Leros
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===Repairs=== | ===Repairs=== | ||
====Agmar Shipyard==== | ====Agmar Shipyard==== | ||
| - | [http://www. | + | [http://www.lakki-marina.gr/ Agmar] [37° 11.5' N 26° 48' E] operates a shipyard in [[#Partheni|Partheni]] with a 70 ton travel lift with room to store over 250 yachts on the dry. They perform all major repairs and are staffed by skilled technicians. Agmar maintains 3 moorings in front of their facilities which their clients can use temporarily. |
The airport is near by and the yard will pick you up to and from the airport. | The airport is near by and the yard will pick you up to and from the airport. | ||
Revision as of 20:47, 1 November 2008
Leros
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Background
Leros (Λὲρος) is a fairly low an island of 53 km2 and 8,000 inhabitants. It has many beautiful beaches and unspoiled villages and a wildly serrated coastline. Poor Leros, she has been downgraded for centuries. First, the name which means "dirty" and "malodorous." Then, the large psychiatric hospitals, then the terrible legacy of the very destructive Battle of Leros during the WW II when she was bombarded for over 50 days and finally invaded by the Germans in a dramatic landing. During the days of the junta Leros was a place of exile and torture housing the infamous prison of Partheni. Finally, in more recent time it has received some very bad press concerning the condition in the remaining psychiatric hospital.
The island has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The first inhabitants were most likely Pelasgians, Lelekes, and Karians. They were followed by the Dorians who were succeeded by the Ionians from Miletus. Homer mentions Leros, together with Kalymnos, as the "Kalydian islands" and included them in his Catalogue of Ships in the Iliad.
Leros was the sacred island of Artemis. According to the Mythology, after the death of the hero Meleager (the killer of the Calydonian Boar), Artemis took pity on the sorrow of his sisters and turned them into a guinea fowl and put them in her temple at Partheni.
Leros was occupied by the Persians who departed after their defeat in Salamis. During the Peloponnesian War, Leros sided with Sparta. In the Roman times, Leros and the surrounding islands were dominated by pirates. During the Byzantine times the island was part of the Samos prefecture. In 1316 AD Leros was taken by the Knights of St. John and was governed by the Duke of Naxos. From 1455 until 1527 the island was ravaged by pirates until finally it was occupied in 1527 by the Ottomans. In 1821, Leros took part in the War of Independence and became part of the new Greek state. In 1912, along with the rest of the Dodecanese, Leros fell under the Italians who held it until 1943. During this period the Italians built the town of Lakki. They were succeeded by the allied forces, mostly British. The island was then invaded by a large force of German paratroopers and many buildings were destroyed during the Battle of Leros (November 12-16, 1943). The Germans held Leros until the end World War II, when it was united with the rest of Greece in 1948. During the terrible years of the Greek junta (1967-74) the military camp in Partheni was used as a concentration camp for political prisoners.
Music making is a long tradition in Leros. Even today one can encountered live music here with traditional instruments such as: santouri (dulcimer), tsanbouna (bagpipes), lagouto (lute), and thelyra (a small violin-like instrument). The traditional songs and dances are: the Issos Lerikos, the Sousta, the Stavrotos, the Passoumaki, and the Dance of the Broom.
Charts
BA 2682 Kolpos Patalion to Nisos Nisiros
BA 3926 Lero island and approaches
Imray-Tetra G34 Southern Cyclades
NIMA 54400 Samos to Rodhos
Greek 451 Leros to Rhodos
Radio Nets
Also see Cruiser's Nets
- Coast Guard - VHF channel 12
- Olympia Radio - channel 23 at the W of the island; no good signal on the S and E sides
The approaches to Leros are straightforward.
Danger: With a strong meltemi there are violent gusts when entering the bays of Lakki and Alindas. Also, with strong southerlies there are gusts and large swells in the bay of Lakki.
Ports and Popular Stops
Lakki
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This is the main harbor of the island. It is located on the W side of the island. Lakki (Λακκί) [37° 08' N 26° 51' E] is a deep inlet and it is the largest harbor of the Dodecanese and it affords all around protection. On the N side of the harbor there is small marina operated by Agmar see below.
On the S side there is the Evros shipyard and marina, see below.
You can anchor off in front of the town at 3-5 m depth. There may be some uncomfortable swell but with northerlies it safe. The bottom is mud and provides good holding.
Lakki is a strange town, not very attractive, but one can find any necessary provisions. It was built by Mussolini and it reflects a fascist architecture. It reminds one of a De Chirico painting.
Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:
- May 2008 --Istioploos 14:18, 6 June 2008 (MDT)
Pandéli
Pandéli (Παντέλι) or Panali is a small harbor on the E side of the island. Come side-to. There is room only for a few yachts. It is reported that during a strong meltemi, there is an uncomfortable swell.
Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:
 Click for larger view | File:Pandeli h.jpg Chart of Pandéli Harbor Click for larger view |
Marinas & Yacht Clubs
Anchorages
Xerocambos
| Xerocambos (Ξηρόκαμπος) or Xirocambos [37° 06.5' N 26° 52.4' E] is a very attractive and large anchorage is on the S side of the island. It affords very good protection from the meltemi but it is exposed the S. The bottom is mostly weed and holding is not always very good. Look for a spot of sand and anchor at 5-6 m. Once the anchor holds the cove is very secure. There are two attractive tavernas ashore, the one on the W side Aloni (Lefteris and Evelyn) is particularly friendly to yachtsmen. It is about 1 hr. walk to Lakki which is also served by bus. Two of the tavernas provide free layed moorings.
About an hour walk up the ridge on the E side of Xerocambos there is an abandoned WW II Italian house with wall frescoes painted by the Italian soldiers garrisoned there. Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:
| File:Xerocambos m.jpg Chart of Xerocambos Click for larger view |
 Xerocambos from Paliokastro |
 Italian Fresco |
Vromolithos
Vromolithos (Βρωμόλιθος) is a small anchorage on the SE side of the island, looks very attractive, with room for a yacht or two to anchor off-shore under the protection of the NW bight. It appears to afford good protection from the meltemi. There is a good restaurant ashore.
Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:
- September 2008 - --Istioploos 20:37, 1 November 2008 (UTC)
Alindas
´Alindas (Άλινδας) or Alinda [37° 09.5' N 26° 51' E] is large bay that does not appear to be as protected from the swell raised by a strong meltemi. Nevertheless, on calm weather, it is an attractive spot. There is an interesting folklore/WW II museum in a nicely maintained private mansion, the Bellini Tower.
 Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:
| File:Alindas m.jpg Chart of Alindas Bay Click for larger view |
Blafouti
Blafouti (Μπλαφούτι) or Blefoutis or Plakouti [37°11.6' N 26°49.2' E] is an attractive cove on the NE side of the island. It is well protected from the meltemi and winds form the W to SE. The bottom is sand and weed, not always good holding. There is a small taverna ashore, I Thea Artemis, which serves good fish.
Danger: There are several reefs at the entrance to the cove. Enter from the E of the reef.
Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:
- October 2007 --Istioploos 14:18, 6 June 2008 (MDT)
Partheni
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Click for larger view
Partheni (Παρθένι) [37° 11.6' N 26° 48.4' E] is a large land locked bay on the N side of the island. There is a naval installation on the W side of the bay and a military camp to the SE. Agmar [37° 11.5' N 26° 48' E] operates a shipyard with a 70 ton travel lift for details see bellow. Agmar maintains 3 moorings in front of their facilities which their clients can use temporarily.
The airport is near by.
Excellent protection on the inner cove to the E of the bay.
The setting is not very attractive however. Add to this the ghosts presence of the military camp, the site of the notorious Partheni prison where many political prisoners were tortured during the days of the junta.
Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:
- October 2008 --Istioploos 20:37, 1 November 2008 (UTC)
N Cove
This is a small pleasant cove just N [37° 12.1' N 026° 47.9' E] of Partheni. The cove is somewhat exposed to the meltemi but in settled weather it a good place to stop for a swim. Good holding at 6 m.
Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:
- October 2001 --Istioploos 14:18, 6 June 2008 (MDT)
NW Cove
While this cove [37° 11.5' N 26° 46.6' E] is well protected from the S winds, it is not as good an anchorage as it looks because it is deep and then it gets shallow very quickly and at depths of 3-5 m there is lot of weed with very few patches of sand so the anchor may not hold well here.
Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:
- September 2005 --Istioploos 14:18, 6 June 2008 (MDT)
Offshore Islands
Archangelos
Archangelos (Αρχάγγελος) is a small island about 0.5 nm N of Partheni. There are two coves on the S side of the island. The E cove is dominated by a fish farm but the W cove [37° 11.9' N 26° 46.3' E] is still a pleasant anchorage. Anchor over a patch of sand at 5 m. Good shelter and holding.
Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:
 Click for larger view | File:Archangelos m.jpg Chart of anchorage in Archangelos Click for larger view |
Routes/Passages To/From
Popular passages/routes, timing, etc.
Tourism & things to do ashore
There many nice places to visit in the island. The most imposing is the Kastro. The view from the castle is superb: you can see both Pandeli, Vromolithos, and Lakki. Inside the castle there is the a jewel of a tiny Ecclesiastical Museum set by the Bishop Nectarios he is the bishop of Leros, Kalymnos, and Astypalea and like all bishops of the Dodecanese he reports to the Patriarch in Istanbul rather then the Archbishop in Athens. Also, inside the castle there is the small church of Panayia Kyra, built on 1300 AD, has several nice frescoes.
At Ayias Annas, visit the Archaeological Museum. The museum has very attractive cases, well labeled and lit, but the exhibits are not major. Further N at Alindas (Άλινδας), on the E side of the island, there is an Ethnological Museum housed in the Bellini Tower, a castle like mansion built by Mr. Bellini, a wealthy Lerian who lived in Egypt. The whole of the second floor of the museum is dedicated to the Battle of Leros and the sinking of the Greek navy ship Olga. All very interesting.
E of Partheni, over the cove of Kioura, there is the chapel of Ayia Matrona that has modern frescoes painted by the political prisoners held here at the bleak military camp during the bleak days of the junta (1997-72). Well worth a visit. Also, near Partheni just SW of the airport, there is the site of the Temple of Artemis but unfortunately not very much remains to be seen.
On the NW side of the island, at the N end of Gourna Bay there is a very picturesque Church of Ayios Isidoros built on a tiny island connect to Leros with a narrow causeway. S of Gourna Bay at Drymonas there is the interesting Church of Panaghia Gourlommata. Finally at Lakki there is the Church of Ayios Ioannes Theologos.
 Matrona Fresco: Mary |
 The Chapel of Ayios Isidoros |
Fuel, Water, & Electricity
- Fuel - is delivered by mini-truck.
- Water - is available on the quay of the Agmar Lakki Marina, Evros Lakki Marina, and at the Agmar Shipyard at Partheni. However, in both places the water can be brackish.
- Electricity - is available on the quay of the Agmar Lakki Marina, Evros Lakki Marina, and at the Agmar Shipyard at Partheni.
Laundry
- Token operated washing machines at the Agmar Lakki Marina and at the Agmar Shipyard at Partheni
- There is a dry cleaner in Lakki that also does laundry
Grocery Stores
- There are two supermarkets at Lakki. The larger of which is Spanos. If you buy large quantities of groceries, both stores will deliver it to the marina or the shipyard
- The bakery next to the Post Office in Lakki has very good bread
- Camping Gaz is available at the Agmar Shipyard chandlery
Eateries
In general the food is good in Leros.
- At Lakki you can eat well at either the Agmar Marina restaurant or at To Petrino
- Good food at Frangos in Vromolithos
- In Ayia Marina the Mylos has excellent sea food
- In Alindas try the Finikas by the sea and To Steki tou Dimitri further along, past the road to the airport
- Also in Alindas, Varelia, at the end of the road, is reputed to be very good
- If you want Italian food, there is a very good restaurant da Giusi e Marcello (tel. +30 22470 24888) run by an Italian couple in Alindas, it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and from November to April
- In Blafouti there is a pleasant taverna, I Thea Artemis, that serves good seafood
- In the W side of Xerocambos the Aloni (Lefteris and Evelyn) is particularly friendly to yachtsmen
- Another good restaurant is the Psaropoula at Pandéli
Motorbike & Car Rentals
- Many rental places at Plátanos and at Lakki
- Pagonis tel. +30 2240 25 831 or +30 6936 259 819 will deliver and pick up a motorbike to your boat
Marine Stores & Facilities
- Agmar Shipyard has a well stocked chandlery
- There is a store in Lakki catering mostly to fisherman
Repairs
Agmar Shipyard
Agmar [37° 11.5' N 26° 48' E] operates a shipyard in Partheni with a 70 ton travel lift with room to store over 250 yachts on the dry. They perform all major repairs and are staffed by skilled technicians. Agmar maintains 3 moorings in front of their facilities which their clients can use temporarily.
The airport is near by and the yard will pick you up to and from the airport.
Tel. +30 2470 26 009 [mailto:[email protected] e-mail.
I have wintered my boat here since 2000 and have nothing but praise for Mr. Angelos Gaitanides, the manager/owner, and his helpful staff.--Istioploos 15:56, 21 April 2008 (MDT)
Evros Boatyard
Evros Boatyard located near Lakki provides maintenance, repairs, and spare parts.
Transportation
There are daily flights and ferries to Athens. In the summer there is hydrofoil service to Kos, Kalymnos, Patmos, Fourni, Lipsi, Agathonisi, and Samos.
References & Publications
See Greece.
Cruiser's Friends
- Travels with S/Y Thetis Vasilis Riginos has been cruising Greek and Turkish waters for over 25 years, as well as having crossed the Atlantic. He winters his boat in Leros. He lives for 6-7 months of the year in Greece and is willing to help any fellow cruisers. Email: vasilis[AT]sy-thetis.org
Forum Discussions
List links to discussion threads on the Cruiser Log Forum
External Links
- Leros (Wikipedia)
Personal Notes
Personal experiences?
Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
See individual ports in this page.
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