Vlikho Bay

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Vlikho Bay Cruising Guide

An online cruising guide for yachts sailing to Vlikho Bay, Lefkas, Greece.

Map of Vlikho Bay
Vlikho Bay from S
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Yachts share Nidri quay with large tripper boats
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A yacht may find space on one of the many pontoons along the W shore of Vlikho Bay
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There are several boatyards along the W shore which can haul out yachts
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The jetty at Vlikho Town is crammed with charter yachts on handover at weekends
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Yacht anchored in Vlikho Bay
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Elona Taverna in Taverna Bay
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Vlikho Bay is situated on the east coast of the island of Lefkas in the Ionian Sea of Greece, five miles S of the southern entrance to the Lefkas Canal. A shallow gulf around 1.5 miles long and little over half a mile wide at its widest point, depths are nowhere greater than 10 metres and most of the bay is only 5.0 – 7.0 metres. The bay is entered from NNE via a 200-metre wide channel at the busy tourist town of Nidri and the channel continues for S for half a mile before widening out into a sheltered bay that can accommodate several hundred yachts at anchor or moored on its various quays. Shelter in the S part of the bay is excellent and yachts have weathered strong winds from all directions in its various anchorages. Apart from the town quay at Nidri, there is a series of pontoons and boatyard jetties on the W side where a yacht can usually negotiate a berth; a further town quay and jetty at the town of Vlikho Town at the SW end of the bay; the extremely popular anchorage of Tranquil Bay on the E side of the entrance or the numerous anchorages around the shores of the S part of the bay. There are good facilities around the bay, including several boatyards, numerous tavernas and provisions shops and bakeries at Nidri and Vlikho Town.

Cruising the region

Cruising the bay is mostly a trouble-free experience, particularly since the shelter is probably better than almost anywhere in the Ionian Sea. The principal hazard is the sheer number of yachts, RIBs and even water ski boats charging around the bay, especially off the town of Nidri at the entrance. Also, Tranquil Bay, the anchorage on the E side of the entrance, is so popular that often yachts anchor foolishly right in the fairway without displaying anchor balls or even anchor lights at night, making entry at busy periods and in poor light an unnecessarily hazardous endeavour.

Navigation Charts

British Admiralty
203 Zakinthos to Paxoi
Imray-Tetra
G11 – North Ionian Islands
Greek
21 Ionio Sea - Northern Part Othonoi I. to Zakynthos I.

Weather and Winds

Vlikho Bay is well sheltered in virtually all conditions and it is always possible to find good shelter in the various parts of the bay. In settled weather, a seabreeze sets in from N/NE during the afternoons, which rarely gets up much above F4. While it can cause a chop in the S part of the bay at Vlikho, it is generally no more than uncomfortable (many yachts are often laid up on the quay here). In the mornings, it will sometimes blow from S/SE in the S part of the bay until the N seabreeze gets into its stride.

Sources for weather information:

Currents & Tides

There is usually a slight clockwise current that flows S along the E side of the bay and N along the opposite side. This is never more than 0.5 knot and often will not be apparent at all.

Approaches and Navigation

The bay is entered from NE. The small islands of Madhouri lying half a mile E of the entrance and Sparti a mile NE can be left on either side. The smaller islet of Heloni just off the coast a mile NNE of the entrance is best left to starboard if approaching from this direction as there are shoals inshore.

Ports

The bay has quays and/or pontoons at the towns of Nidri at the entrance and Vlikho Town at its SW corner. It is also possible to anchor virtually anywhere in the bay that takes your fancy, as depths are mostly little more than 7.0 metres except in the entrance. See Map of mooring options in Vlikho Bay for summary details.

Anchorages

Tracking anti-clockwise from the entrance to the bay, the most popular anchorages are as follows.

Tranquil Bay

World icon.png 38°42.12′N, 20°42.72′E
The anchorage of Tranquil Bay bay lies immediately inside the entrance to the bay on the E side, half a mile due E of the town or Nidri. A very popular anchorage in a charming setting, it consists of a horseshoe shaped cove ringed with trees and offering good shelter from most winds. The depths here range from 2.0 metres close inshore to 12 metres in the fairway. Depths at the S end of the cove are much less owing to shoals, so most yachts anchor in the centre or towards the N side. Holding is reasonable in mud and weed once your anchor is well dug in. There is space here for around 30 – 40 yachts free anchored or anchor moored with lines ashore on the N side, but during the season as many as 50 - 60 will be found here, often anchored right across the fairway. Note: if you do this, at least display an anchor ball and an anchor light at night as you will not have a leg to stand on if someone runs you down.

Taverna Bay

World icon.png 38°41.22′N, 20°42.54′E
The anchorage of Taverna Bay lies just over half a mile S of Tranquil Bay on the E side of Vlikho Bay. There are three tavernas on the shore here, Elonas Taverna, Dimitris Taverna and Taverna Gialos, all with dinghy landing stages, and this anchorage is therefore popular with the lunch and dinner crowd. There is room for some 20 – 30 yachts anchored in depths of 2.0 – 6.0 metres. Most yachts anchor around 50 – 60 metres off the shore here as the shoreline itself is shallow and very weedy and few anchors can hold in it. Further off, the holding is better in mud and weed (although it is not unusual to need two or three attempts to get the anchor to hold). Shelter here is excellent – probably the best in the bay in the prevailing winds – but it is exposed in strong W winds, which cause a chop.

Boatyard Bay

World icon.png 38°41.52′N, 20°42.24′E
Boatyard Bay lies at the NW side of the bay, half a mile S of Nidri and immediately S of the boatyards. It is a peaceful and quiet anchorage (except for the boatyard noises) and offers better shelter than Taverna Bay in fresh to strong W winds. Around 10 – 15 yachts can anchor here in depths of 5.0 – 6.0 metres. Holding is moderate to good in sand, mud and weed. Shelter is good in most conditions although strong southerlies send a chop across the bay.

Solitude Bay

World icon.png 38°40.86′N, 21°42.18′E
Solitude Bay – so called because it’s the perfect resort for those who ‘wish to be alone’ - is at the extreme S end of Vlikho Bay. Smaller or shallow draft yachts can anchor in depths of 2.0 – 4.0 metres around 200 metres off the shore in peaceful and undisturbed surroundings (unless the water ski boats come visiting). Holding is moderate to good in sand, mud and weed. Shelter here is good in all but strong N winds.

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 Ionian Sea.

Personal Notes

Personal experiences?

  • The anchorage of Taverna Bay is a favourite of ours – as is Elona Taverna there. Why people crowd into Tranquil Bay when Taverna Bay is nothing like as busy and always much quieter defeats me. --Athene of Lymington

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

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


Template:Guide2



SailorSmiley.gifContributors to this page

Names: Athene of Lymington


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