Circumnavigating the Peloponnese

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Circumnavigating the Peloponnese

Peloponnese

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Introduction

The circumnavigation of the Peloponnese can be a challenge to the cruiser because of the many different weather conditions and the length of the cruise. On the other hand it can be very rewarding because of the variety of its ports and anchorages and the opportunities for sightseeing this part of Greece steeped in history.

The Peloponnese or Pelopónnisos (Πελοπόννησος) is one of the largest geometrical features of mainland Greece. It covers an area of some 21,549 km² and it may be considered a large island since the Corinth Canal separates it from the rest of the Greek mainland. It is mountainous region and there are three large capes on its south side that give it its characteristic shape, These capes are Cape Maleas in the East, Cape Tenaron or Matapan and Cavo Grosso both the middle, and Mount Taygetus on the west.

The history of Pelopónnisos starts from the Paleolithic times but it was during the Bronze Age when a brilliant civilization the Mycenaean civilization was centered there. The Mycenaeans, especially the people centered in Mycenae, Sparta, and Pylos were the heros immortalized by Homer in his two epic poems: the Iliad and the Odyssey. The name Pelopónnisos, Pelops' island, is derived from the Greek Mythology.

In classical times the Peloponnese was dominated by Sparta on the south, and Corinth on the north east, but also it was the home to the Pan Hellenic (including all the Greek city-states) Olympic games in Olympia on the north west. in 146 BC the Romans conquered Greece and the Peloponnese became the roman province of Achaea. The Roman were succeeded by the Byzantines who held the Peloponnese until the empire was overran, in 1204 AD, by the Franks and the Venetians of the Fourth Crusade. They divided the region between them as a number of principalities. The Byzantines recaptured their capital, Constantinople, in 1261 AD and in 1308 established in Pelopónnisos Despotate of Morea with its capital the mountain city of Mystras, overlooking ancient Sparta. in October 1443, the prince of this Despotate, Constantine XI Palaiologos became the last Byzantine emperor. He did not last long, in May 29, 1453 the Ottomans under Mehmed II sacked Constantinople and the emperor was killed while defending his city. By 1458 and until 1827 the Peloponnese was under the Ottoman Empire. There were some exception to this. The Venetians managed to capture some harbors and the rugged Mani Peninsula, with constant guerilla warfare remained semi-independent.

The Greek War of Independence from the Ottomans declared in the Pelopónnisos town of Kalavryta on March 25, 1821. Pelopónnisos played a decisive ro;e during this war and was the scene of many battles. The war effectively ended with the sea Battle of Navarino on 20 October 1827. In 1829, the Peloponnesian town of Nafplion became the capital of the newly established state of Greece.

Climate & Weather Information

The weather while circumnavigating the Peloponnese can be best described separately for each section of the cruise:

1. East side - Here the weather of the Aegean Sea dominates, conditions however tend to be milder.
2. South side - The weather here is influenced by the capes. For details see South Peloponese.
3. West side - Here the weather is that of the Ionian Sea. For details see Ionian Sea Weather.
4. North side - For weather details see Gulf of Patras and Gulf of Corinth.

Weather Windows

The best time to circumnavigating the Peloponnese is late Spring to early Autumn (May to September).

In general this is not a heavily cruised area and you, most likely, will not experience the crowded condition that prevail in the Aegean and the Northern Ionian Seas during the summer months.

Radio Nets

Also see World Cruiser's Nets

• Greek Coast Guard - VHF channel 12
• Olympia Radio - This is the Greek VHF network. Local channels are listed in each individual port
• Cellular Phone(GSM/GPRS) - Despite the mountains and the numerous islands Greece and Italy have very good GSM/GPRS coverage.

Navigation Charts Required

BA

189 Nisos Sapiénza to Nisos Paxoi

682 Gulf of Kalamata

1030 Southern entrance channels to the Aegean Sea

1031 Yerakas to Kea

1600 Korinthiakós Kólpos - Diórigha Korinthou

1657 Saronikós Kólpos

1685 Nisís Venetico to Nísos Spétsai including the channels between Akra Malléas and Kríti Yerakas

Imray-Tetra

G13 Gulfs of Patras and Corinth

G14 Saronic and Argolic Gulf

G15 Southern Peloponnisos

NIMA

54301 Kalamai and Approaches

54303 Lakonikos Kolpos S Greece

54338 Approaches to (A) Korinthiakos and (B) Isthmia

54340 Nisos Spetsai - N. Vorioi Sporadhes

54341 Navplion and Appr Saronic Gulf Greece

54344 Saronicos Kolpos & K. Petalion

Greek

22 Ionio Sea - Southern Part Zakynthos I. to C. Tainaro

43 Kriti I. - Wastern Part Cape Tainaro to Milos I.

232 Korinthiakos Kolpos

413 Saronikos Kolpos

414 Poros mechri Monemvasia

415 Ydra to Sikinos

431 Monemvasia to Souda Bay

Passage Description

It is assumed that you start your Circumnavigation from the E side of the Corinth Canal. This is not necessary. You can start from convinient location.

The other assumption is that you sail in clockwise direction. This direction has a slight advantage during the suggested weather windows. The northerly meltemi at this time is stronger in the Aegean Sea so you will be sailing there down wind, while in the Ionian Sea the northerly headwinds will be weaker. So the clockwise direction is slightly more advantageous then the counterclockwise direction.

Distance & Duration

Distances are in nautical miles and are approximate to ±5 nM, Durations are approximate and are computed with an assumes an average speed of 6 knots to ±30 minutes.

Possible Departure Points

• Corinth Canal (Isthmia, East End) 37°54.91′N, 23°0.61′E

Note: You can start from convinient location.

Route/Suggested Stopovers

1. Start from Isthmia 37°54.91′N, 23°0.61′E, the east entrance of the Corinth Canal.
2. Sail 26 nM S to Epidhavros 37°38.3′N, 23°09.5′E where you can, if there is a performance, take a taxi to the Ancient Theater.
3. From Epidhavros continue to the wooded island of Poros 37°30.2′N, 23°27.21′E, 19 nM.
4. Next, you visit the historic and picturesque island of Hydra 37°21.1′N, 23°28′E, 13 nM.
5. Sail 17 nM W to Spetses 37°15.81′N, 23°09.87′E, another wooded and historical island.
6. We then go 4.5 nM across to Porto Heli 37°18.9′N, 23°08.2′E in the mainland. Porto Heli is a large all weather harbor.
7. From Porto Heli we sail south for 18 nM to Leonidio 37°08.7′N, 22°53.61′E. From the port you can visit the Elona Monastery build on the shear cliffs of the mountain, about a 25 minutes by taxi.
8. Following the eastern coast we sail south 26 nM from Leonidio to the lovely fjord of Yerakas 36°47.07′N, 23°05.45′E. Make sure that yo do climb up the hill and see the impressive, probably Mycenaean, acropolis of Zarakas.
9. Next, you sail 8.6 nM to Monemvasía 36°41.4′N, 23°02.5′E, one of the most spectacular places in Greece. If you do not want to risk mooring in Monemvasía you can leave your boat in Yerakas and take a taxi, about 45 minutes.
10. From Monemvasía keep sailing 42.4 nM rounding Cape Maleas to Kapsáli 36°08.6′N, 22°59.89′E the main port of the island of Cythera, Aphrodite's birthplace.
11. Sail back N for 27 nM to secluded anchorage Lefkí 36°30.62′N, 22°58.96′E in the small island of Elafonisos.
12. Enter the Gulf of Lakonia and sail NW to the harbor of Yithio 36°45.58′N, 22°34.1′E, 30 nM. This is a good place to leave your yacht in order to visit Sparta and the incredible Byzantine site of Mystras.
13. Now head 21 nM S to the anchorage of Porto Kayo 36°25.8′N, 22°29.1′E, a few miles before Cape Tenaron.
14. Next we head SW and visit the Gulf of Kalamata by rounding both Cape Tenaron and Cavo Grosso. Our first stop, 25 nM from Porto Kayo, is Diros 36°38.4′N, 22°22.8′E. Here we can anchor only in settled weather but a visit to the renowned Diros Cave is a must.
15. From Diros sail 27 nM N to Kalamata Marina 37°01.4′N, 22°06.24′E where you can safely leave your boat and visit the interior.
16. Now head SW and sail for 15 nM to the pleasant anchorage of Koroni 36°48′N, 21°57.6′E.

Possible Arrival Ports

CruiserLog Forum discussions

Links to discussions on the CruiserLog Forum

External Links

• Peloponnese (Wikipedia)
• Ancient Theater of Epidaurus (Wikipedia)
• Greek Ministry of Culture

References

Books, guides, etc.

Personal Notes

Personal experience?

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