MIRINA @ 39°52'.3N 25°03.2E into the bay but the holding is good on sand and weed. Note Works are in progress on the S side of the bay constructing a large quay area for commercial ships. Facilities Water On the quay. Minna looking SE Nigel Patten Fuel Can be delivered by mini-tanker. Repairs Some mechanical repairs and light engineering work. Good hardware and tool shops. Provisions Good shopping for all provisions. Ice available nearby. Eating out Several good tavernas near the harbour and on the Other PO. OTE. Banks. Greek gas. Helpful tourist office. Buses to the principal villages. Ferries to Lesvos, Piraeus and Kavala. Internal flights to Thessaloniki and Athens. General near the site of the ancient capital, Mirina has only recently readopted its ancient name. Formerly it was called Kâstro after the Genoese castle dominating the town. The castle is worth a visit as much for the site as for the castle itself are prohibited. Few yachts visit Mirina and those which do use it primarily as the most convenient port for clearing for the Dardanelles. Yet it is a friendly place and a convenient base for visiting other anchorages around the island. PLATİ Lies N of Âk Tigani and provides good shelter from N winds. Open to the SW. Care should be taken of the reef extending SE from the N side of the entrance and a reef on the SE side of the bay. 393
ERRESOS @ 39°07'.8N 25°55.8E ENTRANCE TO KOLPOS KALLONI @ 39°04'.7N 26°04'.7E Anchorages in the gulf 1. Örmos Apothekes This bay on the N side of the entrance affords the best shelter in the gulf. Care must be taken of the reefs and shoal water around KOLPOS KALLONI @ 39°04'.7N 26°04'.7E Erimonisi and the isolated reef 250m off Ak Apothekes on the W entrance to the bay. Anchor in the bay in 5-10m or go bows-to the short pier where there are 3m depths off the end, though care must be taken of rock ballasting. A number of fishermen and their families inhabit the hamlet and in a simple taverna at the root of the pier simple fare is served. Ormos Koukos A bay approximately 2.5 miles N of the entrance to the gulf. Anchor in 8-10m. Some shelter from the meltemi. Paraklion A bight just above Koukos. Anchor in 4-6m off a small breakwater. Poor shelter from the meltemi. Ormos Tarsanades A bight in the NW corner of the gulf. Poor shelter from the meltemi. Skûlu Kalloni An L-shaped mole protects a small harbour at the head of the gulf. There are l.5-2m depths along the outer end of the mole. Go alongside if possible. Further inside it gets shallow. Alternatively anchor off the beach. Provisions and tavernas ashore. PO. Skdla Polikhnitos A small harbour just E of the entrance to the gulf. Go bows-to (there is some underwater ballasting) the outer mole. Good protection from the meltemi. Örmos Apothekes looking SE 405
Psarâ harbour looking W Peter KkinothlMareTeam PSARA @ 38°32'.4N 25°34'.1E and the light at the entrance Fl.R.l.5s3M. The green buoy is lit Fl.G but should not be relied upon. The inner mole is lit: F.R.3M. The harbour lights are not always to be relied on. Dangers When approaching from the W care should be taken of the reefs fringing Nisis Andipsara and Katonisi. These islands and rocks are not lit at night making a night approach from the W difficult. Mooring Go or bows-to where convenient. The bottom is mud and weed with some rocks - good holding. Shelter Good shelter although strong NE winds may make it uncomfortable. Authorities Port police. Facilities Water Limited supplies on the island. Provisions Limited provisions available but the villagers are dependent on the ferry from Khios for many things. Eating out Several tavernas. Other PO. Local ferry to Khios. General There is little left of what was a prosperous town: a few crumbling houses and warehouses, windmills on the ridges and the large natural harbour. In recent years some of the houses have been restored and a little life is creeping back into the village. Inland amongst the scorched rock of the island (there is little good earth for cultivation) is a Mycenaean necropolis, though it has not been systematically excavated to date. Homer mentioned the island, (he called it Psyrie), but said nothing about it, and apart from the brief age when it possessed a fine merchant fleet and lost it all against the Turks, to most people including Greeks the name Psarâ means little or nothing to this day. Oinoussa This barren island lies just over a mile to the east of the north of Khios. At one time it supported a prosperous seafaring community, but today the population is much diminished. MANDRAkI (Oinoussa) Approach Conspicuous From the S the village is conspicuous from the distance. From the N Vrak Prasonisia and 409
bay in the SW corner is very deep for anchoring with 20-25m depths a short distance off the quay on the N side. On the S side there are 10-20m depths where a yacht can anchor and take a line ashore. Provisions and tavernas in the village. Note The cove in the NW corner is a naval establishment and it is prohibited to enter it or navigate in the vicinity. ÖRMOS KOLOKITHIÂS @ 38°28'.9N 26°07'.-6E PARAPANTA The long inlet on the E side of Nisis Margariti. Anchor near the head of the bay in 5-1 Om on sand. The meltemi pushes a swell down into here, but with light northerlies or any other wind the bay is tenable. mARMARO (Kardhamila) Approach Conspicuous The village cannot be seen you are into the bay. A windmill on a rocky spur and the village and a cemetery above it are easily identified once you are in the entrance. By night Use the lights on Nisis Margariti at the entrance to the bay F1.3s5M and on the end of the mole Fl.G.2s3M. Dangers Depths of just 2m have been reported between Nisis Margariti and the coast although 1 Om depths are shown on the chart. The prudent course is to stay outside Margariti. Mooring Go stern or bows-to or alongside the inside of the mole. The bottom is mud and weed, patchy holding, so it is better to go alongside if possible. Shelter Good shelter from the meltemi. Authorities Port police and customs. Facilities Water At the root of the mole. Fuel In the town. Provisions Most provisions can be found. Ice available. Eating out Tavernas on the waterfront. Approach to Mârmaro on Khios looking S. Note conspicuous windmill on rocky spur ÖRMOS MÂRMARO AND ÖRMOS PARAPANTA @ 38°33'.7N 26°06'.9E KARDHAMILA @ 38°32'.7N 26°06'.6E 414
PO. OTE. Bank. Buses and a ferry to Psarâ and Khios. General The village of Kardhamila is a delightful spot at the foot of a gorge cutting down through the mountains. A stream keeps everything watered and green through the summer in contrast to the parched and almost lunar mountains above the village. LIMNIA (Volissos) Approach Conspicuous The village of Volissos and the castle are visible from some distance off. Closer in the light structure on the SE side of the entrance can be seen. By night Not recommended.The entrance is lit Fl.G.3s3M/Fl.R.3s3M. The mole is lit Fl.R.l.5s3M. Dangers Care should be taken of the above and rocks fringing the coast in the approaches to the harbour. Mooring Go stern or bows-to the quay in the NW corner. The bottom is sand and weed, good holding. Shelter Good all-round shelter although SW winds make it a bit uncomfortable. Facilities Water From the taverna. Fuel In Volissos village up the hill. Provisions Most provisions can be obtained in Volissos about 1.5 miles up the hill. Eating out Tavernas by the harbour and several others in Volissos. Other Bus to Khios from Volissos village. General The harbour is a quiet little place occupied only by a few fishermen. The village above is crumbling and ruinous but engaging. There is a little tourism here but nothing overwhelming, and the village and harbour are well worth a detour up the W coast of Khios. Limnia (Volissos) looking SW Peter KleinothlMareTeam A small fishing harbour built on the W coast of Khios above Mestâ. Care is needed in the approach when the meltemi is blowing as heavy seas are set onto the W coast of Khios. Go alongside the outer end of the N mole if there is room. The pier looks inviting but it is mostly shallow off it. Good shelter from the meltemi despite its location. Taverna ashore. LIMNIA (Volissos) @ 38°28'N 25°55'.5E (FI.G.2M) @ 38°20'.6N 25°59'.5E 415
VOUKARIA 38°14'.5N 26°06'.5E A small and shallow (l-<lm) harbour. Only very shallow-draught craft should attempt to enter and even then should do so with caution. KATARAKTIS 38°16'.0N 26°06'.3E A small fishing harbour. There are reported to be depths in the entrance and l-3m depths inside. It may be possible for small craft to find a berth. Provisions and tavernas ashore. Ikaria (Nicaria) Ikaria is a huge precipitous slab of rock wedged into the sea to the west of The island has green wooded and cultivated valleys in the north, but the high slopes and the south coast are mostly barren. The name probably derived from the Phoenician word ikor referring to an abundance of fish, and there are still considerable fleets working the waters here and around the nearby Nisidhes Foürnoi. The alternative and mythological origin of the name is derived from the legend of Daedalus and Icarus who contrived to escape from Crete by fabricating wings from feathers and wax. Icarus flew too high and the sun melted the wax so that he fell into the sea near Ikaria. EVDHILOS BA 1526 Approach Conspicuous Vrakhonisis Kofinâs with the light structure on it is conspicuous. From the E the village and the harbour mole are easily seen. By Use the light on Vrak Kofinâs Fl.7.5s 11M and the light on the end of the mole Fl.G.2s3M. Mooring EVDHILOS @ 37°38'.1N 26°11'.0E Go stern or bows-to the mole or the pier in the S or IKARIA AND SAMOS 417
much of the pine forest on the S Apart from the sweet white Sâmos muscat wine, the excellent Saimaina dry white is available in Vathi, Karlövasi and Pithagorion. A sweet red moschata is also produced. KARLÖVASİ BA 1526 G32 Approach Conspicuous From the distance the buildings of the town are easily identified. A church with a blue cupola on a precipitous rock bluff and two large churches with blue cupolas in the town are conspicuous. The harbour is to the W of the town and the harbour moles are easily identified. By night Use the light on Âk Pangözi F1.5s11M and the lights at the entrance Fl.G.4.5s5M/ Fl.R.4.5s4M. Note Work is in progress extending the outer breakwater. The light on the extremity is moved as work progresses but may not mark the end of underwater obstructions off the breakwater. Care needed in the immediate approaches. Dangers With the meltemi there can be a confused sea off the around the harbour and at the entrance. Mooring Go stern or bows-to in the SE corner. The bottom is sand, mud and weed, good holding. Shelter Good shelter, but with the meltemi some swell creeps around the end of the outer mole - uncomfortable but not dangerous. With strong S winds there are gusts off the high mountains behind. Authorities Port police and customs. Note Photographs of the coast to the W are prohibited. Facilities Water On the quay. Fuel In the town about 2 miles away. A mini-tanker may be able to deliver. KARLÖVASİ @ 37°47'.9N 26°40'.9E Repairs Limited mechanical repairs. The yard in the SW corner of the harbour hauls out yachts. Provisions Some provisions at the harbour. Good shopping for provisions in Karlövasi village. Eating out Tavernas on the waterfront. Other PO and OTE in Karlövasi village. Bus to Vathi. General The harbour is a sleepy little spot that seems to have seen more prosperous times. In recent years a little tourism has arrived to brighten up the harbour front. Inland, Karlövasi proper is a straggling market village serving the agricultural needs of the hinterland. The centre is most attractive - all stone houses and cobbled streets. Karlövasi harbour looking ENE 420
going current into a strong current with overfalls. The current sets to the E and may attain a rate of knots in the narrow section of the strait although it is normally less at around 1-2 knots. The overfalls are usually worse on the N side than the S side. The overfalls combined with strong gusts off the high land of Sâmos with the meltemi can make the passage very uncomfortable at times and care is needed. ÖRMOS MOURTIA 37°45'.5N 27°02'.3E The large bay on the E end of Sâmos. A monastery on the slopes is easily identified. Anchor in the cove at the head of the bay in 5m on a sandy bottom. Some shelter from the meltemi although a swell normally enters. Open to the S and E. ÖRMOS POSSIDONION 37°42'.5N 27°03'.4E A small bay lying on the S side of Âk Gâtos, the SE tip of Sâmos. The light structure on the cape (Fl(3)14s7M) is easily identified from the N. Anchor in 5-10m on a sandy bottom. Good shelter from the meltemi although there are strong gusts down into the bay and channel. Ashore there are a few houses and several tavernas in attractive surroundings. About 2 miles to the W at Psili Amos there is an anchorage behind an islet. A few houses and a simple taverna ashore. PITHAGORION (Pythagoreon, Tigani) BA 1526 G32 Pithagorion on Sâmos looking W from the entrance Peter KleinothlMareTeam Approach Conspicuous A line of wind generators on the ridge E of Pithagorion are conspicuous and the buildings of the town are visible from some distance off. A large red-roofed hotel to the W of the town and Metamorfosis, a fortified stone monastery on the waterfront, are conspicuous. Closer in, the outer mole is easily identified. By night Use the light on Âk Foniâs F1.4s5M and the lights at the entrance Fl.R.2s3M/Fl.G.2s2M. From the W the lights at the entrance cannot be seen until close in. Care is needed of the beacon at the entrance to the inner harbour which is unlit. PITHAGORION @ 37°41'.3N 26°56'.9E 422