Thinking of doing my first Bareboat

[Gixer]

Another thread has got me thinking about heading back out to the South Ionion this year with the family.

I've done 5 Flotilla holidays in the Ionion and know the area and most harbors quite well. Although we enjoyed the safely of the flotilla (especially with Nisos) it would be good to choose the destinations at our leisure rather than having to be at a particular place. Due to school holidays we will have to go in the height of the summer which I know is very busy.
My worry is mooring in the busy harbors in the evenings and would want to avoid doing this to keep the stress levels down. We're not fussed about going to tavernas in the evening and would be happy to eat and sleep at anchor. TBH we would probably prefer this...
I guess my plan would be to stock up in harbors we can anchor in during the day when everyone is out (e.g. Sivota, Big Vathy) and then spend a few nights in bays at anchor.
Does this sound feasible or do I need to just get over my worry about the harbours in the evening? I'm the only 'sailor' in the family so I'm pretty much singlehanded except for basic rope handling.

 

[Mark-1]

I guess my plan would be to stock up in harbors we can anchor in during the day when everyone is out (e.g. Sivota, Big Vathy) and then spend a few nights in bays at anchor.

Yes. That's exactly what we do/did on multiple charters in the S/N Ionian. Going peak season just like you.

Go into towns for lunch during the day when they're literally deserted, look around, buy provisions as required and then anchor overnight in one of the thousands of bays which you are highly likely to have completely to yourself.

Pro tip: Typically you'll find a sturdy BBQ grille hidden in most/many/all of the bays so you can have a fire and use that to cook on if you so wish. i presume the locals leave them for exactly that purpose.

 

[oldbloke]

And the nights are a lot cooler anchored out

 

[Tranona]

Agree. Perfectly feasible and desirable in high season. Although we mostly went early or late seasons we always did a mix of quay side and anchoring

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Couple of issues to consider with this plan - 1. Water supply, and 2. Access to power for recharging leisure side. Both fixable but the longer you stay out the more pressing they’ll become. May / probably need to factor in a marina at least one night in the week.

 

[Mark-1]

Couple of issues to consider with this plan - 1. Water supply, and 2. Access to power for recharging leisure side. Both fixable but the longer you stay out the more pressing they’ll become. May / probably need to factor in a marina at least one night in the week.

Likely a lot of motoring in the completely dead light wind mornings so I suspect the batteries will get a good charge and water can be topped on lunchtime excursions.

 

[newtothis]

Another thread has got me thinking about heading back out to the South Ionion this year with the family.

I've done 5 Flotilla holidays in the Ionion and know the area and most harbors quite well. Although we enjoyed the safely of the flotilla (especially with Nisos) it would be good to choose the destinations at our leisure rather than having to be at a particular place. Due to school holidays we will have to go in the height of the summer which I know is very busy.
My worry is mooring in the busy harbors in the evenings and would want to avoid doing this to keep the stress levels down. We're not fussed about going to tavernas in the evening and would be happy to eat and sleep at anchor. TBH we would probably prefer this...
I guess my plan would be to stock up in harbors we can anchor in during the day when everyone is out (e.g. Sivota, Big Vathy) and then spend a few nights in bays at anchor.
Does this sound feasible or do I need to just get over my worry about the harbours in the evening? I'm the only 'sailor' in the family so I'm pretty much singlehanded except for basic rope handling.

We did two weeks Corfu-Kefalonia-Corfu this year, with just two nights not on the hook. One of those was just on the wall at Mongonissi with no power/water. Just two of us so okay for water until the final day with the help of some bottles. Batteries got a daily top up from the engine.
Anchoring short/single-handed is much less stressful than dealing with Med mooring and crowded harbours.

 

[Gixer]

This is great guys, thank you.

It's funny, I've got no issues with anchoring, marina's, locks, but the Greek harbours fill me full of dread

Mark-1, your first response sounds like a dream.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Likely a lot of motoring in the completely dead light wind mornings so I suspect the batteries will get a good charge and water can be topped on lunchtime excursions.

The leisure batts in my last summer charter were not charged by the engine. Shore power only.

 

[ridgy]

It seems to be a secret but most/all of the tavernas with their own pontoons can be reserved by phone some days in advance and they do honour the reservations as long as you arrive by 1800 and frankly why would you arrive later than that. They all speak perfect English. I have a share in a boat out of Lefkas and we mostly already know where we're going before we arrive.

I don't know where these "thousands of bays" are that someone mentioned. Certainly in the south ionian there are many bays but most are too deep or exposed to use in comfort overnight and those that aren't are mostly constantly inhabited.

Not sure about the Ionian in August, we're risking it this year going mid two weeks in July but everyone that I talk to when I'm there, as in all the taverna owners and other boat owners, say that August is pretty much taken over by Italian power boats.

 

[Gixer]

Not sure about the Ionian in August, we're risking it this year going mid two weeks in July but everyone that I talk to when I'm there, as in all the taverna owners and other boat owners, say that August is pretty much taken over by Italian power boats.

Last week in August they’ve all gone home, this is when we’ve normally arrived. I do know of a couple of tavernas that have private pontoons so could consider these if planning ahead.

 

[Mark-1]

The leisure batts in my last summer charter were not charged by the engine. Shore power only.

However much I think about it, that makes no sense at all. How can that possibly be a good idea?

 

[Mark-1]

Mark-1, your first response sounds like a dream.

It's bliss. Like the West Coast of Scotland or the Stockholm Archipelago, but with Sunshine and bath-warm water.

 

[mjcoon]

Likely a lot of motoring in the completely dead light wind mornings so I suspect the batteries will get a good charge and water can be topped on lunchtime excursions.

Though topping up water via dinghy trips would require some frugality, which might be OK for teenage boys...

 

[Mark-1]

Though topping up water via dinghy trips would require some frugality, which might be OK for teenage boys...

I was talking about lunchtimes in villages or towns where you can easily top up with water while the flotillas are out. I'm not sure it's really practical to fill water tanks by dinghy.

I don't recall water being remotely a problem with two or four adults on board, nor was power although we always turned the fridge off when the engine was off. We were always in and out of the water all day so all we really needed was a rinse with fresh water after the last swim before bed. Also I used salt water soap because I thought it was cool which reduced the need for fresh water.

 

[Lucky Duck]

However much I think about it, that makes no sense at all. How can that possibly be a good idea?

My last boat had the opposite problem as the shore only charged the domestic batteries.

 

[mjcoon]

I was talking about lunchtimes in villages or towns where you can easily top up with water while the flotillas are out. I'm not sure it's really practical to fill water tanks by dinghy.

I don't recall water being remotely a problem with two or four adults on board, nor was power although we always turned the fridge off when the engine was off. We were always in and out of the water all day so all we really needed was a rinse with fresh water after the last swim before bed. Also I used salt water soap because I thought it was cool which reduced the need for fresh water.

I confess to have been thinking about flotillas decades ago. Water at the dock was rarer then. As was acknowledged by having water containers provided on board, which I think is now rare... We caused some amusement by taking empty containers to dinner with us via the basic taverna's jetty and getting filled for us, just to keep topped up...

 

[Sticky Fingers]

However much I think about it, that makes no sense at all. How can that possibly be a good idea?

I know, that’s what happened though. Had a thread about it at the time. Charter Co useless. Ditto Hanse reps at boat show. I never got to the bottom of it but it screwed up the idle of our week.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

My last boat had the opposite problem as the shore only charged the domestic batteries.

Budget charger fitted?

 

[Tranona]

My last boat had the opposite problem as the shore only charged the domestic batteries.

That is quite common - my boat has only a single output mains. There is rarely a need to charge the engine battery from the mains if you have a means of starting the engine from the house bank.