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Chartering in the Northern Sporades: the rules of the Alonissos marine park
Short answer
Chartering in the Northern Sporades takes you through the Alonissos marine park.
The rules: the core zone around Piperi is closed to yachts,
and on some islands landing, anchoring or staying overnight is restricted.
Chartering in the Northern Sporades usually starts from Skiathos or from Volos on the mainland, then runs past Skopelos to Alonissos and the small islands beyond. Much of what you may do there is set by the rules of the National Marine Park of Alonissos and the Northern Sporades, created to protect the Mediterranean monk seal and its seabirds. The park is divided into zones. In the core zone around the island of Piperi leisure craft may not enter at all, and elsewhere landing, anchoring, fishing or spending the night can be limited.
In practice not every bay that looks sheltered on the chart is open to you. On some islands inside the park you may only go ashore at set places, and caves used by seals are strictly off limits. Fishing from the boat is restricted in the park and spearfishing is generally banned. Then there is the weather: in high summer the meltemi blows from the north here too, and between the islands it kicks up a short, steep sea. The harbours at Skiathos, Skopelos and Patitiri on Alonissos are full by mid afternoon in July and August.
At handover ask the base for the current park map with its zones and get them to show you where you may anchor and land. Keep well clear of seals and their caves, put nothing over the side and do not pump out the holding tank inside the park. Plan your nights before you leave and check the forecast before every passage, much as you would before a cross Channel hop. Damage the yacht does to other boats, pontoons or buoys falls on you as skipper, so make sure your own skipper liability insurance applies in Greece.
Worth remembering
Park map aboard
zones known, bay allowed, night planned
Anchoring by instinct
closed zone, trouble with the authorities
Around Alonissos the zone map decides where you go, not the prettiest bay.
Questions
What owners ask us about this
Can I take a charter yacht to Piperi?
No. The core zone of the marine park around Piperi is closed to leisure craft. The exact limits are on the park map, which the base will show you at handover.
Can I anchor in the Alonissos marine park?
In many bays, yes, but on some islands only with restrictions or not overnight. The base will explain which rule applies to which zone; if in doubt, ask the port police.
Where do Northern Sporades charters start?
Usually in Skiathos, which has an airport, or in Volos on the mainland. From Volos the park is further away, but the sheltered Pagasetic Gulf lies right on the doorstep.
Related
Not sure whether you qualify?
Whether it is “Chartering in the Northern Sporades: the rules of the Alonissos marine park” or another question: send us your residence and the flag your boat flies. You will get a straight answer in one email; including a no, if that is the answer.
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