Sailng North of Lefkas (Amvrakikos Gulf)

[derekgillard]

Have just booked a bareboat charter in the Ionian, last year we went with the crowds, this year I was thinking of going North from Lefkas and into the gulf.

Have any of you fine folk been there and is it worth it? I hear Dolphins can be found

Thanks

Delbuoy

 

[Jobs_a_ good_ un]

Seen dolphins once flitingly off paxos
Parga vary pretty
Giaos on paxos good town quay
Lakka paxos very pretty
Not so many bays on corfu thou

Fishermen pulling in big swordfish between paxos and corfu 2m fish yesterday

 

[Tranona]

The Gulf is indeed worth a visit. Vonitsa is great and there are anchorages on the southern shore at Loutraki and Amfillokhia and in the North east at Menidhion. Rest of the north shore is shallow and nothing much going on except fish farming.

In a week from Levkas you can comfortably manage up as far as Mourtos/Sivota and including Paxos and mainland ports such as Parga. As usual your starting point for information is Rod Heikell Ionian Pilot.

 

[Nico]

Dolphins can be found all over the Ionian, so I wouldn't let that be a reason for going into the Gulf. I haven't been there myself though, so there may be many others.

 

[bryantee]

yes, not to be missed, as other posts say, from preveza and vonitsa, work your way east. watch amfolochia as the wind gets up in the afternoon if your on the main quay. there is a mini marina which gives some protection. watch to port as you approach the main quay, the traffic is so light that the lady swimmers are 200m of the shore. there are inumerable bays, to anchor in and the day sailors( flottilas )dont go past vonitsa . I have seen dolphins.fish farms ,naked french and dutch sailors. no crush , no rush, and better winds. but the waters cold.
enjoy.

 

[KeithH]

I like the Gulf very much - especially as it is quieter than other places in the area. Saw dolphins two years ago, which played round the boat. That was by the islands north of Vonitsa. Vonitsa harbour had a visiting turtle too.

Watch it in Prevesa though. The town quay is not great (noisy disco's) and last year another boat in the flotilla was "boarded" by officials, who wanted to check all the paperwork. They had to present the papers to an office in the town, and pay a small fee for the privilage. They did not discover why, or what it was all about.

So I suggest missing out Prevesa, and heading straight to Vonitsa. That is a "proper" Greek town, once off the row of tavernas on the quayside.

 

[Master_and_Commander]

North is Dolphin Central, they're everywhere - just don't look for them or you'll never see them, they usually just appear to play in your bow wave. Amazing!
You'll also get more wind and slightly less crowds in the North.

Enjoy!

 

[derekgillard]

Thanks for the replies, decision made we will be going.

Derek