Where is it - Mediterranean edition

gfbalduc

gfbalduc

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 Nov 2005
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189
Location
me:Milan - boat:N.Adriatic
www.shaula3.ws
If I may offer a variant to the usual northern cruising areas, this is a very popular destination in the Med.

Photo was taken in a very windy day (wind rushing down from the hill can be seen on the sea surface below)

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This is a close-up on the bay in the middle, where the port - packed with british charter yachts - is located; as an additional hint, the small island used to host a lazarette in ancient times.

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The reference to the wind rushing down the hill made me think of Frikes on Ithaca, but it looks more like Vathi on the same island. Didn't know about the lazarette though.
 
And the winner is...... sgeir!!

Spot on, it's Vahti, on Ithaca island (as it happens, there's another Vahti in Meganisi); as a matter of fact, on that particular day, Frikes was quieter, while the meltemi was blowing really hard in Vahti harbour: the charter boats' attempts at mediterranean mooring with a side-wind were making the day interesting....
 
Mmmm, lovely area, and where we learnt to sail (tuition + flotilla holiday). A great place to learn. After that we chartered in the North Ionian, Adriatic and Aegean, and of course in home waters. Would be nice to go back some time, but would have difficulty justifying the costs now we have a boat in Scotland. Might have to sail there some time. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]

... while the meltemi was blowing really hard in Vahti harbour:

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In that case it was the Vathi (deep) down on Methona & near Epidavros on the Pelloponissos south of Athens because the Meltemi doesn't blow in the Ionian & Inland Sea. It is a wind of the Aegean. What you experienced was a Maestro or pehaps a Bora.

As to "British charter boats, I think you'll find that they are Greek flagged but maybe crewed by Brits. The Greeks are still holding on to that "Euro-illegal" anti-competitive exclusionism although one or two of the big charter names have challenged it.

Now, did you know that what I have just written could land me in trouble with the Greek police? Criticising the Greek government is seen as "Insulting Greece" which is a crime there.

Steve Cronin
 
Don't worry about it, we do it all the time! Just don't do it in front officialdom while on shift or somehow more formal. Those people that in the morning give you trouble in their jobs can be some times an amazing company over dinner in a taverna. It has happened to me too!
 
Yes this is Vathi on Ithaca. Very nice place to spend few days when it is calm,.......but last time when I was there very strong westerly wind made whole bay very uncomfortable. Good berths in such situations are on the left side at the inlet.
 
When we go in, which isn't too often and usually for fuel we tie up on the western side. Most of the southern quay is too shallow for us.

Steve Cronin
 
[ QUOTE ]

In that case it was the Vathi (deep) down on Methona & near Epidavros on the Pelloponissos south of Athens because the Meltemi doesn't blow in the Ionian & Inland Sea. It is a wind of the Aegean. What you experienced was a Maestro or pehaps a Bora.

[/ QUOTE ]

....hmmm, you sure? I thought the northerly wind started being called Bora a bit more to the north.

A good excuse to have a look into the pilot books, just for the sake of it.... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[ QUOTE ]
As to "British charter boats, I think you'll find that they are Greek flagged but maybe crewed by Brits. The Greeks are still holding on to that "Euro-illegal" anti-competitive exclusionism although one or two of the big charter names have challenged it.


[/ QUOTE ]

My slip of tongue /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif I actually meant "owned by a well-known British charter Company", they were actually Greek-flagged and could have been crewed by Bulgarians, for all I know... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
The Bora is usually regarded as a wind of the Adriatic . The only reason I suggested it (as an outside possibility) was that I was surprised to hear the wind called as such by a local in Gouvia marina last month. More likely to be a Maestro.

Steve Cronin
 
[ QUOTE ]
The Bora is usually regarded as a wind of the Adriatic . The only reason I suggested it (as an outside possibility) was that I was surprised to hear the wind called as such by a local in Gouvia marina last month. More likely to be a Maestro.

[/ QUOTE ]
Just for the fun of it, I suppose there is some margin for flexibility here... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

In fact terms like "Bora" or "Maestro" refer to the direction the wind is coming from (N-westerly for the Maestro, anywhere between NW and NE for the Bora), while the term "Meltemi" (or Etesian) refers to the fact that it is a seasonal wind (the western edge of the monsoons, in fact).

So, a northern wind in the egean in winter is not a Meltemi, and a seasonal northerly in Croatia in summer is a Meltemi, but the locals call it Bora nonetheless.... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Being Corfu right on the borderline, I'm not surprised they may be using both names. In fact, a northerly wind caused by a depression might be rightly considered to be not a Meltemi proper, even if it is in summer.... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Steve is in right. Deeply in the bay on N part is shallow and only for local small boats.
Regarding Bora and Meltemi..........
In Croatia exists 2 types of Bora
1. Cyclonal Bora which blows after cyclonal front passes Adriatic .This Bora I would say is closest to Meltemi
2. Night summer Bora ( we call it Burin) which is opposite to Maestral ( temperature diff. day-night)
 
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