The Ionian is one of the Mediterranean’s most popular yachting destinations with gentle breezes and a scattering of picturesque islands and sheltered harbours offering the perfect introduction to sailing. The Southern Ionian is ideal for the less experienced sailor due to its sheltered waters and generally shorter routes, whilst the Northern Ionian offers more adventurous sailing with longer passages, less crowded waters and steady breezes.
Rising out of the clear, turquoise sea, midway between Greece and Italy, these fertile islands are a rich colourful tapestry of vineyards, olive groves and fruit orchards, setting them apart from the barren rocky terrain of other Greek islands. There are seven main islands in the Ionian group; Cephalonia is the largest, followed by Corfu. Lefkas and Zante are popular for their pretty villages and sandy beaches. Ithaka is the legendary home of Odysseus, hero of Homer’s Odyssey; then there is the tiny island of Paxos and finally, sitting alone off the southern tip of mainland Greece, is Kythira. Corfu in the North is an island of rolling green farmland, vineyards and orange groves – the second largest of the Ionian islands it is perhaps one of the most well known and popular holiday islands in Greece. Just below Corfu is Paxos, the smallest of the Ionian islands, dominated by thousands of olive trees. Home to just three tiny villages – Gaios, Lakka and Loggos, the island has a relaxed and easygoing atmosphere. Further south is Lefkas, a green and mountainous island covered in pine trees. Only 650m separate Lefkas from the mainland, and the narrow strait is crossed by a swing bridge.
The east coast of the island faces onto a broad expanse of water sheltered by the mainland and the offshore island of Meganisi. Skorpios, one of the tiny wooded islets here was the former hideaway of the millionaire Onassis family. Cephalonia was made famous by the book and subsequent film Captain Corelli’s Mandolin and is the largest of the Ionian islands.
On the northwest coast, steep cliffs plummet down to white pebble beaches and brilliant blue sea, the rest of the island is covered in citrus trees, olive groves and vineyards. Ithaka, 2 miles west of Cephalonia is a narrow island, almost cut in two by the Gulf of Molos. The east coast has sheltered waters, pretty towns such as Frikes and Kioni and steady afternoon breezes.
The beauty, quaint villages, sheltered harbours and gentle breezes of these islands, make the Ionian one of the Mediterranean’s most popular yachting destinations.
To book your next sailing holiday in the Ionian Sea visit https://www.yachts-sailing.com/
