Yacht Charter Greece Corinthian Gulf

With Yacht Charter enthusiasts today on a continuous quest to find some nice destination for a sailing holiday, it’s a real struggle to find a beautiful port or even a picturesque route. However, that doesn’t stop these modern sailors from seeking relentlessly, much like the old sailors kept exploring the sea for new routes and new ports.

Here at YachtBooker, we’d like you to enjoy the full extent of your sailing holiday, so here’s a good tip for a scenic destination that’s also quite cheap and not so popular, giving you the possibility to avoid the Yacht Charter summer crowds. A good place to start, especially if you’re a beginner skipper, is the Mediterranean Sea. These old shores are very well documented so sea charts can prove a useful ally, while also offering a range of conditions (virtually no tides, predictable winds, fair weather) that mean you won’t run into trouble.

One good example of one yet “undiscovered treasure” is the Corinthian Gulf, generally considered by veteran Yacht Charter tourists as a highway between the Aegean and the Ionian sea, rather than a stop point for a sailing vacation. Many prefer to make the journey as fast as possible, and preferably at night.

Day 1
The best way to enjoy a trip in the Corinthian Bay is to start from west to east, since that is the general direction of the prevailing winds. The entry point to the Bay is the Corinthian Bridge, or Rion Andiron as it’s locally known and that should be the starting location of your Yacht Charter trip. Visible from great distances thanks to its size (2.8km long), the bridge is a busy passage point for both commercial and leisure traffic, which is why a Yacht Charter skipper should respect a few rules.

First off, you should contact the Rion Traffic Authority on VHF radio channel 14 when 5 miles out from the bridge and then again when 2 miles out. You will receive directions from the Coast Guard about which route you should take, since there are 5 channels reserved for smaller Yacht Charter boats transitioning the area. Apart from the bridge itself, there are some other touristic sights in the region, like the 2 medieval fortresses on either side of the channel, to the south and to the north.
Moving into the bay, head to the north shore, to the small but very beautiful harbor of Nafpaktos which is located in a semicircular bay which provides good protection from north and western winds. The name of the harbor is Mezolongi and it describes a perfect horseshoe shape. The entrance to the harbor is flanked on either side by two large piers, where the Yacht Charter crew can see a large ancient temple and a fortress dating back from Venetian times.

You might have trouble mooring here, since the draft is just 5m and there isn’t too much room to maneuver. However, you’ll find that there are many Yacht Charter sailors who venture to drop anchor here due to the beauty of the city. There is another large fortress on a nearby hill, overlooking the harbor, there is an aqua park where the kids can enjoy dolphin shows just 500m from the sea and, further down the coast to the southeast there is even a beach where you can work on that Yacht Charter tan.

Day 2
Keeping to the north shore, the one on the mainland, you’re Yacht Charter sailing will take you to an island called Nisos Trizonia, just off the shore of Glyfada. Here, you’ll find 2 Yacht Charter harbors, with a common entrance facing east. That means that here you’re boat will be well protected from northern, southern and western winds but that during eastern winds there will be a swell in the marina. The water is deeper on the outer piers, for those with bigger draft vessels.

You’ll find that the harbor is also used by small fishing boats, as is another small harbor to the northeast. It’s recommended that you visit this harbor by foot, since it’s within walking distance of the first. Here, you’ll find a quaint settlement, with a few beautiful restaurants that offer a view of the channel. The Yacht Charter skipper will be glad to know that he can find basic repair facilities here at moderate prices.

On the mainland, a good mooring spot is the neighboring bay of  Ormos Ay Saranda, to the northwest. Within this bay there is the small village of  Paralia Saranda, a real Yacht Charter gem, since it offers everything you’d expect from a holiday in Greece. Just a couple of houses make up this authentic Greek village, but there are some restaurants which offer traditional food at very low prices due to the fact that the region is not frequented regularly by Yacht Charter crowds.

Mooring in the bay is possible, with depths of 7-12 meters and with a sandy bottom. The reason why you and your Yacht Charter group should moor here is because it’s free and it offers good protection from all winds except from the south. But since the prevailing winds blow from the west, you’re pretty safe, and you also get to see a very wild part of the Greek shoreline, one that seems to have been touched by man very little.

Day 3
Setting sails again along the coast, you’ll come across your next stop, this time a larger city, Galaxidi, which is also located in a nice, mountainous region. The only thing a Yacht Charter skipper will have to keep in mind is that the neighboring mountains can produce gust wind effects, especially in the second part of the day, between 3 o’clock in the afternoon and 8 o’clock at night. Though not powerful, these gusts will make approach difficult if not taken into consideration.

And speaking of approach, you should mind the islands off the coast, just east of the harbor entrance, like Agios Giorgios and several smaller ones. Though beautiful to behold in the daytime, they might make a nighttime approach difficult. Yacht Charter aficionados need to consult a naval chart.

The harbor itself in Galaxidi is rather shallow but it does provide good mooring while also offering the Yacht Charter tourists some nice views and good conditions. Among these, you’ll find here gas, electricity and water, all for very low prices. The downside is that at night you’ll be bothered by the noise coming from the nearby tavernas which play loud music. Also, sometimes in the summer when water temperatures get really hot, Yacht Charter boats will struggle with algae in the water which will clog filters quickly if not checked regularly. Check with the local boatmen to see if this is the case.

But taking into account the fact that the Oracle of Delphi is in the region and this is also one of the largest ports in this part of the bay, mooring in Galaxidi is not really a choice.

Day 4
Your Yacht Charter trip is now taking you closer to the Corinth Channel, a busy waterway that spares sailors from circumnavigating the Peloponnese peninsula. For this reason, you’ll find that there is a lot of commercial traffic here and it’s also a bit expensive, but the advantages are that you save time and you also get a one-in-a-lifetime experience. Sailing between the almost vertical rock cliffs that go up to several tens of meters in some points will make it all worth it.

Before arriving, contact channel authority on VHF channel 11 and wait for instructions. Once at the channel, moor at the indicated pier and proceed with paying and, if necessary, assistance with the crossing. Be careful though as this costs extra and implies nothing more than having an official boat sailing in front of your Yacht Charter vessel.

Once past the Channel, head south into the Saronic Gulf. At this point many Yacht Charter holidaymakers would choose to sail directly east, towards large ports such as Pireus or Athens, but it’s worth mentioning that the eastern coast of the Peloponnese peninsula has some things to offer to the water-bound tourist.

For example, for one final night, you can moor in the small bay of Korfos, located in the region of the Nisida islands. This bay is very well protected from the winds thanks to its position carved deep into the coastline. The bay provides good mooring to incoming Yacht Charter parties, with depths between 5 and 10m and with a sandy bottom which offer good holding anchor. On land, you can visit the promenade in the north of the bay where there are several restaurants with low prices and good food. Just 2.5 hours from the Channel, it pays to moor here as there are no fees, but also there are no facilities.

From here, you can head to any of the major ports in Greece, or continue exploring the Saronic Gulf at your leisure. The important thing to remember is that the Corinthian Bay has plenty of undiscovered Yacht Charter potential and for those that venture here, it can be a cheap yet beautiful holiday aboard a yacht.