Lefkas
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Lefkas
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An online cruising guide for yachts sailing to the island of Lefkas.Lefkas (Λευκάς) or Leukas or Lefkada (Λευκάδα) or Leukada lies off the mainland coast of Greece seven miles SW of the harbour of Preveza at the entrance to the Ambrakikos Gulf. The second largest of the Greek Ionian islands after Kefalonia, Lefkas is, however, not really an island. It was originally connected to the mainland via a shallow isthmus, but the Corinthians around 600 BC constructed a canal which has ever since divided Lefkas from the Greek mainland. It is now separated by a shallow lagoon and salt marshes varying in width between 600 m and 5 km (2.6 nM).
For a history of Lefkas, see History of Lefkas page.
The island is hilly with numerous white cliffs which give it its name: white one. The tallest point of the island is Mount Stavrotas at 1158 m and its total land area is 355.936 km2. Of the population of some 22,000, most live in the island capital of Lefkas Town, which has just under 7,000 inhabitants, or the towns of Nidri and Vlikho in Vlikho Bay, Sivotas on the SE coast and Vasiliki near the promontory of Ak Dhoukato at the island’s SW tip. For cruising yachtsmen, the harbours and anchorages at or near these towns – all of them on the E or S coast - represent the island’s chief interest. While the west coast has some very attractive beaches and fishing settlements, there are no sheltered harbours or anchorages suitable for yachts. During the summer, Lefkas and especially its capital, Lefkas Town, are thronged with tourists, both land and yacht-borne, arriving from the nearby airport at Preveza or the numerous boatyards and charter bases around Preveza and the Inland Sea.
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.
Radio Nets
- Coast Guard - VHF channel 12
- Olympia Radio - VHF channel 03
Also see World Cruiser's Nets
Weather
- See Ionian Sea Weather
- Also see Ionian Sea Currents & Tides
Most yachts approaching the island, unless doing the long sail down the W coast, will be arriving or departing via a canal.
For details of approaching the canal and navigation there see the Lefkas Canal page.
Check-in facilities (Customs and Immigration)
Lefkas Town is a port of entry and you can clear here in/out of Greece.
Berthing Options
Ports
The main harbours on Lefkas are listed clockwise round the island from Lefkas Town.
Lefkas Town
Click on above link for details. Lefkas Town offers moorings bows or stern-to using the anchor on a rather busy and crowded town quay or in the 620-berth Lefkas Marina. Shelter is good except in strong E or S winds.
Ligia
Click on above link for details. The small harbour of Ligia has little space for yachts, who usually have to anchor off to visit the numerous tavernas. Shelter is excellent in the prevailing NW winds but less so in strong winds from other directions.
Nikiana
Click on above link for details. Nikiana’s small harbour has space for around 10-15 yachts bows or stern-to using the anchor. Shelter in the harbour is good in the prevailing winds but less so if there is anything E in the wind.
Nidri
Click on above link for details. Nidri lies at the entrance to the gulf of Vlikho Bay and has berths bows or stern-to using the anchor on its busy town quay or on one of a series of six private pontoons. Shelter on the quay is adequate in the prevailing N/NW winds but it becomes uncomfortable if they are very strong.
Vlikho
Click on above link for details. Vlikho lies at the SW corner of Vlikho Bay and has berths bows or stern-to using the anchor on the town quay or on one of a field of mooring buoys. All berths are administered by the Vliho Yacht Club. Shelter on the quay and jetty is adequate in the prevailing N/NW winds but can become uncomfortable if they are very strong.
Sivotas
Click on above link for details. Sivotas harbour offers a number of berthing options on its quays, bows or stern-to using the anchor, or on two private taverna pontoons with some laid moorings. Shelter is good in the prevailing N/NW winds, although there are gusts down into the bay, but Sivota is uncomfortable and possibly dangerous in strong S/SE winds.
Vasiliki
Click on above link for details. The shallow harbour of Vasiliki has berths bows or stern-to using the anchor on its town quay, but has depths in the entrance of only 2.5 - 3.0 metres. Shelter in the harbour is acceptable in the prevailing NW seabreezes (although a chop is experienced), but it could possibly become untenable in very strong NW winds.
Marinas & Yacht Clubs
- Lefkas Marina
- Vlikho Yacht Club Website
Anchorages
Vlikho Bay
See separate Wiki page for Vlikho Bay.
Tranquil Bay
See Vlikho Bay.
Ormos Dessimou
Ormos Rouda
Offshore Islands
- Modra
- Meganisi
- Skorpios (a private island)
Yacht Services and Repairs
Marine Stores
- Numerous chandleries and marine supplies stores in Lefkas Town
- At the marina and at Paleros Tel 2645 029117 is one of the best chandleries in the Ionian
Repairs/Yards
- At the marina
- Christo’s Boatyard (on the E side of the canal opposite Lefkas Marina)
- Contract Marine Services (Lefkada) is a highly skilled and professional supplier of all kind of repairs and services. Even though they have their main base in Lefkada, they are doing services all over the area. They did a deep service and maintenance on my Perkins prior my circumnavigation (2011-2013). Nothing failed despite a distance of 22.000 nautical miles and a engine hours of 2.300! This is a Perkins from 1986, så the potential of failure could have been big without this services. Thanks to experienced staff at Contract, it went smooth all the way. --Camelot 08:00, June 7, 2014 (GMT)
- If you are looking for a professional canvas supplier for repair or new build, I do have personal very good experience with using Waypoint. --Camelot 08:00, June 7, 2014 (GMT)
Fuel, Water, & Electricity
See individual port and marina pages.
Things to do Ashore
Tourism
See Lefkas Town.
Grocery & Supply Stores
- There is a supermarket at the marina and a megastore a few blocks back. Also see port pages.
- The local wine Santa Maura is very good
- The salami from Lefkas is famous
Eateries
See individual port pages.
Internet/WiFi
See individual port pages.
Laundry
- In the marina
Motorbike & Car Rentals
- In Lefkas Town.
Garbage Disposal
See individual port pages
Transportation
- There are charter flights to several European destinations from Preveza
- Long distance buses from Lefkas Town via Preveza to Athens
- Local buses between Lefkas Town and Vasiliki
Routes/Passages To/From
Cruiser's Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forum Discussions
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
External Links
- Lefkas (Wikipedia)
- http://www.videopilotbook.com/lefkada/ (A yachtsman's video guide)
References & Publications
See Ionian Sea.
Personal Notes
Personal experiences?
- The North Entrance to the Canal has been significantly improved since 2012 with extensive dredging. Min depth we noted was 4.5 metres and the pool in the crutch of the North West elbow now has good depths. The spit has been shortened significantly but there is now a sandy shoal requiring 30 metres clearance off the end. --Monterey June 2015
Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:
- July 1988 --Istioploos Travels with S/Y Thetis
- August 2009 --Nereus
- June 2013 --Athene of Lymington
- June 2015 -- Monterey
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. |
Contributors to this page
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Names: Istioploos, Nereus, Athene of Lymington, Rodger, Wayward, Monterey |