Ionian Sea
From CruisersWiki
Istioploos (Talk | contribs) (New (not done yet)) |
Istioploos (Talk | contribs) (New (not done yet)) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
===IONIAN SEA CRUISING GUIDE=== | ===IONIAN SEA CRUISING GUIDE=== | ||
| - | [[Image: | + | [[Image:IonianSea.jpg|thumb|450px|right|The Ionian Sea Cruising Region<br/>''Click for larger view'']] |
An online cruising guide for yachts sailing in the Ionian Sea. | An online cruising guide for yachts sailing in the Ionian Sea. | ||
===Background=== | ===Background=== | ||
| - | + | The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ionian_Sea Ionian Sea] (Greek Ιόνιο Πέλαγος) is a very popular cruising area because its weather conditions in the summer months are less extreme than in the [[Aegean_Sea|Aegean]]. As a result, it is more crowded. Many charter flotillas operate here and many Italians during their summer vacation move with fast inflatables between the Italian and Greek coasts. | |
| + | |||
| + | The Ionian Sea cruising region has an area of 2,510,000 km<sup>2</sup>. The distance from Catania, in Sicily, to [[Zakinthos_(Zante)|Zakinthos]] Island is 166 nM, and from the southern tip of the Salento Peninsula in Italy to [[Corfu]] is 70 nM. It is a deep sea with a maximum depth of 4,900 m (16,000 ft). | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Ionian Sea region has been inhabited at least from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic_Age Neolithic] times. The Ionian islands were settled during the late [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Age Bronze Ages] by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycenian Myceneans] around 1500-1100 B.C. Their main settlements were in [[Pylos]], in the Peloponnese, [[Ithaca]] & [[Kefalonia]], and [[Corfu]]. It is these people who are celebrated by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homer Homer] in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iliad Iliad] and even more in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey Odyssey]. | ||
| + | |||
===Charts=== | ===Charts=== | ||
* BA 1339 Sicily to Kriti | * BA 1339 Sicily to Kriti | ||
| - | * BA 188 Entrance to the Adriatic Sea including Nísos | + | * BA 188 Entrance to the Adriatic Sea including Nísos Kérkira |
* BA 189 Nísos Sapiénza to Nisos Paxoí | * BA 189 Nísos Sapiénza to Nisos Paxoí | ||
* | * | ||
| Line 15: | Line 20: | ||
* | * | ||
* Greek 2 Ionio Pelagos | * Greek 2 Ionio Pelagos | ||
| - | |||
| - | |||
===Radio Nets=== | ===Radio Nets=== | ||
| Line 26: | Line 29: | ||
===Weather and Winds=== | ===Weather and Winds=== | ||
| + | The summer weather in the Ionian sea is dominated by a NW to WNW wind, the ''maistro''. In general this wind is less strong, force 2 to 5, and more steady then the corresponding ''meltemi'' in the [[Aegean_Sea|Aegean]]. Nevertheless an sailor must take watch out for gusts when sailing along lee side of tall islands and be aware that in the evenings there may be [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katabatic_wind katabatic] winds from the tall mountains, of force 5 to 6 and from the NE. | ||
| + | From the October until mid May the wind can be either from the north of from the south with several gales, usually from the S to SE. At this time, waterspouts are also possible. These usually can be detected on the radar and avoided but the sailor must keep a good watch. | ||
| - | + | In the spring and the autumn there can be frequent thunderstorms with accompanied squalls. [[Corfu]] has the highest rain fall in Greece. | |
| - | + | ||
| - | + | ||
| - | + | * [http://www.meteo.gr/SailingMapF.asp Athens Observatory] gives 3 day (every 6 hrs) detailed graphical forecasts for the Greek seas. | |
| + | * [http://www.poseidon.ncmr.gr/weather_forecast.html Poseidon System] gives 3 day forecasts for Greek seas from the ''National Center for Marine Research'' (Not very reliable). | ||
| + | * [http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/cgi-bin/windframe?03&CONT=euro&WIND=g025&LANG=en Weather on Line] provides detailed 7 day forecast charts for the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Atlantic. | ||
| + | * [http://www.hnms.gr/hnms/english/navigation/navigation_html Greek Meteorological Service] (EMY) it includes the Navtex weather bulletins. | ||
| + | * [http://www.windguru.com/int/ Wind Guru] a surfer's site with worldwide wind forecasts. | ||
| - | + | ===Currents & Tides=== | |
| + | [[Image:Aegean_Currents.png|thumb|300px|right|Typical Surface Currents in the Aegean Sea<br/>''Click for larger view'']] | ||
| + | The surface currents in the Ionian Sea are roughly counter-clockwise: they flow towards the north up the Greek coast and then turn west and south along the Italian coast. In general this current is not very strong and it rarely exceeds 1.2 knots. You can get up to date maps of surface current, temperature, and water elevation (tides) from the [http://www.poseidon.hcmr.gr/ocean_forecast.php?area_id=aeg Hellenic Centre for Marine Research]. | ||
| + | In general the tides in the Ionian Sea are weak - about 10-30 cm. | ||
===Countries, Groups, Ports, and Islands=== | ===Countries, Groups, Ports, and Islands=== | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
| Line 63: | Line 73: | ||
===External Links=== | ===External Links=== | ||
| - | * [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ | + | * [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ionian_Sea Ionian Sea] (Wikipedia) |
* [http://www.poseidon.hcmr.gr/ocean_forecast.php?area_id=aeg Hellenic Centre for Marine Research] | * [http://www.poseidon.hcmr.gr/ocean_forecast.php?area_id=aeg Hellenic Centre for Marine Research] | ||
* | * | ||
Revision as of 23:33, 14 January 2009
Contents |
IONIAN SEA CRUISING GUIDE
Click for larger view
An online cruising guide for yachts sailing in the Ionian Sea.
Background
The Ionian Sea (Greek Ιόνιο Πέλαγος) is a very popular cruising area because its weather conditions in the summer months are less extreme than in the Aegean. As a result, it is more crowded. Many charter flotillas operate here and many Italians during their summer vacation move with fast inflatables between the Italian and Greek coasts.
The Ionian Sea cruising region has an area of 2,510,000 km2. The distance from Catania, in Sicily, to Zakinthos Island is 166 nM, and from the southern tip of the Salento Peninsula in Italy to Corfu is 70 nM. It is a deep sea with a maximum depth of 4,900 m (16,000 ft).
The Ionian Sea region has been inhabited at least from the Neolithic times. The Ionian islands were settled during the late Bronze Ages by the Myceneans around 1500-1100 B.C. Their main settlements were in Pylos, in the Peloponnese, Ithaca & Kefalonia, and Corfu. It is these people who are celebrated by Homer in the Iliad and even more in the Odyssey.
Charts
- BA 1339 Sicily to Kriti
- BA 188 Entrance to the Adriatic Sea including Nísos Kérkira
- BA 189 Nísos Sapiénza to Nisos Paxoí
- Imray-Tetra G11 North Ionian Islands
- NIMA 54010 Malta to Kriti including The Ionian Sea
- Greek 2 Ionio Pelagos
Radio Nets
Also see World Cruiser's Nets
- Greek Coast Guard - VHF 12
- Olympia Radio, This is the Greek VHF network. Local channels are listed in each individual port.
- Cellular Phone(GSM/GPRS). Despite the mountains and the numerous islands Greece and Italy have very good GSM/GPRS coverage.
Weather and Winds
The summer weather in the Ionian sea is dominated by a NW to WNW wind, the maistro. In general this wind is less strong, force 2 to 5, and more steady then the corresponding meltemi in the Aegean. Nevertheless an sailor must take watch out for gusts when sailing along lee side of tall islands and be aware that in the evenings there may be katabatic winds from the tall mountains, of force 5 to 6 and from the NE.
From the October until mid May the wind can be either from the north of from the south with several gales, usually from the S to SE. At this time, waterspouts are also possible. These usually can be detected on the radar and avoided but the sailor must keep a good watch.
In the spring and the autumn there can be frequent thunderstorms with accompanied squalls. Corfu has the highest rain fall in Greece.
- Athens Observatory gives 3 day (every 6 hrs) detailed graphical forecasts for the Greek seas.
- Poseidon System gives 3 day forecasts for Greek seas from the National Center for Marine Research (Not very reliable).
- Weather on Line provides detailed 7 day forecast charts for the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Atlantic.
- Greek Meteorological Service (EMY) it includes the Navtex weather bulletins.
- Wind Guru a surfer's site with worldwide wind forecasts.
Currents & Tides
Click for larger view
The surface currents in the Ionian Sea are roughly counter-clockwise: they flow towards the north up the Greek coast and then turn west and south along the Italian coast. In general this current is not very strong and it rarely exceeds 1.2 knots. You can get up to date maps of surface current, temperature, and water elevation (tides) from the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research.
In general the tides in the Ionian Sea are weak - about 10-30 cm.
Countries, Groups, Ports, and Islands
| Greece | Italy | Albania |
|---|---|---|
Passages
Popular passages & best timing, etc.
Forum Discussions
List links to discussion threads on the Cruiser Log Forum
References & Publications
External Links
- Ionian Sea (Wikipedia)
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research
Personal Notes
| |
|---|
| | HOMEPAGE | Wiki Contents | Mediterranean | Italy | Greece | Albania | Ionian Sea | |
.
