Lefkas

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-	==Lefkas (Port of Entry)==	+	==Lefkas ==
-	An online cruising guide for yachts sailing to Lefkas.	+	An online cruising guide for yachts sailing to the island of Lefkas.
	{| class="infobox bordered" style="width: 28em; text-align: left; font-size: 90%;"		{| class="infobox bordered" style="width: 28em; text-align: left; font-size: 90%;"
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	| colspan="2" style="text-align:center; font-size: smaller;" | [[Image:Greece_Lefkas_S.jpg|350px|Lefkas from Space<br />''Click for larger view'']]		| colspan="2" style="text-align:center; font-size: smaller;" | [[Image:Greece_Lefkas_S.jpg|350px|Lefkas from Space<br />''Click for larger view'']]
-	|}{{TOCleft}}[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lefkas Lefkas] (Λευκάς) or Leukas or Lefkada (Λευκάδα) or Leukada is not really an island. It was connected to the mainland but the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corinth Corinthians] around 600 BC made a canal that since then separates Lefkas from the mainland. It is now separated by shallow lagoon varying in width between 600 m and 5 km (2.6 nM). It is a hilly island with white cliffs which give it its name: white one. The tallest point of the island is Mount Stavrotas at 1158 m its area is 355.936 km<sup>2</sup>.	+	|}{{TOCleft}}[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lefkas Lefkas] (Λευκάς) or Leukas or Lefkada (Λευκάδα) or Leukada lies off the mainland coast of [[Greece]] seven miles SW of the harbour of [[Preveza]] at the entrance to the [[Ambrakikos Gulf]].  Lefkas is, however, not really an island. It was originally connected to the mainland but the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corinth Corinthians] around 600 BC constructed a canal which since then has separated Lefkas from the Greek mainland. It is now separated by a shallow lagoon and salt marshes varying in width between 600 m and 5 km (2.6 nM). For a history of Lefkas, click on [[History of Lefkas]].  The island is hilly with numerous white cliffs which give it its name: white one. The tallest point of the island is Mount Stavrotas at 1158 m and its total land area is 355.936 km<sup>2</sup>. Of the population of some 22,000, most live in the island capital of [[Lefkas Town]], which has just under 7,000 inhabitants or the towns of [[Nidri]] and [[Vlikho]] in [[Vlikho Bay]], [[Sivota]] on the SE coast and [[Vasiliki]] near the promontory of Cape Lefkatas at the island’s SW tip.   For cruising yachtsmen, the harbours and anchorages at or near these towns – all of them on the E or S coast - represent the island’s chief interest. While the west coast has some very attractive beaches and fishing settlements, there are no sheltered harbours or anchorages suitable for yachts. During the summer, Lefkas and especially its capital, [[Lefkas Town]], are thronged with tourists, both land and yacht-borne, arriving from the nearby airport at [[Preveza]] or the numerous boatyards and charter bases around Preveza and the Inland Sea.
-		+
-	The earliest evidence of human settlement on the island dates from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic_Age Neolithic] period. In the 7th c. BCE the town of Lefkas was founded by settlers from Corinth, who closed off the south end of the lagoon, opposite the St. George Fort, by a 600 m long mole, remains of which are still visible under water (the sunken breakwater). They also cut a channel through the spit of shingle at the north end of the lagoon, opposite the Fort of Santa Maura.	+
-		+
-	Very little is known about the early [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_Empire Byzantine] period of Lefkas, save that a bishop from the island took part in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea Convention of Nicaea] (AD 325) and that the island was devastated by a huge earthquake fifty years after that. During the fifth century, the island came under attack from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandals Vandals] and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huns Huns]. What they did not destroy of the island was brought down by two further severe earthquakes in the middle of the sixth century. The island was incorporated into the Byzantine Theme of Cephalonia in the seventh century. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crusades Crusades] of the 11th and 12th centuries brought a period of instability to the Ionian and the island came under the control of many foreign princes. Lefkas, during this period was part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Despotate_of_Epirus Despotate of Epirus]. Although the Crusades were supposedly an attempt to 'liberate' the Holy land and Christian lands subject to Muslim leaders, the reality of the situation was that Crusaders often fought to liberate any country so that they could keep it for themselves! In 1204, the Jewel in the Byzantine Crown, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Crusade#Final_capture_of_Constantinople Constantinople], fell to the Crusaders and for a while, the Empire was broken. It fell as the 'duty' of Crusaders to divide up Greece amongst themselves. The Ionian islands, and nearly half of the whole Empire, went to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venice_Republic Venice]. Since Venice had to rule so many areas, it did not have a tight grip on any and it took nearly fifty years to loosen the hand of Epirus and to bring Lefkas under real Venetian control. In 1293 Nicephorus Angelus, Despot of Epirus, married his daughter to Roberto Orsini, and with her went Lefkas as a dowry. Orsini was the son of the Count of Kefalonia, subject to the Venetians. The fortress of Santa Maura was built by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orsini Orsini family] to protect the island from the increasing pirate raids. The fourteenth Century saw the government of the island in almost constant flux. Lefkas was passed, or taken, from leader to leader, leaving the islanders poverty-stricken from the constant high taxes of each leader, eager to make a quick fortune before the island be taken from him. Stability came with the rule of the Counts de Tocci and lasted for the best part of a century.	+
-		+
-	During this period, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Empire Ottomans] had slowly been advancing across Greece. The only power that did anything to halt their attacks was Venice. Battles over Greek territory between the Ottomans and the Venetians continued for nearly two centuries. Surprisingly, when the Ottoman fleet of the bloodthirsty [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Pasha Ahmed Pasha] (who was actually French) landed at Lefkas, Venice did not respond. In 1479 the Pasha sacked the island, burning much of it to the ground and slaughtering many of the island's inhabitants. Those who were not killed, and who did not kill themselves (there are many accounts of men, women and children throwing themselves from cliff tops to escape the tyranny of the Ottomans) were sold into slavery at the bazaars of Smyrna and Constantinople. Although there were many battles for supremacy in the Ionian sea, Lefkas was the only Ionian island to come under the control of the Ottoman Empire for more than a few years. They ruled Lefkas for over 180 years, co-operating with the many pirate ships that lurked in the sheltered waters, preying on the Venetians ships that used this important shipping route. These pirates also made frequent attacks on the Lefkadians, taking goods from the towns as well as new slaves from the local population. The period of Ottoman rule went on as it had started; with great suffering to the local population. Most of the fertile land was taken by the Ottomans and the land that was not taken was subject to excessive taxes. It was only due to the industriousness of the Greeks that they survived at all. The only positive thing that was to come of the Ottoman occupation was the building of the Aghia Marina aqueduct.	+
-		+
-	The island was recovered for Venice by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesco_Morosini Morosini] in 1684.With the Venetians came peace, a basic constitution and some limited self-rule. However, the prosperity that the Lefkadians expected, did not find its way into their hands. Trade was controlled by the Venetians so that the islanders were not really lifted from their poverty. By the mid-eighteenth century, the power of the Venetian Republic was wavering. Her possessions were being slowly lost, including some of the Greek ones. None of the big European powers, however, wanted to see any of the Ionian islands coming under the rule of the Ottomans; this was an important trade route, which lead on to the east. 1797 saw the start of an intense thirteen year war for the control of Lefkas. During that period, Lefkas changed hands several times.	+
-		+
-	The French took control of Lefkas in 1797 and for two years democracy reigned supreme. The island then, came into the hands of the Russians, intent of ridding the world of the Turkish threat. After that the island came under the Protectorate of Britain in military operations that were to incorporate all of the Ionian islands. New freedoms came with the British Protectorate, including the right to vote; new roads and bridges; new aqueducts; new schools and new anti-seismic building regulations to protect the islanders from a series of serious earthquakes that hit Lefkas during that period.	+
-		+
-	The smouldering of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_War_of_Independence Greek War of Independence], however, had long since started on the mainland and many Lefkadians were beginning to side with the Freedom fighters. The War of Independence officially begun in 1821 and hundreds of Lefkadian men joined the fight against the Ottomans. The Greek mainland finally won that fight in 1830 and this further induced the islanders to rise up against their own foreign rulers. Lefkas and the Ionian islands were finally incorporated into Greece with a wave of angry fighting after the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_of_Greece Otto] king of Greece was deposed and the whole country came under British rule; but that was not until 1864! Still parts of Northern Greece were occupied by the Ottomans and some border disputes still rumble on today. Lefkas remained for the early part of the twentieth century, an important organizational center for the Independence fight.	+
-		+
-	Twenty years into the twentieth century [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Turkish_War_%281919-1922%29 Greece marched on to Asia Minor] in an attempt to "free" Smyrna ([[Izmir]]), but the effort was [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Turkish_War_%281919-1922%29#Re-Capture_of_Smyrna.2C_September_1922 disastrous] and more than five thousand Greeks fled to the Fort of Santa Maura which had been set up as a temporary refugee camp.	+
-		+
-	[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_2 World War II] saw the occupation by both Italian and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-http:/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazism Nazis] soldiers across most of Greece. The troubles of the island were further compounded by the huge earthquake that shook Lefkas into ruins in 1948 and again in 1953. Walking around Lefkas Town today, you will see that many of the upper storeys of the buildings are constructed from corrugated iron in order to limit the damage from any further shakes. Many Lefkadians left the island around this time, forced to search for work abroad.	+
-		+
-	At the beginning of the 1980's the tourist industry begun to make an impact on the island. There has been some movement of the population, during the summer months at least, down from the villages of Lefkas to the coastal resorts. The impact of tourism, however, was minimal and the island remained unspoilt by it; a rich treat for its more peaceful visitor. But recently with the opening of the airport in Preveza direct charter flights are coming in daily and the island is being flooded by tourists.	+
	==Charts==		==Charts==
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	==Approach and Navigation==		==Approach and Navigation==
-	[[Image:Greece Lefkas Channel m.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Greece Lefkas Channel m.jpg]] Approaching Lefkas from the N is tricky. First you have negotiate the bridge and chain ferries into the the canal.	+	[[Image:Greece Lefkas Channel m.jpg|thumb|right|345px|Greece Lefkas Channel m.jpg]]
		+	[[Image:LefkasEntrance.jpg|thumb|345px|right|The N entrance to Lefkas Canal<br /> ''Click for larger view]]
		+	[[Image:LefkasSMaura.jpg|thumb|345px|right|Fort of Santa Maura at Lefkas Canal entrance<br /> ''Click for larger view]]
		+	Most yachts approaching the island, unless doing the long sail down the W coast, will be arriving or departing via the Lefkas Canal, which runs for around 3.5 miles through the low-lying land at the NE end of the island and divides it from the Greek mainland. The canal, which is dredged to a depth of 5.0 – 6.0 metres along most of its length, is shallow in places, especially at its N entrance, where depths are sometimes little more than 3.5 – 4.0 metres, and about two thirds of the way down from the N, where depths in places reduce to around 3.5 metres.  The canal runs between training walls as far as [[Lefkas Town]] and is marked by poles (a few of them – but not many - with red and green markers) for the rest of its length until arriving at the three pairs of buoys at the S end. In places, the channel is quite narrow, and north-going and south-going yachts may be competing for the deeper water in the centre of the channel.  There is a speed limit of 4.0 knots in the canal and sometimes an appreciable current of 1.0 – 1.5 knots, usually S-going.  The road from the mainland passes over the canal at its N end via a floating bridge which opens on the hour from 0600 – 2100 but only on request outside those times.  The bridge keeps listening watch on VHF channel 12.
-	In spring 2011 boats drawing 2.5 metres were regularly running aground in the silted up entrance. Dredging was carried out and a string of orange buoys was laid marking the south side of the channel.  Care still had to be taken as shallow spots remained, particularly near the most easterly buoys. Dredging was carried out again in spring 2012. Dredging is from a crane working on the sand spit on the north side of the channel - thus it is deepest near the shore. A yacht passing through in May 2012 and keeping only five metres off the north bank recorded a minimum depth of 3.8 metres.	+	'''Approach from N'''
-	The bridge opens once an hour on the hour. First the N going traffic crosses and then the S going traffic. The indication is (when they work): two triangles over a ball plus the sounding of a siren. In May 2012, the bridge had been replaced by a ferry boat acting as a temporary bridge. Check with Lefkas Marina for the schedule. Anchoring to the north while waiting for an opening is difficult as holding is poor. It is preferable to approach the canal from the north before the afternoon seabreeze fills in.	+	Approaching Lefkas from the N is tricky, especially for a first time visitor and even more so if there are fresh to strong NW winds with the afternoon seabreeze, which cause a difficult swell as they break on the shore around the entrance.  In such conditions it is wise to take down all sail well before arriving. The entrance is at [[image:World_icon.png]] | {{Coord|38|50.79|N|20|43.42|E|}}, around a long sand spit defining the N side of the channel. The entrance regularly silts up over the winter and requires virtually constant dredging. Dredging is from a crane working on the end of the sand spit and thus it is usually deepest on that side. The other, S side of the channel is marked with a series of small red buoys which do not always indicate the best depths (it is advisable when leaving the channel to head N to stay at least 10-15 metres off them). A yacht passing through in May 2012 and keeping only five metres off the N side recorded a minimum depth of 3.8 metres.
-	There is often a current in the canal reaching 1.5 knots.	+	After rounding the spit, the channel turns S after 200 metres and the floating bridge is dead ahead.  The bridge opens on the hour from 0600 - 2100. The indication is (when they work): two triangles over a ball plus the sounding of a siren. All road traffic onto and off the island is halted for the period of opening, so naturally the bridge operator is anxious to close it again as soon as possible.  Yachts tend to bunch on both sides of the bridge to await the opening and any stragglers probably won’t make it.  In theory, the S going traffic has priority over the N-going, but in reality the pressure to close the bridge quickly means that everyone charges through in single file at speed as soon as the bridge opens (of course, observing the usual port-to-port  rule, without which there is chaos).
-	<div style="clear: right;"></div>	+
		+	'''Approach from S'''
		+
		+	Approaching from the S is relatively straightforward as long as you identify the first set of three pairs of port and starboard buoys which mark the entrance to the canal.  These buoys are at [[image:World_icon.png]] | {{Coord|38|47.54|N|20|43.58|E|}}.  There is a conspicuous ruined Venetian fort a couple of hundred metres to starboard of the canal which is a useful landmark from distance.  The channel passes between some dangerous rocks on the starboard side and the remains of a ruined breakwater to port, so it is important to stay between the buoys.
	==Check-in facilities (Customs and Immigration)==		==Check-in facilities (Customs and Immigration)==
-	Lefkas is a port of entry and you can clear here in/out of Greece.	+	[[Lefkas Town]] is a port of entry and you can clear here in/out of Greece.
	==Berthing Options==		==Berthing Options==
	===Ports===		===Ports===
-	====Lefkas Harbor====	+	The main harbours on Lefkas are listed clockwise round the island from [[Lefkas Town]].
		+
		+	====Lefkas Town====
	See separate Wiki page for [[Lefkas Town]]		See separate Wiki page for [[Lefkas Town]]
		+
		+	====Ligia====
		+	See separate Wiki page for [[Ligia]]
		+
		+	====Nikiana====
		+	See separate Wiki page for [[Nikiana]]
		+
		+	====Nidri====
		+	See separate Wiki page for [[Nidri]]
		+
		+	====Vlikho====
		+	See separate Wiki page for [[Vlikho]]
	====Sivota====		====Sivota====
	See separate Wiki page for [[Sivota]]		See separate Wiki page for [[Sivota]]
		+
		+	====Vasiliki====
		+	See separate Wiki page for [[Vasiliki]]
	===Marinas & Yacht Clubs===		===Marinas & Yacht Clubs===
	* [[Lefkas Marina]]		* [[Lefkas Marina]]
		+	* Vlikho Yacht Club [http://www.vlihoyc.com  Website]
	===Anchorages===		===Anchorages===
-	====Vlikho Bay & Nidri====	+	====Vlikho Bay====
	See separate Wiki page for [[Vlikho Bay]]		See separate Wiki page for [[Vlikho Bay]]
-	==== Vassiliko Bay ====	+	====Tranquil Bay====
-	[[Image:Greece VasilikoS.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Satellite view of Vassiliko Bay<br />''Click for larger view'']]	+	See [[Vlikho Bay]]
-	[[Image:World icon.png]] {{Coord|38|37.49|N|20|35.89|E|}}<br />	+
-	Vasiliko Bay or Vassiliki is a pleasant anchorage and near the white cliff from where [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-http:/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sappho#Phaon_legend Sappho] is supposed to have jumped.	+
-	Vassiliko provides a nice little harbor with a lot of restaurants around it. It's not over crowded by tourist either and some bars have open until early morning. It's supposed to be a good spot for wind surfing. Moor stern-to along the quay. Holding is good.&nbsp; June 2009 -- [[User:Rodger|Rodger]]	+	====Ormos Dessimou====
		+	[[image:World_icon.png]] | {{Coord|38|40.32|N|20|42.78|E|}}
-	Warning: Water is very shallow towards the beach and on the north side within the harbor. (&lt;1m). Be well prepared when entering the harbor as you don't have much space for maneuvering! For a sailing boat you might only use half of the harbor to park your boat. Once you're in it is beautiful.	+	The bay of Ormos Dessimou is on the E coast of the island, at the root of the long peninsula that encloses the eastern side of [[Vlikho Bay]].  It offers good shelter in the prevailing NW winds, but is open S. Anchor close inshore at the NE end of the bay in 5.0 – 8.0 metres.  Holding is good in sand and weed.  There is a long sandy beach here but also a camper van site at the SW end of the bay, so the anchorage is not a very quiet one.  Beach café and small shop ashore.
-	<center style="clear: both;"><gallery widths="250px" heights="140px" perrow="2">	+	====Ormos Rouda====
-	Image:Vassiliki_bay.JPG|Vasiliki Bay<br />''Click for larger view''	+	[[image:World_icon.png]] | {{Coord|38|38.16|N|20|41.82|E|}}
-	Image:Vassiliki_hbr.JPG|Vasiliki Harbour<br/>''Click for larger view''	+
-	</gallery></center>	+	Ormos Rouda is a wide bay on the SE coast of the island, a mile or so N of the harbour of [[Sivota]].  It offers good shelter in the prevailing NW winds but, like Ormos Dessimou, is open S.  The head of the bay is usually buoyed off for swimming in the season and it will be necessary anchor off in depths of 10.0 metres or more.  Holding is good in sand and weed.  There are tavernas ashore and the village of Poros is up the hill on the E side of the bay.
	==Offshore Islands==		==Offshore Islands==
Line 106:		Line 111:
	==Yacht Services and Repairs==		==Yacht Services and Repairs==
	====Marine Stores ====		====Marine Stores ====
		+	* Numerous chandleries and marine supplies stores in [[Lefkas Town]]
	*At the [[Lefkas Marina|marina]]&nbsp;''Paleros'' Tel 2645 029117 is one of the best chandleries in the Ionian		*At the [[Lefkas Marina|marina]]&nbsp;''Paleros'' Tel 2645 029117 is one of the best chandleries in the Ionian
	====Repairs/Yards====		====Repairs/Yards====
	* At the [[Lefkas Marina|marina]]		* At the [[Lefkas Marina|marina]]
		+	* Christo’s Boatyard (on the E side of the canal opposite Lefkas Marina)
	====Fuel, Water, & Electricity====		====Fuel, Water, & Electricity====
	; Fuel		; Fuel
-	: At the [[Lefkas Marina|marina]]	+	: See individual port and marina pages
	; Water		; Water
-	: At the [[Lefkas Marina|marina]]	+	: See individual port and marina pages
	; Electricity		; Electricity
-	: At the [[Lefkas Marina|marina]]	+	: See individual port and marina pages
	==Things to do Ashore==		==Things to do Ashore==
	====Tourism====		====Tourism====
-	{| class="wikitable" align=right	+	:See individual port pages
-	|-	+
-	|[[Image:Greece_Lefkas_StMaura.jpg|300px]]<br /><small>Santa Maura<br />''Click for larger view''</small>	+
-	|-	+
-	|[[Image:Lefkas town.jpeg|300px]]<br /><small>Lefkas Town<br />''Click for larger view''</small>	+
-	|}	+
-		+
-	From the town, it worth visiting the Fort of Santa Maura.	+
	====Grocery & Supply Stores====		====Grocery & Supply Stores====
-	*There is a supermarket at the [[Lefkas Marina|marina]]&nbsp;and a megastore a few blocks back&nbsp;	+	*There is a supermarket at the [[Lefkas Marina|marina]] and a megastore a few blocks back.  Also see port pages.
	*The local wine ''Santa Maura'' is very good		*The local wine ''Santa Maura'' is very good
	*The salami from Lefkas is famous		*The salami from Lefkas is famous
	====Eateries====		====Eateries====
-	*Good food in the many restaurants in town	+	See individual port pages
-	**''LaVinira'' is an excellent small taverna	+
-	**''Estatorio Frynh'' is particularly good but fully priced	+
-	*Restaurant at at the [[Lefkas Marina|marina]]	+
	====Internet/WiFi====		====Internet/WiFi====
-	* At the [[Lefkas Marina|marina]]	+	See individual port pages
-	* In Internet cafés	+
	====Laundry====		====Laundry====
Line 149:		Line 145:
	====Motorbike & Car Rentals====		====Motorbike & Car Rentals====
-	* In town.	+	* In Lefkas Town.
	====Garbage Disposal====		====Garbage Disposal====
-	There are bins around the harbor and in several anchorages.	+	See individual port pages
	====Transportation====		====Transportation====
-	* There are flights to Athens from Preveza	+	* There are charter flights to several European destinations from [[Preveza]]
-	* There is sea-plane service to [[Corfu]] and [[Patras]]	+	* Long distance buses from [[Lefkas Town]] via [[Preveza]] to Athens
		+	* Local buses between [[Lefkas Town]] and [[Vasiliki]]
	==Routes/Passages To/From==		==Routes/Passages To/From==
Line 167:		Line 164:
	List links to discussion threads on [[Cruising Forums|partnering forums]]. (''see link for requirements'')		List links to discussion threads on [[Cruising Forums|partnering forums]]. (''see link for requirements'')
	*		*
-	*
-
	==External Links==		==External Links==
	* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lefkas Lefkas] (Wikipedia)		* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lefkas Lefkas] (Wikipedia)
	*		*
-	*
-
	==References & Publications==		==References & Publications==
	''See [[Ionian Sea#References_&_Publications|Ionian Sea]]''.		''See [[Ionian Sea#References_&_Publications|Ionian Sea]]''.
Line 186:		Line 179:
	* August 2009 --[[User:Nereus|Nereus]]		* August 2009 --[[User:Nereus|Nereus]]
	* May 2012 -- [[User:Monterey|Monterey]] [[Image:Bermuda Icon.png]]		* May 2012 -- [[User:Monterey|Monterey]] [[Image:Bermuda Icon.png]]
		+	* June 2013 --[[User:Atheneoflymington|Athene of Lymington]]

---

Revision as of 12:57, 26 June 2013

Lefkas

An online cruising guide for yachts sailing to the island of Lefkas.

(Click links for more information)
	38°50′N, 20°42.8′E
	Photo gallery
	Local chartlet

Contents 1 Lefkas 2 Charts 3 Radio Nets 4 Weather 5 Approach and Navigation 6 Check-in facilities (Customs and Immigration) 7 Berthing Options 7.1 Ports 7.1.1 Lefkas Town 7.1.2 Ligia 7.1.3 Nikiana 7.1.4 Nidri 7.1.5 Vlikho 7.1.6 Sivota 7.1.7 Vasiliki 7.2 Marinas & Yacht Clubs 7.3 Anchorages 7.3.1 Vlikho Bay 7.3.2 Tranquil Bay 7.3.3 Ormos Dessimou 7.3.4 Ormos Rouda 8 Offshore Islands 9 Yacht Services and Repairs 9.1 Marine Stores 9.2 Repairs/Yards 9.3 Fuel, Water, & Electricity 10 Things to do Ashore 10.1 Tourism 10.2 Grocery & Supply Stores 10.3 Eateries 10.4 Internet/WiFi 10.5 Laundry 10.6 Motorbike & Car Rentals 10.7 Garbage Disposal 10.8 Transportation 11 Routes/Passages To/From 12 Cruiser's Friends 13 Forum Discussions 14 External Links 15 References & Publications 16 Personal Notes 16.1 Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here) 17 Contributors to this page 18 Cruising Wiki Navigation

Lefkas (Λευκάς) or Leukas or Lefkada (Λευκάδα) or Leukada lies off the mainland coast of Greece seven miles SW of the harbour of Preveza at the entrance to the Ambrakikos Gulf. Lefkas is, however, not really an island. It was originally connected to the mainland but the Corinthians around 600 BC constructed a canal which since then has separated Lefkas from the Greek mainland. It is now separated by a shallow lagoon and salt marshes varying in width between 600 m and 5 km (2.6 nM). For a history of Lefkas, click on History of Lefkas. The island is hilly with numerous white cliffs which give it its name: white one. The tallest point of the island is Mount Stavrotas at 1158 m and its total land area is 355.936 km². Of the population of some 22,000, most live in the island capital of Lefkas Town, which has just under 7,000 inhabitants or the towns of Nidri and Vlikho in Vlikho Bay, Sivota on the SE coast and Vasiliki near the promontory of Cape Lefkatas at the island’s SW tip. For cruising yachtsmen, the harbours and anchorages at or near these towns – all of them on the E or S coast - represent the island’s chief interest. While the west coast has some very attractive beaches and fishing settlements, there are no sheltered harbours or anchorages suitable for yachts. During the summer, Lefkas and especially its capital, Lefkas Town, are thronged with tourists, both land and yacht-borne, arriving from the nearby airport at Preveza or the numerous boatyards and charter bases around Preveza and the Inland Sea.

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

2 Ionio Pelagos

21 Ionio Sea - Northern Part Othonoi I. to Zakynthos I.

Radio Nets

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

Also see World Cruiser's Nets

Weather

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

Approach and Navigation

Most yachts approaching the island, unless doing the long sail down the W coast, will be arriving or departing via the Lefkas Canal, which runs for around 3.5 miles through the low-lying land at the NE end of the island and divides it from the Greek mainland. The canal, which is dredged to a depth of 5.0 – 6.0 metres along most of its length, is shallow in places, especially at its N entrance, where depths are sometimes little more than 3.5 – 4.0 metres, and about two thirds of the way down from the N, where depths in places reduce to around 3.5 metres. The canal runs between training walls as far as Lefkas Town and is marked by poles (a few of them – but not many - with red and green markers) for the rest of its length until arriving at the three pairs of buoys at the S end. In places, the channel is quite narrow, and north-going and south-going yachts may be competing for the deeper water in the centre of the channel. There is a speed limit of 4.0 knots in the canal and sometimes an appreciable current of 1.0 – 1.5 knots, usually S-going. The road from the mainland passes over the canal at its N end via a floating bridge which opens on the hour from 0600 – 2100 but only on request outside those times. The bridge keeps listening watch on VHF channel 12.

Approach from N

Approaching Lefkas from the N is tricky, especially for a first time visitor and even more so if there are fresh to strong NW winds with the afternoon seabreeze, which cause a difficult swell as they break on the shore around the entrance. In such conditions it is wise to take down all sail well before arriving. The entrance is at | 38°50.79′N, 20°43.42′E, around a long sand spit defining the N side of the channel. The entrance regularly silts up over the winter and requires virtually constant dredging. Dredging is from a crane working on the end of the sand spit and thus it is usually deepest on that side. The other, S side of the channel is marked with a series of small red buoys which do not always indicate the best depths (it is advisable when leaving the channel to head N to stay at least 10-15 metres off them). A yacht passing through in May 2012 and keeping only five metres off the N side recorded a minimum depth of 3.8 metres.

After rounding the spit, the channel turns S after 200 metres and the floating bridge is dead ahead. The bridge opens on the hour from 0600 - 2100. The indication is (when they work): two triangles over a ball plus the sounding of a siren. All road traffic onto and off the island is halted for the period of opening, so naturally the bridge operator is anxious to close it again as soon as possible. Yachts tend to bunch on both sides of the bridge to await the opening and any stragglers probably won’t make it. In theory, the S going traffic has priority over the N-going, but in reality the pressure to close the bridge quickly means that everyone charges through in single file at speed as soon as the bridge opens (of course, observing the usual port-to-port rule, without which there is chaos).

Approach from S

Approaching from the S is relatively straightforward as long as you identify the first set of three pairs of port and starboard buoys which mark the entrance to the canal. These buoys are at | 38°47.54′N, 20°43.58′E. There is a conspicuous ruined Venetian fort a couple of hundred metres to starboard of the canal which is a useful landmark from distance. The channel passes between some dangerous rocks on the starboard side and the remains of a ruined breakwater to port, so it is important to stay between the buoys.

Check-in facilities (Customs and Immigration)

Lefkas Town is a port of entry and you can clear here in/out of Greece.

Berthing Options

Ports

The main harbours on Lefkas are listed clockwise round the island from Lefkas Town.

Lefkas Town

See separate Wiki page for Lefkas Town

Ligia

See separate Wiki page for Ligia

Nikiana

See separate Wiki page for Nikiana

Nidri

See separate Wiki page for Nidri

Vlikho

See separate Wiki page for Vlikho

Sivota

See separate Wiki page for Sivota

Vasiliki

See separate Wiki page for Vasiliki

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

• Lefkas Marina
• Vlikho Yacht Club Website

Anchorages

Vlikho Bay

See separate Wiki page for Vlikho Bay

Tranquil Bay

See Vlikho Bay

Ormos Dessimou

| 38°40.32′N, 20°42.78′E

The bay of Ormos Dessimou is on the E coast of the island, at the root of the long peninsula that encloses the eastern side of Vlikho Bay. It offers good shelter in the prevailing NW winds, but is open S. Anchor close inshore at the NE end of the bay in 5.0 – 8.0 metres. Holding is good in sand and weed. There is a long sandy beach here but also a camper van site at the SW end of the bay, so the anchorage is not a very quiet one. Beach café and small shop ashore.

Ormos Rouda

| 38°38.16′N, 20°41.82′E

Ormos Rouda is a wide bay on the SE coast of the island, a mile or so N of the harbour of Sivota. It offers good shelter in the prevailing NW winds but, like Ormos Dessimou, is open S. The head of the bay is usually buoyed off for swimming in the season and it will be necessary anchor off in depths of 10.0 metres or more. Holding is good in sand and weed. There are tavernas ashore and the village of Poros is up the hill on the E side of the bay.

Offshore Islands

• Modra
• Meganisi
• Skorpios (a private island)

Yacht Services and Repairs

Marine Stores

• Numerous chandleries and marine supplies stores in Lefkas Town
• At the marina Paleros Tel 2645 029117 is one of the best chandleries in the Ionian

Repairs/Yards

• At the marina
• Christo’s Boatyard (on the E side of the canal opposite Lefkas Marina)

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel

See individual port and marina pages

Water

See individual port and marina pages

Electricity

See individual port and marina pages

Things to do Ashore

Tourism

See individual port pages

Grocery & Supply Stores

• There is a supermarket at the marina and a megastore a few blocks back. Also see port pages.
• The local wine Santa Maura is very good
• The salami from Lefkas is famous

Eateries

See individual port pages

Internet/WiFi

See individual port pages

Laundry

• In the marina

Motorbike & Car Rentals

• In Lefkas Town.

Garbage Disposal

See individual port pages

Transportation

• There are charter flights to several European destinations from Preveza
• Long distance buses from Lefkas Town via Preveza to Athens
• Local buses between Lefkas Town and Vasiliki

Routes/Passages To/From

• Cruising the Greek Ionian Sea

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

• Lefkas (Wikipedia)

References & Publications

See Ionian Sea.

Personal Notes

Personal experiences?

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

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

• July 1988 --Istioploos
• August 2009 --Nereus
• May 2012 -- Monterey
• June 2013 --Athene of Lymington

Template:Guide2

Contributors to this page
Names: Istioploos, Nereus, Athene of Lymington, Rodger, Wayward, Monterey

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