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Chartering in the Ionian: the Lefkas canal, its swing bridge and easy waters for beginners
Short answer
The Ionian around Lefkas is known as easy cruising with short hops and predictable wind.
To pass the Lefkas canal you wait for the swing bridge to open and keep strictly to the narrow
channel.
Chartering in the Ionian often starts in Lefkas, and many crews choose it for their first bareboat after the ICC or Day Skipper course. Between Lefkas, Meganisi, Kalamos, Ithaca and Kefalonia lie sheltered waters with short hops, plenty of bays and small harbours. In summer the wind usually follows a pattern: light in the morning, a north westerly filling in from early afternoon, easing again in the evening. That makes the area predictable for beginners, but not harmless, because the afternoon breeze can funnel between the islands and blow well above the forecast.
One feature is the Lefkas canal. It separates the island from the mainland and is the shortest route between the open sea to the north and the island waters to the south. The channel is narrow and buoyed, and it shoals quickly outside it. At its northern end is a floating swing bridge that opens for boats at set times, usually on the hour. Yachts often queue in front of it, and when it opens everyone goes through in line. Anyone who pushes in early or strays out of the channel can soon be aground or touching another boat.
At handover ask the base for the current bridge opening times and have them show you the canal on the chart. Wait well back from the bridge, keep the VHF on and go through slowly in line. Plan legs to arrive before the afternoon breeze, especially with little experience. In harbour you usually lie stern-to with your own anchor, and crossed anchor chains are a common source of trouble. Carry your ICC or equivalent and the crew list. Damage to other boats falls on you as skipper, so make sure your own skipper liability insurance applies in Greece.
Worth remembering
In before the afternoon
calm arrival, free berths
Out in the north westerly
gusts between the islands, harbour full
In the Ionian it is not the wind that makes a day hard, but arriving late.
Questions
What owners ask us about this
When does the Lefkas canal bridge open?
The floating swing bridge opens for boats at set times, usually on the hour. The base or the harbour authority will give you the current times, as they can change.
Is the Ionian a good place for a first charter?
It is seen as one of the easier areas in the Mediterranean, with short hops and predictable wind. The afternoon north westerly can blow hard between the islands, so set off early.
Do I need different paperwork for the Ionian?
No, the same rules apply as for any bareboat charter in Greece. Confirm in writing before booking which qualification the base accepts.
Related
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