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