Passages between Athens Region and the North Sporades

From CruisersWiki

(Difference between revisions)
Jump to: navigation, search
m (Reverted edits by Riley Huntley (talk) to last revision by Istioploos)
m (Text replace - "{{Guide2" to "{{page useable")
Line 127: Line 127:
*
*
-
{{Guide2}}
+
{{page useable}}

Revision as of 10:02, 4 February 2016

Passages between Athens Region and the N. Sporades

Athens to
N. Sporades
Click for larger view
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
1085 Kólpos Petalión to Srimonikos kólpos
1554 Nótios Evoïkós
1556 Vórios Evoïkós Kólpos and approaches to Vólos
1657 Saronikós Kólpos
2682 Kolpos Petalion to Nisos Nisiros
Imray-Tetra
G14 Saronic and Argolic Gulfs
G25 Eastern Sporades and North Evvoia
G26 Nisos Evvoia
G31 North Cyclades
NIMA
54340 Nisos Spetsai to Nisos Vorioi Sporadhes
54344 Saronicos Kolpos & K. Petalion
54348 Vorios Evoikos Kolpos and Notios Evoikos Kolpos
54350 Nisoi Vorioi Sporadhes
Greek
31 North Evoikos to Kavala Gulf
74 Corinth to Skopelos Island
331 Sporades to Ay. Efstratios
413 Saronikos Kolpos

See also Aegean Sea.

Distance & Duration

See Athens to Sporades via the Gulf of Evia and/or Sporades to Athens via Skyros.

Possible Departure Points

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 World icon.png 37°40′N, 24°19.5′E, 34 nM from Kalamaki Marina World icon.png 37°54.7′N, 23°42.0′E or 66 nM from the Corinth Canal World icon.png 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 World icon.png 38°18′N, 24°07′E.
  3. Then, from Voufalo, sail 28 nM mostly NW to the south harbor of Halkis World icon.png 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 World icon.png 38°40.3′N, 23°05.3′E.
  5. FromAtalanti sail first NW and then, at World icon.png 38°50.4′N, 22°47.9′E, NE for a total of 37 nM to the sleepy little harbor of Orei in Evia World icon.png 38°57′N, 23°05′E.
  6. From Orei you can sail to of the Sporades islands either to:
    1. Skiathos World icon.png 39°09.9′N, 23°29.6′E, a 25 nM sail NE.
    2. Skopelos World icon.png 39°07.4′N, 23°44.1′E, a 44 nM sail ENE.

The total distance from Kalamaki Marina World icon.png 37°54.7′N, 23°42.0′E along the route outlined above is:

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 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 World icon.png 39°04′N, 24°06.7′E which is:
  2. From Skantzoura you sail 29 nM SE to Linaria World icon.png 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 but hard to reach island.
  3. From Linaria you have two choices:
    1. Take a short sail of 9 nM to the small uninhabited island of Sarakino World icon.png 38°45′N, 24°36.9′E and there wait for a good weather window for sailing 56 nM S via the Kafireas Strait to Karistos World icon.png 38°0.7′N, 24°25′E.
    2. Wait for the weather window in Linaria and then sail 65 nM S directly to Karistos World icon.png 38°0.7′N, 24°25′E via the Kafireas Strait.
  4. From Karistos Vourkari World icon.png 37°40′N, 24°19.5′E in the island of Kea is an easy SSW sail of 22 mM.
  5. Finally, you sail from Vourkari home:

The total distance to Kalamaki Marina World icon.png 37°54.7′N, 23°42.0′E along the route outlined above is:

See Aegean Distances Tables.

North Going via the Skyros

This route is recommended only when the forecasts call for several days of no wind, otherwise the strong head winds especially at the Kafireas Strait (the channel between the islands of Evia and Andros) will make the going very hard and uncomfortable. It is better to use the North Going via the Gulf of Evia.

Should you decide to use this passage, it is the reciprocal of the passage South Going via Skyros described above.

Possible Arrival Ports

Forum Discussion Topics

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

External Links

See Aegean Sea.

References

See Aegean Sea.

Personal Notes

I have sailed all of the above passages. --Istioploos Greece Icon.png


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.




SailorSmiley.gifContributors to this page

Names: Istioploos


Cruising Wiki Navigation

| HOMEPAGE | Wiki Contents | Mediterranean | Greece | Turkey | Aegean Sea | Passages: Athens Region - N. Sporades |
Personal tools
advertisement
Friends of Cruisers Wiki