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