Passages between Athens Region and the North Sporades

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Passages between Athens Region and the N. Sporades

Athens to N. Sporades

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MORE notes about the passage

Introduction

The south going passage from the Northern Sporades group of islands to the Athens Region is fairly easy with mostly favorable winds. You may chose the longer, and less interesting route via the Gulf of Evia, or the preferred direct route via the island of Skyros and the Kafireas Strait (the channel between the islands of Evia and Andros). While his route avoids possible delays at Halkis, you may have to wait in Skyros so that you can avoid possible rough seas in the Kafireas Strait.

The north going passage from the Athens Region to the Northern Sporades group of islands is more complicated. You have the weigh the strong possibility strong meltemi contrary winds and rough seas via the Kafireas Strait and Skyros versus the longer and less exiting route via the Gulf of Evia with possible delays, up to 2 days, for the opening of the Bridge. Nevertheless, this is the recomended route for going north.

Climate & Weather Information

See Aegean Weather.

Weather Windows

In general, the best sailing in the Aegean Sea is during the period from late May to mid October. But this does not preclude earlier in the Spring or later in the Autumn. Sailing in the winter months can be problematic due to stronger, more volatile, and less predictable weather.

Radio Nets

See Aegean Sea.

• Goast Guard - VHF channel 12 tel. +30 22210 28888 (Halkis)

Navigation Charts Required

BA 1062 Nísoi Voríoi Sporádhes
BA 1085 Kólpos Petalión to Srimonikos kólpos
BA 1554 Nótios Evoïkós
BA 1556 Vórios Evoïkós Kólpos and approaches to Vólos
BA 1657 Saronikós Kólpos
BA 2682 Kolpos Petalion to Nisos Nisiros

Imray-Tetra G14 Saronic and Argolic Gulfs
Imray-Tetra G25 Eastern Sporades and North Evvoia
Imray-Tetra G26 Nisos Evvoia
mray-Tetra G31 North Cyclades

NIMA 54340 Nisos Spetsai to Nisos Vorioi Sporadhes
NIMA 54344 Saronicos Kolpos & K. Petalion
NIMA 54348 Vorios Evoikos Kolpos and Notios Evoikos Kolpos
NIMA 54350 Nisoi Vorioi Sporadhes

Greek 31 North Evoikos to Kavala Gulf
Greek 74 Corinth to Skopelos Island
Greek 331 Sporades to Ay. Efstratios
Greek 413 Saronikos Kolpos

See also Aegean Sea.

Distance & Duration

See Aegean Distances Tables.

Possible Departure Points

• Corinth Canal (37°54.91′N, 23°0.61′E)
• Marinas in the Attika Coast (Athens Region)
• Skopelos (39°07.4′N, 23°44.1′E)
• Skopelos (39°07.4′N, 23°44.1′E)

Route/Suggested Stopovers

North Going via the Gulf of Evia

This is an easy passage but longer than the passage via the island of Skyros. However, the Gulf of Evia is not a very exiting cruising ground because its waters are not translucent as the waters of the Aegean Sea. Another drawback of this passage is the possibility of long delays, up to 2 days, for the opening of the Halkis Bridge. It highly recommended that a few days before your estimated arrival in Halkis you contact the Coast Guard (Λιμεναρχείο - Limenarchio) on either VHF channel 12 or by telephone in +30 22210 28888.

1. The first convenient stopover after leaving the Attika Coast (Athens Region) is Vourkari in the island of Kea (37°40′N, 24°19.5′E), 34 nM from Kalamaki Marina (GPS: 37°54.7′N, 23°42.0′E) or 66 nM from the Corinth Canal (GPS: 37°54.91′N, 23°0.61′E).
2. From Vourkari you sail for 42 nM NNW to the very sheltered creek of Voufalo in the island of Evia (GPS: 38°18′N, 24°07′E).
3. Then, from Voufalo, sail 28 nM mostly NW to the south harbor of Halkis (GPS: 38°27.7′N, 23°35.3′E).
   Here you will have to wait for the bridge to open. Stay in communication with the authorities in VHF channel 12.
   Warning: When the bridge opens, it stays open for a very short time. You have to be fast to transit the narrow Euripus Channel.
   Once you transit the narrows and are on the N side, you can either moor stern-to the NE town quay or anchor off on the NW shore.
4. From Halkis you continue sailing NW for 32 nM to the very pleasant and secluded small island of Atalanti (GPS: 38°40.3′N, 23°05.3′E).
5. FromAtalanti sail first NW and then, at 38°50.4′N, 22°47.9′E, NE for a total of 37 nM to the sleepy little harbor of Orei in Evia (GPS: 38°57′N, 23°05′E).
6. From Orei you can sail to of the Sporades islands either to:
   1. Skiathos (GPS: 39°09.9′N, 23°29.6′E), a 25 nM sail NE.
   2. Skopelos (GPS: 39°07.4′N, 23°44.1′E), a 44 nM sail ENE.

The total distance from Kalamaki Marina (37°54.7′N, 23°42.0′E) along the route outlined above is:

• Skiathos (39°09.9′N, 23°29.6′E) - 198 nM
• Skopelos (39°07.4′N, 23°44.1′E) - 219 nM

See Aegean Distances Tables.

South Going via the Gulf of Evia

This is the reverse of the North Going via the Gulf of Evia described above. If you use this passage to both go and return from the Sporades you will miss the lovely island of Skyros.

South Going via the Skyros

This passage is much easier going South from the Sporades to the Athens region then the other way. This is because when you are sailing in the SW direction through the Kafireas Strait (the channel between the islands of Evia and Andros) you will have the prevalent meltemi which here comes from the NE favoring you while in the reverse passage it will be on your nose.

1. First you sail the small uninhabited island of Skantzoura (GPS: 39°04′N, 24°06.7′E) which is:
   • 31 nM ESE from Skiathos
   • 19 nM SE from Skopelos
2. From Skantzoura you sail 29 nM SE to Linaria (GPS: 38°50.6′N, 24°32.1′E) the main harbor of the island of Skyros.
   This is a good opportunity to explore this remarkable and hard to reach island.

Possible Arrival Ports

• (39°09.9′N, 23°29.6′E)
• Skopelos (39°07.4′N, 23°44.1′E)
• Marinas in the Attika Coast (Athens Region)
• Corinth Canal (37°54.91′N, 23°0.61′E)

CruiserLog Forum discussions

Links to discussions on the CruiserLog Forum

External Links

See Aegean Sea.

References

See Aegean Sea.

Personal Notes

I have sailed all of the above complete passages. --Istioploos

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