Lefkas
From CruisersWiki
Istioploos (Talk | contribs) m (Cosmetic) |
(→Repairs/Yards) |
||
| Line 130: | Line 130: | ||
*At the [[Lefkas Marina|marina]] ''Paleros'' Tel 2645 029117 is one of the best chandleries in the Ionian | *At the [[Lefkas Marina|marina]] ''Paleros'' Tel 2645 029117 is one of the best chandleries in the Ionian | ||
| - | + | ==Repairs, maintenance & Yards== | |
* At the [[Lefkas Marina|marina]] | * At the [[Lefkas Marina|marina]] | ||
* Christo’s Boatyard (on the E side of the canal opposite Lefkas Marina) | * Christo’s Boatyard (on the E side of the canal opposite Lefkas Marina) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== Contract Marine Services ==== | ||
| + | [http://www.c-y-s.com Contract Marine Services] (Lefkada) is a highly skilled and professional supplier of all kind of repairs and services. Even though they have their main base in Lefkada, they are doing services all over the area. They did a deep service and maintenance on my Perkins prior my circumnavigation (2011-2013). Nothing failed despite a distance of 22.000 nautical miles and a engine hours of 2.300! This is a Perkins from 1986, så the potential of failure could have been big without this services. Thanks to experienced staff at Contract, it went smooth all the way. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[User:Camelot|Camelot]] 08:00, June 7, 2014 (GMT) [[image:Norway_Icon.png]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== Way Point Sails & Rigging ==== | ||
| + | If you are looking for a professional canvas supplier for repair or new build, I do have personal very good experience with using [http://waypointsails.com/ Waypoint]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[User:Camelot|Camelot]] 08:00, June 7, 2014 (GMT) [[image:Norway_Icon.png]] | ||
====Fuel, Water, & Electricity==== | ====Fuel, Water, & Electricity==== | ||
Revision as of 06:29, 8 June 2014
Lefkas
An online cruising guide for yachts sailing to the island of Lefkas.
 (Click links for more information)
| |
 | 38°50′N, 20°42.8′E |
|---|---|
 | Photo gallery |
 | Local chartlet |
| |
For a history of Lefkas, click on History of Lefkas.
The island is hilly with numerous white cliffs which give it its name: white one. The tallest point of the island is Mount Stavrotas at 1158 m and its total land area is 355.936 km2. Of the population of some 22,000, most live in the island capital of Lefkas Town, which has just under 7,000 inhabitants, or the towns of Nidri and Vlikho in Vlikho Bay, Sivotas on the SE coast and Vasiliki near the promontory of Ak Dhoukato at the island’s SW tip. For cruising yachtsmen, the harbours and anchorages at or near these towns – all of them on the E or S coast - represent the island’s chief interest. While the west coast has some very attractive beaches and fishing settlements, there are no sheltered harbours or anchorages suitable for yachts. During the summer, Lefkas and especially its capital, Lefkas Town, are thronged with tourists, both land and yacht-borne, arriving from the nearby airport at Preveza or the numerous boatyards and charter bases around Preveza and the Inland Sea.
Charts
- BA
- 189 Nisos Sapiénza to Nisos Paxoi
- 203 Zakinthos to Paxoi
- Imray-Tetra
- G11 Nísos Kérkira to Nísos Levkas
- NIMA
- 54280 Corfu Channel to Nisis Proti
- Greek
- 2 Ionio Pelagos
- 21 Ionio Sea - Northern Part Othonoi I. to Zakynthos I.
Radio Nets
- Coast Guard - VHF channel 12
- Olympia Radio - VHF channel 03
Also see World Cruiser's Nets
Weather
- See Ionian Sea Weather
- Also see Ionian Sea Currents & Tides
Click for larger view
Click for larger view
Most yachts approaching the island, unless doing the long sail down the W coast, will be arriving or departing via the Lefkas Canal, which runs for around 3.5 miles through the low-lying land at the NE end of the island and divides it from the Greek mainland. The canal, which is dredged to a depth of 5.0 – 6.0 metres along most of its length, is shallow in places, especially at its N entrance, where depths are sometimes little more than 3.5 – 4.0 metres, and about two thirds of the way down from the N, where depths reduce at one point to around 3.5 metres. The N part of the canal runs between training walls as far as Lefkas Town and is marked by poles (a few of them with red and green markers) for the rest of its length until arriving at the three pairs of buoys at the S end. In places, the channel is quite narrow, and north-going and south-going yachts may be competing for the deeper water in the centre of the channel. There is a speed limit of 4.0 knots in the canal and sometimes an appreciable current of 1.0 – 1.5 knots, usually S-going. The road from the mainland passes over the canal at its N end via a floating bridge which opens on the hour from 0600 – 2100 but only on request outside those times. The bridge keeps listening watch on VHF channel 12.
Approach from N
Approaching Lefkas from the N is tricky, especially for a first time visitor and even more so if there are fresh to strong NW winds with the afternoon seabreeze, which cause a difficult swell as they break on the shore around the entrance. In such conditions it is wise to take down all sail well before arriving. The entrance is at 38°50.79′N, 20°43.42′E, around a long sand spit defining the N side of the channel. The entrance regularly silts up over the winter and requires virtually constant dredging. Dredging is from a crane working on the end of the sand spit and thus it is usually deepest on that side. The other, S side of the channel is marked with a series of small red buoys which do not always indicate the best depths (it is advisable when leaving the channel to head N to stay at least 10-15 metres off them). A yacht passing through in May 2012 and keeping only five metres off the N side recorded a minimum depth of 3.8 metres.
After rounding the spit, the channel turns S after 200 metres and the floating bridge is dead ahead. The bridge opening is signified by the sounding of a siren. All road traffic onto and off the island is halted for the period of opening, so naturally the bridge operator is anxious to close it again as soon as possible. Yachts tend to bunch on both sides of the bridge to await the opening and any stragglers probably won’t make it. In theory, the S-going traffic has priority over the N-going, but in reality the pressure to close the bridge quickly means that everyone charges through in single file at speed as soon as the bridge opens (of course, observing the usual port-to-port rule, without which there is chaos).
If arriving before the bridge opens, it is possible to tie up alongside (or just hang off by the bow) the wall on the N side of the channel (although there are very few attachments to take a line to). If it is not very busy, it is possible with care to drop anchor temporarily on the 'bend' of the channel.
Approach from S
Approaching from the S is relatively straightforward as long as you identify the first set of three pairs of port and starboard buoys which mark the entrance to the canal. These buoys are at 38°47.54′N, 20°43.58′E. There is a conspicuous ruined Venetian fort a couple of hundred metres to starboard of the canal which is a useful landmark from distance. The channel passes between some dangerous rocks on the starboard side and the remains of a ruined breakwater to port, so it is important to stay between the buoys.
If arriving at Lefkas Town before the bridge opens, it is possible to anchor temporarily off the town (see Lefkas Town page for details).
Check-in facilities (Customs and Immigration)
Lefkas Town is a port of entry and you can clear here in/out of Greece.
Berthing Options
Ports
The main harbours on Lefkas are listed clockwise round the island from Lefkas Town.
Lefkas Town
38°49.1′N, 20°42.77′E
Lefkas Town offers moorings bows or stern-to using the anchor on a rather busy and crowded town quay or in the 620-berth Lefkas Marina. Shelter is good except in strong E or S winds. See separate Wiki page for Lefkas Town.
Ligia
38°37.36′N, 20°43.33′E
The small harbour of Ligia has little space for yachts, who usually have to anchor off to visit the numerous tavernas. Shelter is excellent in the prevailing NW winds but less so in strong winds from other directions. See separate Wiki page for Ligia.
Nikiana
38°45.72′N, 20°43.30′E
Nikiana’s small harbour has space for around 10-15 yachts bows or stern-to using the anchor. Shelter in the harbour is good in the prevailing winds but less so if there is anything E in the wind. See separate Wiki page for Nikiana.
Nidri
38°42.36′N, 20°42.72′E
Nidri lies at the entrance to the gulf of Vlikho Bay and has berths bows or stern-to using the anchor on its busy town quay or on one of a series of six private pontoons. Shelter on the quay is adequate in the prevailing N/NW winds but it becomes uncomfortable if they are very strong. See separate Wiki page for Nidri.
Vlikho
38°41.04′N, 20°41.94′E
Vlikho lies at the SW corner of Vlikho Bay and has berths bows or stern-to using the anchor on the town quay or on one of a field of mooring buoys. All berths are administered by the Vliho Yacht Club. Shelter on the quay and jetty is adequate in the prevailing N/NW winds but can become uncomfortable if they are very strong. See separate Wiki page for Vlikho.
Sivotas
38°36.85′N, 20°41.51′E
Sivotas harbour offers a number of berthing options on its quays, bows or stern-to using the anchor, or on two private taverna pontoons with some laid moorings. Shelter is good in the prevailing N/NW winds, although there are gusts down into the bay, but Sivota is uncomfortable and possibly dangerous in strong S/SE winds. See separate Wiki page for Sivotas.
Vasiliki
38°37.70′N, 20°36.10′E
The shallow harbour of Vasiliki has berths bows or stern-to using the anchor on its town quay, but has depths in the entrance of only 2.5 - 3.0 metres. Shelter in the harbour is acceptable in the prevailing NW seabreezes (although a chop is experienced), but it could possibly become untenable in very strong NW winds. See separate Wiki page for Vasiliki.
Marinas & Yacht Clubs
- Lefkas Marina
- Vlikho Yacht Club Website
Anchorages
Vlikho Bay
See separate Wiki page for Vlikho Bay.
Tranquil Bay
See Vlikho Bay.
Ormos Dessimou
The bay of Ormos Dessimou is on the E coast of the island, at the root of the long peninsula that encloses the eastern side of Vlikho Bay. It offers good shelter in the prevailing NW winds, but is open S. Anchor close inshore at the NE end of the bay in 5.0 – 8.0 metres. Holding is good in sand and weed. There is a long sandy beach here but also a camper van site at the SW end of the bay, so the anchorage is not a very quiet one. Beach café and small shop ashore.
Ormos Rouda
Ormos Rouda is a wide bay on the SE coast of the island, a mile or so N of the harbour of Sivota. It offers good shelter in the prevailing NW winds but, like Ormos Dessimou, is open S. The head of the bay is usually buoyed off for swimming in the season and it will be necessary anchor off in depths of 10.0 metres or more. Holding is good in sand and weed. There are tavernas ashore and the village of Poros is up the hill on the E side of the bay.
Offshore Islands
- Modra
- Meganisi
- Skorpios (a private island)
Yacht Services and Repairs
Marine Stores
- Numerous chandleries and marine supplies stores in Lefkas Town
- At the marina Paleros Tel 2645 029117 is one of the best chandleries in the Ionian
Repairs, maintenance & Yards
- At the marina
- Christo’s Boatyard (on the E side of the canal opposite Lefkas Marina)
Contract Marine Services
Contract Marine Services (Lefkada) is a highly skilled and professional supplier of all kind of repairs and services. Even though they have their main base in Lefkada, they are doing services all over the area. They did a deep service and maintenance on my Perkins prior my circumnavigation (2011-2013). Nothing failed despite a distance of 22.000 nautical miles and a engine hours of 2.300! This is a Perkins from 1986, så the potential of failure could have been big without this services. Thanks to experienced staff at Contract, it went smooth all the way.
Camelot 08:00, June 7, 2014 (GMT) 
Way Point Sails & Rigging
If you are looking for a professional canvas supplier for repair or new build, I do have personal very good experience with using Waypoint.
Camelot 08:00, June 7, 2014 (GMT)
Fuel, Water, & Electricity
- Fuel
- See individual port and marina pages
- Water
- See individual port and marina pages
- Electricity
- See individual port and marina pages
Things to do Ashore
Tourism
See Lefkas Town.
Grocery & Supply Stores
- There is a supermarket at the marina and a megastore a few blocks back. Also see port pages.
- The local wine Santa Maura is very good
- The salami from Lefkas is famous
Eateries
See individual port pages.
Internet/WiFi
See individual port pages.
Laundry
- In the marina
Motorbike & Car Rentals
- In Lefkas Town.
Garbage Disposal
See individual port pages
Transportation
- There are charter flights to several European destinations from Preveza
- Long distance buses from Lefkas Town via Preveza to Athens
- Local buses between Lefkas Town and Vasiliki
Routes/Passages To/From
Cruiser's Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forum Discussions
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
External Links
- Lefkas (Wikipedia)
References & Publications
See Ionian Sea.
Personal Notes
Personal experiences?
Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:
- July 1988 --Istioploos
- August 2009 --Nereus
- May 2012 -- Monterey
- June 2013 --Athene of Lymington
|
|---|
|
Names: Istioploos, Nereus, Athene of Lymington, Rodger, Wayward, Monterey |
| |
|---|
| | HOMEPAGE | Wiki Contents | Mediterranean | Ionian Sea | Greece | Lefkas | |
