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