| No look at the Ionian would be complete withouth | | | | over to the package holiday and there are more |
| mention of Homer and the Odyssey. The | | | | pleasent places to spend time on a yachting |
| Odyssey tells the storey of Odysseus and his | | | | holiday.The north Corfu channel is the stretch of |
| travels and adventures throughout the | | | | water between Corfu and Albania. Beware the |
| Mediterranean in around 800BC. The Trojan War | | | | reef just to the north of Agios Stefanos.Agios |
| concluded when the Greeks sucseeded into | | | | Stefanos is a small inlet in the North Corfu |
| bringing a wooden horse into the city of Troy. | | | | Channel. No objection is normally made to |
| Greek soldiers were hidden inside and opened the | | | | anchoring here despite the presence of a nearby |
| city gates to the Greek army who sacked the | | | | military post. Anchor in the middle of the bay in |
| city. Odysseus and the other Greeks could know | | | | depths of 3 - 6m. The bottom is thick weed and |
| return to their kingdoms across the sea. To say | | | | mud which can be difficult to get through. Good |
| Odysseus's journey was eventful is rather | | | | shelter from the prevailing NW wind. There is a |
| understating the matter.On departing Troy in | | | | rough stone mole on the south side of the bay |
| what is now north west Turkey he sails south | | | | but this is usually taken by local boats. There are |
| through the Aegean Sea. On reaching the | | | | numerous tavernas around the shore. Some |
| southern tip of Greece he is blown off course to | | | | holiday villas have been built here but the bay |
| the lotus eaters in what is thought to be Libya. | | | | retains a calm and a beauty well worth the stop |
| The it's on to Sicily where he runs into Cyclops. | | | | for the night. Limited provisions can be |
| This one eyed giant eats two of the crew before | | | | obtainedAgni Bay is immediately south of Kalami in |
| they escape. More trouble in the Laestrygonians - | | | | the north east of the island. It is open to the |
| Corsica or Sardinia. Here the fleet is attacked by | | | | south and and east but offers good shelter from |
| giants hurling boulders and more of the crews are | | | | the prevailing NW wind. |
| devoured. Theh survivors head east to Italy and | | | | There are three taverns, each with it's own |
| the enchantress Circe. She entertains the sailors | | | | private jetty, where you may anchor preferably |
| and then with a wave of her wand, turns them | | | | bow to. If you overnight here it is better to |
| into swine. Odysseus is protected by the herb | | | | anchor at the northern or southern end of the |
| that the god Hermes has given him.At some point | | | | bay to avoid the large waves created by the |
| in the journey reference is made to the pillars of | | | | ferries that enter and leave during the |
| Hercules. And this is supposed to be the Rock of | | | | night.Paleokastritsa is on the east side of the |
| Gibraltar and Jebel Musa in Morocco. These two | | | | Island it is an attractive tourist resort dominated |
| mountains sit either side of the straights that are | | | | by the Monastery of Panayia Theotokos wich |
| the enterance to the Mediterranean Sea from the | | | | perches on a high cliff. A 90 minute hours climb |
| Atlantic Ocean. Now he must pass the Sirens | | | | takes you to the ruins of Angelokastro Castle |
| whose sweet singing lures sailors to their deaths. | | | | which dates from the 13th century. There are |
| Odysseus plugs fills the ears of his crew with wax | | | | many sea caves in the locality that can be |
| and then lashes himself to the mast so he cannot | | | | reached by tender or dinghy. It is not easy by |
| steer the ship onto the waiting rocks. Passing | | | | day to distinguish the entrance to the bay when |
| through the straits between Sicily and mainland | | | | approaching from the northwest. However the |
| Italy they run into Charybdis, who swallows the | | | | monastery on the peak of the peninsula is |
| sea in a whirlpool, then spits it up again. And Scylla | | | | conspicuous. The harbour is situated on the |
| who uses each of her six hands to reach down | | | | western side of the bay and protected by a quay |
| from her cliff and pluck a sailor from the deck | | | | running north south. Usually full of fishing caiques |
| and then promptly, yes you guessed, eats | | | | the only a few available berths are to be found |
| them.More misfortune as they upset the god | | | | near the head of the quay. Protection is good in all |
| Zeus who sends a thunderbolt to destroy the | | | | weathers excepting strong southerlies when |
| ship. Only Odysseus survives, washed ashore on | | | | waves crash over the break water and create a |
| Malta, the home of the nymph Calypsos who | | | | large swell in the harbour. The port has no water. |
| detains him against his will. Zeus, the king of the | | | | Fuel can be delivered. There are bars, restaurants |
| gods, sends Hermes skimming over the waves | | | | and a supermarket all within walking distance.Petriti |
| on magic sandals with orders for Odysseus's | | | | Village - To the north of the harbour is an old |
| release. But when nearly home again another god, | | | | quarry which visible from a distance. There are |
| Posiedon, sends a storm to wreck his vessel and | | | | shallows stretching south of the harbour along the |
| he is washed ashore on Corfu several days later. | | | | bay and care is needed. Good protection from all |
| He falls asleep in an olive thicket and is woken to | | | | weather in the harbour. Head for the new quay |
| the sound of female laughter. This is the Princess | | | | towards the land where depths are greater than |
| Nausicaa come down to the riverside to wash her | | | | 2 meters. If you moor hehind the breakwater be |
| wedding dress. Odysseus approaches her and she | | | | aware of the shallows nearby. The taverns |
| agrees to help him try and finish his journey | | | | ashore usually have fresh fish. There are shops at |
| home. She introduces him to her father and when | | | | the village of Argyrades some three km away. |
| he has heard Odysseus's story he orders him | | | | Good beaches for swimming nearbyPaxos is 7 |
| sped home to Ithaca.Once home he finds the | | | | miles to the south of Corfu. It is a charming little |
| island full of suitors for his wife's hand, after such | | | | island, covered with pine trees. It can be explored |
| a length of time Odysseus is believed dead. He | | | | fully in a few days with a car or motorbike both |
| and an ally fight and win a battle against | | | | of which can be rented locally. The architecture of |
| overwhelming odds with a little help from the | | | | the three main towns, Gaios, Laka, and Logos is |
| gods. And then Athena tells the contending parties | | | | typically Ionian with colourful two and three-story |
| to live together in peace down through the years | | | | homes lining the streets. By contrast the rural |
| to come.Weather - The wind is consistent with | | | | landscape is filled with low stone houses |
| conditions found throughout the Eastern | | | | surrounded by lush green gardens.The emblem of |
| Mediterranean. Little wind in the morning but from | | | | Paxos is the trident. It is said that Poseidon, the |
| noon the wind freshens throughout the afternoon | | | | god of the seas, wanted to create a beautiful, |
| reaching perhaps 20 knots. The evening and night | | | | peaceful island apart from the other gods and |
| sees a return to calm cinditions. During the | | | | men and intended to live there with his beloved |
| summer months it blows from the NW and from | | | | Amfitriti. So he struck the southern part of Corfu |
| the SW for the remaining months.The sailing area | | | | hard and Paxos was formed. However he lost his |
| from the northCorfu - . The island receives three | | | | trident striking the blow which was later found by |
| times the average amount of rain for the area | | | | Paxiots who made it their emblem.Gaiosis the |
| and as a consequence is a mass of green | | | | capital of Paxos. It is a charming port and spreads |
| woodlands, wild pine-covered mountains, lakes and | | | | itself along the waterfront. Enter Gaios from a |
| cultivated fields. It also has miles of sandy | | | | northerly direction passing two small islands, |
| beaches. The island's capital, Corfu Town is | | | | Panayia and St Nicholas Island. Soak up the |
| atractivly situated on a promontory on the east | | | | atmosphere of this bustling capital in Gaios square. |
| coast, dominated by the New Fortress. Visit Sidari | | | | In it's centre is the church of St Apostoli. Gaios |
| to the north to swim in the Canal d'Amour, the | | | | harbour and the approaching inlet are very safe |
| legend has it that lovers will stay together for life. | | | | overnight moorings with security patrols on both |
| 16 km to the south of Corfu Town is the Villa of | | | | land and water. There are several buildings worth |
| Achillion, built in Italian Renaissance style and | | | | visiting the castle of St Nicholas, the Monastery of |
| situated at an altitude of 145 m. It has | | | | Panayia, the Church of Agioi Apostoli and the |
| magnificent gardens and attractive panoramic | | | | early Christian church of Agia Marina. Take in the |
| views. Today it is a museum. 3 km further south | | | | sunset at the Ostries. Ther are fine beaches at |
| is the charming fishing village of Benitses and the | | | | loni Gouli, Kamini and Kaki Lagada.Port Gaios is the |
| remains of a Roman villa. Climb to the summit of | | | | principal port of the island. You can moor right in |
| Mount Pantokrator where you will find an | | | | the middle of the busy touristy scenery or |
| abandoned monastery dating from 1347. The | | | | choose aquieter berth further down the long quay. |
| hilltop also provides beautiful viewsThe main | | | | If you want a berth in July and August be here |
| harbour is in Corfu town. Enter the Old Harbour | | | | early in the afternoon. Excellent shelter in all |
| from the eastern end of the breakwater. The | | | | weathers. Care should be taken when laying your |
| entrance into the interior of the harbour is very | | | | anchor as passing ferries in the narrow channel |
| narrow and a strong northwesterly makes entry | | | | may foul your chain.Lakka, in the north of Paxos |
| difficult. Once inside there is excellent shelter in all | | | | is set in a gorgeous horseshoe shaped bay and is |
| weathers. Visitor's berths are behind the windward | | | | flanked by high ground covered in cypres trees |
| mole, alongside, two and three deep. Anchoring is | | | | and olive groves. The bay which nearly landlocked |
| not advised, you will almost cetainly get gear | | | | is excellent for swimming and water sports. |
| tangled. Having berthed you are within walking | | | | Holding is good. Some swell may occur dependent |
| distance of the town's centre. Adjacent to the | | | | on the wind's direction. There are some berths on |
| harbour you will find chandlers, machine shops, | | | | the quay, limited to around 10 yachts. Fresh |
| boat engine repair services and others for | | | | water from the local water truck.Its tiny sister |
| electrical and electronic gear. Corfu town | | | | island, just to the south, Anti Paxos is surrounded |
| unquestionably offers the best all-round facilities in | | | | with crystal clear waters lapping onto some lovely |
| the northern Ionian.3 miles to the NW is Linin | | | | sandy beaches.Ken Jones runs a Sailing Site. |
| Gouvia, a large land locked bay. At it's southern | | | | More information about Yacht Charter can be |
| end is Gouvia marina which has become Corfu's | | | | found here |
| centre of yachting. It is home to a Venetian | | | | Find other Marine Services in Greecehere. |
| arsenal.The surrounding area has beeen given | | | | |