| Many people dream of sailing in the Mediterranean | | | | is near Preveza. It is also an attractive old Greek |
| but don't realize that many of the places where | | | | town with plenty of shops and supermarkets. |
| people sail do not offer good sailing. The best | | | | Once you emerge from the south of the Lefkas |
| places are to the east of the Med, and the | | | | Canal you are into the south Ionians, a sea with |
| Ionians, the islands to the west of Greece are | | | | plenty of islands, some small, some large. This |
| acknowledged to form one of the best sailing | | | | part of the sea is protected by Lefkas and |
| grounds in the world. | | | | Kefalonia to the west, and by mainland Greece to |
| To the north of these islands, and right at the | | | | the east and north, so it is open to the |
| north of Greece, is Corfu, and there are a few | | | | Mediterranean only to the south. |
| small islands to the south of that famous island, | | | | So, even if it blows a gale, you will only get a |
| with a few anchorages on the mainland. In the | | | | short chop in there, and the wind will not blow |
| heart of the Ionians, about 30 miles south of | | | | with the full force you get out in the Med proper. |
| Corfu is Preveza, a port just inside the neck of an | | | | And it is a mistake to think the Mediterranean is a |
| inland sea. Here you can moor on the jetty that | | | | benign sea, it can get very rough and the wind |
| runs alongside the town, on have your boat | | | | can blow very hard. |
| hauled out on the opposite side of the entrance | | | | There are plenty of interesting ports and |
| to the inland sea at Aktio. | | | | anchorages in these islands, but you do need to |
| South of Preveza is the island of Lefkada, which | | | | be aware of the katabatic winds that can blow |
| is separated from the mainland by a canal and | | | | down through some of the bays in the evening, |
| marshes. At the head of the canal is the town of | | | | especially those near mountains. These winds can |
| Lefkas and a swing bridge which is opened on the | | | | be very disconcerting if you have just moored or |
| hour to let boats through. If you are going south, | | | | anchored, and suddenly you find yourself in the |
| you need to wait in a narrow channel for the | | | | teeth of a gale at about 5-6 pm. In fact, Vassiliki, |
| bridge to open - usually a little after the hour - | | | | on the south of Lefkada, gets such strong |
| which can be a bit tricky of the wind is pushing | | | | evening winds that it is a favorite spot among |
| you forward. | | | | wind surfers. |
| Lefkas has a marina and a good chandler | | | | If you anchor there, the evening may be a bit |
| Lefkas is a good port with a good chandler - | | | | hectic, but usually by 7-7.30pm, the wind has died |
| other good chandlers can be found at the yards | | | | down, and you can expect a peaceful night. |
| of Cleopatra and Preveza Marine at Aktio, which | | | | |