Zante

[Chris_Robb]

We will be dropping off crew to fly back on Sleazy Jet from Zante in 3 weeks time. Anyone know what the cruising is like on this island? The west coast looks spectacular, but is probably not yacht friendly except in light winds.

My ancient 1980 Heinkle does not go into much detail (up to date pilots are on the boat - I'm at home) One port only on the west coast - Porto Vromi. described as a deep but safe inlet except in southerlies, but bad holding as bottom is slate...... so more up stern and bows to at the head of the inlet. Has anyone been there? And what is the rest of Zante like.

Thanks

 

[tennisgirl1]

We sailed around Zakinthos in 2008 so my comments are a bit dated and should be read with caution. However, crossing from Kefalonia and going ant-clockwise, there is a harbour on the north east corner - Ay Nikolaos which was being redeveloped and had several restaurants, a small supermarket and a petrol station!
The west coast is spectacular and there is a small anchorage at Ormos Vrouma (37° 49.296′ N 020° 37.896′ E). It was very small and crowded with fixed moorings - room for only two or three yachts - we spent a strange night with fishermen swimming around the boat using lights from midnight onwards. A bit creepy and we felt that we were unwelcome there.
Rounding the south-western corner, you come into Laganas Bay. Lot of restrictions here to allow the turtles to breed, but there is an anchorage outside the small harbour at Limni in the NW of Laganas Bay. We spent a pleasant few days at anchor there.
The east and northern sides of Laganas bay has restrictions on anchoring at certain times of the year.
Zakinthos town itself is OK. There are several spots to go on the quay and you pay a guy who comes along on his motorbike. It is one of the noisiest harbours I have stayed in - and that's saying something for Greece. The kids on bikes use the road alongside the harbour as their racetrack. A bit more info at http://yachtvigdis.wordpress.com/2008/09/

 

[Captain Coochie]

I cant comment on the tech stuff but the island is gorgeous and i can reccomend hiring a bike / car and getting out there to have a look for your self . Also gorgeous from the water as we hired a boat while out there and got to look at the caves . Probably good from your tender although i do remember quite a wash . This was all before i even thought of owning a boat but probably added to the disire

 

[Chris_Robb]

We sailed around Zakinthos in 2008 so my comments are a bit dated and should be read with caution. However, crossing from Kefalonia and going ant-clockwise, there is a harbour on the north east corner - Ay Nikolaos which was being redeveloped and had several restaurants, a small supermarket and a petrol station!
The west coast is spectacular and there is a small anchorage at Ormos Vrouma (37° 49.296′ N 020° 37.896′ E). It was very small and crowded with fixed moorings - room for only two or three yachts - we spent a strange night with fishermen swimming around the boat using lights from midnight onwards. A bit creepy and we felt that we were unwelcome there.
Rounding the south-western corner, you come into Laganas Bay. Lot of restrictions here to allow the turtles to breed, but there is an anchorage outside the small harbour at Limni in the NW of Laganas Bay. We spent a pleasant few days at anchor there.
The east and northern sides of Laganas bay has restrictions on anchoring at certain times of the year.
Zakinthos town itself is OK. There are several spots to go on the quay and you pay a guy who comes along on his motorbike. It is one of the noisiest harbours I have stayed in - and that's saying something for Greece. The kids on bikes use the road alongside the harbour as their racetrack. A bit more info at http://yachtvigdis.wordpress.com/2008/09/

Thanks for that, spent some time looking at your travel blog.

 

[jimbaerselman]

Chris,

This extract is from the Cruising Association web site, with their permission. It's from their "West Peloponese" page (a member's page) in the Cruising Information section. You can see the publicly available Greece info here: http://www.cruising.org.uk/cruising_information/cruising_guides/med/greece

Zakinthos (Zante). Zante has very much a tourist coastline to the south and east, with sandy beaches, lots of noise, and (especially in Laganas) a very British youth culture of late night boozing. There are many turtles off the beach of Laganas, often accompanied by "turtle watching" excursion boats. Inland Zante is another matter; a green and undeveloped farming area, completely foreign to the coastal shenanigans. Frequent summer charter flights connect with many UK airports.

<West Peloponese Map omitted>

* Ayios Nikolaos is a conveniently sheltered small ferry harbour near the north cape, which has a couple of tavernas and a shop.
* Zante (Zakinthos) Town. Zante has a busy harbour, and shows little concession to tourism. The port police, used to dealing with commercial traffic, work by the book, which is a bit of a shock to those sailors used to the relaxed routines of the northern Ionian. The town lost most of its lovely Italianate buildings in a massive 1953 earthquake, and many visitors don't like the serviceable buildings which replaced them. However, The town has a busy and active Greek life. If you stay overnight, check out Taverna Arekia for some lively entertainment. To find it, when ashore, travel right (north) along the sea front, pass the lido (about a kilometre?), then look out for a group of small tavernas. Arekia is a hoot. Most nights a bunch of guys go round the tables singing their hearts out making up rude/pointed/funny songs about each group of guests. In Greek. They call it 'kantadhes'. Nearby 'Alisvos' also does music, more formal though.
* Ormos Keri. In summer this is the only permitted anchorage in Laganas bay. Sadly the evidence from a 2009 visitor is that speed and anchoring restrictions designed to protect loggerhead turtles were being ignored in peak season as groups of tourists sprinted in RIBS to circle and photograph the turtles in high summer.