Berthing in the Greek islands could be quite different than in most foreign countries. The reason for this is that most sailors are used to berth their boat in organized well protected marinas, using permanent mooring lines that are part of the marina’s facilities and having plenty of space to manoeuvre. It is also very common to berth with the side of the boat and not with the aft or the bow.

Sailing in Greece, we very soon realize that the situation is completely different. We may found a port to berth almost every where but most of these places are small, very crowded during the summer, we have to berth using our anchor and usually under strong wind.

But with a little bit of exercise and following a few tips, it is not as difficult as it appears in the beginning!

Remember three simple rules: Planning – preparation- and be cool!

1. Enter the port and inspect the place. Choose where to berth not only because of the availability of the space but mostly because of the safety that offers. Try to avoid a place with the wind blowing from the site of the boat.
2. Decide if you are going to berth with the bow or with the aft. Do not hesitate to go with the bow if there is strong wind. You control better the boat during this manoeuvre!
3. Make a plan about the approaching manoeuvre you are going to follow.
4. Prepare the boat. First organize your crew explaining to every body what you expect them to do and when. Put in position the fenders, the mooring ropes and the anchor. Have the boat hook ready to use.
5. Move the boat slowly. Try rather to use the impetus of the boat when possible than to move always with the gear engaged and reversing directly from forward to backward. Always spent a few seconds in neutral.

Going with the bow

1. Align the boat to your berth and go to the quay with the bow.
2. Drop the anchor at least 3 boat lengths from the quay. Make sure that you have enough chain and rope to set there!
3. Stop the boat using the anchor as brake one length from the quay. Once you are sure for the holding release more chain and using the engine approach the quay.

Going with the aft

1. Prepare the anchor. Release half meter of chain to have the anchor ready to run.
2. Align the boat to your berth and go to the quay with the aft.
3. Drop the anchor at least 3 boat lengths from the quay. Make sure that you have enough chain and rope to set there!
4. Stop the boat using the anchor as break one length from the quay. Once you are sure for the holding release more chain and using the engine approach the quay.
5. Be sure that it is deep enough close to the quay. It is not rare to have less draft close to the quay (and under your ruder!) than a few meters away.
6. When leaving a berth, haul yourself out using the engine to loose the chain and then the windlass to have it up.

Anchoring in a bay

In case you choose a bay to anchor for a few hours or to spend the night, please pay attention to the following points:

1. The holding of the anchor depends on the length of the chain you drop, the force of the wind and the quality of the bottom.
2. Sand offers a good holding. Rocky bottom also but you risk to block your anchor (use anchor buoy). Avoid mud or seaweeds.
3. You have always to drop enough chain to secure the boat. If there is no wind drop at least three times the depth (i.e. depth three meters, nine meters length of chain).
4. If there is wind of 2-3 force then the length should be at least five times the depth.
5. With wind of force 3-5 the length should be at least seven times the depth.
6. With stronger wind use all the chain available.
7. If you are going to spend the night on anchor in the bay, it is good idea to dive and check the holding of the anchor.

And remember…..It is always better to be more cautious than less!

Having reliable information about the weather, is basic for comfort and safe sailing.
But how can we get a weather forecast on board?  Consider the following options :

1. There is a weather forecast for sailors, on VHF, on 06:oo’, 10:oo’, 16:oo’ and 22:oo’ UTC time.
   First there is an announcement on channel 16. The purpose of this is to inform about the channels that the weather forecast bulletin is going to take place for every area.
   i.e. channel 25 for Saronic golf, 63 for South East Aegean, 4 and 24 for South west Aegean etc.
   Then you switch to the suitable channel to listen to the weather forecast.
2. You call directly Radio Olympia, on channel 16 , asking for a weather forecast for your area.
   i.e. “Radio Olympia, Radio Olympia, this is sailing boat Anne, we would like to have a weather forecast for Saronic gulf”.
   Then you wait for a reply.
3. You can also ask for a weather forecast in the local office of the coast guard in every port that you may visit
4. If you have access to the internet, note the following links: www.poseidon.ncmr.gr , www.noa.gr.forecast and then follow the link sailing forecast.

Our sailing holidays is, for most of us, a very important period of the year! We spent our winter dreaming, planning, organizing, waiting for summer and we do not wish to be disappointed at the end of the day!

All sailors know that many things can go wrong during a sailing trip, but we can always try to avoid problems paying a little bit of attention in a few points, more or less important, like the following:

1. It is important to understand and agree with the charter party before you sign it and pay any down payment. Do not hesitate to ask anything you need to know about the service you are going to buy. Try to make clear all the point of the agreement between you and the charter company. Avoiding misunderstanding you avoid disappointment!
2. During embarkation, follow carefully the check in procedure. Be sure that you have understood everything about the boat and make as more questions as you can. Before you sign the delivery statement, check that the engine and all devices work properly, that the safety equipment is complete and that you have written down on your statement all possible previous damages that you my find.
3. Study well your cruising area. Be sure that you are well informed about all the dangerous points (shallow waters, reefs, prevailing winds etc.). Do not rely only on your GPS! Try a little bit of traditional navigation confirming the GPS data!
4. Before you start day sailing, check the engine oil and the navigation lights.
5. Ask for the weather forecast at the local coast guard office or through channel 16.
6. Sail cautiously, without pushing too much the rigging and the sails.
7. Approach the ports carefully. Prepare the anchor, the fenders and the mooring ropes before enter the port. Organize your crew for the anchorage.
8. Secure your yacht when at anchor. If you spend the night in a bay do not hesitate to dive to have an eye to the anchor’s holding.
9. Pay attention to small things (do not through papers in the toilet, turn off the water pump if you run out of water, love your boat as if she were yours !).
10. Take care of your crew (heads down while tacking!)

And have a good luck!

Pack all your personal staff in SOFT BAGS, do not bring hard suite cases!!!
Soft bags can be stored in any storage compartment of the yacht.

• Sunblock: a 20 or higher rating
• hat and sunglasses
• Sense of fun and adventure
• Swim Suit and Beach Towel
• Tooth brushes
• Camera and music CD’s
• a book or some magazines
• Clothing for the occasional cool night

You are ready now for a happy sailing in the Greek islands

Basic Types of Rafts 

There are two basic life raft types, approved by Greek authorities:  offshore, and ocean-going.

• Offshore rafts offer at least  five days of survival time . They include  two buoyancy tubes and they are equipped with water, food and safety items.
• Ocean-going rafts are designed for long-term survival of at least 30 days.

How to use a Life Raft

It is suggested to store the raft on the deck, but in most charter boats they are stored in a locker. Once you decide to abandon the boat, a choice that should be the last when you face a difficult situation, pay attention on the following steps :

• Move and place the life raft on the deck (if it is not already there) and tie somewhere the rope to open.
• Through the raft into the sea. If it does not open, pull the rope to open.
• If it opens in the sea with the bottom up, a crew member should swim to the raft and using a rope fitted on the bottom of the raft, turn it in the right position.
• All the crew members should then enter the raft
• The skipper should enter the last and cut the rope to open in order to separate the raft from the boat. Remember to take with you the EPIRP device and activate it.

Surviving in the raft

Once evacuation has been completed, take care about the following points :

• Check your supplies.
• Help and treat any injured or ill person.
• Depending on your position, estimate a rescue time and divide your water and food supplies according to the number of the persons on board.
• Have your safety equipment (flares etc) ready to use.
• Stay calm

Trimming your sails upwind

Genoas:

The trend in the past 5 years has been to flatten the entry on the headsails, thus affecting how the sails are trimmed. Because the #1 Genoa is 180% and carries quite an overlap on the mainsail, it is important not over sheet the genoa. Our general rule of thumb is never sheet the leech closer than 5″ off the spreader. In light, lumpy conditions, because the Shark is a heavier boat, we will sail upwind with genoa as much as 12″ to 15″ off the spreader. We adjust the sail trim quite frequently; if we have a bad set of waves approaching, we ease the sheet and power through. The Shark does not accelerate well, so this is a crucial adjustment which needs continual attention.

Most of the genoas on the market today have a wire luff, with a floating tack. We do not use (nor do we have) a winch for the genoa halyard. One of the most common mistakes is to over-tension the halyard. The cunningham on the genoa demands continual adjustment as well, and is played frequently while sailing up-wind, much the same way as the genoa sheet is.

The Class recently approved a 150% genoa for racing. The range of the 150% is 13 knots and up. The sail have proved to be quite effective, especially in 15 to 25 knots of breeze. In the past, people would carry their 180% up to 22 knots and then switch to a jib. The 150% makes the boat easier to handle, and extends the life of the 180%. You can sail the boat flatter, and tacking is much quicker and less strenuous (the cockpit crew loves it).

 Mainsail:

The Shark is a very mainsheet sensitive boat. Basically, I never cleat the mainsheet and I constantly play it. The leech ticklers make it quite easy to determine how much mainsheet tension is desired when sailing upwind. The top tickler should be flying 20 to 30% of the time. If it flies all the time, you’re not sheeting hard enough. Vice versa, if it never flies, you’re over sheeting the main. As the wind increases, I play the mainsheet to take the bite to weather. In a flat spot, I briefly over-sheet the main, hardening the leech, which allows the boat to point better, then ease quickly to normal trim for boat speed. The trick is to feel if the boat is slowing down to trim for boat speed at that time. Timing is critical.

I only use the backstay when I feel the boat is over-powered, and I adjust it frequently. I never vang-sheet the mainsail. Because the Shark has such a large overlapping genoa, if you ease the main with the vang on, you close the slot. With no vang, when you ease the mainsheet, the top spills off first, the bottom of the sail doesn’t move outboard, and you keep the slot open.

Again, in order to keep the slot open, I never drop the traveller below centre. If you effectively play the mainsheet, there is no need to adjust the traveller. In the lightest conditions, I keep the traveller approximately 10″ above centre.

THE OFF-WIND LEGS

Spinnaker Trim:

When double-slotting keep the halyard off 2 ft. Generally, at all other times, the halyard should be approximately 1’ off except in heavy air dead downwind, the use a full hoist.

The pole height is quite simple. Just match the guy side of the spinnaker with the sheet side. Even if the sheet side is at deck level, match the pole side with it. The old trend was to keep the pole extremely high on the reaches. We have found that this is not effective. Just match the clews and GO!

 Mainsail trim:

Off the wind, the main should be kept as full as possible. This means the backstay and cunningham should be as loose as possible and the outhaul eased 6″ from the black band.

The most important adjustment o the down-wind leg relative to the mainsail is the boom vang. If you have too little vang, you will spill off desired wind in the top half of the sail. If you have tooo much vang, you will close the leech and destroy wind flow. A slight curve, drawn between the end of the boom and the top of the mast, is the optimum setting.

 Double Slotting & the Genoas:

When double slotting with the 180%, you must be on a broad reach or tighter for it to be effective. The most improtant thing is not to oversheet the genoa. If the sail is pulled in too far, it will suck air away from the spinnaker, making it either very hard or impossible to fly. If your spinnaker does collapse, ease your genoa out until It luffs. This will allow the spinnaker to refill. Once you have the spinnaker flying gain, re-trim your genoa. You will find it much easier when double slotting with the 150%.

On a last note, here are some handy tips that come to mind:

• install PVC pipe on pole ends attached to trip wire for easier access to open jaws
• bottom handle winches – the hand is always there
• inboard sheeting is must with the 180% genoa, outboard for the 150%
• spinnaker launching bag – the chute is always ready to go (no packing required) and is easily stored away when not in use.
• pre-guy the spinnaker behind the genoa – this does 2 things’ prevents the spinnaker getting snagged under the genoa and brings the clew closer to the pole for quicker set. The sheet should be cleated at pre-determined mark for a lose reach
• use ratchet blocks for spinnaker sheets (located just forward of the genoa winches on the outboard rail) no cabin top winches required -primary winch can be used if necessary
• install cleat for spinnaker halyard on mast at eye level (starboard side) with the spinnaker halyard led aft through a block on the deck 6″ to the starboard side of the mast to a cleat on the bridge – this allows the bow person to hoist the spinnaker and the cockpit person to douse it.

Kithnos Island > Loutra

Kithnos is a quite and beautiful island, a day sailing distance from Athens. Loutra, a small fishing harbor in the NE coast, is a place that you should spend a day. You can swim in the sandy beach, dine in the local taverns, have a drink in the pubs enjoying Greek or international music. Some provisions are available at the two mini markets close to the dock. Visit the hot mineral spring close to the village, known since the ancient Greeks and the Romans. Get a towel with you and ask the locals to show you the way. Early in the morning, before you sail away, you will see the local fisherman coming back from fishing and you can buy some fresh fish!

Distances:
Athens (Alimos marina) – Loutra : 47 n.m.
Loutra – Syros : 22 n.m Loutra – Mykonos : 43 n.m

Hydra > Saronic gulf

Hydra is a long narrow island lying parallel to Peloponnesus coast, in 35 miles distance from Athens (Alimos marina). It is believed that the name of Hydra (reservoir of water) was given to the island because of the water existing during the antiquity. The main village and only port of the island is an exceptional sample of traditional architecture. It is remarkable the fact that there are not cars at all on the island and the only way to visit the places around is by “sea taxi”. It became a fashionable resort, and in the early days of tourism the rich and famous holidayed in Hydra. Now it is visited by larger numbers and it is considered to be “the little Mykonos of Saronic”. The port is very crowded during summer. Crossed anchors are fact of life and there are little thinks you can do about it. There are a lot of taverns on the waterfront, but you are going to find much more exploring the narrow streets. A lot of bars and night clubs are also going to offer you the opportunity to stay awake by the morning!

Distances:
Athens (Alimos marina) – Hydra : 42 n.m.
Hydra – Spetses : 18 n.m

Paxoi > Ionion sea

Eight miles south of Corfu lies Paxoi. Gaios, the main harbor of the island, could be full of yachts during July and August but you should make an effort to find somewhere to moor! A gentle lady, working for the local community, is going to collect the port fees a few minutes after you arrive! Water and fuel will be delivered by mini-tankers!
The bay of Lakka on the north is maybe the best place to relax. You can stay on anchor, swim in the green waters and go to the village with the dinghy for dinner or drink. You can approach some of the rocky coasts of the island but care is needed because of the big depths.

Distances:
Paxoi (Gaios) – Corfu (Gouvies marina) : 38 n.m.
Paxoi (Gaios) – Paxoi (Lakka) -: 5 n.m
Paxoi (Lakka)- Syvotta : 13 n.m

Lefkada > Ionion sea

Lefkada definitely is one of the top destinations amongst the Greek islands, 40 miles south of Corfu and only 7 miles away from Kefallonia and Ithaca (Ionian sea).
The nature of the beaches on the west side of the island is ideal for real vacations: green/blue crystal-clear waters, deep enough for your safe approach. This greek island is the real paradise. Try a search in Google images for the terms “Lefkada beaches” and you will see what I mean. In the south you can reach the Vassiliki bay, a worldwide famous place for windsurfing. In Vassiliki there is a mini marina for your refueling and many shops and tavernas or bars. If you choose to sail south-east you can reach Sivota bay. Spending some time in this small marina with the several fish-tavernas would be a very good idea. In Lefkada you will be surprised by the many bays you would wish to stop by. Anchoring with other sailing yachts or private, you can enjoy the greek sun and clean waters of Lefkada island. Be noticed that in the northern section of the island there is the most modern marina of the Mediterannean Sea, which operates all year round, with a total capacity of 620 yachts up to 45 meters in length. The structure, the facilities and the services are of highest standards even able to satisfy the most demanding visitor.

Distances:
Lefkada town (marina) – Corfu (Gouvies marina) : 64 n.m.
Lefkada town (marina) – Ithaca (port) -: 30 n.m.