Psara

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* Good sea-food at the ''Ηλιοβασιλέματα  - Sunsets'' looking to the West. Lobster is their specialty.
* Good sea-food at the ''Ηλιοβασιλέματα  - Sunsets'' looking to the West. Lobster is their specialty.
* Tavernas on the harbor waterfront, food is indifferent
* Tavernas on the harbor waterfront, food is indifferent
 +
* Recently opened (as of July 2015) restaurant at the far end of the beach just N of the harbour was excellent when we visited.
====Internet/WiFi====
====Internet/WiFi====

Revision as of 08:41, 31 July 2015

Psara
38°34.28′N, 25°35.12′E Chart icon.png
Greece Psara1.jpg
Magnify-clip.png
The Black Hill - Click for larger view

The island of Psara (Ψαρά) located about 10 nM W of Chios actually consist of two islands: Psara and Antipsara. There total area is 39 km2 they are lightly populated and definitely off the beaten tourist track. Not too many yachts call here.

Psara were very important during the Greek Revolution. Although during the middle ages they were uninhabited they were populated in the 15th and 16th centuries by Greeks from nearby Chios, from Evia, and from Thessaly who were fleeing the Ottomans. Slowly the new inhabitants became able seamen and traders. By the early 1800s Psara had the third largest Greek fleet, after Hydra and Spetses, consisting of 45 ships. During the revolution this fleet with their fire-ships were very effective against the Ottoman armada. The famous fire-ship heroes Papanikolis, Pipinos, and Kanaris all were from Psara. The Ottomans in retaliation for these activities invaded the islands and on July 5, 1824, after three days of fighting, massacred the population. A number of the oldest men together with the women and the children who could not fight were hiding in a cave, on the Black Hill (Μαύρη Ράχη) over the town, housing the gun powder. When the invaders approached the cave they blew the cave up rather than risk being captured. All together, very few people survived the invasion and even today the islands have an abandoned look. The Massacre of Psara is one of the most moving incidents of modern Greek history.

Στων Ψαρών την ολόμαύρη ράχη
περπατώντας η Δόξα μονάχη,
μελετά τα λαμπρά παλικάρια
και στη κόμη στεφάνι φορεί,
γινομένο απο τα λίγα χορτάρια
που είχαν μείνει στην έρημη γή.
 
On the Psara Black Hill
Glory is walking by all herself
contemplating the brilliant lost brave young people
wearing on her head a wreath
made by the few remaining weeds
left on the desolated earth.
 
Dionysios Solomos

Charts

Satellite View of Psara
Click for larger view
BA
1087 Kólpos Petalión to Edremit Körfezi
1645 Nisos Chios and Izmir Körfezi
Imray-Tetra
G28 Nísos Khíos & the Coast of Turkey
NIMA
54352 Plans in theAegean Sea: Nisos Skyros, Ayios Efstratios, Nisos Psara
54382 Nisos Lesvos and Western Coast of Turkey
Greek
33 Cape Sounion to Lesvos I.

Radio Nets

  • Coast Guard - VHF channel 12
  • Olympia Radio - VHF no signal

Also see World Cruiser's Nets.

Weather

See Aegean Sea.

Approach and Navigation

Danger: On the approach to Psara from the west be aware of the many reefs near the islets Antipsara & Katonisi.

Approaches from the east are straightforward.

Berthing Options

Ports

Psara Harbor

Psara Harbor
38°32.4′N, 25°34′E Chart icon.png
Greece Psara h.jpg
Magnify-clip.png
Chart of Psara Harbor - Click for larger view

There is only one harbor, the harbor of Psara. It is a small harbor very well protected all year but space is limited. Around 6-8 yachts can anchor moor stern-to on the west quay. Alternatively moor on the outer quay clear of the ferries; it is, however, very exposed here in northerly winds. Water and electricity points on the west quay but not connected. Depths are too shallow to moor elsewhere in the harbour, which is in any case mostly occupied with fishing boats. The bottom is mud and weed with some rocks and provides good holding. The anchorage in the cove immediately NE of the harbour, shown in some pilots, was mostly obstructed at the time of visiting (July 2008) with huge concrete blocks being used to repair the outer harbour wall.

However, other visitors have weathered a force 8 gale in this anchorage (1992 --Istioploos Greece Icon.png).

The little town is very pleasant and the people are very friendly. There are wonderful isolated beaches a short walk or dinghy ride from the harbor.

Caution: Watch out for the reefs around Antipsara and Katonisi islands. With very strong NW winds entering the harbor can be very hard.

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

None.

Anchorages

Cove East of the Harbor

Cove East of the Harbor
38°32.3′N, 25°34.6′E Chart icon.png
Greece Psara2.jpg
Magnify-clip.png
Click for larger view

A quieter and less dusty alternative to the harbor is a cove about 1 nM to the east. It is secluded, very safe and well protected from the meltemi. I have been twice here with a force 8 meltemi (--Istioploos Greece Icon.png).

Anchor at about 4 m depth and do let out plenty of scope. The bottom is sand with some slate so the anchor may not always hold but when it does it is quite secure.

The town is a 20 minute walk away. There is a pleasant path that follows the coast and a longer inland dirt road.

Warning: When landing with the dinghy at the beach watch out for the swallow ring of rocks.

Cove N of Harbor's Breakwater

Very nice anchorage N of the breakwater, with excellent protection from the winds and a very friendly town. (2010--S/Y Spindrift)

Yacht Services and Repairs

Marine Stores

None.

Yacht Services/Repairs/Yards

None.

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel
N/A (Not Available)
Water
There is an outlet at the quay but use it sparingly as the island's water supply is very limited
Electricity
N/A

Things to do ashore

Tourism

Greece Psara Rachi2.jpg
The Commemorative Column on the Black Hill
Greece Psara6.jpg
The Monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin
Click for larger view

The Black Hill (Μαύρη Ράχη), site of the mass suicide to avoid capture is now a garbage damp but the event is commemorated by a plaque on the little chapel. It is a 10 minute walk from the town.

About a 3 hour walk at the N of the island there is the Monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin , an interesting site. It is not always open, so enquire at the town before setting off.

Grocery & Supply Stores

  • There is a good supermarket a short walk inland from the harbor
  • Near the harbor there is a very good bakery

Eateries

  • Good sea-food at the Ηλιοβασιλέματα - Sunsets looking to the West. Lobster is their specialty.
  • Tavernas on the harbor waterfront, food is indifferent
  • Recently opened (as of July 2015) restaurant at the far end of the beach just N of the harbour was excellent when we visited.

Internet/WiFi

N/A.

Laundry

N/A.

Motorbike & Car Rentals

N/A.

Garbage Disposal

In bins at the harbor.

Transportation

  • There is one taxi
  • There is a small ferry to Chios

Routes/Passages To/From

See N - S Passages in East Aegean.

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 partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

External Links

References & Publications

See Greece.

Personal Notes

Psara is not "on the beaten track" yet it is a delightful and very quiet island to visit. --Istioploos

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:



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: Lighthouse, Istioploos, Athene of Lymington


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