Zakynthos

Capn Pugwash

Capn Pugwash

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On Kite - Greece
www.boatbabysitters.com
Getting ready to leave Malta and 1st stop planned to be Zakynthos. Anybody know if there are some decent anchorages on the S - SW side of the island? Still trying to get hold of a better Greek Pilot but no luck so far. My maps don't show any great detail of the island.

As an aside - Pirates(or Smugglers) Cove - can't find that either. I was last in Zak 12 years ago and me brain ain't wot it was!!!

Heard a rumour the Greeks are about to dump the Euro!!!
 
Capn Pugwash said:
Getting ready to leave Malta and 1st stop planned to be Zakynthos. Anybody know if there are some decent anchorages on the S - SW side of the island? Still trying to get hold of a better Greek Pilot but no luck so far. My maps don't show any great detail of the island.

As an aside - Pirates(or Smugglers) Cove - can't find that either. I was last in Zak 12 years ago and me brain ain't wot it was!!!

Heard a rumour the Greeks are about to dump the Euro!!!
Click to expand...

Hi as you said You HEARD A RUMOUR!!!!! NUFF SAID.

No way ho zayy
 
Keri Bay is really the only anchorage on the South of Zante, and only the west corner is available for anchoring due to restrictions. Either free swing or anchor on the outside of the of the mole and take a line ashore.
 
Nothing on the west side except a tiny inlet at the north end. South coast is a wide bay with two anchorages in western corner at Keri and in the middle at Lagana. Main port of Zakinthos is on the eastern side of the island, southern end.

Not the best of landfalls - Cephalonia , Levkas or Corfu are better.
 
Keri bay is OK to drop a hook in prevailing NW wind. I spend 2 weeks on the anchor there in July. W cost have a great scenery. Caves at the SW part are stunning. Coves and beaches at western side are worth visiting. Smugglers Cove is 37.51.32.91 - 20.37.30.00 anchor at the N part of the bay.

Porto Vromi few mil. S from Smugglers Cove is another secure place, but rather small bay not recommended.

Blue caves NE are very nice easy access from Ag. Nicolaos.

I love Zakinthou. Spend few week every summer with my boat + rented scooter. Often neglected by sailors, which is good btw. No flotillas and only few charter boats but is very popular with R.I.B sailors in august when Italians have ferragosto.
Town of Zakintos is lovely Greek town, and only safe port to leave a boat.
 
Don't tell anybody else but is it possible to moor up in Laganus harbour. Your draft will need to be less than 6' and you'll be sqeezing in between the fishing boats so will need plenty of fenders. For shore power, "apparently" it's been known to plug into the lamp post! In the season you'll need earplugs to get to sleep!
 
The protection scheme for the Leatherbacks restricts activity in the SW areas you seek. Zakynthos town is a vile place. If the disco noise doesn't get you until 5am the church bells which start an hour later surely will. Rats are prolific on the town quay. You need to use all the countermeasures available to your brainpower! DON'T anchor inside the harbour, as per the polot books - the ferries will have no respect for you whatsoever.

Also, the following, recently forwarded by a friend from one of his cruising compatriots should be heeded:-

"Today 18th May 2012 I had a conversation with the Zakynthos Harbour Authoritry representative Tim Zontos Tel (+30)6948502437 about the charges etc for yachts. He informs me that, as from monday 21st, they will be collecting payments for berthing, electric, water etc. If you are asked to pay by the company rep of Port Marina Services decline this offer and phone Jim. He will arrange the payments to be collected. He says that water will be Euro 5 for a fill up. Electric euro 3 /night, Showers free, internet free. Leaflets are being made out with all information to services e.g port police medical etc. He also said that a sign will be erected on the harbour wall to this effect."

Previously, a somewhat "Worrying" to my mind anyway, character alleging to represent the local yacht club, would turn up, demand your papers and a few euros, promising to return the following morning with all the necessary formalities completed.

The options re tavernas in that town are also VERY limited indeed.

As to Ag. Nicolaos in the north: it is run by one family who's taverna is primitive and the shelter and berthing arrangements leave much to be desired. Kefallinia much better and the mainland has much better too.

Kyparissia, despite dear Rob & Lucinda's much in need of updating's view of the place now has exceptionally good shelter due to the greatly extended outer wall.

Chas
 
Re Kyprassia, the place is great, much improved by the extended breakwater. But it still get rolly inside when the prevaling wind is much above a force 3 for more than a coupe of hours. We were there last summer and needed lots of additional fenders to stop damage to the hull as the wave broke over the top of the new wall.....
 
duncan99210 said:
Re Kyprassia, the place is great, much improved by the extended breakwater. But it still get rolly inside when the prevaling wind is much above a force 3 for more than a coupe of hours. We were there last summer and needed lots of additional fenders to stop damage to the hull as the wave broke over the top of the new wall.....
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We were there a couple of years ago. Astern of us was a local boat, very much battered about. The owner told us he had left the boat alongside over winter, where it suffered considerable damage in winter storms. Waves were breaking green over the wall in big winds.
 
vyv_cox said:
We were there a couple of years ago. Astern of us was a local boat, very much battered about. The owner told us he had left the boat alongside over winter, where it suffered considerable damage in winter storms. Waves were breaking green over the wall in big winds.
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"Couple of years ago" it would. i am talking about last year.

Chas
 
duncan99210 said:
Re Kyprassia, the place is great, much improved by the extended breakwater. But it still get rolly inside when the prevaling wind is much above a force 3 for more than a coupe of hours. We were there last summer and needed lots of additional fenders to stop damage to the hull as the wave broke over the top of the new wall.....
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We were tucked into one of the recesses in the new wall and in much more than a NW3 it stayed flat as a millpond. However we were in Kyparrissia. Can't say for "Kyprassia"!

Chas
 
CharlesSwallow said:
We were tucked into one of the recesses in the new wall and in much more than a NW3 it stayed flat as a millpond. However we were in Kyparrissia. Can't say for "Kyprassia"!

Chas
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Yes we were there a week ago in some quite big winds, no problems at all, infact we commented it was one of the most sheltered places we had been. We were stern to rather than alongside, although there was plenty of room to go along side. Free water at very good pressure.
We did find an uncomfortable swell came into Katakolon, although provided you were hauled well off you were safe enough.
Killinis new inside harbour was very good and we went along side, very sheltered
 
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vyv_cox said:
Has the new wall been extended further? The extension of the outer wall and construction of the new one had been completed when we visited.
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This was late 2010 when we noticed that all was completed and I DID promise Lucinda Heikell the photos we took but have been tardy in forwarding them. As to the water supply, it is good and high pressure but let it run a while unless you like very hot water in your tanks! Great alfresco shower though! The black supply pipe runs unprotected and on top of, the length of the harbour quay wall.

Chas
 
jordanbasset said:
Yes we were there a week ago in some quite big winds, no problems at all, infact we commented it was one of the most sheltered places we had been. We were stern to rather than alongside, although there was plenty of room to go along side. Free water at very good pressure.
We did find an uncomfortable swell came into Katakolon, although provided you were hauled well off you were safe enough.
Killinis new inside harbour was very good and we went along side, very sheltered
Click to expand...

Could you give more info about the improvements at Killini?

Chas
 
CharlesSwallow said:
Could you give more info about the improvements at Killini?

Chas
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Hi, no idea how 'new' the improvements are but in Rod Heikels book it shows a smallish outer breakwater and a small stone like inner harbour for fishing boats. It appears the outer harbour has been extended and is used now for mooring up big commercial boats. Also appears the inner harbour has been extended and that is where we went alongside, plenty of room. Have attached a picture but unfortunately only show inner harbour. As I say this may have been some time ago.
Also have attached a rather distant picture of Kiparisia
 
CharlesSwallow said:
Could you give more info about the improvements at Killini?

Chas
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What improvements Killini?, apart from the 5 year-old extension to the outer breakwater, they've only dredged, to 6m, the area by the entrance to the inner port.
I was talking, in Poros on Saturday with the ferry skipper.
For me it's (as Rosslare) only good for ferries, OK for winds in S & W sectors, but hell in N and E. I only anchor there as an occasional overnight stop, last time October 2011.
Kiparissa OK, but quite some surge in prevailing NW (I was there on Friday). Water and power now readily available and the Limenikos gives you a lift up to his eyrie.
the trouble with anchoring in Kiparissa is that the bottom is of hard sand and many anchors won't dig in, so most go alongside when swell is very apparent.

In answer to OP's original ? Nothing at all, except fair-weather lunch stops on the W coast, (and the swell really does roll in), and the loggerheads have interdicted all except Keri on the S coast. Whilst I wouldn't agree with C Swallow about Zante town being a dump, the harbour is pretty poor, and expensive (that's the €25 water-man's base). I now avoid Zakinthos and would suggest Argostoli or Poros as a far better places.
The Fiskardo pontoon is now damaged and no boats allowed on, in a storm last week so Fiskardo short of spaces.
 
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Tranona said:
Nothing on the west side except a tiny inlet at the north end. South coast is a wide bay with two anchorages in western corner at Keri and in the middle at Lagana. Main port of Zakinthos is on the eastern side of the island, southern end.

Not the best of landfalls - Cephalonia , Levkas or Corfu are better.
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Ok. Nuff said. Will probably head for Levkas instead and then go to Smugglers Cove for a day trip!! Thanks for the info. Fair winds

CP
 
Well then Duncan 99210, that must have been scotch mist breaking over the harbour wall in Kiperarsia when we we were there with you, and the swell must have been caused by the proliferation of basking sharks in the harbour. Why on earth did we have fender boards out.........I'll go to the foot of our stairs !!
 
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