Arrange a private yacht charter in Greece and sail the
Northern Ionian Sea - a guide to the Ionian islands and what to see.
If you thought Paxos was something that went with turkey and Scylla was how you
behaved when you'd drunk to much Ouzo, you clearly haven't chartered a yacht and
sailed the Ionian.
Yacht Charter In The Northern Ionian Sea by :
ken jones
No look at the Ionian would be complete without mention of Homer and
the Odyssey. The Odyssey tells the storey of Odysseus and his travels
and adventures throughout the Mediterranean in around 800BC. The Trojan
War concluded when the Greeks succeeded into bringing a wooden horse
into the city of Troy. Greek soldiers were hidden inside and opened the
city gates to the Greek army who sacked the city. Odysseus and the other
Greeks could know return to their kingdoms across the sea. To say
Odysseus's journey was eventful is rather understating the matter.
On departing Troy in what is now north west Turkey he sails south
through the Aegean Sea. On reaching the southern tip of Greece he is
blown off course to the lotus eaters in what is thought to be Libya. The
it's on to Sicily where he runs into Cyclops. This one eyed giant eats
two of the crew before they escape. More trouble in the Laestrygonians -
Corsica or Sardinia. Here the fleet is attacked by giants hurling
boulders and more of the crews are devoured. The survivors head east to
Italy and the enchantress Circe. She entertains the sailors and then
with a wave of her wand, turns them into swine. Odysseus is protected by
the herb that the god Hermes has given him.
At some point in the journey reference is made to the pillars of
Hercules. And this is supposed to be the Rock of Gibraltar and Jebel
Musa in Morocco. These two mountains sit either side of the straights
that are the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean.
Now he must pass the Sirens whose sweet singing lures sailors to their
deaths. Odysseus plugs fills the ears of his crew with wax and then
lashes himself to the mast so he cannot steer the ship onto the waiting
rocks. Passing through the straits between Sicily and mainland Italy
they run into Charybdis, who swallows the sea in a whirlpool, then spits
it up again. And Scylla who uses each of her six hands to reach down
from her cliff and pluck a sailor from the deck and then promptly, yes
you guessed, eats them.
More misfortune as they upset the god Zeus who sends a thunderbolt to
destroy the ship. Only Odysseus survives, washed ashore on Malta, the
home of the nymph Calypsos who detains him against his will. Zeus, the
king of the gods, sends Hermes skimming over the waves on magic sandals
with orders for Odysseus's release. But when nearly home again another
god, Poseidon, sends a storm to wreck his vessel and he is washed ashore
on Corfu several days later. He falls asleep in an olive thicket and is
woken to the sound of female laughter. This is the Princess Nausicaa
come down to the riverside to wash her wedding dress. Odysseus
approaches her and she agrees to help him try and finish his journey
home. She introduces him to her father and when he has heard Odysseus's
story he orders him sped home to Ithaca.
Once home he finds the island full of suitors for his wife's hand, after
such a length of time Odysseus is believed dead. He and an ally fight
and win a battle against overwhelming odds with a little help from the
gods. And then Athena tells the contending parties to live together in
peace down through the years to come.
Weather - The wind is consistent with conditions found throughout the
Eastern Mediterranean. Little wind in the morning but from noon the wind
freshens throughout the afternoon reaching perhaps 20 knots. The evening
and night sees a return to calm conditions. During the summer months it
blows from the NW and from the SW for the remaining months.
The sailing area from the north
Corfu - . The island receives three times the average amount of rain for
the area and as a consequence is a mass of green woodlands, wild
pine-covered mountains, lakes and cultivated fields. It also has miles
of sandy beaches. The island's capital, Corfu Town is attractively
situated on a promontory on the east coast, dominated by the New
Fortress. Visit Sidari to the north to swim in the Canal d'Amour, the
legend has it that lovers will stay together for life. 16 km to the
south of Corfu Town is the Villa of Achillion, built in Italian
Renaissance style and situated at an altitude of 145 m. It has
magnificent gardens and attractive panoramic views. Today it is a
museum. 3 km further south is the charming fishing village of Benitses
and the remains of a Roman villa. Climb to the summit of Mount
Pantokrator where you will find an abandoned monastery dating from 1347.
The hilltop also provides beautiful views
The main harbour is in Corfu town. Enter the Old Harbour from the
eastern end of the breakwater. The entrance into the interior of the
harbour is very narrow and a strong north-westerly makes entry difficult.
Once inside there is excellent shelter in all weathers. Visitor's berths
are behind the windward mole, alongside, two and three deep. Anchoring
is not advised, you will almost certainly get gear tangled. Having
berthed you are within walking distance of the town's centre. Adjacent
to the harbour you will find chandlers, machine shops, boat engine
repair services and others for electrical and electronic gear. Corfu
town unquestionably offers the best all-round facilities in the northern
Ionian.
3 miles to the NW is Linin Gouvia, a large land locked bay. At it's
southern end is Gouvia marina which has become Corfu's centre of
yachting. It is home to a Venetian arsenal. The surrounding area has been
given over to the package holiday and there are more pleasant places to
spend time on a yachting holiday.
The north Corfu channel is the stretch of water between Corfu and
Albania. Beware the reef just to the north of Agios Stefanos.
Agios Stefanos is a small inlet in the North Corfu Channel. No objection
is normally made to anchoring here despite the presence of a nearby
military post. Anchor in the middle of the bay in depths of 3 - 6m. The
bottom is thick weed and mud which can be difficult to get through. Good
shelter from the prevailing NW wind. There is a rough stone mole on the
south side of the bay but this is usually taken by local boats. There
are numerous tavernas around the shore. Some holiday villas have been
built here but the bay retains a calm and a beauty well worth the stop
for the night. Limited provisions can be obtained
Agni Bay is immediately south of Kalami in the north east of the island.
It is open to the south and and east but offers good shelter from the
prevailing NW wind.
There are three taverns, each with it's own private jetty, where you may
anchor preferably bow to. If you overnight here it is better to anchor
at the northern or southern end of the bay to avoid the large waves
created by the ferries that enter and leave during the night.
Paleokastritsa is on the east side of the Island it is an attractive
tourist resort dominated by the Monastery of Panayia Theotokos which
perches on a high cliff. A 90 minute hours climb takes you to the ruins
of Angelokastro Castle which dates from the 13th century. There are many
sea caves in the locality that can be reached by tender or dinghy. It is
not easy by day to distinguish the entrance to the bay when approaching
from the northwest. However the monastery on the peak of the peninsula
is conspicuous. The harbour is situated on the western side of the bay
and protected by a quay running north south. Usually full of fishing
caiques the only a few available berths are to be found near the head of
the quay. Protection is good in all weathers excepting strong
southerlies when waves crash over the break water and create a large
swell in the harbour. The port has no water. Fuel can be delivered.
There are bars, restaurants and a supermarket all within walking
distance.
Petriti Village - To the north of the harbour is an old quarry which
visible from a distance. There are shallows stretching south of the
harbour along the bay and care is needed. Good protection from all
weather in the harbour. Head for the new quay towards the land where
depths are greater than 2 meters. If you moor behind the breakwater be
aware of the shallows nearby. The taverns ashore usually have fresh
fish. There are shops at the village of Argyrades some three km away.
Good beaches for swimming nearby
Paxos is 7 miles to the south of Corfu. It is a charming little island,
covered with pine trees. It can be explored fully in a few days with a
car or motorbike both of which can be rented locally. The architecture
of the three main towns, Gaios, Laka, and Logos is typically Ionian with
colourful two and three-story homes lining the streets. By contrast the
rural landscape is filled with low stone houses surrounded by lush green
gardens.
The emblem of Paxos is the trident. It is said that Poseidon, the god of
the seas, wanted to create a beautiful, peaceful island apart from the
other gods and men and intended to live there with his beloved Amfitriti.
So he struck the southern part of Corfu hard and Paxos was formed.
However he lost his trident striking the blow which was later found by
Paxiots who made it their emblem.
Gaios is the capital of Paxos. It is a charming port and spreads itself
along the waterfront. Enter Gaios from a northerly direction passing two
small islands, Panayia and St Nicholas Island. Soak up the atmosphere of
this bustling capital in Gaios square. In it's centre is the church of
St Apostoli. Gaios harbour and the approaching inlet are very safe
overnight moorings with security patrols on both land and water. There
are several buildings worth visiting the castle of St Nicholas, the
Monastery of Panayia, the Church of Agioi Apostoli and the early
Christian church of Agia Marina. Take in the sunset at the Ostries.
There are fine beaches at loni Gouli, Kamini and Kaki Lagada.
Port Gaios is the principal port of the island. You can moor right in
the middle of the busy touristy scenery or choose a quieter berth further
down the long quay. If you want a berth in July and August be here early
in the afternoon. Excellent shelter in all weathers. Care should be
taken when laying your anchor as passing ferries in the narrow channel
may foul your chain.
Lakka, in the north of Paxos is set in a gorgeous horseshoe shaped bay
and is flanked by high ground covered in cypress trees and olive groves.
The bay which nearly landlocked is excellent for swimming and water
sports. Holding is good. Some swell may occur dependent on the wind's
direction. There are some berths on the quay, limited to around 10
yachts. Fresh water from the local water truck.
Its tiny sister island, just to the south, Anti Paxos is surrounded with
crystal clear waters lapping onto some lovely sandy beaches.
About the author
Ken Jones runs a
Sailing Site. More information about
Yacht Charter can be found
here Find other Marine Services in
Greece
here.
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