Lesvos

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(New page: ==Lesvos== Caption ===Background=== Historic details, etc. Submit details about the sailing/cruising in the area, etc. ===Charts=== Submit the ...)
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==Lesvos==
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==Lesvos (Port of Entry)==
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[[Image:imagename.jpg|350px|thumb|right|Caption]]
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[[Image:Lesvos_m.jpg|400px|thumb|center|Map of Lesvos<br/>''Click for larger view'']]
===Background===
===Background===
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Historic details, etc.
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[[Image:Road_in_mytilene.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Road in Mytelene by Theophilos<br/>''Click for larger view'']]
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[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesvos Lesvos] (Λέσβος) or Mitilini, with an area of 1,698 km<sup>2</sup> and 140,000 inhabitants, is the largest of the East Aegean islands. Its tallest mountain is Lepetymnos, 968 m high. The capital of the island and its main harbor is the bustling town of Mitilini or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mytilene Mytilene] is dominated by a large [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genoa_Republic Genoese] castle.
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Submit details about the sailing/cruising in the area, etc.
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The history of the island is long. In antiquity, Lesvos was not only famous as the island of the poetess [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sappho Sappho] but also of the lyric poet [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcaeus_%28poet%29 Alkeos], the wise man [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittacus_of_Mytilene Pittakos], the musician [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arion Arion], and the philosopher [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophrastus Theophrastos]. Today there are many [http://www.lesvos.com/forts.html archaeological sites] on the island. During the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantian_Empire Byzantine] times, the island was invaded many times by the Arabs, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Venice Venetians], and later by the Turks. In the late days of the Byzantine empire, Lesvos was given to the Genoese family of the Gateluzi who built many castles. In the late 15th century Lesvos fell to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottomans Ottomans]. There were several unsuccessful attempts to recapture the island, such as the one by Orsato Giustiniano in 1464, another by Pesaro in 1499, and another yet by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_of_Rhodes Knights of Rhodes] (later of Malta) in 1501. Lesvos stayed under the Ottoman rule until 1912 when it became part of Greece. In modern times, there have been a large number of famous Greeks in Lesvos, such as the Nobel laureate "poet of the Aegean" [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odysseus_Elytis Odysseas Elytes] (whose family came from Lesbos), the novelist [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratis_Myrivilis Stratis Myrivilis], and the primitive painter, [http://www.lesvos.com/theophilos.html Theophilos] many of whose paintings one can enjoy at the [http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/1/eh151.jsp?obj_id=3435 Theophilos Museum] near Mitilini.
===Charts===
===Charts===
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Submit the chart details that are required for safe navigation.
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BA 1087 Kólpos Petalión to Edremit körfezi<br/>
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BA 1665 Nisos Lesvos and Çandarli Korfezi to Baba Burnu Ayvalik
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Imray-Tetra G2 Aegean Sea (North)
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NIMA 54382 Nisos Lesvos and Western Coast of Turkey
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Greek 33 Cape Sounion to Lesvos I.<br/>
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Greek 332 Lesvos Island
===Radio Nets===
===Radio Nets===
''Also see [[HF_Radio|World Cruiser's Nets]]''
''Also see [[HF_Radio|World Cruiser's Nets]]''
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* Coast Guard -  
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* Coast Guard - VHF channel 12, telephone +30 251 20 320 (Mitilini), +30 252 32 296 (Plomari), +30 2530 71 307 (Mithimna)
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*  
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* Olympia Radio - VHF channels Channels 01 and 02, no signal in Sigri
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* GSM/GPRS - Very marginal coverage in the [[#Angelia,_Salagonas,_Trachilia,_and_Kato_Faná| Salagonas Area]]
===Approach and Navigation===
===Approach and Navigation===
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Details?
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Lesvos is a large island with several harbors and anchorages. The approaches to Lesvos are straightforward except that when approaching Sigri where you must use the S channel.
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If entering Greece it is advisable to contact the Coast Guard (Limenarchio) on VHF channel 12.
===Ports and Popular Stops===
===Ports and Popular Stops===
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==== Mytilene====
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[[Image:Lesvos_Mitilini_h.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Chart of Mytilene Harbor<br/>''Click for larger view'']]
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[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mytilene Mytilene] (Μυτιλήνη) or Mitilini [39°06' N 26° 33.5' E] is a large and busy harbor. It is also one of the most polluted harbors in the Aegean. Raw sewage is being discharged into the harbor at the very spot where yachts are moored. The harbor provides all-round shelter but an uncomfortable swell can develop with southerly winds. You can moor either stern-to or alongside the N side of the inner harbor.
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The town of Mitilini is a wonderfully alive one. There are terrific pastry stores, and a wonderful market place. Many restaurants. The restaurants on the SW of the harbor have good fish. Water is available from an outlet next to Sappho's statue.
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Mitilini is port of entry. The Customs and Coast Guard officials tend to be more bureaucratic than in any other harbor that I have been in Greece (--[[User:Istioploos|Istioploos]] 11:48, 9 June 2008 (MDT)). Sometimes the Coast Guard demands that you contact them before departure on VHF channel 12.
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=====Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)=====
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''Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated'':
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* July 1999 --[[User:Istioploos|Istioploos]] 11:48, 9 June 2008 (MDT)
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<center><gallery  widths="200px" heights="200px" perrow="2">
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Image:Lesvos_Mitilini_hS.jpg|Satellite view of the Mytilene Harbor<br/>''Click for larger view''
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Image:Lesvos_Faneromeni.jpg|The Traditional Caïque ''Faneromeni'' in Mytilene Harbor<br/>''Click for larger view''
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</gallery></center>
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====Plomari====
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[[Image:Lesvos_Mitilini_h.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Chart of Mitilini Harbor<br/>''Click for larger view'']]
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[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plomari Plomari] (Πλωμάρι) or Plomarion [38° 58.3' N 26° 22' E] is the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouzo ouzo] capital of the world. Here is the factory of the [http://www.barbayanni-ouzo.com/index.html Barbayianni] ouzo which has an outlet. It is located on the S coast of Lesvos. The harbor provides good shelter from the ''meltemi'' but with southerlies there is bad swell. The bottom is sand and rocks, good holding if you avoid the rocks. Moor stern-to the quay.
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<font color="red">Caution:</font>: There are some large rocks near the quay, just below the surface, watch very carefully as you are backing to the quay.
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The ''Bachus'' restaurant, on the NE of the harbor has very good food. Fuel is available from a station about 500 m up the road E of the harbor, but you have to cart with jerry cans. There is a water outlet by the park, but you cannot connect it to a house, you have to carry.
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=====Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)=====
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''Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated'':
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* 1995 --[[User:Istioploos|Istioploos]] 11:48, 9 June 2008 (MDT)
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*  
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<br/><br/>
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====Port Sigri====
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<center><gallery  widths="300px" heights="300px" perrow="2">
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Image:Lesvos_Sigri_m.jpg|Chart of Sigri Region<br/>''Click for larger view''
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Image:Lesvos_Sigri_h.jpg|Chart of the Anchorage in Sigri<br/>''Click for larger view''
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</gallery></center>
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Sometimes one forgets that even a town can be peaceful and can have wonderful places to visit while maintaining your privacy. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigri Sigri] (Σίγρι) is such a place. Sigri [39° 12.5' N 25° 51.2' E] is at the SW corner of Lesvos. It is protected from the W by Meganisi or Sigri Island and surrounded by wonderful pristine beaches. There are many secure nearby anchorages. With the ''meltemi'' it is best to anchor under the lee of the castle on the S of the town at 6 m. There is a reputation of bad holding but I have never had any trouble here. To be prudent check the anchor with a snorkel.
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With southerly winds it best to anchor N of the castle just off the entrance of the small fishing harbor in depths about 7-5 m. Good holding on mud. Alternately, you can go to Faneromeni [39° 14.6' N 25° 51.2' E] a delightful anchorage N of Sigri Bay. Anchor on sand in 5-4 m. Good holding. This cove is exposed to the W. Another wonderful totally isolated cove [39° 16.2' N 25° 52.7' E] is further N, just S of Cape Petinos. Anchor in 4 m over sand.
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<font color="red">Caution:</font> Always enter and exit Sigri Bay during daylight from the S by means of the channel between Sedhousa Island and Cape Sigri. The N channel is too shallow and dangerous with minimum depths of 3.5.
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There are not many facilities at Sigri but what it lucks in facilities it more than makes it up in natural wonders. This is the place to visit the famous Petrified Forest both in the mainland at Meganisi. The restaurants here offer surprisingly sophisticated food. The new [http://www.lesvos.com/petrifiedforestinformation.htm Museum of Natural History], within the town, is very interesting.
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=====Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)=====
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''Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated'':
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* June 2006 --[[User:Istioploos|Istioploos]] 11:48, 9 June 2008 (MDT)
*  
*  
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<center><gallery  widths="200px" heights="200px" perrow="3">
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Image:Lesvos_Sigri4.jpg|Sigri Castle<br/>''Click for larger view''
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Image:Lesvos_Sigri4a.jpg|The Bay N of Sigri<br/>''Click for larger view''
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Image:Lesvos_Sigri_Faneromeni.jpg|The Cove of Faneromeni near Sigri<br/>''Click for larger view''
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</gallery></center>
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====Mithimna====
===Marinas & Yacht Clubs===
===Marinas & Yacht Clubs===
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''See each Port/Stop''
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On the S side of the harbor of [[#Mytilene|Mytilene]] there is a marina under construction but, as many such cases in Greece, no-one can predict when it will be completed.
===Anchorages===
===Anchorages===
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===External Links===
===External Links===
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Links to relevant websites.
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* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesvos Lesvos] Wikipedia
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*  
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* [http://www.lesvos.com/petrifiedforestinformation.htm Museum of Natural History in Sigri]
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*
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*  
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===Personal Notes===
===Personal Notes===
Personal experiences?
Personal experiences?
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===Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)===
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See individual ports in this page.

Revision as of 17:48, 9 June 2008

Contents

Lesvos (Port of Entry)

File:Lesvos m.jpg
Map of Lesvos
Click for larger view

Background

Road in Mytelene by Theophilos
Click for larger view

Lesvos (Λέσβος) or Mitilini, with an area of 1,698 km2 and 140,000 inhabitants, is the largest of the East Aegean islands. Its tallest mountain is Lepetymnos, 968 m high. The capital of the island and its main harbor is the bustling town of Mitilini or Mytilene is dominated by a large Genoese castle.

The history of the island is long. In antiquity, Lesvos was not only famous as the island of the poetess Sappho but also of the lyric poet Alkeos, the wise man Pittakos, the musician Arion, and the philosopher Theophrastos. Today there are many archaeological sites on the island. During the Byzantine times, the island was invaded many times by the Arabs, the Venetians, and later by the Turks. In the late days of the Byzantine empire, Lesvos was given to the Genoese family of the Gateluzi who built many castles. In the late 15th century Lesvos fell to the Ottomans. There were several unsuccessful attempts to recapture the island, such as the one by Orsato Giustiniano in 1464, another by Pesaro in 1499, and another yet by the Knights of Rhodes (later of Malta) in 1501. Lesvos stayed under the Ottoman rule until 1912 when it became part of Greece. In modern times, there have been a large number of famous Greeks in Lesvos, such as the Nobel laureate "poet of the Aegean" Odysseas Elytes (whose family came from Lesbos), the novelist Stratis Myrivilis, and the primitive painter, Theophilos many of whose paintings one can enjoy at the Theophilos Museum near Mitilini.

Charts

BA 1087 Kólpos Petalión to Edremit körfezi
BA 1665 Nisos Lesvos and Çandarli Korfezi to Baba Burnu Ayvalik

Imray-Tetra G2 Aegean Sea (North)

NIMA 54382 Nisos Lesvos and Western Coast of Turkey

Greek 33 Cape Sounion to Lesvos I.
Greek 332 Lesvos Island

Radio Nets

Also see World Cruiser's Nets

  • Coast Guard - VHF channel 12, telephone +30 251 20 320 (Mitilini), +30 252 32 296 (Plomari), +30 2530 71 307 (Mithimna)
  • Olympia Radio - VHF channels Channels 01 and 02, no signal in Sigri
  • GSM/GPRS - Very marginal coverage in the Salagonas Area

Approach and Navigation

Lesvos is a large island with several harbors and anchorages. The approaches to Lesvos are straightforward except that when approaching Sigri where you must use the S channel.

If entering Greece it is advisable to contact the Coast Guard (Limenarchio) on VHF channel 12.

Ports and Popular Stops

Mytilene

File:Lesvos Mitilini h.jpg
Chart of Mytilene Harbor
Click for larger view

Mytilene (Μυτιλήνη) or Mitilini [39°06' N 26° 33.5' E] is a large and busy harbor. It is also one of the most polluted harbors in the Aegean. Raw sewage is being discharged into the harbor at the very spot where yachts are moored. The harbor provides all-round shelter but an uncomfortable swell can develop with southerly winds. You can moor either stern-to or alongside the N side of the inner harbor.

The town of Mitilini is a wonderfully alive one. There are terrific pastry stores, and a wonderful market place. Many restaurants. The restaurants on the SW of the harbor have good fish. Water is available from an outlet next to Sappho's statue.

Mitilini is port of entry. The Customs and Coast Guard officials tend to be more bureaucratic than in any other harbor that I have been in Greece (--Istioploos 11:48, 9 June 2008 (MDT)). Sometimes the Coast Guard demands that you contact them before departure on VHF channel 12.

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:

Satellite view of the Mytilene Harbor
Click for larger view

The Traditional Caïque Faneromeni in Mytilene Harbor
Click for larger view

Plomari

File:Lesvos Mitilini h.jpg
Chart of Mitilini Harbor
Click for larger view

Plomari (Πλωμάρι) or Plomarion [38° 58.3' N 26° 22' E] is the ouzo capital of the world. Here is the factory of the Barbayianni ouzo which has an outlet. It is located on the S coast of Lesvos. The harbor provides good shelter from the meltemi but with southerlies there is bad swell. The bottom is sand and rocks, good holding if you avoid the rocks. Moor stern-to the quay.

Caution:: There are some large rocks near the quay, just below the surface, watch very carefully as you are backing to the quay.

The Bachus restaurant, on the NE of the harbor has very good food. Fuel is available from a station about 500 m up the road E of the harbor, but you have to cart with jerry cans. There is a water outlet by the park, but you cannot connect it to a house, you have to carry.

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:



Port Sigri

Lesvos Sigri m.jpg

Chart of Sigri Region
Click for larger view

Lesvos Sigri h.jpg

Chart of the Anchorage in Sigri
Click for larger view

Sometimes one forgets that even a town can be peaceful and can have wonderful places to visit while maintaining your privacy. Sigri (Σίγρι) is such a place. Sigri [39° 12.5' N 25° 51.2' E] is at the SW corner of Lesvos. It is protected from the W by Meganisi or Sigri Island and surrounded by wonderful pristine beaches. There are many secure nearby anchorages. With the meltemi it is best to anchor under the lee of the castle on the S of the town at 6 m. There is a reputation of bad holding but I have never had any trouble here. To be prudent check the anchor with a snorkel.

With southerly winds it best to anchor N of the castle just off the entrance of the small fishing harbor in depths about 7-5 m. Good holding on mud. Alternately, you can go to Faneromeni [39° 14.6' N 25° 51.2' E] a delightful anchorage N of Sigri Bay. Anchor on sand in 5-4 m. Good holding. This cove is exposed to the W. Another wonderful totally isolated cove [39° 16.2' N 25° 52.7' E] is further N, just S of Cape Petinos. Anchor in 4 m over sand.

Caution: Always enter and exit Sigri Bay during daylight from the S by means of the channel between Sedhousa Island and Cape Sigri. The N channel is too shallow and dangerous with minimum depths of 3.5.

There are not many facilities at Sigri but what it lucks in facilities it more than makes it up in natural wonders. This is the place to visit the famous Petrified Forest both in the mainland at Meganisi. The restaurants here offer surprisingly sophisticated food. The new Museum of Natural History, within the town, is very interesting.

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:

Sigri Castle
Click for larger view

The Bay N of Sigri
Click for larger view

The Cove of Faneromeni near Sigri
Click for larger view

Mithimna

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

On the S side of the harbor of Mytilene there is a marina under construction but, as many such cases in Greece, no-one can predict when it will be completed.

Anchorages

See each Port/Stop

Offshore Islands

List Islands

Routes/Passages To/From

Popular passages/routes, timing, etc.

Tourism & things to do ashore

Also see each Port/Stop

Marine Stores & Facilities

See each Port/Stop

References & Publications

Publications, Guides, etc.

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 the Cruiser Log Forum

External Links

Personal Notes

Personal experiences?

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

See individual ports in this page.


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