Gokceada
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| Gokceada
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 The attractive port settlement of Kalekoy on Gökçeada |
Gökçeada or Imroz Adasi, the Greek Imvros (Ίμβρος) or Imbros is a mountainous island 15 miles NNW of the Dardanelles and 18 miles SSE of the Greek island of Samothrace. Until recently, the island was only occasionally visited by yachts, who had no choice but to moor in the remote and uninspiring ferry harbour of Kuzu Limani. Now, however, with the construction of a new harbour on the north coast of the island at Kaleköy a visit to Gökçeada is a rather more attractive proposition for a cruising yacht and well worth a diversion when cruising between the Dardanelles and northern Greece.
Until a few years ago the island was a military zone and visiting by foreign yachts was prohibited. Now yachts are permitted to visit and normally berth either in the main ferry port of Kuzu Limani or the newer and more attractive harbour of Kaleköy three miles NW.
Charts
- BA
- 1086 Srimonikos kólpos to Edremit Körfezi
- Imray-Tetra
- G2 Aegean Sea (North)
- NIMA
- 54360 Thessaloniki to Canakkale Bogazi Dardanelles
- 54369 Approaches to Canakkale Bogazi
- Turkey
- 2134 Anafartalar Koyu - Tavşan Island
- Greek
- 32 Thrakiko Sea
- 322 Limnos & Ay. Efstratios
Weather
See Aegean Sea.
Passages
Gökçeada is a convenient staging post on passage between the Dardanelles or the Turkish coast and the islands of Samothrace and Thasos or the coast of northern Greece.
Islands
- Samothrace (see Greece).
Communication
Also see World Cruiser's Nets.
The approaches to Gökçeada and its harbours are straightforward, with no obvious dangers (although see entry for Kaleköy for information on the entrance). There are extensive shoals off the SW and W coasts of the island, which are avoided by passing at least a mile offshore. In the approach to the island from S or W, note that there is a significant W-going current along the southern side.
Entrance
There are no customs here. The nearest port of entry/exit in Turkey is Çanakkale.
Berthing
Ports
There are two harbours on the island, the main ferry port 
Kuzu Limani [[Gokceada#Kuzu Limani|Kuzu Limani]] 40°13.727'N, 025°57.150'E at the NE tip of the island and the new harbour of Kaleköy [[Gokceada#Kaleköy|Kaleköy]] 40°13.86′N, 25°53.47′E three miles NW around the tip and along the N coast. The ferry port is a rather bleak and uninviting place, with limited facilities, but the shelter is good. Although crowded with local boats, the harbour at Kaleköy is much more yacht-friendly and has better facilities.
Marinas & Yacht Clubs
None.
Anchorages
There are a few anchorages along the S side of the island which can be used in settled weather, but none of them are really suited for overnight anchoring.
Amenities
| Facilities | |
|---|---|
| Water |
|
| Electricity | Kaleköy: electricity is available |
| Toilets | N/A (Not Available) |
| Showers | N/A |
| Laundry | N/A |
| Garbage | There are bins around the harbour in Kuzu Limani and Kaleköy |
| Supplies | |
| Fuel | No fuel station: garage in Gökçeada town |
| Bottled gas | ? |
| Chandlers | None |
| Services | |
| Repairs | N/A |
| Internet | In internet cafes in Gökçeada town and Yakamoz Pansyon in Kaleköy |
| Mobile connectivity | 3G signal |
| Vehicle rentals | in Gökçeada town only car rentals are available |
Provisioning
Gökçeada [[Gokceada#Gökçeada|Gökçeada]] very limited and mostly in Gökçeada town.
Kaleköy [[Gokceada#Kaleköy|Kaleköy]] from a small kiosk by the harbour.
Eating out
- In the mountain village of Tepeköy or Agridia
-
Barba Yorgo [[Gokceada#Barba Yorgo|Barba Yorgo]] the tavera is well worth a visit, if only for the superb views from the terrace. The taverna also operates a small vineyard, which makes and sells a passable red wine. Tel. +90 286 887 35 92.
- In Kaleköy
- restaurants [[Gokceada#restaurants|restaurants]] several good fish restaurants along the waterfront.
Transportation
Tourism
History
In prehistoric times (2 century BC), the island was associated with the Kabeiroi or Cabeiri. Their origin is rather obscure, they could be associated with the Great Gods worshipped in Samothrace, or, according to a later source they were the offsprings of Hephaestos.
In ancient times (c 300 BC) there were several temples dedicated to Hermes and a noteworthy aqueduct. The island was colonized by Athenians. During modern times, Imvros (Gökçeada), like its smaller neighbor Tenedos (Bozcaada), was largely inhabited by Greeks and it was part of Greece until 1923, when it was ceded to Turkey under the terms of a peace treaty. The Greek inhabitants were not exchanged (as was the case elsewhere) but were allowed to stay and operate their schools and churches. During the Cyprus dispute of the 1950s, most of the remaining Greek population was coerced into leaving. Today there is a small (about 300) but very dedicated Greek minority living on the island.
Places to Visit
The port of Kaleköy on the north coast of the island is attractive and has numerous cafes and restaurants along its waterfront. Also, there are several picturesque villages with some restored houses in the interior of the island, such as Tepeköy and Zeytinli, which are worth a visit.
A particular highlight of a visit to Tepeköy the Greek Agridia (Αγρίδια) is the terrace of the Barba Yorgo taverna, which has superb views down over the lakes and mountains of the interior and across the taverna’s own vineyard. The village has been slowly restored in recent years and the population has now risen again to over 1,000 but it still has a substantial ethnic Greek population.
The main town of Gökçeada, also known as Centrum, is however somewhat dreary, although well supplied with banks and all manner of shops. If mooring in Kaleköy, there is a regular hourly bus service between the harbour and Centrum and from there a less frequent service to the ferry port of Kuzu Limani.
Visits to other parts of the island will call for a taxi. There are also a couple of places in Centrum where cycles can be hired.
Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forums
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
Links
References
See Turkey.
Comments
We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.
- With the opening of the new harbour at Kaleköy, Gökçeada is now a much more enticing prospect for a cruising yacht – assuming you can get a berth. --Athene of Lymington 12:55, 21 June 2011 (BST)
Verified by
Date of member's last visit to Gokceada and this page's details validated:
- August 1999 --Istioploos
Travels with S/Y Thetis
- June 2011 --Athene of Lymington 12:55, 21 June 2011 (BST)
| This is a usable page of the cruising guide. However, please contribute if you can to help it grow further. Click on Comments to add your personal notes on this page or to discuss its contents. Alternatively, if you feel confident to edit the page, click on the edit tab at the top and enter your changes directly. |
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Names: Istioploos, Athene of Lymington |
