Vonitsa

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==Islands==
==Islands==
* [[Ambrakikos Gulf#Nisos Vouvalos|Nisos Vouvalos]].
* [[Ambrakikos Gulf#Nisos Vouvalos|Nisos Vouvalos]].
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==Navigation==
==Navigation==
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{{Image right|VonitsaYachtQuay.jpg |Yachts moored on the yacht quay  }}
{{Image right|VonitsaYachtQuay.jpg |Yachts moored on the yacht quay  }}
The principal moorings in Vonitsa harbour are on the W side directly behind the detached breakwater on a quay which can accommodate around 20 yachts moored bows or stern-to.  There are currently (September 2012) 16 laid moorings, but a further four yachts can fit in using their anchors.  Note that there are some rocks about 6 metres off the quay which make the last 10 metres at the western end of the quay dangerous to moor on.  Depths at the quay are 2.25 metres and 3.5 – 4.0 metres five metres off the quay.  Mooring is to rusty steel bollards and/or mooring rings.  Shelter here is excellent from all directions.
The principal moorings in Vonitsa harbour are on the W side directly behind the detached breakwater on a quay which can accommodate around 20 yachts moored bows or stern-to.  There are currently (September 2012) 16 laid moorings, but a further four yachts can fit in using their anchors.  Note that there are some rocks about 6 metres off the quay which make the last 10 metres at the western end of the quay dangerous to moor on.  Depths at the quay are 2.25 metres and 3.5 – 4.0 metres five metres off the quay.  Mooring is to rusty steel bollards and/or mooring rings.  Shelter here is excellent from all directions.
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'''B. Jetty'''
'''B. Jetty'''
{{Image right|VonitsaJetty.jpg |Yachts on Vonitsa jetty  }}
{{Image right|VonitsaJetty.jpg |Yachts on Vonitsa jetty  }}
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{{Poi |38|55.98|N|20|52.10|E| | type= anchorage| name= Ormos Ag Markou
{{Poi |38|55.98|N|20|52.10|E| | type= anchorage| name= Ormos Ag Markou
| text= {{Image right|AnchorageAgMarkou.jpg |Anchorage of Ag. Markou to NW of Vonitsa  }}
| text= {{Image right|AnchorageAgMarkou.jpg |Anchorage of Ag. Markou to NW of Vonitsa  }}
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The anchorage of Ag. Markou bay lies about a mile NW from the harbour of Vonitsa and consists of a deep and wide inlet sheltered from all directions except E and SE.  The depths here are mostly in excess of 10-12 metres and it is necessary to tuck in close to the head of the bay (ideally on the SW side if possible) to be able to drop your anchor in 8.0 metres or so.  Alternatively, you can motor as close in as your draft will allow and take a line ashore.  Holding here is good in mud and weed.  There are a few fish farm remains around the shore and the bottom is foul in places.
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The anchorage of Ag. Markou bay lies about a mile NW from the harbour of Vonitsa and consists of a deep and wide inlet sheltered from all directions except E and SE.  The depths here are mostly in excess of 10-12 metres and it is necessary to tuck in close to the head of the bay (ideally on the SW side if possible) to be able to drop your anchor in 8.0 metres or so.  Alternatively, you can motor as close in as your draft will allow and take a line ashore.  Holding here is good in mud and weed.  There are a few fish farm remains around the shore and the bottom is foul in places. With N winds there can be unpleasant smells due to a pig shed on land. }}
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With N there is a smell obstruction due to the pig shed on land. }}
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{{Poi |38|55.40|N|20|54.07|E| | type= anchorage| name= Ormos Koukouvitsa
{{Poi |38|55.40|N|20|54.07|E| | type= anchorage| name= Ormos Koukouvitsa
| text= {{Image right|VonitsaAnchorage.jpg |Anchorage of Ormos Koukouvitsa to E of Vonitsa  }}
| text= {{Image right|VonitsaAnchorage.jpg |Anchorage of Ormos Koukouvitsa to E of Vonitsa  }}
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{{Image right|VonitsaCauseway.jpg |he causeway over to Koukouvitsa island  }}
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{{Image right|VonitsaCauseway.jpg |The causeway over to Koukouvitsa island  }}
The anchorage of Koukouvitsa bay lies half a mile E of Vonitsa behind a small, pine-clad island joined to the mainland by a picturesque, Chinese-style causeway.  Shelter here is good from all directions except N.  Depths are around 3.0 - 6.0 metres except around the edges, where it shoals gradually to under one metre.  Holding is good in sand, mud and weed.  It is possible with care to take your dinghy under the centre arch of the causeway (you will need to drag it over the shallowest part) to take a shortcut to Vonitsa town.  The anchorage here is delightful and very popular during the season. }}
The anchorage of Koukouvitsa bay lies half a mile E of Vonitsa behind a small, pine-clad island joined to the mainland by a picturesque, Chinese-style causeway.  Shelter here is good from all directions except N.  Depths are around 3.0 - 6.0 metres except around the edges, where it shoals gradually to under one metre.  Holding is good in sand, mud and weed.  It is possible with care to take your dinghy under the centre arch of the causeway (you will need to drag it over the shallowest part) to take a shortcut to Vonitsa town.  The anchorage here is delightful and very popular during the season. }}
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; Electricity
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: None.
: None.
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==Things to do Ashore==
==Things to do Ashore==

Revision as of 17:11, 7 January 2017

WorldMediterraneanIonian SeaGreeceAmbrakikos GulfVonitsa
Vonitsa
38°55.29′N, 20°53.28′E Chart icon.png
VonitsaHarbour.jpg
Magnify-clip.png
There are laid moorings on Vonitsa quay

Vonitsa (Βόνιτσα ) lies on the SW side of the Ambrakikos Gulf in the Ionian Sea of Greece, eight miles inland from the harbour of Preveza at the entrance to the gulf. Originally a fishing harbour, the construction of an outer breakwater and a yacht quay with laid moorings have made Vonitsa a popular port of call for yachts cruising the gulf and it is often busy with flotillas. The harbour can accommodate around 30-35 yachts on laid moorings and anchor moor, divided between the yacht quay on the W and a separate jetty and short stub quay on the E side of the harbour. Shelter in the harbour is good in most conditions, although strong NE winds send in an uncomfortable swell. If the harbour is full, there are two good anchorages to E and W with good shelter in all but strong N or E winds respectively.

Charts

British Admiralty
203 Zakinthos to Paxoi
Imray-Tetra
G11 – North Ionian Islands
NOAA
54283 Amvrakikos Kolpos
Greek
2131 Amvrakikos Gulf

Weather

The gulf is subject to the same conditions as the Ionian Sea when fronts or depressions pass over, although generally the winds will be less than in the open sea. During normal settled conditions, however, the mornings are often windless until in early afternoon a westerly sea breeze sets in, which can sometimes rise to 15 knots or more but rarely blows for longer than an hour or two. The sea breeze is generally stronger in the western part of the gulf than the eastern.

Overnight, an easterly land breeze off the mountains at the E end of the gulf is common, which rarely rises above 10 knots. In some of the bays along the S coast this wind can come from SE or even due S, which needs to be considered when anchoring.

Sources for Weather forecasts:

Islands

Navigation

For entry to the gulf, see Preveza. The approach to Vonitsa is free of dangers except for a shoal patch which extends half a mile off Cape Panayia three miles NW of the town, between it and the island of Nisos Kefalos (which itself is surrounded by shoals). A course halfway between the cape and the island takes you free of danger. Entry to the harbour is from either side of a long detached breakwater. Depths in the entrance are 4.0 – 4.5 metres and at the quays between 2.25 and 2.5 metres.

Entrance

None. Check in at Preveza.

Berthing

For a map of the mooring options in Vonitsa, click on this link: Google Map.

A. Yacht quay

Yachts moored on the yacht quay

The principal moorings in Vonitsa harbour are on the W side directly behind the detached breakwater on a quay which can accommodate around 20 yachts moored bows or stern-to. There are currently (September 2012) 16 laid moorings, but a further four yachts can fit in using their anchors. Note that there are some rocks about 6 metres off the quay which make the last 10 metres at the western end of the quay dangerous to moor on. Depths at the quay are 2.25 metres and 3.5 – 4.0 metres five metres off the quay. Mooring is to rusty steel bollards and/or mooring rings. Shelter here is excellent from all directions.

B. Jetty

Yachts on Vonitsa jetty

The jetty extends NE from the shore just inside the E breakwater entrance and can accommodate 10-12 yachts anchor moored bows or stern-to on its outside edge (the inside edge is taken up with local small craft moorings). Depths are 2.5 metres along the quay, shallowing to 2.25 metres towards the root. Depths are 4.0 metres five metres off the quay. Mooring is to good quality stainless steel mooring rings. Shelter here is good, although strong E winds would make it very uncomfortable.

C. Stub quay

E of the jetty along the waterfront is a stub quay with depths of 1.5 metres alongside, which in theory could accommodate 8-10 small yachts. However, there is only one mooring ring to tie on to (plus a lamppost) and the shelter is rather poor, so this option should only be considered in very settled weather and for shallow draft yachts.

D. Waterfront quay

On either side of the stub quay it is possible to moor along the waterfront, where there are depths of 1.5 metres to the W of the stub quay and 2.0 metres to the E. However, there are very few mooring rings along this section and it is completely open N. Settled weather only.

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

None.

Anchorages

Ormos Ag Markou

Ormos Ag Markou/wiki/Vonitsa#Ormos_Ag_Markou
Anchorage icon Ormos Ag Markou [[Vonitsa#Ormos Ag Markou|Ormos Ag Markou]] 38°55.98′N, 20°52.10′E
Anchorage of Ag. Markou to NW of Vonitsa
The anchorage of Ag. Markou bay lies about a mile NW from the harbour of Vonitsa and consists of a deep and wide inlet sheltered from all directions except E and SE. The depths here are mostly in excess of 10-12 metres and it is necessary to tuck in close to the head of the bay (ideally on the SW side if possible) to be able to drop your anchor in 8.0 metres or so. Alternatively, you can motor as close in as your draft will allow and take a line ashore. Holding here is good in mud and weed. There are a few fish farm remains around the shore and the bottom is foul in places. With N winds there can be unpleasant smells due to a pig shed on land.

Ormos Koukouvitsa

Ormos Koukouvitsa/wiki/Vonitsa#Ormos_Koukouvitsa
Anchorage icon Ormos Koukouvitsa [[Vonitsa#Ormos Koukouvitsa|Ormos Koukouvitsa]] 38°55.40′N, 20°54.07′E
Anchorage of Ormos Koukouvitsa to E of Vonitsa
The causeway over to Koukouvitsa island
The anchorage of Koukouvitsa bay lies half a mile E of Vonitsa behind a small, pine-clad island joined to the mainland by a picturesque, Chinese-style causeway. Shelter here is good from all directions except N. Depths are around 3.0 - 6.0 metres except around the edges, where it shoals gradually to under one metre. Holding is good in sand, mud and weed. It is possible with care to take your dinghy under the centre arch of the causeway (you will need to drag it over the shallowest part) to take a shortcut to Vonitsa town. The anchorage here is delightful and very popular during the season.

Yacht Repairs and Services

None.

Marine Stores

None.

Repairs/Yards

None.

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel
Available on request, numbers advertised on the quay.
Water
Taps on yacht quay and jetty only.
Electricity
None.

Things to do Ashore

Tourism

The 17th century Venetian castle above the town is impressive and well worth a visit. The views over the bay and the lagoon to the NW are superb. The town also has a long shingle beach which is cleaner than many in the gulf.

Bay of Vonitsa from castle
A turtle checks the moorings in Vonitsa harbour

Grocery & Supply Stores

Wide range of shops and supermarket in the town.

Eateries

  • Tavernas and cafes along the waterfront
  • Remezzo restaurant is good and English is spoken.

Internet/WiFi

At Remezzo and several cafes.

Laundry

Now available at the Remezzo cafe

Motorbike & Car Rentals

None.

Garbage Disposal

Bins at yacht quay and jetty.

Transportation

  • Flights from Preveza Aktion (PVK) airport (20 minutes by taxi). From May to October a number of charter companies operate direct flights from/to Manchester, Gatwick, Amsterdam, Dusseldorf and possibly some other European cities.
  • Buses. Local buses to Preveza and Arta.

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

References & Publications

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. Personal experiences?

  • Vonitsa varies between frantic on the nights when the flotillas are in to relatively peaceful on other nights. Saturday and Sunday seem to be the main flotilla nights. The town is busy with camper vans, some of them lived in by travellers, so it is wise to lock up securely when leaving your boat. --Athene of Lymington 15:03, 30 September 2012 (BST)
  • A wonderfully scenic location which is becoming increasingly popular. Finding space can be a problem, especially now as several yachts here seem to have taken up permanent residence, utilising the free mooring space. Nonetheless, it's certainly worth visiting, even if it means waiting at anchor for a while to moor up. Showers are available for customers at Remazzo restaurant, as well as washing machines. --BenPikeUK

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This is a usable page of the cruising guide. However, please contribute if you can to help it grow further. Click on Comments to add your personal notes on this page or to discuss its contents. Alternatively, if you feel confident to edit the page, click on the edit tab at the top and enter your changes directly.


SailorSmiley.gifContributors to this page

Names: Athene of Lymington, BenPikeUK


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