Trip planning to Cyclades - summer 2009

meltem74 · 26-01-09, 18:11

Hello every body, cheers

I am a french "pneubonaute" that lives near the lake of Geneva and with my "ZAR 61" i use to sail along the french coats , Corsica and also in Italy (Elba, Sardigna) .
In 2006 we've visit Croatia from KRK to Dubrovnik .
Really Wonderful ...

This summer with 3 others friends we decided to make a trip around the "Cyclades".
So i'll be very happy to have a lot of informations for this area.

We "ll arrive in Patras from Ancτna and we would be very interesed to know where is the better place to let ours cars and trailers and put the boats in the sea.
Do you also tell us where it is possible to fill and refill ours benzinz tanks among the islands ?

We think that the departure might be in Pirιa or Lavrio area.
Because the wind (Meltemi) We have forecast to turn in the anti clock direction in order to have first the wind behind us and then be protected by the great islands when we return to the north....
What do you think about that ?

Please could you help me
Thankyou ..

Friendly yours .

meltem

Michel · 26-01-09, 18:57

Finally you succeed

Welcome Meltem and good luck !
I'm quite sure that greek specialists will help you

p@nos · 27-01-09, 02:30

wellcome aboard m8 !

first of all you'll get some very good answers from people who really know their way arround the aegean see.. unfortunatelly i'm not one of them

However, i can tell you that you can refuel on the islands you'll reach during your holiday so that shouldn't be an issue..

i recon it's going to take you a bit more to get to lavrio but i suppose it's an easier (though longer) route to drive...

after that the greek islands will be waiting for you..

btw, when are you planning this trip? June, July or maybe August?

mdk · 27-01-09, 04:21

meltem74

a bord

Hmmm... French Riviera, Corsica, Elba, Sardegna, Isola Maddelena ... fantastic places with high class services.
Cyclades will be more natural (primitive that is

).

It's good that you plan your trip well ahead so we are not in a hurry!

I would suggest Lavrion as the departure place.
It's much easier to arrive with your car&trailer ("highway" all the way from Patra, well Patra-Corinth more of a "dangerous highspeed single wide carriageway road"). In any case you have to get through same road to reach Piraeus where it would be a challenge to drive around with a trailer!
At Lavrion you can safely park your car and the trailer in one of the parking places specially for RIBs. They would arrange to launch your ZAR by their own means, if you wish. All these services would cost you but not too much. We will need to investigate on this one but would need to know:
- RIBs' lengths
- how many days
- how many boats

When do you plan to arrive?

Your idea for "islands rotation" is not bad but I would start opposite, clockwise, so on the northbound to sail along the west coasts which tend to protect a bit more from the meltemi (N-NE wind). But bare in mind that if winds exceed 5bf (6+) then protected parts can be tricky

Mountains and cliffs generate gusts which can make a relative flat sea full of spray

Last summer there was a group of Italian RIBsters (from Club de Gommone) who planned to sail around Cyclades but due too high winds changed the location and moved a bit to the north, at Sporades isles.

Refueling will not be much of a concern.

Are you going to do camping onboard or you will require accommodation?

Trip planning is really enjoyable especially during the winter

meltem74 · 27-01-09, 07:40

Hi, Mdk and P@nos

Thank you for yours very quick answers.

We will be at least 3 or 4 S.R (ribs in french) between 6 and 6.5 meters and 150 to 200 HP.
The trip is forecasted during July (we know it is not the best month for this area) but we can't come earlier ...
Ours boats are ιquiped as "camping- boat" but sometimes we'll take accomodations.
We are also founded of little "restaurant" on the seaside with locals spιciality.
J knew the story of the Italians that have to change their trip because the wind.
If the Meltemi blows too strong we'll also change the trip and sail around the Peloponθse.... and pass through Korinthos canal.
By studing the road map j see that the better road from Patras is to drive by motorway to Lavrio .
j think that is what we do.
However, the main point for us is to know where we can find a map with the places (harbours ?) we are sure to get fuel ??
It is the most important for me to have a good plan of the trip !

If some of you have the idea to do a trip around Corsica and Sardinia i can give a lot of informations
for example the place they can let Cars and Trails near of Piombino (Italy) to start the cross to Corsica.....

You can send me more informations directly by e.mail
Thanks.

mdk · 27-01-09, 07:52

@meltem
If you don't have the charts in electronic format (like garmin or other supplier) then I will make a copy of all the charts (which I have in hard copy as well) and mail them to you. But that will be next week since am currently in China.
If this suits you pls send me your snail mail.

Mind you that if there are strong north winds the Corinthian bay can be nasty as well for some 50+ nm.
It's good that you don't need accommodation ashore. This way you can alter destinations according to weather conditions!

Michalis

ChrisK · 27-01-09, 13:02

May I suggest that you forget the Corinthian canal? For sure, the idea is great but from Lavrio you have to navigate around 60 Nm. If you plan a navigation to the Corinthian and Patras gulfs, IMHO you have to park the cars and trailers somewhere near Corinth. Meanwhile, be aware (like Jean-Claude Van Damme...) of MDK's (may I introduce our venerated president?) advise about the weather in the Corinthian Gulf.

I mean either you park your cars along this coast (Lavrio and North) or you go South (near Corinth or further).

Also, how did you manage your trip from Ancona to Patras? I mean What kind of ferry, accomodations, etc. If you haven't paid your tickets yet, maybe some people around could give you additional information.

meltem74 · 27-01-09, 22:44

hello Chrisk,
J have not forgot the canal but we'll sail there only if we cannot go to the Cyclades island.
In that way we'll try to start the trip from Pyreus and to turn around the pιloponese....

ChrisK · 27-01-09, 23:52

In that case I suggest you start from Corinthos or nearby. There you'll find a lot of boat parkings and at a cheaper price. As mdk wrote above, Piraeus is not the better starting base. Also, don't forget the state of the roads in Greece. So your terrestrial starting base is IMHO a central parameter.

mdk · 28-01-09, 01:20

I agree with Chris. I do not recommend Piraeus.

Important is what you do, taking into consideration possible unfavorable weather conditions and plan alternative routes (starting point ashore and at sea).