There are few cruising grounds in the Mediterranean that reward the motorboat skipper as completely as the southern Ionian. Lefkada, Kefalonia and Ithaca sit within 40 nautical miles of each other, forming a triangle of green hills, white-pebble coves and Venetian quaysides that can only be fully experienced from the water. This Greece Ionian Islands Sailing Guide: Lefkada, Kefalonia and Ithaca is written entirely from the helm — because that is the only perspective that matters here.
Understanding the Ionian Summer: Wind, Weather and Timing
Before you even cast off, you need to understand the rhythm that governs every day on this circuit. The main summer wind in the Ionian is the Maistro, a mild-mannered NW wind delivering a reliable and steady breeze from late May to late September. In the Ionian in the height of summer, it is said you can set your watch to the wind — not a breath before 11am, then a gradually building medium breeze ideal for a relaxed afternoon sail, before the wind goes to sleep shortly before dusk.
Afternoons bring a steady 12 to 20 knots, sometimes up to 25, almost never more. For motorboat skippers, this means one golden rule: leave early, run your passages in the morning glass, and be anchored before the afternoon chop builds. Lefkada, Kefalonia and Ithaca experience slightly stronger winds, particularly in late summer, as the mountainous terrain creates more pronounced local effects. Those mountains also generate katabatic gusts after dark. At night, cooler air slides down from mountain slopes, especially on Kefalonia, causing brief gusts in anchorages. Lay extra chain accordingly.
The Ionian sailing season runs roughly late April through early October, but not every month inside that window sails the same. June and the first two weeks of September consistently deliver the best combination of warm water, reliable wind, and anchorages that are not packed three boats deep. That is our recommendation to you without hesitation.
Before departure, load the Navionics Boating app with the Adriatic & Ionian Sea chart subscription — it covers this entire triangle in superb detail and puts real-time depth soundings and community edits at your fingertips. Pair it with the Imray Chart G12 South Ionian Islands in paper form as your backup. Plans include the Levkas Canal, Kólpos Aetoú on northern Ithaca, and Órmos Argostolíou on Kefalonia — combining the latest official survey data with first-hand information gathered by Rod and Lucinda Heikell.
Lefkada: The Gateway Island and Its Best Anchorages
Most itineraries begin at D-Marin Lefkas Marina, and for good reason. The marina has been operating since 2002 and has mooring places for 620 boats up to 45 metres long. With a capacity of 620 berths accommodating vessels up to 45m length and 3.30m draft, there are dry docking facilities for approximately 270 boats, plus two 150- and 70-ton travelifts and a 60-ton mobile crane. Hail the marina on VHF channel 69 on approach. A fuel station sits at the entrance to the marina. It is as complete a base as you will find anywhere in the southern Ionian.
To reach the eastern anchorages and the canal south, you must transit the famous floating bridge at the north end of the Lefkas Canal. As of 29 June 2026, the bridge schedule returns to normal and will open until 15 September 2026 at: 08:00, 10:00, 14:00, 17:00, 19:00, 21:00, and 22:00. The bridge monitors VHF channel 12 as “Floating Bridge Santa Maura.” Do not assume the schedule is static — check the Lefkada Port Authority website (lefkadaports.gr) the morning of your transit, as maintenance works have caused disruption in recent seasons. The south part of the canal is prone to silting and grounded boats have been seen at the edge of it. If your draft is more than 2.5 metres, travel closer to the middle.
Once south of the canal, Sivota on the island’s southeastern coast is your first unmissable stop. Sivota is a natural harbour set among the hills of the southeastern coast of Lefkada, with an inconspicuous entrance that can be hard to spot from the sea until you are nearby. The bay’s deep water, sheltered geometry, and fish-taverna waterfront make it a natural overnight stop on Lefkada-Meganisi-Kefalonia routes. Sivota provides depths of 5–10 m over mud with good holding and enclosed protection. Moor stern-to on the town quay or anchor in the bay; the seabed is muddy and weedy, so ensure the anchor is through the weed and holding in the mud, and keep your eye on the depth gauge as the depth drops quickly in the middle. Evening: walk the quay, pick any of the fish tavernas, and watch the charter flotillas pile in around you. You were here first.
Crossing to Kefalonia: Fiskardo, Assos and the Hidden Coves
The crossing from Sivota to northern Kefalonia runs approximately 18 nautical miles across open water — leave by 0800 and you will slide into Fiskardo on flat seas. This leg forms the centrepiece of any Greece Ionian Islands Sailing Guide: Lefkada, Kefalonia and Ithaca itinerary, and the destination more than justifies the crossing.
Fiskardo is a gem of a place, its quays lined with pastel-coloured houses in the Venetian style and the harbour a constant bustle of activity. Approach Fiskardo at 38°27’31N / 020°34’58E — it is free of dangers, and the lighthouse on the north side of the entrance is easily identified to guide you into the bay. The beauty of the small town and the few berths available — about 25, making good use of all moorings — makes it difficult to find berths in high and very high season. Arrive before 0930 or accept that you are anchoring. Along the north shore of the harbour there is a good anchorage for 10–12 yachts in depths of 10–12 metres, taking lines ashore to stainless steel rings set into the rocks. Holding is only moderate in sand and some weed, so make sure your anchor is well dug in.
South of Fiskardo, the coastline opens into a series of coves that justify keeping your motorboat running. Fóki inlet, the first bay south of the village, has no major touristic developments; anchor in 3–5 m. Further south still, the bay at Assos is one of the most visually dramatic anchorages in the Ionian. Assos Bay offers perhaps the most spectacular setting, with its narrow entrance opening into a well-protected circular bay. The surrounding cliffs provide complete wind protection, though space is limited to around 10–12 yachts, with consistent depths of 4–8 metres and excellent holding in sand and weed. Although an absolute gem, Assos is only suitable in lighter air; the anchorage quickly becomes untenable in rougher conditions, certainly in northerlies. Read the forecast carefully before committing.
For provisioning, Argostoli provides the most comprehensive provisioning on Kefalonia, with multiple supermarkets including AB Vasilopoulos, Lidl, and Sklavenitis. Berthing is stern-to, with depths typically 3–5 metres alongside. Run the dinghy ashore and fill your cool boxes; it is the only proper provisioning stop between Lefkada and the southern Ionian.
Ithaca: Homer’s Island from the Helm
Ithaca is one of the most distinctive sailing destinations in the Ionian, offering exceptional natural shelter within a compact and mountainous island. Its coastline is deeply indented, forming narrow bays and fjord-like inlets that provide protection in conditions where more open islands become uncomfortable. From Fiskardo, the passage to Vathy in Ithaca covers roughly 14 nautical miles through the Ithaca Channel — deep and clear, with depths of 50–150 m mid-channel, shoaling to 20–40 m within 1 NM of either coast. Wind acceleration and short seas occur with NW winds, particularly in the northern entrance. Time it for morning.
The main port, Vathy, lies on the SE coast and is entered through a narrow, well-defined inlet. Depths reduce from 30–40 m outside to 10–15 m at the entrance, then 5–8 m inside the bay. The port of Vathy is a natural harbour providing excellent anchorage, known from Homeric times as particularly sheltered. Anchored boats find a safe haven without additional support, protected from all winds except the north-west, which blows in gusts. Ithaca’s marina in Vathy sits just off the main harbour, with pontoon berths, laid lines, and full services including water, electricity, fuel, and shore facilities. The bottom is mud, and holding is excellent.
The jewel that only a boat can reach here is Gidaki Beach, a short run north from Vathy by tender or under power. Gidaki Beach is an attractive and isolated beach accessed only by boat from the port of Vathy. Anchor in 6–10 m over sand with seaweed patches. The beach consists of white shiny pebbles with no tourist facilities — the unspoiled environment providing the ultimate summer scenery. No road reaches it. No day-tripper bus can park above it. It belongs entirely to those who arrive by water.
Further north on the island, Kioni is worth an evening stop. Kioni is a pretty and surprisingly traditional village under wonderfully wooded hills; the three ruins of windmills on Cape Psigadi will guide you on the approach. The best berths are stern-to at the quay near the green harbour light; to cope with the violent westerly gusts, take a wide-angled line from the mid cleat to the quay. A muddy seabed provides perfect holding and despite the mud the water is clear and clean — swimming in port is perfectly acceptable.
Practical Skipper Notes: Fuel, Channels and Med-Mooring
Running a motorboat in this triangle at 35°C requires discipline about fuel planning. Fuel at D-Marin Lefkas on departure — the fuel station sits at the entrance to the marina. Fiskardo has no dedicated fuel dock; your next reliable fuel is Vathy in Ithaca, where there is a fuel station open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at +30 2674 033316. Plan your range accordingly, especially if you are running a twin-engined express cruiser at pace in the morning calm.
- VHF watch: Maintain Ch 16 at all times. D-Marin Lefkas is on Ch 69. The floating bridge is Ch 12 (“Floating Bridge Santa Maura”).
- Med mooring: Every harbour in this guide requires stern-to technique. Run your anchor from the bow, reverse slowly, drop at 3–4 boat lengths, and let the rode run freely as you back in. In Fiskardo especially, care must be taken on anchoring as the shape of the quay makes crossed anchors easy.
- Weather forecasting: Check forecasts daily. Reliable apps include Windy, Meteo, and Poseidon. In the Lefkas Canal area, local funnel effects can develop that you will not see on a general weather app. Ask at the marina on departure.
- Ferry traffic: Inbound to Fiskardo, watch out for ferries that often whiz by at fairly high speeds and are not visible from a distance because of the lay of the coast.
- Anchorage timing: Anchor early in summer peak to secure space. Afternoon north-westerlies develop, so settle into anchorages before the swell builds.
For marina pre-booking across this circuit — particularly for the high-demand berths at D-Marin Lefkas — we recommend using Marinebook or the D-Marin direct booking portal at least two weeks ahead in July and August. D-Marin Lefkas is one of the most expensive marinas in Greece, with daily berthing charges in high season among the highest in the southern Ionian. Budget accordingly — and offset the cost by anchoring free in Gidaki or Fóki on the intervening nights.
A Suggested Seven-Day Motorboat Itinerary
This is how the Nautiful team would run the classic triangle aboard a 9-metre express cruiser or a Jeanneau Leader 33 — fast enough to make the morning passages easily, shallow enough draft for the inner coves.
- Day 1: Arrive D-Marin Lefkas. Fuel, provision, brief the crew on Med mooring. Evening in Lefkada town.
- Day 2: Transit the canal (aim for the 0800 bridge opening), run south to Sivota. Anchor or stern-to the quay. Dinner at a waterfront fish taverna.
- Day 3: Early start south, crossing to Fiskardo. Arrive by 0930. Afternoon: tender to Fóki cove for swimming.
- Day 4: South to Assos for a morning swim stop in settled weather, then round to Argostoli for provisioning. Overnight at the quay.
- Day 5: North through the Ithaca Channel to Vathy. Anchor in the bay or take a marina berth. Afternoon by tender to Gidaki Beach.
- Day 6: Motor north to Kioni for the evening. Stern-to at the quay under the windmills.
- Day 7: North back to Fiskardo for lunch, then the afternoon Maistro pushes you comfortably home to Lefkada. Return through canal on the 1700 or 1900 opening.
Why This Triangle Belongs on Every Motorboat Skipper’s List
The Greece Ionian Islands Sailing Guide: Lefkada, Kefalonia and Ithaca triangle works for motorboaters precisely because the passages are short, the anchorages are genuinely spectacular, and the infrastructure — while not Adriatic-polished — is perfectly functional. The shape of the southern Ionian, sheltered by its largest islands, Lefkas and Kefalonia, means you are almost always sailing in flat water. Morning calm gives you fast, easy passages. Afternoon breeze gives the bay a shimmer that makes every anchorage look like a painting. And places like Sivota on Lefkada and Vathi on Ithaca remain calm even when winds are lively offshore — ideal anchorages after a day under way.
This is the Greece that land tourists do not reach. The cove at Gidaki that has no road to it. The north shore of Fiskardo at 0900 before the day trippers arrive. The moment you back into Kioni’s quay under those ruined windmills and the harbourmaster ties off your lines with a single nod. None of it is available to anyone without a boat.
That is precisely the point of this Greece Ionian Islands Sailing Guide: Lefkada, Kefalonia and Ithaca. The best of the Ionian is not on the map that tourists use. It is on the chart you have loaded into your Navionics app — and it opens the moment you clear the breakwater.
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