Argostoli

From CruisersWiki

Contents 1 Local Weather 2 Charts 3 Radio Nets 4 Approach and Navigation 5 Check-in facilities (for Customs and Immigration) 6 Berthing Options 6.1 Yacht Quay 6.2 Argostoli ‘marina’ 6.3 Marinas & Yacht Clubs

Argostóli (Αργοστόλι) is the main harbor of Kefalonia and is a port of entry to Greece. It was destroyed by the 1953 earthquake and has been re-built. Although the reconstruction lost much of the architectural character of the town, an effort has been made in recent years to refurbish the waterfront and establish parks and other green areas to brighten up Argostoli, an effort which has been rewarded with a burgeoning tourism industry – helped in part by the publicity given to the town and its wartime history by Louis de Berniere’s novel Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. Most visiting yachts moor on the quay immediately S of the customs quay, where depths range from 2.5 metres at the S end to 3.0 metres at the N end. Shelter here is excellent from the prevailing winds but the quay is choppy in strong E winds. Alternatively, a yacht can berth on the E side in the uncompleted and rather forlorn Argostoli marina or anchor off at the S end of the bay, 200 metres N of the causeway that crosses it.

Local Weather

• See Ionian Sea Weather.
• Also see Ionian Sea Currents & Tides.

Charts

BA

203 Nisos Zakinthos to Nisos Paxoi

1557 Argostoli Port

Imray-Tetra

G12 Nísos Levkas to Nísos Zákinthos

NIMA

54280 Corfu Channel to Nisis Proti

Greek

2 Ionio Pelagos

30 Kefalonia, Ithaki

Radio Nets

Also see World Cruiser's Nets.

Approach and Navigation

A good chart and careful navigation is necessary in the approach to Argostoli. There are reefs off both the E and W headlands at the entrance to the Gulf of Argostoli and shoal patches to be avoided on entering the Gulf itself. On arriving at the headland of the peninsula on which the town sits, which is marked by a conspicuous Doric-style lighthouse, stay at least 200 metres off the headland when rounding it, as there are extensive shoals off both the NW and NE sides. There is also a further starboard marker 50 metres SE of the cruise ship pier to be negotiated, which marks a dangerous shoal patch.

The main harbour and yacht quay are to starboard, next to the town, and the ‘marina’ to port on the W side. The bay shallows quickly once past the customs quay and terminates after another 200 metres in a concrete causeway linking the two sides of the bay and creating an enclosed salt water lake to the S.

Check-in facilities (for Customs and Immigration)

Argostoli is a port of entry. Customs offices are at the N end of the yacht quay.

Berthing Options

There are effectively two berthing options in Argostoli, the yacht quay on the W side of the bay, where most yachts moor using their anchors, or, with adverse weather conditions, alongside the jetties in the incompleted marina on the E side of the bay, where you will be sharing the accommodation with the usual collection of rusting hulks and abandoned caiques.

There are also two small mini-harbours N of the customs quay, both of which have narrow and shallow entrances and are full of local craft. Neither represents a realistic option for a visiting yacht.

Yacht Quay

This is where most yachts usually berth as it has the greatest number of spaces and the best shelter from the prevailing NW winds. The quay is the section immediately S of the customs quay, avoiding the section with rubber tyres, which is used by tripper boats. Around 10-15 yachts can anchor moor to this section of quay in depths ranging from 3.0 metres at the N end to 2.5 metres at the S end. Once beyond the ‘elbow’ in the quay, depths progressively reduce, so only shallow draft yachts should consider mooring here as depths are little more than 2.0 metres. The quay is plentifully supplied with yellow-painted bollards for shore lines. You will dropping anchor in 4.0 – 5.0 metres at the N end and the holding is good in mud once the anchor is well dug in and assuming you avoid the visible weed patches. Shelter on the quay is excellent from the prevailing NW winds, but can become a little uncomfortable with strong E winds.

Argostoli ‘marina’

The entrance to the marina lies directly opposite the customs quay on the E side of the bay, with the entrance facing W. The marina is, like many in Greece, incomplete and rather forlorn-looking, with its quays and jetties partly clogged with abandoned and rusting hulks and forgotten vessels of all kinds. There is usually plenty of space for a yacht to go alongside one of the three concrete jetties, which are well supplied with (very rusty) bollards. Depths at the jetties are 3.5 – 4.0 metres. Shelter in here is excellent in all conditions, and the marina provides a useful bolthole if surprised by foul weather. There are absolutely no facilities here and it is a 15-20 minute walk into town across the causeway.

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

Nautical Club of Argostoli has a clubhouse and tiny marina just N of the customs quay with 10 berths, draft 2 m, electricity, water and wifi tel 26710 22874 e-mail: [email protected]