Lesvos
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Lesvos (Port of Entry)
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Background
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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
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
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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:
- July 1999 --Istioploos 11:48, 9 June 2008 (MDT)
 Satellite view of the Mytilene Harbor |
 The Traditional Caïque Faneromeni in Mytilene Harbor |
Plomari
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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:
- 1995 --Istioploos 11:48, 9 June 2008 (MDT)
Port Sigri
Lesvos Sigri m.jpg
Chart of Sigri Region |
Lesvos Sigri h.jpg
Chart of the Anchorage in Sigri |
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:
- June 2006 --Istioploos 11:48, 9 June 2008 (MDT)
 Sigri Castle |
 The Bay N of Sigri |
 The Cove of Faneromeni near Sigri |
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
- Lesvos Wikipedia
- Museum of Natural History in Sigri
Personal Notes
Personal experiences?
Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
See individual ports in this page.
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