CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons (Bay_of_Palaiokastritsa_from_Bellavista.JPG)Anchorage· Corfu· Greece — Ionian, Saronic & Argolic
Paleokastritsa Bays
39° 40.3′ N · 19° 42.2′ E
A cluster of small coves under green cliffs, with the monastery on its headland and Angelokastro on the skyline — the most dramatic scenery on Corfu, and the only real shelter on the west coast. Tradition makes it the bay where Odysseus came ashore and met Nausicaa.
Practical
Coordinate from mySea (anchorage of about 5 m in the bay below the monastery). Holding sand with rock patches; typical depths 8–18 m in the bays; excellent shelter from the north, open to the south (George Yachts). In lighter air you can anchor directly north and east of the harbour — mind the many rocks, islets and reefs; Agios Spyridonos bay just west is SailingIssues' favourite. Strong southerlies and easterlies send in a big swell. With N or E winds, Liapades bay round Cape Kosteri has good holding in sand (SailingIssues). A second mySea anchorage near Alipa logs 4 m sand with submerged rocks about 180 m away.
Best for
Spectacular cliffs, caves and a monastery visit
Season
May–Oct; untenable in strong S–E swell