Meganisi

From CruisersWiki

An online cruising guide for yachts sailing to Meganisi.

Meganisi/wiki/Meganisi

Meganisi 38°39.19′N, 20°45.96′E38.653166666667;20.766 destination

lat=38_39.19_N | lon=20_45.96_E | zoom=11 | y

View from Meganisi of Skorpios and Levkas

Meganisi (Μεγανήσι) is one of the Greek Ionian islands in the so-called Inland Sea, situated barely a mile off the SE coast of Lefkas. There are about 2000 inhabitants on the island, most of them in the village of Spartachori and its harbour of Port Spilia which is now the main ferry port and in nearby village of Port Vathi, both on the N side of the island. The island is exceptionally well developed for yachting, with quay and pontoon space for over 50 yachts in the harbour of Port Spilia and over 80 in the harbour of Vathi and in its new, 68-berth marina, Odyseas Marina. Along the NE coast of the island are three delightful anchorages, Ormos Kapali, Ormos Abelike and Port Atheni, in the various coves of which a yacht can anchor moor with a line ashore in peaceful surroundings.

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.

Weather

• See Ionian Sea Weather.

Passages

• Cruising the Greek Ionian Sea

Islands

• Lefkas
• Ithaca

Communication

• Coast Guard - VHF channel 12

Also see World Cruiser's Nets.

Navigation

The approach to Meganisi is free of dangers, except in the approach from due N, along the E side of the island of Skorpios, where a reef, Ifalos Heiromiti, lies about half a mile due E of Skorpios’ southern extremity .

Entrance

None. Nearest ports of entry are Preveza, Lefkas, Argostoli or Sami on Kefalonia, Vathi on Ithaca, or Zakinthos.

Berthing

Ports

Key to symbols: ||  – harbour ||  – marina ||  – anchorage ||

Port Spilia, Meganisi

• Port Spilia Port Spilia /wiki/Port_Spilia |  – harbour |

  It lies at the head of a deep cleft on the NW side of the island and contains several berthing options for visiting yachts.

• Port Vathi Port Vathi /wiki/Port_Vathi |  – harbour ||  – marina |

  It lies about a mile NE of Porto Spilia and it is where the ferry from Nidri, Lefkas island, berths. In addition to the old harbour, it also hosts a new, 68-berth marina, Odyseas Marina. Whereas Odyseas Marina has lots of facilities and is premium priced, a little deeper in the bay, the old harbour, you can sometimes berth between fishing boats for free.

• Port Atheni Port Atheni /wiki/Port_Atheni |  – harbour ||  – anchorage |

  It lies on the NE coast of the island and is the third inlet passing E from Port Vathi. The inlet contains a quay with space for 10-12 yachts on anchor moor, a taverna pontoon and several anchorages.

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

The new Odyseas Marina in Vathi opened in 2011 and currently offers berths for 68 yachts up to 30 metres in depths up to 8.0 metres. Click on link for details.

Anchorages

The principal and most popular anchorages on Meganisi are along the NE coast of the island, just round the corner from the harbour of Vathi. From W to E, they are Ormos Kapali, Ormos Abelike and Port Atheni. Between them, they offer nearly 20 different coves in which a yacht can anchor moor, usually with a line ashore. The bottom is mostly mud and weed in all the inlets and good holding once your anchor is through the weed. Shelter in all three is good during the prevailing NW winds (although there is often some swell in late afternoon). Sometimes a NE land breeze will set in at night, which can be uncomfortable but is rarely dangerous. There are tavernas in the summer in Ormos Abelike and Port Atheni.

Ormos Kapali

Ormos Kapali/wiki/Meganisi#Ormos_Kapali

anchorage Ormos Kapali [[Meganisi#Ormos Kapali|Ormos Kapali]] 38°40.01′N, 20°46.9′EOrmos Kapali38.666833333333;20.781666666667

Ormos Kapali is the first inlet passing E from Vathi. It consists of a two-pronged inlet, with sandy coves at both its E and W heads. During the season, these are usually buoyed off for swimming, and it will be necessary to anchor outside the line of buoys in 6.0 – 10.0 metres, usually taking a line ashore.

Abelike Bay

Ormos Abelike

Ormos Abelike/wiki/Meganisi#Ormos_Abelike

anchorage Ormos Abelike [[Meganisi#Ormos Abelike|Ormos Abelike]] 38°39.96′N, 20°47.4′EOrmos Abelike38.666;20.79

Ormos Abelike is usually considered the most beautiful of the three anchorages. Once quiet and secluded, it is now busy during the summer and two tavernas have been established to cater for the numerous visitors. Depending on the wind, anchor in one of the seven different coves around the inlet and take a line ashore. Some of the coves are buoyed off for swimming during the season. In the S cove is Minas Taverna (formerly Pirate's Cove), which is worth a visit. The taverna has a small pontoon which can accommodate around three yachts in depths of 3.0 metres and offers water and electricity, 6 showers, 3 laundry machines. The N cove is the most attractive anchorage and offers the best shelter, but anchoring depths are 12-15 metres and it is very crowded here during the season. However, it has lots of useful rocks along its shores for taking stern lines. The E cove is more open but has good anchoring depths (5.0 -6.0 metres) and is often better for free anchoring as there are usually fewer yachts in here with lines ashore.

Anchored in Abelike

Amenities

Provisioning

• Limited provisions in Spartochori (Port Spilia).
• Minimarkets in Vathi.

Eating out

• Spilia Taverna in Port Spilia is good value, although sometimes busy with flotilla crews.
• Several good tavernas around the old harbour in Vathi.

Transportation

Ferries from Port Vathi to Nidri in Lefkas.

Tourism

The old village of Spartochori, situated on a steep rocky bluff above the port of Port Spilia, is most attractive and the steep climb up to it is rewarded with magnificent views over the harbour and Skorpios island. The SE part of Port Spilia has a small shingle beach and beach café where younger members of a yacht crew can while away the hours. From Vathi, there are peaceful walks around the NE coast and inland through olive groves towards the settlement of Katomeri.

Street scene, Spartachori

Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forums

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

Links

• Meganisi at the Wikipedia
• A yachtsman's video guide

References

See Ionian Sea.

Comments

We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.

• Meganisi is considerably more developed than when we were last here in 2005, but (so far) without spoiling its unique character. It caters pretty well for the hundreds of yachts that now visit every month, but is understandably busy in high season.--Athene of Lymington 15:54, 12 July 2012 (BST)
• We found Meganisi to be beautiful but were repeatedly bothered by wasps which seemed to infest the island in June 2011 . In Sept 2014 this was less of a problem Monterey

Verified by

Date of member's last visit to Meganisi and this page's details validated: Date of member's visit to this Island & this page's details validated:

• July 1988 --Istioploos Travels with S/Y Thetis
• July 2012 --Athene of Lymington 15:54, 12 July 2012 (BST)
• Sept 2014 --Monterey
• Sept 2014 --Threshold

{{Contributors|Istioploos, Atheneoflymington, Nereus, Haiqu, Monterey, Mariope