Lipsi

Aspronisi is a rock with a tiny white beach and amazingly crystal clear water. It a suitable lunch-stop anchorage. While it does afford some protection from the meltemi it is too exposed for an overnight stop.

Fantastic geology above & below the water. Mind you don't get your anchor caught under one of the strata. And keep your eyes & ears peeled for Eleonora's falcon.

The small harbour of Lipsi (Λειψοί), is in a dog-leg inlet roughly halfway along the south side of the island. There is a white light structure (Fl W 3s 6M) at the N entrance. A white chapel with a blue domed roof is conspicuous on the N shore of the outer part of the inlet. The inlet is well protected from the prevailing winds but there can be very strong gusts during the meltemi.

There are two mooring options in Lipsi harbour: in the harbour itself there is space for around 12-14 yachts stern-to the concrete quay that forms the harbour breakwater (you will be dropping anchor here in 3.5 - 4.0 metres and there are depths of around 6.0 metres at the quay). Holding here is good in mud and sand. Alternatively, a floating pontoon outside the harbour in a small cove to the NW can accommodate around six yachts in total moored alongside on either side (more if rafted up). Depths here range from 3.0 metres at the root to 3.5 metres at the end. On the pontoon, you have the advantage of being in better shelter and head-on to the prevailing winds, although you will probably experience an uncomfortable swell. In July 2017, a 40 foot monohull and a 35 foot motor cat were asked to leave the floating pontoon by the Hellenic Coast Guard, who said the pontoon is only for small vessels for reasons of safety. The harbour experiences some chop with the meltemi but it is not usually bothersome. When the harbour is full or in the case of very large yachts, one can also anchor moor to the outside of the breakwater, although this position is subject to swell with the meltemi.

Water (non-potable) and electricity are available on the quay (there are only two stations, one at either end of the quay), but not on the pontoon (July 2017). Charge for electricity is €5 and water €12 for 1000 litres (June 2014).

It is also possible to anchor off in two small coves about half a mile W of the quay. One is under the conspicuous white chapel with the blue domed roof/wiki/Lipsi#white_chapel_with_the_blue_domed_roofanchorage white chapel with the blue domed roof [[Lipsi#white chapel with the blue domed roof|white chapel with the blue domed roof]] 37°17.8′N, 26°45.3′Ewhite chapel with the blue domed roof37.296666666667;26.755 and the other is just N of it just N of it/wiki/Lipsi#just_N_of_itanchorage just N of it [[Lipsi#just N of it|just N of it]] 37°17.9′N, 26°45.5′Ejust N of it37.298333333333;26.758333333333 . Anchor in 6.0 -7.0 metres over sand, avoiding the patches of weed. Good holding and shelter from the prevailing winds, although the wind does gust with the meltemi.

To the E of the harbour is a fairly large bay/wiki/Lipsi#fairly_large_bayanchorage fairly large bay [[Lipsi#fairly large bay|fairly large bay]] 37°17.5′N, 26°45.8′Efairly large bay37.291666666667;26.763333333333 that affords excellent protection from southerlies. The water here is muddy and the bottom is mostly mud and weed. Anchor in 5.0 metres and be sure to test the holding.

The town is very pleasant and tranquil with many attractive places to eat, especially in the summer months. There are also some good walks in the surrounding countryside.

There are two coves here: Katsadiá/wiki/Lipsi#Katsadi.C3.A1buoy Katsadiá [[Lipsi#Katsadiá|Katsadiá]] (Κατσαδιά) 37°16.9′N, 26°46.3′EKatsadiá37.281666666667;26.771666666667 and Papandriá/wiki/Lipsi#Papandri.C3.A1anchorage Papandriá [[Lipsi#Papandriá|Papandriá]] (Παπανδριά) 37°16.8′N, 26°46.2′EPapandriá37.28;26.77 . These coves are also known as Limni or Lira, because of the little island named Lira (Λύρα) or Lera at its entrance, it is on the southern side of the Lipsi which is not heavily inhabited. Both are wonderful coves, well protected from the meltemi and have very clear, emerald-green waters over a sandy bottom. A few bathers come during the day and there are one or two tents with overnight campers. It is a favorite anchorage of many yachts as there are two other coves near by. Anchor in 6.0 metres over a sandy patch in either cove. Very good holding (but not everywhere) despite the very strong gusts. One can walk to town about 40 minutes away. There is also a cove further east that looks attractive and some boats do anchor there. The bottom is very hard sand covered with weed in places and it can be difficult for the anchor to dig in.

Platis Yialos or Platys Gialos lies at the NE side of the island. It is protected from southerlies and from the NW but it is exposed to the NE. It is a very pleasant cove, a bathing favorite of the locals (only 3 km from the town). The bottom is sand and affords good holding. Anchor in 4.0 -5.0 metres. There is a small taverna which operates only during the day.

Watch out for local fishing boats which string out nets across the bay.

Moschatou (Μοσχάτου) or Moschato is a very well protected anchorage on the NW side of the island. It consists of four coves but the N cove was completely taken over by a fish farm, now defunct. The Southern/wiki/Lipsi#Southernanchorage Southern [[Lipsi#Southern|Southern]] 37°19.069'N, 026°43.210'ESouthern37.31782;26.72017 and the SW afford good all weather protection. Anchor in 5.0 metres and take two lines ashore, left and right, to prevent the boat swinging onto the rocks. A dirt road leads to Platis Yialos.

This a pleasant enough cove which offers some protection from the meltemi. Anchor on sand in 4.0 -5.0 metres, good holding.

This pleasant and deserted cove is exposed to the N and is not a suitable anchorage during the meltemi. It does however offer excellent protection from southerly winds. Anchor in 5.0 -6.0 metres over sand. Good holding, although I was told by local fishermen that there have been problems here.