Poros - Docking
Poros Harbour provides adequate year-round shelter, but there is an almost constant wash caused by the traffic of large and small ferries. Water and electricity are available on posts along the quay. To pay for services, please contact the harbour master, listing below.
North Quay
The town is built on a small peninsula surrounded by a quay. Visiting yachts predominantly use the North Quay, bow or stern-to on the quay or on the small pontoon to the north that extends at right angles to the quayside. Holding here can be unreliable.
Strong westerlies can cause quite a fetch in the harbour and uncomfortable conditions for boats in particular on the North Quay.
South Quay
While the South Quay in the narrow channel is used by the ferries, fishing boats and resident charter companies, off-season you may find some space here either bow or stern-to or alongside. Holding is good, in thick mud.
Anchor at 10 meters and come stern-to the quay but allow long stern lines to protect the boat from the swells caused by the wakes.
Docking Notes
- Be aware of the wake from the constant movement of high-speed ferries. Leave as much distance between your stern and the concrete quay as possible and ensure your anchor is well dug in.
- Anchor at 10 meters and come stern/bows-to the quay, but allow long shorelines to protect the boat from the swells caused by the wakes.
- It is very shallow in the channel between the island and the mainland – keep to the island side.
- The harbour can be quite crowded and there is always a good chance that your anchor will be fouled by another boat, so be prepared for this during departure.
- In October 2016 there was a very sudden localized thunderstorm in Poros with winds reaching 60+ knots (see comment below). A great many yachts on the quay sustained bad damage. According to locals, these are happening more frequently.
Galatas
The town opposite Poros, on the south side of the channel, usually has some space on the western end of the quay, avoiding the ferry quay and local berths. Depths 2-3 meters.
Note: With the prevailing wind this quay can be very uncomfortable.
Anchoring
There are good anchorages nearby at Monastery Bay and Russian Bay.
Last updated: June 2018
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Poros: North town quay.
Be aware of the old mooring chain that runs parallel to the quay at 30 meters distant at eight meters depth. Every morning there is chaos with mainly charter boats getting caught under this. After an hour or so of wrecking their windlass a diver usually is required to release the anchor €100.
Best to put out at least 50 meters and motor back out to the anchor in the mornings before hauling in.
The pontoon that runs out from the middle of the north quay has signs put up from the port authority forbidding side on mooring, this is the cause of anchors getting caught around each other in the mornings.
It’s win, win for the port authority, they get more boats stern to, to charge and they don’t care what happens every morning, the port diver has his weeks wages made by Tuesday morning.
Also, be very aware of the dreadful swell from the sea cats all day and night long, boats are seriously damaged every week in here leaving swim platforms down.
That said, Poros is a wonderful port to visit, it has a great chandlery run by the Pavalou Brothers (100 years) in the square.
Enjoy.
The pontoon at the north quay that juts out of the north town quay:
Authorities seem to ask the yachts to come ‘stern to’ on the pontoon. However, near the root of the pontoon, any yacht that drops it anchor will cross anchors with the yachts moored stern-to on the main quay.
Water & electricity available on posts along the quay.
Harbourmaster office (berth fees, water & electricity payment/cards: +30 22980 2912; +30 6981 706069, VHF # 09. (Office on west quay). Port police office on southern quay, (east of ferry dock)
Ten minutes north from the town is ‘Russian Bay’. Very nice anchorage with a beach taverna. People anchor randomly which limits space.
Best action is to tie to north wall and tuck yourself in (50 meters from beach). You can also tie to the opposite wall as the small bay is quite well sheltered. Good holding, cold beer.
Also from Peter Pelo:
This is a link to a youtube movie with only a slightly strong wind blowing. You can easily see what kind of fetch picks up in the harbour (waves).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCSxYXGMOTY
Even with this amount of wind the yachts alongside are really prancing around.
Reported by Peter Pelo, SY Funny Girl:
Friday, October 7th 2016 we were in Poros when a thunderstorm hit the bay at about 21:00. It lasted for about 20 minutes and made huge damages. The wind was recorded at 60 knots, others speak of 80 knots, with waves of 1.5m within 20 minutes.
We were the only yacht which did not break away from the pontoon (and there were 14 boats on the pontoon). We had long lines and long springs, but still suffered cracks in the hull and very deep scratches, mostly to starboard where we were hit by unoccupied boats.
You can see pictures of the damage on our blog – http://7octoberporos.blogspot.com.es/p/blog-page.html. According to the locals, this happens more frequently every year.
Poros is sheltered from all wind directions, but be careful with thunderstorms! The wind hit us like a passing train with about the same amount of noise. We are shocked but ok and now in Preveza for repairs.