Greece, Ionian Sea
The Ionian is the easiest sailing in Greece: calm mornings, a steady afternoon breeze, sheltered channels between Lefkas, Meganisi, Ithaca and Kefalonia, and villages where you moor on the quay and eat fifty metres from the boat.
YACHT TYPES
Sailing yachts 36 to 50 ft dominate; catamarans 40 to 46 ft are popular with families; the Lefkas fleet is the largest in the Ionian.
A typical week from Lefkas
Lefkas town sits at the top of a channel; south of it the inland sea between Lefkada, Meganisi and the mainland is the calmest cruising ground in the country.
Day 1, Lefkas to Meganisi (8 NM). Vathi's quay or the Spilia and Spartochori bays; restaurants take lines ashore for the evening.
Day 2, to Kalamos or Kastos (10 NM). Two small islands with one harbour each; Kalamos town quay is famous for George's welcome, Kastos for its quiet.
Day 3, to Kioni or Frikes on Ithaca (15 NM). Two of the prettiest harbours in Greece; arrive by 3 pm in summer.
Day 4, to Fiskardo on Kefalonia (10 NM). The Venetian village that survived the 1953 earthquake; the quay fills early, Foki bay is the anchoring alternative.
Day 5, to Sivota on Lefkada (15 NM). A deep, sheltered bay ringed by tavernas, the natural last night.
Day 6, to Lefkas (12 NM). Through the Meganisi channel and back to base for a 5 pm return.
Corfu starts go south to Paxos, Antipaxos and Parga instead; both routes are on our Ionian itineraries.
Practical points for an Ionian charter
Licences
Greece requires two qualified people aboard a bareboat: a skipper with a recognised licence and a co-skipper with a licence or a signed declaration of experience. Operators confirm acceptance from scans; send them before paying the deposit.
Wind and sea
Mornings are usually glassy; the northwesterly Maistro fills in around 1 pm at 10 to 20 knots and dies at dusk. Passages are planned for the afternoon breeze, moorings for 4 pm before the quays fill. No Meltemi here, and the mainland shelters the inland sea from the west.
Moorings and costs
Town quays are stern-to with your own anchor, free or a few euros with water and electricity where available; marinas exist only at Lefkas, Preveza, Gouvia and a handful of private pontoons. Budget for fuel, a small cruising tax paid online before departure, and a refundable deposit or damage waiver.
Getting there
Preveza-Aktion airport is 20 minutes from Lefkas, with seasonal direct flights from the UK and Europe; Corfu airport is 15 minutes from Gouvia. Supermarkets in Lefkas town deliver to the marina.
Is the Ionian right for a first bareboat charter?
It is the destination most operators recommend for a first Greek week: short legs, shelter, easy quays.
Lefkas or Corfu?
Lefkas for the inland sea and Ithaca; Corfu for Paxos, Antipaxos and a longer coastline. Lefkas has the bigger fleet and the calmer water.
Do we need a skipper?
If your licences will not be accepted or your experience is on lakes and dinghies, yes. A skipper costs €150 to €200 a day plus meals and takes one cabin.
What does Seeksail need to advise us?
Dates, guests and cabins, both licences, skipper or not, and your must-see islands. We answer with three yachts from Lefkas or Corfu and a recommendation.
PLAN WITH CONFIDENCE
More destination-specific guides are being prepared.
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