Passages between Athens Region and the North Sporades

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WorldMediterraneanGreeceTurkeyAegean SeaPassages between Athens Region and the North Sporades
Athens to N. Sporades
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Via the Gulf of Evia
Via Skyros

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.

Communication

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
Imran-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. Petition
54348 Vorios Evoikos Kolpos and Notios Evoikos Kolpos
54350 Nisoi Vorioi Sporades
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, Kea/wiki/Passages_between_Athens_Region_and_the_North_Sporades#.5B.5BKea.23Vourkari.7CVourkari.5D.5D.2C_.5B.5BKea.5D.5DHarbour icon Vourkari, Kea [[Passages between Athens Region and the North Sporades#Vourkari, Kea|Vourkari, Kea]] (Βουρκάρι, Κέα) 37°40′N, 24°19.5′E , 34 nM from Kalamaki Marina/wiki/Passages_between_Athens_Region_and_the_North_Sporades#.5B.5BKalamaki-Alimos_Marina.7CKalamaki_Marina.5D.5DMarina icon Kalamaki Marina [[Passages between Athens Region and the North Sporades#Kalamaki Marina|Kalamaki Marina]] 37°54.7′N, 23°42.0′E or 66 nM from the Corinth Canal/wiki/Passages_between_Athens_Region_and_the_North_Sporades#.5B.5BCorinth_Canal.23Isthmia_East_End.7CCorinth_Canal.5D.5DWaterway-canal icon Corinth Canal [[Passages between Athens Region and the North Sporades#Corinth Canal|Corinth Canal]] 37°54.96′N, 23°0.61′E .
  2. From Vourkari you sail for 42 nM NNW to the very sheltered creek of Voufalo/wiki/Passages_between_Athens_Region_and_the_North_Sporades#.5B.5BGulf_of_Evia.23Voufalo.7CVoufalo.5D.5DAnchorage icon Voufalo [[Passages between Athens Region and the North Sporades#Voufalo|Voufalo]] (Βούφαλο) 38°18′N, 24°07′E in the island of Evia.
  3. Then, from Voufalo, sail 28 nM mostly NW to the south harbor of Halkis/wiki/Passages_between_Athens_Region_and_the_North_Sporades#.5B.5BGulf_of_Evia.23Halkis_.7CHalkis.5D.5DHarbour icon Halkis [[Passages between Athens Region and the North Sporades#Halkis|Halkis]] (Χαλκίς) 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/wiki/Passages_between_Athens_Region_and_the_North_Sporades#.5B.5BGulf_of_Evia.23Ormos_Atalantis.7CAtalanti.5D.5DAnchorage icon Atalanti [[Passages between Athens Region and the North Sporades#Atalanti|Atalanti]] 38°40.3′N, 23°05.3′E .
  5. From Atalanti sail first NNW and then, to Arkitsa/wiki/Passages_between_Athens_Region_and_the_North_Sporades#ArkitsaWorld icon.png Arkitsa [[Passages between Athens Region and the North Sporades#Arkitsa|Arkitsa]] 38°45.600'N, 023°03.600'E , continue NW to past Lichades islets/wiki/Passages_between_Athens_Region_and_the_North_Sporades#past_Lichades_isletsWorld icon.png past Lichades islets [[Passages between Athens Region and the North Sporades#past Lichades islets|past Lichades islets]] 38°49.200'N, 022°46.800'E , and then NE for a total of 37 nM to the sleepy little harbor of Orei/wiki/Passages_between_Athens_Region_and_the_North_Sporades#.5B.5BPagasitikos_Gulf.23Orei.7COrei.5D.5DHarbour icon Orei [[Passages between Athens Region and the North Sporades#Orei|Orei]] (Ορεοί) 38°56.89′N, 23°5.15′E in Evia.
  6. From Orei you can sail to of the Sporades islands either to:
    1. Skiathos Harbor/wiki/Passages_between_Athens_Region_and_the_North_Sporades#.5B.5BSkiathos.23Skiathos_Harbor.7CSkiathos_Harbor.5D.5DHarbour icon Skiathos Harbor [[Passages between Athens Region and the North Sporades#Skiathos Harbor|Skiathos Harbor]] (Σκιάθος) 39°09.9′N, 23°29.6′E , a 25 nM sail NE.
    2. Skopelos Harbor/wiki/Passages_between_Athens_Region_and_the_North_Sporades#.5B.5BSkopelos.23Skopelos_Harbor.7CSkopelos_Harbor.5D.5DHarbour icon Skopelos Harbor [[Passages between Athens Region and the North Sporades#Skopelos Harbor|Skopelos Harbor]] (Σκόπελος) 39°7.34′N, 23°43.93′E , a 44 nM sail ENE.

The total distance from Kalamaki Marina/wiki/Passages_between_Athens_Region_and_the_North_Sporades#.5B.5BKalamaki-Alimos_Marina.7CKalamaki_Marina.5D.5DMarina icon Kalamaki Marina [[Passages between Athens Region and the North Sporades#Kalamaki Marina|Kalamaki Marina]] 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 Evia and the island of 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 to the small uninhabited island of Skantzoura/wiki/Passages_between_Athens_Region_and_the_North_Sporades#.5B.5BSkyros.23Skantzoura.7CSkantzoura.5D.5DAnchorage icon Skantzoura [[Passages between Athens Region and the North Sporades#Skantzoura|Skantzoura]] (Σκάντζουρα) 39°04′N, 24°06.7′E which is:
  2. From Skantzoura/wiki/Passages_between_Athens_Region_and_the_North_Sporades#.5B.5BSkyros.23Skantzoura.7CSkantzoura.5D.5DAnchorage icon Skantzoura [[Passages between Athens Region and the North Sporades#Skantzoura|Skantzoura]] 39°04′N, 24°06.7′E you sail 29 nM SE to Linaria/wiki/Passages_between_Athens_Region_and_the_North_Sporades#.5B.5BSkyros.23Linaria_Harbor.7CLinaria.5D.5DHarbour icon Linaria [[Passages between Athens Region and the North Sporades#Linaria|Linaria]] (Λινάρια) 38°50.6′N, 24°32.1′E the main harbor of the island of Skyros (Σκύρος).
    • 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/wiki/Passages_between_Athens_Region_and_the_North_Sporades#.5B.5BSkyros.23Sarakino.7CSarakino.5D.5DAnchorage icon Sarakino [[Passages between Athens Region and the North Sporades#Sarakino|Sarakino]] (Σαράκινο) 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/wiki/Passages_between_Athens_Region_and_the_North_Sporades#.5B.5BGulf_of_Evia.23Karistos.7CKaristos.5D.5DWorld icon.png Karistos [[Passages between Athens Region and the North Sporades#Karistos|Karistos]] (Κάρυστος) 38°0.7′N, 24°25′E .
    2. Wait for the weather window in Linaria and then sail 65 nM S directly to Karistos/wiki/Passages_between_Athens_Region_and_the_North_Sporades#.5B.5BGulf_of_Evia.23Karistos.7CKaristos.5D.5DWorld icon.png Karistos [[Passages between Athens Region and the North Sporades#Karistos|Karistos]] (Κάρυστος) 38°0.7′N, 24°25′E via the Kafireas Strait.
  4. From Karistos sail to Vourkari]/wiki/Passages_between_Athens_Region_and_the_North_Sporades#.5B.5BKea.23Vourkari.7CVourkari.5D.5D.5DHarbour icon Vourkari] [[Passages between Athens Region and the North Sporades#Vourkari]|Vourkari]]] (Βουρκάρι, Κέα) 37°40′N, 24°19.5′E in the island of Kea (Κέα) is an easy SSW sail of 22 mM.
  5. Finally, you sail from Vourkari home:

The total distance to Kalamaki Marina/wiki/Passages_between_Athens_Region_and_the_North_Sporades#.5B.5BKalamaki-Alimos_Marina.7CKalamaki_Marina.5D.5DMarina icon Kalamaki Marina [[Passages between Athens Region and the North Sporades#Kalamaki Marina|Kalamaki Marina]] 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)


See Aegean Sea.

References

See Aegean Sea.

Comments

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


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Names: Istioploos


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