There is a sliver of the Ionian that rewards the motorboater more completely than almost anywhere else in the Mediterranean. Three islands — Lefkada, Kefalonia, and Ithaca — sit within a cruising ground roughly 60 nautical miles from top to bottom, threaded by turquoise channels, sheltered behind green limestone headlands, and dotted with anchorages that tourists who arrived by road will never find. This is the Greece Ionian Islands Sailing Guide: Lefkada, Kefalonia and Ithaca — written entirely from the helm.
Understanding the Ionian: Weather, Wind and the Motorboat Advantage
Before you leave the dock, know the rhythm. Unlike the Aegean, you are sheltered here from the notorious Meltemi gales. The typical summer wind is the Maistro, blowing from the northwest and building up only by midday. Mornings are often calm. For a motorboat, that daily pattern is a gift. Mornings arrive glassy, with light or non-existent winds creating glass-like conditions perfect for early swimming or a leisurely breakfast. By around 14:00, the Maistro begins to build from the northwest, reaching 10–20 knots — Force 3–5. The breeze then maintains through the afternoon before subsiding by sunset.
The smart Ionian skipper departs early, covers ground on flat water, anchors by early afternoon, and swims while others are still on passage. This creates an ideal rhythm: early morning departures for scenic motor-sailing through calm waters, midday breaks for swimming in sheltered coves, and afternoon passages to reach evening anchorages. Note that the prevailing wind is channelled and funnelled by significant mountainous land masses, so it can vary in strength and direction quite quickly. Always check the local VHF weather broadcast — Greece Coast Guard transmits forecasts in Greek and English at 06:00, 10:00, 16:00, and 22:00 local time.
For planning before you leave home, load the Navionics Boating app with the Adriatic & Ionian Sea chart package. The internationally renowned Navionics charts are usable offline along with multiple overlays, and the nautical chart functions allow you to study port plans, anchorages, and safety depth contours, and locate navaids and marine services. It is the single most useful digital tool in this cruising ground and belongs on every device aboard.
Lefkada: Gateway to the South Ionian
Most itineraries in this Greece Ionian Islands Sailing Guide: Lefkada, Kefalonia and Ithaca begin in Lefkada, and with good reason. The island’s main facility, D-Marin Lefkas Marina, sits at the northern end of the canal that separates Lefkada from the Greek mainland. The marina lies at the north end of the canal and offers 620 berths on seven pontoons and associated quays in depths of up to 4.0 metres. Contact the marina on VHF Channel 69 upon arrival and go to the office to process check-in paperwork. The marina offers a full range of technical boat services, including two 150-ton and 70-ton travelifts and a 60-ton mobile crane — a reassuring safety net before a week offshore.
Approaching from the north via the canal, time your transit carefully. According to the latest update from Lefkada Port Authority, from 29 June 2026 the bridge returns to its standard summer schedule, opening for marine traffic at 08:00, 10:00, 14:00, 17:00, 19:00, 21:00, and 22:00 until 15 September. Depths in the channel are maintained by dredging at typically 3–5 metres, with strong crosswinds and current effects possible during transit. Bridge openings are scheduled and queues of vessels form on both sides — manoeuvring space is restricted and requires control under low-speed conditions. Monitor VHF Channel 12 for the bridge, callsign “Floating Bridge Santa Maura.” Always verify the current schedule with the marina before arrival — it changes seasonally and without extended notice.
From D-Marin, head south down the protected east coast towards Nidri, a bustling sailing hub on the east coast of Lefkada with a wide range of restaurants, bars, and yacht services — and an easy jumping-off point to nearby islands such as Madouri and Skorpios. South of Nidri, Vlicho Bay offers long, sheltered, natural anchorage with excellent holding in mud and protection from all directions — ideal for an overnight stern-to on the rocks with lines ashore if the Nidri quay is packed.
Lefkada’s west coast is a different world: wild, cliffy, and spectacular. Porto Katsiki and Egremni beaches are only reachable by tender from an anchor — approach in the morning calm, drop the hook in settled depths, and you will have the electric blue water largely to yourself before the excursion boats arrive.
The Channel Crossing: Lefkada to Kefalonia
The passage south from Vasiliki, Lefkada’s southernmost harbour, to Fiskardo on the northern tip of Kefalonia is a comfortable 15–18 nautical miles depending on your departure anchorage. Leave by 09:00 and you will be bow-in at Fiskardo before the Maistro has properly built. The channel between Kefalonia and the mainland is deep and clear: primary approaches are from the north and south via the channel between Ithaca and Kefalonia, which is deep and clear with depths of 50–150 metres mid-channel, shoaling to 20–40 metres within one nautical mile of either coast. Watch for ferry traffic crossing to Sami — they move fast and expect you to be seen on AIS.
Kefalonia: Three Stops Every Motorboat Skipper Must Make
Kefalonia is the largest of the three islands covered in this Greece Ionian Islands Sailing Guide: Lefkada, Kefalonia and Ithaca, and it earns its reputation. The island’s geological structure forms numerous protected coves and inlets that remain calm even when open waters experience rougher conditions. Mount Ainos, rising to over 1,600 metres, acts as a natural windbreak creating lee shores along much of the coastline — making Kefalonia particularly attractive for Mediterranean yachting.
Fiskardo
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. 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. If you want a quieter night, duck half a mile south to Foki Cove. The cove is protected from the prevailing north-westerlies. Drop the anchor in the middle, run stern lines to the northern rocks, and anchor outside the swimming buoys. Depths are 15–20 metres over sand with good holding. The family-run Foki taverna by the beach is excellent for dinner; reach it easily by tender.
Assos
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. The bay maintains consistent depths of 4–8 metres with excellent holding in sand and weed. Come early in peak season — this place fills by noon. Assos is only suitable in lighter air; the anchorage quickly becomes untenable in rougher conditions, certainly in northerlies. A short dinghy ride lands you at the village quay; walk up through flower-covered lanes to the Venetian castle above for the best view in the southern Ionian.
Argostoli
When you need fuel, provisions, or a proper berth, Argostoli provides the most developed berthing facilities on Kefalonia, with extensive town quay berthing. Berthing is stern-to or alongside, with depths typically 3–3.5 metres alongside and deeper water in the approach channel. The port supports over 200 berths with access to water, electricity, fuel, chandlery, and technical services. The weekly Laiki Agora street market is within easy dinghy range — stock up on local honey, Robola wine, and fresh vegetables before heading to Ithaca. Watch for ferry traffic entering Sami and Argostoli, gusts near capes, and rebound swell after fresh northwesterlies along exposed shores.
Ithaca: Homer’s Island from the Helm
Few passages in the Ionian have the weight of this one. Ithaca is located in the Ionian Sea east of Kefalonia at approximately 38°22′N 20°43′E. The island is deeply indented with multiple bays providing sheltered water, with the principal harbour at Vathi situated at the head of a long, enclosed inlet on the east side. Additional operational locations include Kioni and Frikes on the north-east coast.
Vathy
The main town of Vathy sits at the end of a long, narrow bay and ranks among the classic overnight stops on any southern Ionian itinerary. Vathy provides anchoring in 5–10 metres over mud with reliable holding and high shelter from all directions. In Vathy, yachts berth stern-to or alongside on the town quay, with depths typically 4–7 metres alongside. Anchoring in the bay is common since quay spaces fill quickly. Aim to anchor close to the town centre for shallower depths or south-west of Lazaretto islet for reduced wind exposure — expect NW gusts. The bottom is mud and holding is excellent. Vathy has the most reliable services on the island — water, fuel, a small supermarket, and chandlery. Reach the waterfront tavernas by dinghy; tie up at the small wooden pontoon near the harbour authority office and walk twenty steps to a cold Mythos.
Kioni
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. Kioni sits on the north-east coast of Ithaca, about 4 NM south of Frikes. The bay opens gently between wooded slopes and reveals a compact waterfront village. Moor stern-to on the main quay if there is space. The depth in the middle of the bay can drop off past 15 metres, so watch your depth gauge carefully before dropping. Do not consider Kioni in easterly or southerly winds — swell can get really big, and holding is poor in the weedy bottom at depths over 10 metres. In settled north-westerlies, however, three well-lit windmills grace the southern end of the bay, creating a magical night-time setting. Several tavernas, a couple of minimarkets and bakeries, and some excellent cafés are within easy reach of the quay.
Many of Ithaca’s best anchorages are accessible only by boat, rewarding crews with clear water, quiet surroundings, and dramatic landscapes rather than organised facilities. Polis Bay, near Stavros on the north-west coast, is one of the finest: surrounded by olive groves and forested slopes, this anchor-friendly bay near the mythical location of Odysseus’s palace offers natural Ionian serenity. Approach from the south in the morning calm, anchor in 8–12 metres on a sandy bottom with a line to the rocks, and you will likely have the bay to yourselves.
Skipper’s Briefing: Five Things to Know Before You Go
- Chart digitally, back up on paper. Load the Navionics Boating app Adriatic & Ionian Sea region before departure. You get up-to-date, detailed charts usable offline plus location tracking and route planning tools on your mobile device. Always carry an Imray G12 paper chart as backup — electronics fail in the heat.
- Lefkada bridge schedule is live. Check lefkadaports.gr the day before transit. The floating bridge operates on a seasonal schedule. During summer 2026, it opens seven times daily for approximately 10–15 minutes at the beginning of each scheduled hour. Miss a slot in a queue and you wait up to two hours.
- Ferry watch. Watch for ferry traffic into Sami and Argostoli — several daily services run to Patras and Ithaca and they maintain schedule regardless of pleasure craft.
- Fuel planning. Fuel is concentrated in Lefkada Town at the channel and marina area, where marine diesel is available via a fixed fuel berth. Fiskardo and Argostoli both have fuel by arrangement. Ithaca’s Vathy has a fuel station at Mylos — confirm by VHF before approach.
- Book your D-Marin berth in advance. In summer, it is especially wise to contact the marina in advance rather than assume space will be available — it can save you enormous stress on arrival day. Use the marina’s own booking portal or a service like Dockwa for a confirmed berth.
A Week on the Water: Suggested Itinerary
For a seven-night circuit in this Greece Ionian Islands Sailing Guide: Lefkada, Kefalonia and Ithaca, the Nautiful Team recommends the following sequence for motorboats of 8–15 metres:
- Night 1: D-Marin Lefkas Marina — arrival, provisioning, fuel.
- Night 2: Vlicho Bay, Lefkada — anchor in mud, stern line to the rocks, total shelter.
- Night 3: Fiskardo, Kefalonia — northern shore anchorage, 10–12 metres, lines ashore.
- Night 4: Assos Bay, Kefalonia — morning arrival essential; 4–8 metres, sand and weed holding.
- Night 5: Argostoli, Kefalonia — stern-to on town quay, fuel and provisioning run.
- Night 6: Vathy, Ithaca — anchor in 5–10 metres of mud, dinghy ashore for dinner.
- Night 7: Kioni, Ithaca — quay or anchor; leave by 09:00 for the return north.
Short hops of 5–15 NM, sheltered anchorages, predictable afternoon sea breezes, no Meltemi, no big tides, and abundant tavernas in every harbour make this one of the gentlest and most rewarding cruising grounds in the Mediterranean. That is no exaggeration — it is simply the reality from the helm.
The Only Perspective That Matters
The land tourist queues for the viewpoint, reads the sign about Odysseus, and heads back to the hire car. You swing the bow into Vathy’s inlet as the hillside turns gold, find a clear patch of mud in six metres, deploy the anchor with practiced ease, and by the time the chain is set you are already deciding between the taverna with the string lights or the one with the caïques tied alongside. That is the difference. In this Greece Ionian Islands Sailing Guide: Lefkada, Kefalonia and Ithaca, the water is not the route — it is the destination.
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