Sailing destinations and maritime history in Vounaki and Athens, Greece

Sailing Destinations

Vounaki, Greece

Vounaki is located on the west coast of Greece, at the foot of the Arkanika Mountains. The Vounaki marina is said to be a relaxed, beautiful and restful small port venue, made even more dramatic because the Arkanika Mountains are a visually stimulating backdrop to the marina.

It is worth noting that Vounaki is not much more than a bay and a marina. But very close to the bay at Vounaki there is interesting history and architecture available. The ancient city of Kekropoula (near Paleros, a short, 15 minute walk from Vounaki) is where King Kekhropa ruled thousands of years ago. For those who love history, the walls of the city of Paleros were constructed in the second millennium B.C.; and it is said that Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, passed with her ships in the shallow channel of Paleros; that passage in Paleros is marked, "Dock of Cleopatra."

The bay is sheltered and the Club Vounaki in the marina is classy with numerous activities, including of course boating and sailing, windsurfing, waterskiing, tennis, basketball, mountain biking and aerobics, along with exercise availability and a world-class spa. There are excellent facilities in the marina at Vounaki, with great restaurants and it's just a short trip (a walk takes about 15 minutes) to the community of Paleros.

Approaching Vounaki Marina from the sea, sailboats come in from the west and it's smart to call ahead for a birth (there are 60 berths, depths from 2 to 6 meters). The harbor is fairly shallow but it provides good shelter from strong westerly winds thanks to the breakwater. Fuel is available and each berth offers water and electricity. The VHF is channel 10 and the FAX number for the dockmaster is 2643041944.

Engineering and mechanical repairs are available and there is a 15-ton crane to lift boats out of the water for repair.

Athens

Athens is the capitol of Greece, has a population of about 655,780, is about 3,400 years old and was named (according to Greek mythology) based on a competition that Athena (the Greek Goddess) with the God of the Sea, Poseidon. Which one would protect the city? When Athena offered an olive tree, the people of Athens shoes her and hence the name of the city was established.

World renowned for its history, Athens is home to the Acropolis, to the world famous Parthenon (which is considered a landmark to the foundation of Western civilization) to the Choregic Monument of Lysikrates (a 4th century monument), and to the Arcopagus, which is a bald hill of marble directly across from the Acropolis. In the nearby wooded hills tourists can visit the "Hill of the Muses" (Filopappos), and near to that hill is Pnyx Hill, where the democratic assembly in ancient Greece had their political discussions.

Athens has wonderful beaches but Athens has no port. The nearest port is the Port of Piraeus, which is the largest seaport in Greece and the busiest cargo port in Greece. It is known more for its commercial value than for a place for private vessels to dock. But the Mikrolimano Harbor and Zea Marina are quite nice and indeed adequate as a seafront venue, it has a promenade from which freshly docked sailing visitors can view the ancient city walls on their way to bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

The Zea Marina has 670 berths (maximum berth size, 80 meters). The maximum draught is 9 meters deep. The Zea Marina offers repairs, fuel, and it is open 24 hours a day. Before boats enter the harbor, it is mandatory they call the marina, VHF Channel 9, and from there they will receive instructions on where and how to dock.

Milina

This little coastal town is said by some travelers to be the end of the line. There are stories that suggest the ghosts of ancient monks haunt the town, as many monks apparently starved to death during World War II; the island's food supply had been pinched severely because of the disruption of the war. Dolphins are often seen splashing in the sea between Milina and Monk's Island. Of the several villages along the coast, including Taverna Panorama, Milian is the busier in terms of visits from tourists.

There are great pebble beaches and the water is pristine; there are walks along ancient historic cobblestone paths to mountain villages like Promiri or Lefkos, where the Old Radio Museum is a great place for those curious about history and radio. It is open daily from mid-May to mid-September, and just 5 kilometers east of Milina.

Milina Holidays is a good company to handle boat rentals at Milina, bike rentals, and day cruises to Palio Trikeri. A sailing vacation around Milina is comfortable and easy due to the protected waters of the Gulf of Volos; typically winds are 10 to 20 knots. There is plenty of wind for sailing, and experienced sailing vessels can venture out into the seas that surround the Sporades Islands, where there is even more wind.

There are 11 islands in the Gulf of Volos but before launching a bareboat yacht charter Green law requires the skipper be 18 or older and carry an ID card. In the harbor at Milina feels for mooring range from $8 to $24 each night, but in the Marina, it can be from $41 to $73 per night. That said, mooring temporarily at a private jetty is free -- providing you eat at the taverna that owns the jetty.

Sweden Sailing

The best sailing season in Sweden in between July and September. The extra sunshine in the middle of summer makes it a terrific time to get out on the water and lose all the cares and stresses of the modern world. In fact, it is only dark for 3 hours in high summer, so the west coast, the north coast, the south and east coasts are wide open for the seasoned sailor.

For the very adventurous person, sailing the waters of the Gulf of Bothnia (that is in the Swedish Lapland) means having access to some of the extraordinary wonderful geology of the High Coast in northern Sweden. Dock the boat and walk onto land and there are some wonderfully strange and unique geologic shapes and figures in the High Coast. There are also unique islands to visit in the Stockholm archipelago; meanwhile the islands are called Finnhamn, Grinda, Uto and Sandhamn where, once the sailboat is safely docked, restaurants and bars and natural world activities are available.

Gothenburg and the West Coast of Sweden

The city of Gothenburg is considered the gateway to the west coast of Sweden, and the city is a big attraction because it has major attractions, it is clean and safe, it has a seaport, great restaurants, world class hotels and a reputation for fresh and wholesome produce as well as some of the beat shellfish in the world. Among the great features of Gothenburg is the Gothenburg Opera House, the Liseberg amusement park and Universeum, a great place to take the family because kids will love the discovery and science center at Universeum.

Boat trips are available that take visitors out into the harbor and into the archipelago further north. Marstand in the archipelago and is well-known as a great place for yachting and yacht racing, and it is easily located from Gothenburg.

A couple of great Swedish traditions include "The Day of the Herring" (in June) during which Swedes make it a point to eat herring; many chefs have seminars teaching people how to make a "Midsummer herring dish." There is a floating hotel and restaurant (the Salt & Sill), and while on board a visitor can devour a three-course dinner and a night's stay in the Bed and Breakfast for 65 British pounds.

The Port of Gothenburg, the largest port in Scandinavia, sees over 11,000 vessels dock each year, and in fact nearly 30% of all foreign trade with Sweden comes calling at the Port of Gothenburg. There are rail shuttles, and ocean going cruise liners as well. Twenty-four rail shuttles leave the Port of Gothenburg daily, but the port is known more for the enormous amount of cargo that arrives. Of those rail shuttles, they are bound for -- or arriving from -- inland terminals in Sweden and Norway.

Having a rail link to islands means that companies don't have to use highways and 18-wheelers to transport goods between Norway and Sweden. In fact because highways aren't needed for this transportation dynamic, Sweden is able to save 50,000 tons of carbon emissions are saved each year.

As for the Port of Gothenburg, some 887,000 containers, 227,000 new cars, 1.7 million passengers, 20.4 million tons of oil and 41.8 tons of freight arrives at the Port of Gothenburg annually.

Stockholm and the East Coast of Sweden

The capitol of Sweden is not like a typically overgrown American city with cookie cutter houses sprawling out for miles beyond the suburbs. In fact Stockholm is a watery venue, spreading out beautifully over 14 island in Lake Malaren, and looking out to the Baltic Sea. The country of Sweden has a population of over 9 million and a beautiful coastline of 1,999 miles. The highest point in Sweden is almost 7,000 feet and for fans of Steig Larsson's Millennium Trilogy books in Stockholm the place to visit is Sodermalam.

Stockholm is 700 years old and its old town is truly a throwback to earlier days in Europe. There are cobblestone streets, old churches with tall steeples and gothic architecture, classy bars and restaurants and unlimited cafes with strong coffee and sweet baked goods.

When visiting is it suggested the tourist buy a Stockholm Card which offers unlimited rides in the busses, the trains and the metro; in addition, the Stockholm Card gives visitors free admission to museums and other public venues that offer entertainment and culture.

The east coast of Sweden, the Archipelago, has many fishing villages and marine activities in gorgeous surroundings. Arkosund, in the Archipelago, is a launching place for those folks who wish to visit the many beautiful, pristine islands in the bay of Braviken. The amenities in Arkosund include guest harbors, fuel for the boats, a community that is spirited and a jetty that can be seen and enjoyed from a hotel veranda. There are a multitude of activities including swimming, fishing, and simply strolling along the water.

Another venue on the east coast of Sweden is St. Anna, which lies in the middle of the Ostgota Archipelago and is known for an amazing number of stunningly beautiful and unspoiled islands. Visitors can rent a kayak or a boat (rowboats are popular) or take a tour boat out to any of the islands. Also in St. Anna, the local historical association offers a museum with the history of this gloriously natural place.

The Zea Marina in the Mikrolimano Harbor

Levkas canal entrance is very close to the sand spit; shallow water calls for care when entering

The Swedish Archipelago has some of the world's best pike fishing, and it offers extraordinary fresh air and wonderful hotels and restaurants as well.