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JimB Sail newsletter
Once every few months we'll email you about site additions and cruising news - unless you unsubscribe, of course!
This is a passage route, rather than a cruising ground. If your cruise plan is to circumnavigate the Peloponnese (a rewarding six to eight-week cruise, depending on your natural pace) it's best done anti-clockwise to use favourable winds for 75% of the journey. So carry on south.
Gulf winds are predominantly westerly in summer, stronger in the afternoons, up to F5. For a westerly trip, either do it out of season, or make early morning departures, motoring as necessary, and keep to the north shore, where the wind sets in later. There are enough ports and anchorages en route to remove the need for night sailing.
Corinth Canal is one of the great sights of Europe, and you can actually go through it (at a price, see Corinth Canal Web Site) rather than just viewing from a bungee cord under the road bridge. Pay your toll at the eastern end - something around €80 for a private sailing vessel under 9m and €150 for a 12m yacht. (2020).
Gulf of Corinth, Dolphin Pods. Large pods of dolphins, of several species, roam this gulf and often come to play with yachts on passage. Identify them from the lovely pictures on my brother's site.
Kiato & Corinth are suitable harbours for a night stop; chains to snag your anchor in Corinth.
Nisi Alkyonides. These uninhabited islands provide a quiet stop-over anchorage on the way to or from the canal, 3 hours sailing away. There's an abandoned monastery to explore and plenty of peace and quiet.
Anchorages. North-west of the Alkyonides there are several further quiet anchorages along the coast
Itea — Galaxidi If you love the sites of ancient Greece, a stop at one of these ports is a 'must' in order to visit Delphi. Delphi is grossly crowded in July and August, but the setting makes up for even that. Itea has a well sheltered 'marina', but is a rather dull little town. Galaxidi is a pleasant little town in its own right — you'll be mooring end-on to a well-sheltered quay, so make sure no-one is going to lift your hook while you're away. Large pods of dolphins between Corinth and Itea.
Trizonia is a tiny island with well sheltered alongside berths opposite the small hamlet of Glifhada. 'Laid back' fits this quiet spot, a convenient (free) pause for yachts cruising the Gulf and a graveyard for deserted yachts (one sunk alongside for 3 years).
Navpaktos has a unique, beautiful tiny mediaeval port. But it is noisy with passing road traffic. And because it's so tiny, and hemispherical, all anchors lie in a heap in the centre of the harbour; chaos at departure time. You may not find a place in July and August, so in settled weather, you may have to anchor off the beach — rather rolly at times.
Gorge - Dhiakofto to Kalavrita. This tourist attraction is reached from the southern Gulf coast, 20nm east of Patras, by bus or rail. A rack and pinion railway runs up a dramatic gorge from Dhiaftiko to Kalavrita. This is one of the gems of the Peloponnese, so plan to take time out to enjoy this trip. With time, also do the trip by car for some magnificent scenery and to visit the 'Cave of Lakes', a long cave with a river/stream running through it. There's a good description of the area and some of its history on Matt Barrett's site.
Patras is the third largest city in Greece, a lively town, and the busiest port on the west coast. It has a good yacht harbour (they always charge you for two days for a one night stay), a shipyard with hoist suitable for lay-up, and a wide range of local engineering support services. Take a day trip to the Kalavrita gorge. Athens buses or trains run hourly and take 3 hours. Overnight ferries connect with Bari, Brindisi and Venice - vehicle and cabin about €700
Rio Bridge. This bridge, crossing the Gulf, is an impressive sight. Get radio permission before passing under - they'll tell you which span to use.
Messolonghi Messolonghi harbour has fascinating houses on stilts around the entrance canal — have your camera ready. Town centre (attractive; pedestrianised) is about a mile from the harbour. In light winds, evening mosquitos are a warm weather nuisance. The harbour is suitable for live-aboard or wintering afloat, with a very well sheltered anchorage and a quayside. Sadly, the marina with shore hard (and good facilities) following internal disagreements has been dis-functional from 2016, and in summer 2018 was still awaiting licence approval for hull cleaning, antifouling, lifting and launching. Check before trying to use it. Infrequent buses to Levkas/Preveza; better connections to Patras and its frequent buses to Athens.
Reviewed Feb 2018
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