Ease of Finding Mediterranean Anchorages ?

[JeanneauTrinidad]

We are hoping to cruise the Med and we are trying to come up with a budget to determine if we can afford the trip. If we can avoid marina costs by mostly anchoring out, our costs would go way down and our trip would look more doable. Does anyone know how often we would be able to find anchorages having reasonable holding, protection and shore access? We are especially interested in Greece and Turkey but we may travel anywhere in the Med.

[careka]

You will hva no problems finding them,
just use Googel earth and zoom in. make your plans. In the winther months its best in a marina.
But this is not the only cost, so you do need other things also. Maint on boat and sails. and other things.
Have a nice trip.

[noelex 77]

Loads of anchorages, at least in the Eastern Med. Also some very cheap / free town quays. I prefer anchoring and almost always anchor out. Many people consider this unsafe during the windier winter months, but with care and good anchoring equipment it is safe IMHO.

BTW I see you joined 2009, but this is your first post. Welcome to the forum.

[Laidback]

Originally Posted by JeaneauTrinidad

We are hoping to cruise the Med and we are trying to come up with a budget to determine if we can afford the trip. If we can avoid marina costs by mostly anchoring out, our costs would go way down and our trip would look more doable. Does anyone know how often we would be able to find anchorages having reasonable holding, protection and shore access? We are especially interested in Greece and Turkey but we may travel anywhere in the Med.

Hi,
Here is a good link to Med Cruising Info World Cruising and Sailing Wiki - Cruising Guides - Sailing Blogs - Boating - Marine News from CruisersWiki

[Looking Glass]

Greece is the cheapest by far in my opinion. We are chartering there not only because it is beautiful cruising ground, but also because we are on tight budget. A lot of free or almost free town harbours and a lot of anchorages of convenience. Never spent more than 50 euros for a week sailing for harbours and fresh water.

[JeanneauTrinidad]

What were some of your favorite places in Greece?

[Looking Glass]

For me Dodecanese - From Lipsi to Simi

Lipsi - mooring free, about 5 euro water and power
Arkhi - mooring free
Patmos - mooring about 2 euro, water not good, power not available
Leros east side - mooring free, water and power not remember, but smallish payment
Kalymnos - mooring free - about 5 euro for power
Kos - expensive, but on south side You have two or three free places
Nisiros - some 15 or 20 euro for water and power.
Simi - some 2 euro for mooring, 5 for power, 5 for water

All beautiful islands. And provisioning is quite cheap, just not do it at waterfront.

[beneteau-500]

you might find this site for use full info aegean-marinas dot eu or you can see by going to naxosisland dot eu which shows you where yachts moor up in the summer

[DoubleWhisky]

[QUOTE=Looking Glass;585553]
Lipsi - mooring free, about 5 euro water and power
Arkhi - mooring free
Patmos - mooring about 2 euro, water not good, power not available
Leros east side - mooring free, water and power not remember, but smallish payment
Kalymnos - mooring free - about 5 euro for power
Kos - expensive, but on south side You have two or three free places
Nisiros - some 15 or 20 euro for water and power.
Simi - some 2 euro for mooring, 5 for power, 5 for water.[QUOTE]

Hi, Jeanneau Trinindad
I can second the opinion that Dodecanese is marvellous cruising area, and quite nonexpensive.
The "price list" given is probably O.K. for the 12 m. boat. I'm paying a little more with 16 m LOA.

You can add to the list Samos Island. Technically not being part of Dodecanese, it is only few miles to the north, and very interesting island.
Mooring in Pythagorion city harbour is next to nothing.

You can arrange charter from ECKER on Samos (quite well run German operator) or from VERNICOS (biggest Greek operator) with bases on Samos, Kos and Rhodes. When charter begins or ends in marina, You have usually one night free there, so it will not add the cost.
There are also some small local chartering companies - most of them with better maintained boats than it is the case of major operators. To advise You properly it would be necessary to know more regarding Your demands (size of the boat, level of equipment, bareboat or skippered and so on).

It can be good to arrange for one way charter, if You have not more than two weeks time. (Best Kos - Rhodes for most of the season, but early or late season opposite is O.K. as well). If You have three or more weeks the round trip is mostly advisable.

Regarding anchorages - there are a lot of them. On charter boat You will most probably find the Greek Waters Pilot by Rod Heikell (look around for a copy or download - if possible, for preplanning) and set of quite detailed
IMRAY -TETRA charts. Finding good spots with this publications is really very easy.

Even if Kos Marina is quite expensive (some 35 euro/night/12 m. charter boat) it is advisable to spend one night there, because it is the best place for exploring the most interesting north - east part of this wonderful island.

I think that in the area Samos, Patmos, Kos, Nisiros, Simi and Rhodes are on the "must visit" list, but other places are also so fine, that even six weeks is not too short a time for the first cruise there.

If I can be of any assistance - just PM me

[boatman61]

Loads of anchorages and short stay free quays in the Islands