time it right and you get a beautiful moorise.

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[Trevor_swfyc]

Boatless,

Kioni is a nice place but beware, we were in there two years ago when a wave from a ferry came in. We were on the south of the harbour and it lifted the boat nearly one metre and then sent it crashing down a metre we were just securing lines and were lucky not to get any damage to the boat or ourselves. In fact children were swimming between a large power boat and a small concrete groyne they were only saved by being lifted clear by the wave. I think it is the shape of the inlet that magnifies the wave height. If you have Ionian pilot by Rod Heikell page 136 says "The wash from ferries can be bothersome here", I would suggest dangerous would be more appropriate.
The moon rise over Ithica is spectacular from Fiskardo on Cephalonia not sure I understand how an east coast viewed moon rise on Ithica could compete but it depends on your relative position and idea of spectacular.

Trevor

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[boatless]

Oops, read moonset.... what a prat.

Kioni, yes have experienced the waves, which will get more frequent as the high speed ships proliferate. Actually I anchor in the middle if it's not too busy, it's the only way to get any breeze through the boat when the wind is vacillating between West and East.

Given up on Fiskhardo, too busy and the last straw was when the staff of the 'double' restaurant (Gaia?) refused to turn on the hoses, despite the fact that 7 of us had eaten lunch there and had booked a table at our gangplank for that evening. I think that they think it looks messy.

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[Davy_S]

Yes Kioni is nice, also Kiriaki beach on Kefalonia (near Myrtos) there is a small harbour but used by fishing boats. You can anchor off and dinghy ashore to the only taverna. Old lady takes you inside kitchen to show you food, the wine is home made and served in old screw top vimto bottles, very potent! The beach is every bit as good as Myrtos but without the crowd of peeps.

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[jay]

Ionian is absolutley lovely scenery, people, food, ports etc but from a sailing perspective is boring as hell - you'd be better off hiring a motor crusier. Try the Sporades - still picturesque and a bit more wind - plus less flotilla boats so less pressure on getting into ports mid-afternnon to bag the best berths

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