Cruising the Samos Sea Islands

Introduction

Samos Sea or the Sea of Samos is the area bounded by Samos in the N, the coast of Asia Minor (Turkey) in the E, the island of Leros to the S, and the Fourni islands in the W. In general Samos Sea is less windy than the adjacent Sea of Ikaria to its W, with the exception of the Fourni-Samos channel.

Historical interest is centered in Samos and Patmos. The rest of the islands however provide a very pleasant cruising ground. In addition to ports there many coves which provide enchanted anchorages.

Climate & Weather Information

In the summer months the weather is dominated by the meltemi which comes from the NW, and from NE in the Mycale channel between Samos and Turkey.

For details see Aegean Weather.

Weather Windows

The best times to tour the Sea of Samos are in the Spring, May to June, and in the autumn, September to October. You are less likely to encounter strong meltemi winds and also all the anchorages are less crowded. Other than the weather-wise unpredictable winter months, the worse time to be cruising the Sea of Samos is during the month of August. In August not only will you encounter a number of "meltemi" gales but all harbors and anchorages, even the most remote, will be crowded as this is the prime vacation time in Greece and the rest of the EU.

In October, especially late in the month there can be southerly winds and occasionally thunderstorms, some of which can be severe. If you are cruising during that time you should always have two possible anchorages in mind: one protected from N winds and one from the S winds.

Radio Nets

See Aegean Sea

Navigation Charts Required

BA: 2682 Kolpos Petalion to Nisos Nisiros; 1537 Nisides Fournoi with the straits between Nisos Samos and Nisos Ikaria; 1568 Ports & anchorages in eastern Agean sea: Limin Karlovasi, Limin Pithagoriou; 1446 Samos Strait to Güllük Körfezi; 3926 Lero island and approaches; 3927 Patmos, Arki and Lipso
Imray-Tetra: G34 Southern Cyclades; G32 Eastern Sporades and Coast of Turkey
NIMA: 54400 Samos to Rodhos; 54389 Fener Adasi to Samos Strait; 54402 Island of the Aegean - Fournoi; 54403 Samos Strait to N. Kalolimnos
Greek: 42 Andros to Chalki Island; 422 Naxos to Samos & Opposite Coast of Asia Minor; 423 Paros to Astypalia; 451 Leros to Rhodos

Passage Description

It is assumed that you start your cruise in Samos and proceed in a counterclockwise direction, first sailing W to Fourni, then S to Leros, NE to Agathonisi, and finally N back to Samos. In general, it is easier to sail N near the Asia Minor (Turkey) coast.

Distance & Duration

See Aegean Distances Tables.

Possible Departure Points

These two points of departure from the island of Samos are are suggested because it is the larger island in this region. You can, however, start from any of the stopovers listed below.

Route/Suggested Stopovers

Start from either Pythagorio 37°41.2′N, 26°57′E or Samos Marina 37°41.4′N, 26°57.4′E at the SE side of Samos and
1. sail E through the Mycale channel, then
2. head N to Cape Praso, then
3. turn W to Cape Kothsikas, and finally head S and
4. enter the harbor of Vathi 37°45.3′N, 26°58.3′E, distance from Pythagorio is 20 nM. You may skip this port.
  
  This is good stop, and you can visit, if you have not done so already, the Archaeological Museum.
From Vathi you sail W along the northern coast of Samos, to the N side of Fourni, here you have two choices:
1. stop at the harbor of Fourni, Korséi 37°34.7′N, 26°28.5′E (the distance from Vathi is 33 nM) or better yet
2. continue for about 3 more miles to the lovely cove of Perokopió 37°33.6′N, 26°29.2′E. The total distance from [Vathi]] is 36 nM.
  
  This is a very good place to relax away from any tourist area.
After departing Fourni, head S for 19 nM to Skala 37°19.4′N, 26°32.9′E the main harbor of Patmos. island.

From here you can visit the famous Monastery of Saint John, a World Heritage site.
From Patmos it is an easy 10 nM sail to the lovely island of Marathi 37°22′N, 26°43.6′E.

Here you can relax on the tiny and crystal clear beech and have an unforgettable dinner at Pandelis.
The next island to visit after Marathi is

Possible Arrival Ports

CruiserLog Forum discussions

Links to discussions on the CruiserLog Forum

External Links

Links to relevant websites.

References

Books, guides, etc.

Personal Notes

Personal experience?

Template:Guide1

Cruising Wiki Navigation
\| HOMEPAGE \| Wiki Contents \| Mediterranean \| Greece \| Aegean Sea \| Cruising the Samos Sea Islands \|

.

@@ Line 56: / Line 56: @@
 ==Possible Departure Points==
-*
+* [[Pythagorio]] [[image:World_icon.png]] {{Coord|37|41.2|N|26|57|E|}}
-*
+* [[Pythagorio_Marina|Samos Marina]] [[image:World_icon.png]] {{Coord|37|41.4|N|26|57.4|E|}}
-*
+These two points of departure from the island of [[Samos]] are are suggested because it is the larger island in this region. You can, however, start from any of the stopovers listed below.
 ==Route/Suggested Stopovers==
-(''In sequence'')
+# Start from either [[Pythagorio]] [[image:World_icon.png]] {{Coord|37|41.2|N|26|57|E|}} or [[Pythagorio_Marina|Samos Marina]] [[image:World_icon.png]] {{Coord|37|41.4|N|26|57.4|E|}} at the SE side of [[Samos]] and
-*
+## sail E through the Mycale channel, then
-*
+## head N to Cape Praso, then
-*
+## turn W to Cape Kothsikas, and finally head S and
-*
+## enter the harbor of [[Vathi]] [[image:World_icon.png]] {{Coord|37|45.3|N|26|58.3|E|}}, distance from [[Pythagorio]] is 20 nM. You may skip this port.<br/><br/>This is good stop, and you can visit, if you have not done so already, the [[Vathi#Tourism|Archaeological Museum]].<br/><br/>
+# From [[Vathi]] you sail W along the northern coast of [[Samos]], to the N side of [[Fourni]], here you have two choices:
+## stop at the harbor of Fourni, [[Fourni#Fourni_2|Korséi]] [[image:World_icon.png]] {{Coord|37|34.7|N|26|28.5|E|}} (the distance from [[Vathi]] is 33 nM) or better yet
+## continue  for about 3 more miles to the lovely cove of [[Fourni#Perokopió|Perokopió]] [[image:World_icon.png]] {{Coord|37|33.6|N|26|29.2|E|}}. The total distance from [Vathi]] is 36 nM.<br/><br/>This is a very good place to relax away from any tourist area.<br/><br/>
+# After departing [[Fourni]], head S for 19 nM to [[Patmos#Skala|Skala]] [[image:World_icon.png]] {{Coord|37|19.4|N|26|32.9|E|}} the main harbor of [[Patmos]]. island.<br/><br/>From here you can visit the famous [[Patmos#Tourism|Monastery of Saint John]], a [http://whc.unesco.org/en/about/ World Heritage] site.<br/><br/>
+# From [[Patmos]] it is an easy 10 nM sail to the lovely island of [[Arki_and_Marathi#Marathi|Marathi]] [[image:World_icon.png]] {{Coord|37|22|N|26|43.6|E|}}.<br/><br/>Here you can relax on the tiny and crystal clear beech and have an unforgettable dinner at ''[[Arki_and_Marathi#Eateries|Pandelis]]''.<br/><br/>
+# The next island to visit after [[Arki_and_Marathi#Marathi|Marathi]] is
 ==Possible Arrival Ports==

Cruising the Samos Sea Islands

From CruisersWiki

Revision as of 01:17, 16 November 2009

Contents