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| Two weeks starting Paleros (15 min by minibus from Vonitsa)
a. Day One Arrival. Capn Dex will pick you up with the minibus at Preveza airport – where its only fifteen minutes to the harbour of Vonitsa. A chance to meet Soti at the internet café and maybe check up on your shares or more importantly the next few days weather. Capn Dex will then drive you down to Paleros (twenty minutes) to show you round the boat and leave you to settle in and explore the delights of the town. Capn Dex will pick you up later to drive you back to Vonitsa for dinner at a traditional greek restaurant next to the Internet café where you will get your first taste of the best of the local cooking. Finally back by minibus to Paleros and your boat.
 b. Day Two Sivota: A medium days sail to get you used to the boat as you sail across the Ionian inner sea, passed the Onasis island of Skorpios, and down the Meganissi strait between the towering cliffs of Levkas and the wooded slopes of the island of Meganissi. Out into the Mediterranean for a little way before pulling into the hidden and totally secluded bay which houses the port of Sivota. A favourite place with the flotillas but we should get in somewhere, as there are places to moor all around the bay along with the excellent tabernas and small shops.
c. Day three Fiskardo – Cephalonia: A medium days sail across the Mediterranean past the island of Ithaca before landing at the famous port of Fiskardo on the northern tip of Cephalonia. Fiskardo was the only town on Cephalonia left standing after the 1953 earthquake and with its original multi coloured cottages, shops and tabernas is the most popular port in the whole of the Ionian. We will have to be in early if we want to secure a place.
d. Day four Sami – Cephalonia: A short days sailing down the Ithaca strait with views of Ithaca and Cepholonica on opposite sides of the channel. Sami has changed since industrial days but is still a busy port. With boats travelling between Patras and Italy. A delightful harbour with good tabernas and supermarkets. Sami is where Captain Corellis mandolin was filmed. One of the tabernas on the waterfront will be keen to show you photos from the film and point out the relevant buildings.
e. Day five Sami – Cephalonia – visit Assos. A day off from sailing but a great opportunity to see a little more of this wonderful island. You can hire motorbikes or a car and do your own thing, or go by bus or taxi to the beautiful little town of Assos on the far side of the island with its Venetian fort, twin bays and stunning views. Also you will pass the famous Myrtos beach on route.
f. Day six Zakynthos – A medium days sailing down the east coast of Cephalonia, past the port of Poros and across the sea to the island of Zakynthos (Zante). We will stay in the main port, a busy place with lots of ferries, traffic, good shops and restaurants.
 a. Day seven Zakynthos – Another day off sailing but the opportunity to relax or discover the island by taxi or hire car. If it’s the right time of the year, a visit to the turtle sanctuary/beach is an absolute must.
b. Day eight Messalongi: A medium/long sail across the Gulf of Patras to the salt marshes and town of Messalongi. Messalongi is famous for its association with Lord Byron and an interesting place in its own right. The entrance to Messalongi from the sea follows a narrow channel through the salt marshes with houses on stilts on both sides. The town itself is a short walk from the harbour but well worth the effort.
c. Day nine Astokos: A long sail back along the north coast of the Gulf of Patras before heading north through awhole array of small islands to the bay of Astokos. Astokos itself is situated on the north side of the bay. A grubby but delightful little town. Astokos means lobster in greek and there are many small shops and restaurants selling good food at very reasonable prices.
 d. Day ten Kastos: A short hop across the sea to the island of Kastos. The harbour at Kastos is delightful, surrounded by some old houses and tabernas. This is a very popular harbour with the flotillas and we will need to be in early. Once ashore the island offers some interesting walks discovering a life and culture of a bygone age.
e. Day eleven Nidri: A medium days sailing round the north ends of the islands of Kastos and Kalamos with a stop for a swim opposite the little mainland port of Mitika. Then on past the north end of Meganissi and the Onassis island of Skorpios to the bustling resort of Nidri with its wide range of shops and tabernas.
 f. Day twelve Nidri– Bus to Levkas town. Levkas town is a busy but exciting place with an excellent array of shops, supermarkets, cafes and discos. Lots of tabernas, the best and the cheapest to be found down the tiny backstreets of houses with their upper stories made of corrugated iron (this is earthquake country). Alternately for the more adventurous and energetic Nidri hosts alternative water sports like banana boats and parascending – you can even hire a fast motor boat for a couple of hours if one still hasn’t seen enough of the water.
g. Day thirteen Little Vathi – Meganissi. A short hop back to Meganissi and the port of Little Vathi. Another popular visit for the flotillas with its delightful tabernas and local walks. A very pretty little harbour.
h. Day fourteen – Return to Paleros but via Nidri – stopping for lunch and/or a swim at the Athos hotel before heading back across the Ionian inner sea to Paleros with dinner at one of the local tabernas or a traditional greek restaurant in Vonitsa, fifteen minutes via minibus.
i. Day fifteen . Capn Dex will take you back to the airport in the minibus in plenty of time for your flight back to the UK.
Crew wanted, Greece, sunny sailing, sailing, greek sailing, sailing adventure, ionian, ionian sailing, greek islands, | |
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