Sailing itineraries Ionian Sea

• Highlights like the coasts of the Peloponese and Olympia and Zakynthos are well in reach;
• Better change to avoid the Ionian charter milk run;
• Time for onshore excursions;

The Ionian Islands

Characteristics		Ionian Islands
Easy access by plane or ferry
Unspoiled by tourism
Beautiful ports
Amenities and tavernas
Ancient Greek sites
Mediaeval sites
Secluded anchorages
Spectacular scenery
Easy sailing conditions
Fertile and lush vegetation
Wildlife

The sailing itineraries

1 week   Lefkas-Lefkas						1 week   Lefkas-Lefkas
	Day	Port		NM			Day	Port		NM
	1	Lefkas port					1	Lefkas port
	2	Palairos		11			2	Kalamos		21
	3	Kalamos		16			3	Kastos		5
	4	Kastos		5			4	Astakos		11
	5	Sivota		13			5	Frikes		25
	6	Meganisi		8			6	Meganisi		16
	7	Lefkas port		11			7	Lefkas port		11
				64						89

1 week   Lefkas-Lefkas						1 week   Lefkas-Lefkas
	Day	Port		NM			Day	Port		NM
	1	Lefkas port					1	Lefkas port
	2	Sivota		16			2	Sivota		16
	3	Vassiliki		9			3	Eufimia		24
	4	Paxos		51			4	Poros		12
	5	Mourtos		11			5	Kastos		24
	6	Parga		11			6	Meganisi		12
	7	Lefkas port		32			7	Lefkas port		11
				130						99

1 week   Corfu-Corfu						1 week   Corfu-Corfu
	Day	Port		NM			Day	Port		NM
	1	Corfu/Gouvia					1	Corfu/Gouvia
	2	Mourtos		22			2	Sagiada		10
	3	Parga		11			3	Erikoussa		31
	4	Paxos		13			4	Paxos		53
	5	Petriti		19			5	Parga		13
	6	Sagiada		14			6	Mourtos		11
	7	Corfu/Gouvia		10			7	Corfu/Gouvia		22
				89						140

2 weeks   Lefkas-Lefkas						2 weeks   Lefkas-Lefkas
	Day	Port		NM			Day	Port		NM
	1	Lefkas port					1	Lefkas port
	2	Kalamos		21			2	Meganisi		11
	3	Kastos		5			3	Kastos		12
	4	Astakos		11			4	Frikes		16
	5	Poros		27			5	Fiskardo		16
	6	Eufimia		12			6	Paxos		51
	7	Fiskardo		14			7	Petriti		19
	8	Frikes		16			8	Corfu		12
	9	Kioni		2			9	''		--
	10	Sivota		11			10	Sagiada		8
	11	Meganisi		8			11	Plantaria		11
	12	''		--			12	Mourtos		6
	13	Palairos		8			13	Parga		13
	14	Lefkas port		11			14	Lefkas port		24
				146						199

2 weeks   Lefkas-Lefkas						2 weeks   Corfu-Corfu
	Day	Port		NM			Day	Port		NM
	1	Lefkas port					1	Corfu/Gouvia
	2	Palairos		11			2	Petriti		15
	3	Kalamos		16			3	Mourtos		12
	4	Kastos		5			4	Parga		11
	5	Poros		24			5	Lefkas		32
	6	Nikolaos		18			6	Meganisi		11
	7	Keri		22			7	Kalamos		13
	8	Vromi		19			8	Sivota		14
	9	Argostoli		26			9	Paxos		49
	10	Assos		23			10	Paleokastrita		40
	11	Fiskardo		9			11	Erikoussa		19
	12	Sivota		13			12	Sagiada		36
	13	Meganisi		8			13	Corfu town		8
	14	Lefkas port		11			14	Corfu/Gouvia		3
				205						263

3 weeks   Lefkas-Lefkas						3 weeks   Corfu-Corfu
	Day	Port		NM			Day	Port		NM
	1	Lefkas port					1	Corfu/Gouvia
	2	Parga		24			2	Petriti		15
	3	Mourtos		13			3	Mourtos		13
	4	Petriti		13			4	Parga		13
	5	Corfu		14			5	Lefkas		24
	6	''		--			6	Palairos		11
	7	Sagiada		11			7	Meganisi		8
	8	Paxos		29			8	''		--
	9	Antipaxos		3			9	Kalamos		13
	10	Vasiliki		43			10	Kastos		5
	11	Assos		15			11	Poros		24
	12	Argostoli		23			12	Eufimia		12
	13	Vromi		26			13	frikes		20
	14	Nikolaos		13			14	''		--
	15	Astakos		43			15	Vassiliki		9
	16	Kastos		11			16	Antipaxos		43
	17	Kalamos		5			17	Paxos		3
	18	Meganisi		13			18	Paleokastrita		37
	19	''		--			19	Erikoussa		17
	20	Vlikho		5			20	Sagiada		36
	21	Lefkas port		10			21	Corfu/Gouvia		8
				314						311

Ionian winds and weather

• Early in the day - especially near North Corfu and in the Corfu Channel, a dense fog may reduce visibility to about ½ mile. The afternoon sun will soon burn it off.
• Be aware of possible violent gusts on the leeward side of the islands due to high land, for instance the eastern coastlines of Ithaca and Zakinthos.
• The Maistro fair-weather-wind (Maistros or Maestral) is the usual breeze in July and August. This pleasant north-west wind rises in the afternoon and usually dies at sunset. Clouds near the summits act as a tell-tale for the stronger version.
  In early and late season the Maistro is less developed and sometimes fails to blow. At this time depressions may cross the area, which will often bring strong to gale force southerlies that can abruptly swing around to strong northerlies.
  Less frequent are the westerly winds (moderate to strong) off the west and south Peloponnese coast.
• Early in the evening katabatic winds could develop off the high mainland mountains usually from the north-east, possible reaching 6 Bft (25 knots) and lasting 2 to 3 hours.
• Strong southerlies could turn to the north possibly increasing in strength as well.
• In the spring - not later than May - the Scirocco or Sirocco - another southern wind - can bring humid heat and the red sand of the Sahara. The humidity often results in low stratus clouds.

Unsorted tips

• To sail clear of the Ionian Charter Milk Run try to embark on another day than Saturday, or sail for more than one week. Most milk runs start at Lefkas and follow variations of my A, B and D itineraries, focussing on Lefkas island, Meganisi, Ithaca and Kefalonia instead of Kalamos, Kastos and the Greek mainland.
• The beautiful estuary of the Ambracian Gulf or Amvrakikos Bay, just east of Preveza, is a less-travelled nature reserve well worth visiting. There are a couple of interesting anchorages and two secluded little ports (Menidion and Votsina). The shallow waters of the Gulf are surrounded by lagoons and marshlands and home to the endangered Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) as well as small populations of Caretta Caretta turtles, Spotted Eagles (aquila clanga), Lesser Spotted Eagles (aquila Pomarina) and Pygmy Cormorants.
• Though less frequented by charter yachts, there are a couple of ports south of Zakynthos and along the Peloponnese coast, that are worth the extra mileage:
  Katakolon port to visit Olympia
  Kyparissia port is a sweet town plus chora with a Byzantine-Frankish fortress and stunning green fields all around (see aerial photo).
  Pylos port and bay - although boosting a marina - is quite charming, with French allure and an impressive Venetian castle.
  Methoni port is even further south and is known for its wines and pork. A delightful place with - again - a Venetian fort and fertile orchards.
  Koroni, on the south coast of the peloponnese, is a bustling must-see town set within and next to a fabulous Venetian Fortress with good restaurants near the harbour.
• A 2-weeks itinerary Corfu-Lefkas opens up a lot of possibilities: Day 1: Corfu, Day 2: Sagiada, Day 3: Erikoussa, Day 4: Othoni, Day 5: Paleokastritsa, Day 6: Mourtos, Day 7: Parga, Day 8: Paxos, Day 9: Fiscardo, Day 10: Astakos, Day 11: Kalamos, Day 12: Kastos, Day 13: Meganisi, Day 14: Lefkas. You could also include the Ambracian Gulf or the island of Ithaca.
• The transfer from Levkas to Corfu takes about 3½ hours by taxi and ferry. Costs: 1 taxi /4 persons EURO 80 and ferry per person EURO 3.

Greek Waters Pilot - Rod Heikell A yachtsman's guide to the entire area from the Ionian Islands to the Aegean, Rhodes and Crete and includes details of over 450 harbours in a single volume. Greek Waters Pilot - Amazon.co.uk

Ionian Pilot Corfu, Levkas, Cephalonia, Zakinthos and the coast to Finakounda Rod Heikell This pilot guide contains detailed information on many of the smaller harbours and anchorages which cannot be covered as comprehensively in Rod Heikell's major guide, Greek Waters Pilot.

Imray Chart G11: Northern Ionian → All nautical charts for the Greek Islands and Turkish Coasts.

Imray Chart G12: Southern Ionian → All nautical charts for the Greek Islands and Turkish Coasts.

I have also uploaded a list of handy GPS waypoints for the Ionian for you. For everything else: feel free to contact me ...

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