CRUISING THE NORTH IONIAN

Sailing in the North Ionian is a fantastic way to holiday, with great harbours, bays, good food, and usually plenty of sunshine. There is more than enough to see and do to amuse yourself for a week or two. Unless you have your own yacht, then charter is easily arranged with one of a number of companies. The main base is Levkas, but there are smaller bases in the region. As with any Mediterranean holiday, time of year is critical, and although the season runs from April to the end of October, I would choose mid-season for pleasant water temperature, and less pressure on overnight choices than high-season. The area is well established for sailing, with boatyards and full-service marinas, including the 620-berth Levkas Marina. Be prepared to moor stern-to at town quays while cruising the region. The prevailing wind in the region is the Maistros, which blows from the northwest to the west-northwest in the afternoons at Force 2-5. In the early and late season, the Maistros is less developed and sometimes fails to materialise. Katabatic winds can occur at night, reaching Force 5-6 but are usually over in a few hours. Be aware of sometimes violent gusts on the leeward side of the islands due to the hills and mountains. To charter in Greece, the skipper needs one of the following qualifications – an International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft (ICC), RYA Day Skipper Practical, RYA Coastal Skipper Practical or the ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising Certificate.