There is a trio of islands in the southern Ionian that every serious motorboater in the Mediterranean should navigate at least once. Together they form the beating heart of what we at Nautiful consider the finest compact cruising ground in Europe — and this Greece Ionian Islands Sailing Guide: Lefkada, Kefalonia and Ithaca is your skipper’s-eye view from the helm. No bus tours. No rental cars. Just the approach bearing, the anchorage depth, and the cold Mythos you’ve earned by getting the stern lines right.
Why the Southern Ionian Belongs on Every Motorboater’s Chart
The Ionian Sea is not affected by the Etesian Meltemi winds of the Aegean, but instead experiences a reliable Maistro wind throughout the sailing season. That distinction matters enormously when you’re planning passage on a Princess V65 or an Azimut S7. The primary summer wind is the Maistros, a north-westerly sea breeze that builds gently around midday, peaks in the afternoon at Force 3–5, and dies down by sunset. In practical terms for motor boats, this means glassy mornings ideal for long passages and a predictable afternoon chop that rarely turns threatening.
The shape of the southern Ionian, sheltered by its largest islands — Lefkas and Kefalonia — means that you’re almost always sailing in flat water. For those running a Jeanneau Merry Fisher 1095 or a Pardo GT52, the inter-island passages of 5–20 nautical miles are entirely manageable in a single morning run. Plan departures for early morning to enjoy calm conditions and scenic motoring, then begin any afternoon passages around midday to catch the building Maistro, aiming to reach your destination by late afternoon before harbours fill during peak season.
Lefkada: The Canal Approach, D-Marin and Vliho Bay
Most boats arriving from Preveza will approach Lefkada from the north — and this is where you earn your first lesson in Ionian seamanship. The approach to Lefkada from the north is rather challenging. The sandbank and silts at the northern end of the canal continuously change shape, and three groynes have been installed to protect the entrance, marked by yellow buoys. Stay strictly within the buoyed channel. The canal approach requires careful navigation — use up-to-date charts and follow the buoyed channel precisely, particularly at lower water levels. This is exactly the kind of passage where Navionics+ on your chartplotter earns its annual subscription; the SonarChart HD bathymetry with community edits is regularly updated and gives you sub-metre depth detail through the channel that paper charts simply cannot match.
The floating bridge opens at scheduled intervals to allow boats through; exact opening times are posted at D-Marin Lefkas Marina and available on local VHF channels. Missing a slot can mean a wait of an hour or more, so always confirm the current schedule before you plan your departure. Note: as of 2026, due to a new underwater pipeline project, opening times for yachts and vessels are temporarily irregular. Monitor VHF Ch. 12 and call ahead.
Once through, D-Marin Lefkas Marina sits on the eastern side of the island, embraced by the town, and has operated since 2002 with mooring places for 620 boats up to 45 metres. Call ahead on VHF Ch. 69 or phone +30 26450 26645. Use the ELIN boat petrol station at the south entrance of the marina at 38°49.757′ N, 20°42.895′ E. The fuel station is extremely busy on Friday afternoons when charter fleets return — plan your visit accordingly.
For overnight anchorage away from the marina bustle, head south to Vliho Bay. Vliho is a long, sheltered, natural bay on the eastern coast of Lefkada, just south of Nidri. Its calm waters and excellent protection from all wind directions make it one of the safest anchorages in the Ionian, even during strong blows. Anchor in mud in 5–7 m depth with excellent holding, though in places there is seaweed so a strong reverse is required to dig the anchor through it. Aim for the south-west corner near the Vliho Yacht Club at approximately 38°40.974′ N, 20°42.007′ E, or the east side near Taverna Elena. Access by dinghy to the quay is straightforward, and there are minimarkets and bakeries a short walk from the shore.
Kefalonia: Fiskardo, Foki Bay, Assos and the Provisioning Stop at Argostoli
The crossing from Lefkada’s south coast to Fiskardo at the northern tip of Kefalonia runs approximately 20 nautical miles — an easy morning passage in settled conditions. Approach Fiskardo at 38°27′31N / 020°34′58E — free of dangers — the lighthouse on the north side of the entrance is easily identified and will guide you to the bay.
Unlike the lion’s share of Kefalonia, Fiskardo was spared by the 1953 earthquake, and the port has retained its traditional Italianate architecture — deservedly a particularly popular port. Expect it to be packed from July onward. 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. Stern-to on the town quay is the preferred berth for smaller motorboats; go stern or bows-to the quay where space is available, except the south-west corner which is reserved for local fishing boats.
Two miles south of Fiskardo, Foki Bay is the anchorage that the Ionian’s growing superyacht community has quietly claimed — though there is still room if you arrive before noon. The bay has crystal-clear water, home to sea turtles, and is surrounded by Mediterranean pine trees. It has a huge cave with several chambers. It’s worth getting there early and long-lining on the south shore as far in toward the beach as possible — be careful in high season not to go through the buoyed swimming area.
For Assos, approach from the north and you’ll spot the village pinned to a narrow isthmus with a wooded peninsula behind it; the Venetian castle wall runs along the ridge, and from a boat the whole layout of harbour, neck of land and fortress hill sits inside one frame. You can stay in the bay on free anchoring or with a long line to the rocks — the bay is quite deep at 7–12 m, but holding is not good everywhere, so let out as much scope as possible. Assos is only suitable in lighter air; the anchorage quickly becomes untenable in rougher conditions, certainly in northerlies. Treat it as a fair-weather lunch stop or an early evening berth with a stable forecast in hand.
For serious provisioning, take the 20-minute run south to Argostoli. Argostoli has the only regular open market activity on Kefalonia — a weekly street market (laiki agora) where local vendors sell seasonal fruit, vegetables, olives, honey and regional products, supplemented by permanent greengrocers and deli-style shops operating daily. Anchor in the outer bay in 8–15 m over mud — very good holding — and dinghy ashore to the market waterfront. This is the Greece Ionian Islands Sailing Guide moment that land-bound guidebooks never describe: filling your cool box with fresh cherries and local feta while your Axopar 37 sits on the hook sixty metres away.
Ithaca: Kioni, Frikes and the Deep Fjord of Vathy
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. The crossing from Fiskardo to Kioni is a mere 5 nautical miles west to Kioni on Ithaca from Fiskardo. On a Sunseeker Predator 65 it takes under 15 minutes at cruising revs.
Kioni is one of the most picturesque harbours in Ithaca — a deep natural bay framed by ruined windmills and amphitheatrically-tiered colourful houses, lively without losing its village feel. It sits on the north-east coast, about 4 NM south of Frikes. The three ruins of windmills on Cape Psigadi will guide you on the approach. Kioni Bay provides anchoring in 5–10 m over mud and sand with good holding and protection from the prevailing winds, though limited space is available. The depth in the middle of the bay can drop off past 15 m — watch your depth gauge carefully before dropping. Arrive before 14:00 in July and August; by mid-afternoon, every ring ashore has a line on it. Do not consider Kioni in easterly or southerly winds. If the forecast is unstable, press on 8 NM south to Vathy — it will be there waiting for you.
The main port of Vathy lies on the south-east coast of Ithaca, 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 bottom is mud, and holding is excellent. This is Odysseus’s harbour, and it earns its mythology — the bay is sheltered all around in a picturesque setting, surrounded by lemon and olive groves. Moor stern-to on the south quay (depths 4–7 m) or anchor mid-bay and take the dinghy ashore. Fuel note: there is a filling station for boats at Mylos in Vathy, providing fuel, lubricants and water. One practical caution: at night and early morning, incoming and outbound ferries generate a high level of noise and a swell — position yourself well clear of the ferry dock if you value your sleep.
Frikes, 4 NM north of Kioni, is the working village alternative — the bay lies on the north-eastern coast of the island, has an irregular shape and deep waters, and is open to east and north-easterly winds. Several coves form very good anchorages on the coast. Depending on the direction of the wind, boats can select the safest anchorage. Tender ashore to the waterfront taverna Ageri for what remains one of the best simple grilled fish dinners in the Ionian.
Skipper’s Weather Rhythm and Inter-Island Timing
The motorboater’s advantage in this triangle is raw speed — and knowing when to use it. Mornings in the Ionian typically arrive calm, with light or non-existent winds creating glass-like conditions perfect for early swimming or a leisurely breakfast. By midday, around 2pm, the Maistro begins to build from the north-west. This gives you a clear daily structure: be anchored and comfortable by 13:00, use the afternoon to explore by tender, and plan any passages of more than 15 miles for 07:00–11:00 departures.
On hot summer days, the land-sea temperature difference can enhance the Maistro, making afternoons breezier than forecasts predict. Places like Vathi on Ithaca remain calm even when winds are lively offshore — ideal anchorages after a day’s sail. Monitor the Greek weather broadcast on VHF, issued in Greek and English at 06:00, 10:00, 16:00 and 22:00 local time. Coastguard Ithaca monitors VHF Ch. 16 and can be raised on Ch. 12 at +30 26740 32909.
The Navionics Boating app with the Adriatic and Ionian Seas chart subscription is the planning tool we recommend above all others for this region. Charts are derived from multiple official, government and private sources, with SonarChart HD bathymetry updated by sonar data contributed by the boating community, and up to 5,000 daily updates giving you the most accurate current data available. For a cruising ground where anchorage depths and sandbars shift seasonally, that live-update model is genuinely worth the subscription price.
Charter Bases, Marina Bookings and Getting Afloat
D-Marin Lefkas is the natural hub for charter departures in this Greece Ionian Islands Sailing Guide: Lefkada, Kefalonia and Ithaca triangle. For many sailors, D-Marin Lefkas Marina is the operational base of the island, listing arrival support, marina services, and VHF Channel 69 for contacting the marina on approach. Pre-booking your berth through the D-Marin app or website is strongly advised in July and August — a 15-metre motorboat berth at peak season commands serious demand and walking up without a reservation is a gamble.
For those chartering rather than arriving on their own keel, the cluster of operators based at Vliho Bay and Nidri offers bareboat and skippered options from Beneteau Gran Turismo and Jeanneau Prestige models through to larger Fairline Squadron builds. A one-week bareboat charter for a quality 40-foot motorboat from this base runs approximately €3,500–€6,500 depending on model and season, plus fuel, marina fees and the invaluable local knowledge of a pre-charter briefing. For first-time skippers in this region, booking through a charter service that includes a local guide package — typically available for €200–€400 for a half-day orientation — pays for itself the moment you’re threading the Lefkada canal on a Friday afternoon with charter fleet traffic coming the other way.
An anchorage guide dedicated to these three islands remains a wise secondary investment alongside digital charts. The level of detail on holding quality, dinghy-landing spots and local hazards that a dedicated printed or PDF pilot provides is still something community chart edits haven’t fully replicated — particularly for the lesser-visited coves south of Fiskardo and around Ithaca’s west coast.
The Route in Summary: A One-Week Circuit
- Day 1–2: Arrive D-Marin Lefkas. Transit the canal (confirm bridge times first). Anchor Vliho Bay overnight. Explore Nidri by dinghy.
- Day 3: Early morning south run to Fiskardo, Kefalonia (~20 NM). Stern-to town quay or anchor north shore in 10–12 m. Dinner ashore — the waterfront restaurants here are genuinely good.
- Day 4: Morning swim at Foki Bay (2 NM south of Fiskardo). Run south to Assos for lunch if the forecast is light. Anchor in 7–12 m — long scope, line ashore.
- Day 5: Cross to Kioni, Ithaca (5 NM from Fiskardo). Arrive by 13:00. Anchor in 5–10 m, line to rocks. Tender ashore for dinner.
- Day 6: Move 8 NM south to Vathy for fuel and provisioning. Stern-to south quay, 4–7 m. Explore the old town on foot — it is five minutes from the quay.
- Day 7: Return passage north. Option: stop Frikes for a final lunch before the crossing back to Lefkada via the channel north of Meganisi.
Every one of those legs is under 25 nautical miles. Every one of those anchorages is described from the water, because that is the only perspective that matters when you’re at the helm. This Greece Ionian Islands Sailing Guide: Lefkada, Kefalonia and Ithaca is designed to be open on your chart table, not your bedside table.
The Ionian rewards those who do their homework from the helm and leave the tourist crowds on the beach road. We’ve given you the bearings, the depths and the VHF channels. The rest — the ouzo at sunset, the anchor light reflecting off the water, the silence that descends over Vathy when the last ferry has gone — that part is yours to find.
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