Port Lakka

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Port Lakka/wiki/Port_Lakka

Port Lakka 39°14.320'N, 020°08.020'E39.23867;20.13367 destination

lat=39.23867 | lon=20.13367 | zoom=15 | y

A. Yachts moored on the town quay

The harbour and anchorage of Port Lakka lies at the NE tip of the island of Paxos in the Ionian Sea of Greece. It consists of a large natural inlet protected from all winds except NE, with the small town of Lakka and its town quay at its head on the SE side. It is a very popular anchorage with yachts on transit down from Corfu to Lefkas and back and consequently gets very busy during the peak season. The town ashore is totally dedicated to serving the needs of tourists and virtually every house is a taverna, café, boutique or souvenir shop. Mooring options here include anchor mooring to the town quay, free anchoring in the bay if room permits or anchoring with a long line ashore on the N side of the inlet. Shelter is good in most conditions, although strong N winds send in a swell and, if the winds turn NE (which is fortunately rare), they blow directly down into the inlet.

Charts

BA

189 Nisos Sapiénza to Nisos Paxoi

203 Zakinthos to Paxoi

Imray-Tetra

G11 Nísos Kérkira to Nísos Levkas

NIMA

54280 Corfu Channel to Nisis Proti

Greek

212 Othonoi I. to Amvrakikos Gulf- Kerkyra I. And Paxoi I. Inset: Northern Kerkyra Strait

Weather

• See Ionian Sea Weather
• Also see Ionian Sea Currents & Tides

Radio Net

• Coast Guard - VHF channel 12
• Olympia Radio - VHF channel 03

Also see World Cruiser's Nets.

Passages

List popular passages/routes, timing, etc.

Islands

• Corfu

Navigation

There are no dangers in the approach from N, although Vrak Marmaro, the rocky islet and reef just NW of the inlet, should be given a wide berth. Approaching from S, the principal danger is the reef of Ifalos Paxoi about half a mile off the small harbour of Longos two miles SW of Port Lakka. From this direction, it is difficult to identify the inlet until almost past it.

Depths in the entrance channel are mostly between 6.0 and 8.0 metres and in the rest of the inlet range from 3.0 - 4.0 metres in the anchorage to just under 6.0 metres in a patch 100 metres off the town quay.

Entrance

The nearest port of entry is Port Gaios.

Berthing

Town Quays

The town quays in Port Lakka consist of a main stretch directly facing the anchorage, which can accommodate around a dozen yachts, a short quay on the E side, where no more than 2-3 yachts can squeeze in, and a shallow quay continuing E and N from the main quay, where there is room for 3-4 yachts moored bows-to in view of the shallow depths.

A: Main town quay

A: Main town quay/wiki/Port_Lakka#A:_Main_town_quay

harbour A: Main town quay [[Port Lakka#A: Main town quay|A: Main town quay]] 39°14.124'N, °'EA: Main town quay39.2354;

This section of the quay, facing the anchorage, runs for around 100 metres from the small ferry ramp at its E end as far as the small craft moorings that then continue as far as a tiny inlet crammed with day fishing boats at its W end. The quay can accommodate around 10-12 yachts anchor moored stern or bows-to in depths of 2.0 – 2.5 metres at the quay (the deeper water being at the E end). Depths further out, where yachts drop anchor, are nearer 4.0 – 5.0 metres. The holding here is good in sand and weed – once through the weed.

B. E side quay

B. E side quay/wiki/Port_Lakka#B._E_side_quay

harbour B. E side quay [[Port Lakka#B. E side quay|B. E side quay]] 39°14.13′N, 20°8.15′EB. E side quay39.2355;20.135833333333

B. Yachts on side quay

This section of the quay is ‘round the corner’ from the ferry ramp and there is just enough space for 2-3 yachts to anchor moor (preferably bows-to, since the depths are irregular and mostly little more than 1.5 metres). You need to be careful not to lay your anchor across the chains of any boats moored on the Shallow E quay.

C. Shallow E quay

C. Shallow E quay/wiki/Port_Lakka#C._Shallow_E_quay

harbour C. Shallow E quay [[Port Lakka#C. Shallow E quay|C. Shallow E quay]] 39°14.13′N, 20°8.18′EC. Shallow E quay39.2355;20.136333333333

C. Yachts on SE quay

This section begins at the inner corner of the E side quay, which is very shallow and filled with rubble, and extends E and N for around 100 metres. Most of it is shallow and occupied by local small craft, but a short section starting around 20 metres from the corner can be used with care by yachts anchored bows-to. There is room for 3/4 yachts moored in this way, but note that the depths are just 1.25 metres, shallowing towards the corner. You need to be careful not to lay your anchor across the chains of any boats moored on the E side quay.

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

None.

Anchorages

Lakka anchorage

Lakka anchorage

Lakka anchorage/wiki/Port_Lakka#Lakka_anchorage

anchorage Lakka anchorage [[Port Lakka#Lakka anchorage|Lakka anchorage]] 39°14.250'N, 020°07.940'ELakka anchorage39.2375;20.132333

The anchorage is large and depths throughout are suitable for all but the deepest draft yachts to anchor. It is invariably very busy here and late arrivals may have to position their anchors with care to avoid interfering with other boats. Otherwise, anchor wherever there is space, either in the sandy area to the N of the inlet, where depths are 3.0 – 4.0 metres and holding is good, or on the weedy part towards the S of the inlet, where depths of nearly 6.0 metres can be found in places (but it may require more than one attempt to dig your anchor in). It should not be necessary to lie to any more than 20-25 meters of chain (even if you initially lay out more to dig in), as your swinging circle is more likely to cause interference with other boats if you do.

If arriving late, or merely if you prefer, anchor and take a line ashore on the NW side of the inlet. This position has the advantage of being out of the worst of any swell that may enter with fresh to strong NW winds.

Amenities

Provisioning

Two small supermarkets, a butcher and two bakeries in the town.

Eating out

• Several bars, cafes and tavernas near the town quay, and more in the streets behind

Transportation

Ferry to Parga on the mainland.

Tourism

Longos waterfront

Lakka boasts several good tavernas

The town of Lakka is in an attractive setting and its narrow streets mean that it is virtually traffic-free. However, these days it is basically a tourist village, with virtually every house tendering to the needs of land and water-based tourists. There are some good walks around the inlet out to the headland on the N side and a good beach around the headland to the SE. A longer walk SE brings you to the tiny port and village of Longos, which is even smaller and more picturesque than Lakka itself. By boat, there are several large sea caves eroded into the cliffs on the W side of the island which can be visited in suitable conditions.

Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forums

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

Links

• Port Lakka at the Wikipedia

References

See Ionian Sea.

Comments

We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.

• Anchoring with a line ashore on the NW side of the bay is best if you want to be a little out of the anchoring hurly-burly and of the regular swell in fresh NW winds. --Athene of Lymington 07:44, 17 September 2012 (BST)
• Anchored many times in this stunning bay but only once used the main quay and will never do so again. The music coming from not one but two bars carried on well into the early hours of the morning preventing any kind of sleep! --Fair Game

Verified by

Date of member's last visit to Port Lakka and this page's details validated:

• June 2010 --CORFUBOAT
• September 2012 --Athene of Lymington
• September 2013 --Fair Game

Contributors to this page
Names: Istioploos, Athene of Lymington