Messolonghi - General Info

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Description:

An interesting port, approached by a long canal, set amid shallow salt marshes on the northern shore of the Gulf of Patras. Famous in Greek history due to its heroic fight for the country’s independence in the 19th century. Lord Byron, the poet, supported this struggle and is buried here. It is a thriving Greek working town with few tourists.

The town is an interesting place to visit with very welcoming locals. They have a unique national festival in April as well as the “No” Day on October 28th.

Useful feedback on what to do here in comments section.

Approach

Keep to the middle of the canal to avoid the shallows to the east. It is dredged to six meters (19.6 ft) if one keeps to the centre. It’s important to keep between the buoys coming in from seaward.

Winds can be flukey in this port, so watch out for sudden gusts.

Facilities

Messolonghi Marina and Boatyard, after closing because of a license dispute for over 2 years, officially re-opened mid-June 2019. 

Position:

38°19.57′ N, 21°24.93′ E (canal entrance)

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Messolonghi was last updated 2 years ago.

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  1. August 6, 2019 at 10:49 AM
    janleonard says:

    We’ve just come out of Messalonghi Marina after a 3 day stay. Marina was good, nice people, plenty of depth. The chandlery was open and looks very good. The supermarket was still closed so long walk into town for goods.
    They are currently dredging the canal so you can only get through every 3 hours ( 11 am, 2 am, 5am etc.). 3rd to 10th August 2019.
    WARNING – there is a shallow patch less than 1.5m close to the marina entrance. It is very poorly marked with one stick and is not shown on the charts. We grounded and had to be tugged off by a fishing boat (no damage thankfully). Port police were very helpful but this really isn’t a good place to go until they’ve finished dredging.

  2. June 28, 2019 at 5:05 PM
    bluewatersailor says:

    Has it’s been report here Messolnghi has reopen .
    There been some suggestion that they are not offering any services ,
    Here a email from Jo one of the marina director.

    Dear Vic,

    Thanks for your support.

    All service in and outside of the boat, in the water and outside of the water can be undertaken as long as they don’t pollute the environment.

    When the marina is finished we will have a special place for high pressure cleaning etc.
    We are aiming to have this finished, before the start of the new season.

    This means that currently we cannot wash the boats whilst lifted, but they will be launched clean.

    Unlike other many other marinas in Greece, Messolonghi Marina will be a “green” marina.

    Let me know if you have any further questions.

    Beste regards,
    Jo

  3. June 18, 2019 at 12:24 PM
    profile photo
    sue-richards says:

    This comment was posted on the main Greece page – re-posted here:

    rersk
    June 15, 2019 at 12:54 PM
    Good News from Messolonghi Marina. They have just officially re-opened as of June 14, 2019. We were the second boat to arrive in the marina after it’s 2 1/2 years closure. There are some boats on the pontoons and hard standing, but otherwise the place seems semi-deserted at this time. The office is operational and responds to VHF 69. The store and the chandlery are starting to re-open. The sanitary facilities and power and water on the pontoons are clean and functional. We are paying 400 Euros/month high season rates to store our 12.8 m sloop until mid-Sept.
    Reed Erskine s/v Cayenne

  4. August 24, 2018 at 10:34 AM
    Data Entry5 says:

    Very good prices at the town port( north and east side), we paid only 13 euros for two nights (10 meters boat).

    if someone wants to stay there only 2-3 nights I strongly recommend the town port.. it has free water too!!

  5. April 15, 2018 at 3:24 PM
    Data Entry5 says:

    Things finally seem to improving in Messolonghi. Hopefully, Mr Menen will win the legal battle and keep corruption out…

    Chris

    Messolonghi, 04 April 2018
    Dear friends and guests of Messolonghi Marina,
    Another six months have passed, after our last newsletter. Finally, the inter-ministerial council KESPA took a positive decision for the overall license.

    Our last documents were already submitted in October 2017, but only a few weeks ago the last members were installed and the council could convene…

    Anyway, after four years, we have reached the final stage of the licensing procedure. It is now in the hands of the ministries to put the last signatures. We expect this process to be finished within the next 5-6 weeks.

    For sure the Marina will be open again for the Summer and Winter season. Many of our guests, that had to leave the marina, are asking when they can return. Because our mooring places are still limited, we would like to make an inventory of the number of boats that want to stay again in the marina.

    Therefore I kindly request anyone who intends to return to Messolonghi (Summer and/or Winter season), to send us a short email.
    Thank you for your cooperation and patience. We will keep you informed.

    Best regards,
    Jo Mennen
    General Manager
    Messolonghi Marina

  6. August 3, 2017 at 7:59 AM
    Data Entry5 says:

    Just been to Messolonghi. There’s also a nice restaurant in the harbour: Sunset. Same owner has also a restaurant in town: The Rooster’s Egg.

    For eating fresh fish this is a good place. Got also a great tip: take your dingy up the river. Beautiful nature and cows that drink salt water.

  7. July 2, 2017 at 2:31 PM
    Data Entry5 says:

    We have just had a great 5 day stop anchored in the Harbour. Heaps to do. Great town layout with a focus on pedestrian access. Good general shopping and marine shops.

    The community-run gallery/museum in the old town hall is excellent and a guided walk thru helped us consolidate our understanding of Greek independence. Several smaller museums as well.

    Car hire is available search ‘Advance’. Local 20km trips can include the now landlocked ancient theatre and shipbuilding sheds at Oiniades and Ancient capital of the city-state at Plevron or Plevrona.

    Both sites excellently interpreted in Greek and English are open till 1500 except when closed on Mondays. Amazing views from Plevron. Bird watching(it’s an international Ramsar site) trips by boat plane bicycle or car.

    Good swimming near town or out near the head of the lagoons. We were advised by Ioannis and Konstantina from ‘Discover Messalonghi’. Office is just off the back of the main square.

    You will not find nicer, more helpful young Greek people than these two and its inspiring to see their enthusiasm for whats a relatively new venture. Get off the boat in a storm proof anchorage and check out a unique and accessible part of Greece!

  8. March 29, 2017 at 4:10 PM
    Data Entry5 says:

    Please find the Newsletter 01-2017 from Messolonghi Marina:

    Messolonghi, 29 March 2017

    Dear guests and friends of Messolonghi Marina,

    With this letter, we want to give you an update on the current situation in the Marina.
    As you all know, the past winter was quiet dramatically for the Marina, because we could not lift any boat on land, and even for the launching of boats we face difficulties.

    After a delay of again 3-4 months, because of wrong information of a public organization, finally on Friday, 10 March, the local Port Authority (not the Port Police), who is responsible for the land and the sea area, took a positive decision for the Marina.

    The bad news is, that due to the ongoing complaints of some people, now the Port Police is not only checking the lifting and launching, but also the boats that want to sail into the marina.
    This means, that for the moment we cannot accept new agreements and even cannot extend agreements for boats that will sail and want to come back to the marina.

    For boats that need (underwater) service, we arranged with the Port Authority from Patras, that boats from Messolonghi Marina can be lifted in their Patras facilities.
    Please contact the office if you want to make use of this service.

    Although we are very optimistic, we think that it will take at least until the Summer before all license procedures have finished.
    We strongly believe that this year will be the start of a new era for the Marina and with this for Messolonghi.

    On behalf of the staff I thank you all for your loyalty, patience and understanding.

    We will keep you informed on all developments.

    Best regards,

    Jo Mennen
    General Manager

  9. June 22, 2016 at 7:25 AM
    Data Entry5 says:

    We are in the marina now, and found good rates for a one-month stay, even in the “season.” Water is 50 cents per 100 liters, and electricity is 32 cents per kilowatt.

    The marina staff is friendly, although the marineros seem to be of varying competence, some are quite good, others not so much.

    There is a good chandlery in the building with the marina office, and others in town. The small grocery store in the same building is handy and reasonable if limited in selection.

    The town has everything, including a large Carrefour, but the smallish restaurant/bar in the marina is quite good. We are comfortable leaving the boat here for a couple weeks.

    And there is service(though not cheap) directly to the Athens airport. We see boats anchored off the marina, so difficulties over that seem to have been resolved.

  10. September 7, 2015 at 2:36 PM
    Data Entry5 says:

    We are considering to leave our catamaran during the winter on the dry at the Marina but heard a few negative comments? Has anybody been there recently? Thanks

  11. August 17, 2015 at 12:02 PM
    Data Entry5 says:

    The town quay is not completely free, we paid € 7,- for a 12-meter boat to the harbour authority. It is about 1/4 of the price of the Marina.

  12. May 20, 2015 at 6:09 PM
    Data Entry5 says:

    It is a very friendly marina where live a lot of world cruisers… Good laundry where you can leave and take books, panos is the owner of the shop market in the marina… The town is very near and you can find some nautical shops. It is a beautiful place

  13. November 13, 2014 at 4:33 PM
    Data Entry5 says:

    It is worthwhile mentioning that there are four candlers in Messolonghi one of them (Dimitris at Way-Point a very nice and helpful man who keeps reasonable prices)is also representing sail-maker and rigger in Lefkada.

    Thus Messolonghi might be a good place to obtain these services (with it’s large ‘free of charge’ Town Quay as opposed to the expensive marina in Lefkada).

  14. August 10, 2014 at 3:17 PM
    Data Entry5 says:

    Posted on behalf of Peter Ter Haar, SY Funny Girl:

    We visited Messolonghi 2 weeks ago, they just raised the visitors price to 1,75 €/meter. So we had to pay for a 2-night stay 52€.

    There is a chandlery now, with reasonable stock, and a grocery store where you can get basic things, fruit, vegetables, orders for bread. Also in that shop, you can buy cleaning stuff for boats.

    A yacht club/bar with friendly people is also active, they have a car service to the city center if you eat in their restaurant in the city. Water and electricity with keycards.

    For one night you can anchor in the bay or go to the town quay (with west winds not comfortable).
    There is Port Police and even if one is in the Marina you have to go to their office 10 minutes walk.

    We did not go and up to now we have not been arrested. It is possible to arrange special taxi prices to Athens, also there is a public bus service from town to Athens. It’s a 20-minute walk to the center.