South Peloponnese

From CruisersWiki

Revision as of 13:36, 10 May 2015

An online cruising guide for yachts sailing around South Peloponnese.

Satellite View of Southern Peloponnese - For details click on a name or an area

The coast of southern Peloponnese is not usually visited by cruising yachts unless they are in transit either moving east to the Aegean or west on their way back. Yet, it is a beautiful coast with many interesting anchorages.

The coast is dominated by the three peninsulas: Messinia dominated by Mount Taygetos, Mani ending into the capes Cavo Grosso and Tainaron, and finally the easternmost Cape Maleas.

Messinia was occupied by theVenetians who built two famous castles: Methoni and Koroni while within its gulf there is the city and harbor of Kalamata.

Mani has a history of being a nest of pirates and during the 400 years of Ottoman occupation was never really subjugated. It played a pivotal role during the Greek War of Independence in 1821. On the west side of the peninsula there is one of the largest caves in Greece the Cave of Dyros.

Inland of the Gulf of Laconia between Mani Mani and Cape Maleas is the city of Sparta and the nearby ghost Byzantine town of Mystras.

Charts

BA

189 Nisos Sapiénza to Nisos Paxoi

682 Gulf of Kalamata

1030 South-west entrance channels to the Aegean sea

1685 Nisís Venetico to Nísos Spétsai including the channels between Akra Malléas and Kríti Yerakas

Imray-Tetra

G15 Southern Peloponnisos

NIMA

54301 Kalamai and Approaches

54303 Lakonikos Kolpos

Greek

22 Ionio Sea - Southern Part Zakynthos I. to C. Tainaro

43 Kriti I. - Wastern Part Cape Tainaro to Milos I.

Radio Nets

• Coast Guard - VHF channel 12
• Olympia Radio - VHF channels 27, 83, 84, or 86

Also see World Cruiser's Nets.

Weather

The winds here during the May - October period tend to be from the NE seldom exceeding force 4. During the November -April period they are from the SE often at gale force. But, because of the high mountains, there can be ferocious gusts especially near Capes Tainaron and Maleas.

There is a popular Greek proverb among sailors: "Από τον Κάβο Μαλιά δέκα μιλια μακρυά, κι’ από τον Κάβο Γκροσσο δέκα κι’ άλλα τόσο" ("Stay ten miles off Cape Malea, and from Cape Grosso ten and then ten more").

Another problem here is that the weather, because of moving depressions between Maleas and Crete, can deteriorate very quickly especially during the spring and fall months. During the summer months there can be thunderstorms and squalls near the shore.

Approach and Navigation

Approaches in general are straightforward. Details are given for each port.

Check-in facilities (for Customs and Immigration)

Other than Pylos to the west, the only port of entry in this region is Kalamata.

Ports, Anchorages, and Islands

Ports

Methoni

Methoni/wiki/South_Peloponnese#Methoni

Methoni 36°48.89′N, 21°42.47′E36.814833333333;21.707833333333 destination

Chart of Methoni - Click for larger view

Methoni (Μεθώνη) is the site of a large Venetian castle and has a large natural harbor surrounded by the castle on one side and large sandy beaches on the other. The bay is only exposed to the SE winds. It is a spectacular site. It is believed that Cervantes was imprisoned by the Ottomans in the castle. The town is some distance from the castle and it is spread out.

Anchor to the N of of the old quay in 2-5 m depths. The bottom sand and mud, good holding.

Danger: Stay clear of the neighborhood of the old quay and its many submerged rocks.

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

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

• June 2001 --Istioploos Travels with S/Y Thetis
• April 2014 --LifePart2

The Castle of Methoni

Kalamata (Port of Entry)

Kalamata/wiki/South_Peloponnese#Kalamata

Kalamata 37°1.31′N, 22°6.91′E37.021833333333;22.115166666667 destination

he Marina of Kalamata - Click for larger view

Kalamata (Καλαμάτα) is the capital of the Messinia province. It is bustling modern city. It is a commercial harbor and it is always very busy. In the last few years a new modern marina started operations. The marina provides all the usual conveniences and has a reputation of being very well ran.

If you do visit the marina, make sure you dock west of the entrance; the afternoon breeze creates a bit of a swell in the east part --Deltasig

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

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

• June 2001 --Istioploos Travels with S/Y Thetis
• July 2013 --Deltasig

Yithio

Yithio/wiki/South_Peloponnese#Yithio

Yithio 36°45.58′N, 22°34.1′E36.759666666667;22.568333333333 destination

Chart of Yithio - Click for larger view

Yíthio (Γύθιο) or Gythio is a very pleasant harbor and the main city of the Mani region. It was the harbor of Ancient Sparta.

Yíthio is a good place to leave your yacht in order to visit Sparta and Mystras.

The harbor of Yíthio provides good protection from the NW prevailing winds. If those winds are strong there are also strong gusts here. Go bow or stern-to the mole, with strong NW winds, try the W quay. The bottom is mud and gives good holding.

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

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

• 1995 --Istioploos Travels with S/Y Thetis

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

• Kalamata Marina

Anchorages

Koroni

Koroni/wiki/South_Peloponnese#Koroni

Koroni 36°47.98′N, 21°57.39′E36.799666666667;21.9565 destination

Sketch of Koroni - Click for larger view

Koroni (Κορώνη) is an attractive town with an imposing Venetian castle. The shelter here from the prevailing NW-W winds is fairly good.

It is best to anchor off in 2-5 m depths in the bay W of the castle. The bottom is mostly mud and weed, it provides good holding. There is a small quay but the bottom there is fouled by old moorings and it is best to avoid it.

Warning: Near the shore there are large boulders where an anchor may be fouled. Watch out for them.

You can also anchor E of the breakwater in 4-5m.

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

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

• June 1995 --Istioploos Travels with S/Y Thetis
• August 2014 --Smoothtraveller

The Castle of Koroni

Petalidhi

Petalidhi/wiki/South_Peloponnese#Petalidhi

Petalidhi 36°57.53′N, 21°55.87′E36.958833333333;21.931166666667 destination

Chart of Petalidhi - Click for larger view

Petalidhi (Πεταλίδι) is a few miles SW of Kalamata. It is a quiet and pleasant anchorage in an attractive provincial town. Anchor off in 2-4 m on a sandy bottom which provides good holding.

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

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

• June 1995 --Istioploos Travels with S/Y Thetis

Limeni

Limeni/wiki/South_Peloponnese#Limeni

Limeni 36°41.37′N, 22°22.63′E36.6895;22.377166666667 destination

Chart of Limeni - Click for larger view

Limeni (Λιμένι) is large deep cove half way down the W side of the Mani Peninsula. It is very attractive, physically, and it is reputed to provide a good shelter. Anchor in 10-12 m, the bottom is sand and weed with some rocks

The whole cove gets very uncomfortable with the constant swell of the Messinian gulf especially in the afternoon and all night. One is better off taking a bit of shelter behind the makeshift rock jetty at Karavostasi. Make sure you avoid huge underwater rocks at the and of the dock and your anchor is set well because in the early hours of the morning it may blow strong N-NE through the valleys/canyons. I overnighted there so that I could visit the Diros Caves early in the morning before the afternoon W-SW breeze (at times F6) makes anchoring in Diros bay impossible. --Deltasig

There is a small museum in Limeni housed in the Mavromichalis Mansion.

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

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

• June 2001--Istioploos Travels with S/Y Thetis
• July 2013 --Deltasig

Diros

Diros/wiki/South_Peloponnese#Diros

Diros 36°38.4′N, 22°22.8′E36.64;22.38 destination

Chart of Diros - Click for larger view

Diros or Dyros (Δυρός) is just a few miles N of Mezapo. It is not a secure anchorage but in reasonable weather it is a "must stop" so that you can visit the famous Cave of Diros and the important neolithic site.

Anchor in front and to the E of the cave entrance (NE of the cove) in 8-10 m. The holding is reasonable.

Anchoring 50m right in front of the beach where you can see the steps leading to the entrance (5-6m depth) the holding is good; also, is close enough to row the dingy to the beach. Make sure you visit early in the day (caves open at 0830) and leave by early afternoon before the breeze builds up. --Deltasig

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

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

• June 2001 --Istioploos Travels with S/Y Thetis
• July 2013 --Deltasig

The Cove of Diros

Mezapo

Mezapo/wiki/South_Peloponnese#Mezapo

Mezapo 36°32.55′N, 22°22.61′E36.5425;22.376833333333 destination

Chart of Mezapo - Click for larger view

Mezapo (Μέζαπο) is a large bay about a mile N of Cavo Grosso. It provides some reasonable shelter but there can be strong gusts, especially during the night.

Mezapo is the the largest anchorage of the famed Mani region of the Peloponnesos. Mani, before roads were built, was one of the most remote regions in Greece. During the Ottoman occupation, it was never subdued and kept a semi-autonomous existence. One of its main sources of wealth was piracy, the boats hiding in its many coves and pouncing at unsuspecting ships, heading for the Kythera channel.

Warning: The bottom here is uneven.

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

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

• June 2001 --Istioploos Travels with S/Y Thetis

The Cove of Mezapo

Yerolimenas

Yerolimenas/wiki/South_Peloponnese#Yerolimenas

Yerolimenas 36°28.7′N, 22°24′E36.478333333333;22.4 destination

Chart of Yerolimenas - Click for larger view

Yerolimenas or Gerolimenas (Γερολιμένας) is an inlet to the SW of Cape Tainaron and just NE of Cavo Grosso. It has a small quay used by fishing boats. The inlet is exposed to the prevailing W winds and is not very secure.

It is believed that a large Cave in Yerolimenas was the entrance to Hades, the Ancient Greek underworld.

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

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

• June 2001 --Istioploos Travels with S/Y Thetis

Cavo Grosso

Porto Kayo

Porto Kayo/wiki/South_Peloponnese#Porto_Kayo

Porto Kayo 36°25.8′N, 22°29.1′E36.43;22.485 destination

Chart of Porto Kayo - Click for larger view

Porto Kayo (Πόρτο Κάγιο) is an attractive anchorage just SE of Cape Tainaron. It offers fairly good shelter from the prevailing W-SW winds and from the NE winds. The little village used to be very appealing but lately has been "developed" with ugly buildings to the point that a Greek travel guide calls it "Porto Halio" (Port Shame).

With W-SW wind anchor on the S of the cove but be aware that the holding in the hard sand is not always good. With N winds, you want to be in N side but the bottom slope is very steep and you have to go very close to the shore. The bottom here is sand and weed, better holding.

Warning: There are many large rocks near the N side. Make sure you do not drift to them. During the night there can be strong gusts.

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

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

• June 2001 --Istioploos Travels with S/Y Thetis

Porto Kayo, looking N

Offshore Islands

Sapienza

Sapienza/wiki/South_Peloponnese#Sapienza

Sapienza 36°45.25′N, 21°42.21′E36.754166666667;21.7035 destination

The Sapientza Lighthouse

The island of Sapienza (Σαπιέντζα) is uninhabited save for one of the last remaining light-keepers in Greece. At the top of the island is the 1885 lighthouse, 100 m tall. It well worth a stop.

Unfortunately its lovely little cove of Port Longos has been despoiled by a fish-farm. Anchor in 5-6 m depths clear of the fish-farm. The bottom is sand, good holding. The cove is well protected from the prevailing winds but there is some swell with E winds.

The lighthouse is about a 15 minute walk along a trail.

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

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

• June 1995 --Istioploos Travels with S/Y Thetis

Chart of Porto Longos - Click for larger view

Yacht Repairs and Services

Marine Stores

• In the Kalamata Marina

Repairs

• In the Kalamata Marina

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel

In Methoni there is gas station at the end of the town, more than 500 m from the quay

In Yithio a mini tanker usually delivers fuel, ask at the Limenarchio (Coast Guard)

Water

In Methoni there is a faucet root of the old quay

In Yithio on the quay

Electricity

N/A (Not Available)

Things to do ashore

Tourism

In Methoni

A visit and a long walks along the ramparts of the castle is must.

In Sapienza

Visit the lighthouse, 15 walk from the anchorage.

Diros Cave

The Cave of Diros

From the Cove of Diros you must, of course visit the cave and the neolithic site. Make sure you arrive early in the morning and beat the crowd disgorged by the buses arriving in the late morning. The ticket booth is some walk uphill. Get tickets and wait your turn in from of the cave entrance. It more than worth it.

In Porto Kayo

Mani Tower

Take a long walk up the steep hill to see some good examples of the characteristic towers of Mani.

In Yithio

Kranea Lighthouse

In the town of Yithio you can visit archaeological excavation, the Museum, the castle, and the Kranea Lighthouse.

Sparta & Mystras

The Pantanassa Monastery in Mystras Click for larger view

From Yithio you can take a taxi to Sparta and Mystras (Μυστράς) (65 km).

In Sparta you can visit the Archaeological Museum and the Olive-Oil Museum.

Mystras is one of the most interesting sites in Greece. It is late Byzantine ghost town. You can wander along its buildings and then visit its Museum. It is an experience that you will never forget.

Grocery & Supply Stores

• Many stores in Kalamata
• A mini-market in Porto Kayo
• A supermarket in Yithio

Eateries

• Many tavernas in Kalamata
• There is a good restaurant in Porto Kayo
• There are several restaurants in Yithio

Internet/WiFi

Available?

Laundry

• In the Kalamata Marina

Motorbike & Car Rentals

Transportation

Flights to Athens from the airport in [[#Kalamata|Kalamata].

Routes/Passages To/From

• Circumnavigating the Peloponnese
• Aegean to West/East Mediterranean, Southern Route

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

• Messinia
• Mani
• Laconia

References & Publications

See Greece.

Personal Notes

Personal experiences?

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

See individual ports, anchorages, and islands in this page.

Contributors to this page
Names: Istioploos, Lighthouse