Sailing Corfu & the Ionian Islands: Our First Catamaran Adventure, September 2022

Boat: Lagoon 380 S2 (2014)
Length: 11.55 m | Beam: 6.53 m | Draft: 1.15 m
Battened mainsail | Solar panels

Lagoon 380 S2

Day 1 – Marina Gouvia, Corfu

Our very first catamaran charter. Nervous doesn’t even begin to cover it. After months of reading about multihull handling and binge-watching sailing YouTube, we were finally stepping aboard a Lagoon 380.

The charter base was efficient, and the handover went smoothly — although we noticed one engine had way more hours than the other. The base explained that many skippers motor with just one engine to save fuel, using autopilot to compensate.

Provisions loaded, checklist ticked, we were ready to go. Almost.

Day 2 – Lakka, Paxos

Our first leg took us to the stunning bay of Lakka on the northern tip of Paxos. Off-season serenity? Not this time — the bay was crowded, with most boats using long lines to the shore.

Our anchoring attempt stirred a bit of drama: a neighboring skipper mistakenly thought we had bumped into his boat and started shouting. It was a classic case of mistaken identity, and he quickly apologized. Welcome to the med mooring games.

Once settled, we swam, explored the bay by SUP, and helped a neighboring boat cast off. Payment? Two cold Pilsners. Fair deal.

Day 3 – Preveza

We docked stern-to at the town quay in Preveza, laying anchor due to limited mooring availability. Preveza has strong currents — up to 2 knots — which made maneuvering between two boats a bit of a challenge.

Docked next to us was a beautiful schooner being delivered from Cleopatra Marina to Marmaris. The crew invited us aboard and shared some freshly caught crab. We returned the favor with beer and swapped stories late into the night.

The port charged €40 total (including water and electricity), plus a small city tax.

Day 4 – Lefkas Canal & Marmagkas Bay (Ithaca)

We passed through the Lefkas Canal and the floating bridge Agia Mavra, a unique engineering feature that opens every hour to let boats through.

Sailing Through Lefkas Canal & Floating Bridge

We dropped anchor in Marmagkas Bay in northern Ithaca, a peaceful spot beneath the tiny chapel of Agios Nikolaos. Sandy patches with some rocks made for decent holding.

For the first time, we deployed the bridle — a key piece of gear on catamarans for anchoring. A quick dinghy ride brought us ashore for a sunset stroll.

Fun fact: Ithaca is famously home to Odysseus, the cunning king from Homer’s Odyssey. Though there's debate about the actual location, the island still leans into the legend.

Day 5 – Zakynthos & Navagio Beach

Entering Agios Nikolaos (Zakynthos) was windy, with strong crosswinds. We approached fast, dropped anchor, grabbed a mooring — not elegant, but effective.

We learned the first excursions to Blue Caves leave at 9 a.m. and Navagio Beach at 10. We wanted to beat the crowds, so we left at 7 a.m.

The Blue Caves were magical in the early morning light. At Navagio, we were one of only two catamarans anchored. For about 10 minutes, the beach was ours — then came the tourist flotilla. One by one, boats poured in, and the famous shipwreck beach filled with selfie sticks and noise.

Navagio Beach after the arrival of tourists

Drone? Check. Wind? Perfect. We hoisted sails and headed for Cephalonia, a glorious 20-mile reach.

Day 6 – Antisamos, Cephalonia

Cephalonia is the largest of the Ionian islands. We anchored in Antisamos Bay, using a shore line. The bay was windy, but perfect for paddleboarding and playing around with a small kids' catamaran we found.

We caught a bus to nearby Sami (€40) and scoped out a fuel stop. In the morning, we hiked a 6 km trail — didn’t make it to the end due to a steep climb and fatigue, but the views were worth it.

Later, we refueled in Sami (109 liters) after a smart maneuver using spring lines and bow-thruster-free pivoting. Our boat-handling confidence was definitely growing.

Day 7 – Fiskardo

Fiskardo is one of the few towns in Cephalonia untouched by the devastating 1953 earthquake. It’s charming, but shallow.

We made multiple approaches near the quay, measuring depths with a paddle — just not enough water. Several boats failed to dock and gave up. We did the same and anchored with a stern line to the northern shore. Challenging side winds and passing ferries added to the thrill.

The pier marked with black-and-yellow paint? Reserved. We left it for the pros.

Day 8 – Sivota (Lefkada)

A strong wind warning was issued — orange level — so we made an early run to Sivota Bay and tied up to the pontoon at Vibes Restaurant. Overpriced (€500 for 10 people – dinner with free mooring), but secure.

The bay was beautiful but oddly smelly, and the water near the beach was ice-cold.

A highlight: a 4 km walk to Lefkaditiki Gi Winery. The tour and tasting were great — their rosé and semi-sweet white were decent, and they export to the Netherlands.

In the evening, the wind picked up to 40 knots. We were glad to be safely moored.

Day 9 – Meganisi

We anchored in Ormos Rementinou, a scenic northern bay east of Katomeri on Meganisi.

A neighboring boat’s shore line came loose — they nearly drifted into us. A reminder: always double-check your lines.

The bay was beautiful, with turquoise water and calm surroundings. In the evening, we hiked to Katomeri for dinner. The wine was okay, the food… not so much.

On our way to Lefkas, we made a quick stop in Nydri to see the waterfall. The anchorage was jam-packed.

Day 10 – Lefkas

No marina for us — they wanted €123 plus extra for water, showers, and electricity. Instead, we moored at a private pontoon north of the marina and filled our tanks for free. Always nice to win the provisioning game.

Day 11 – Gaios & Mongonisi (Paxos)

After a failed attempt to find space in Gaios, we moved south to Mongonisi.

The “island” is actually connected to Paxos by a narrow spit. We tied up at a small pier managed by the owner himself. His father had the foresight to buy the island in 1946 for the equivalent of €2,000 after making a fortune fishing.

It’s developing slowly, under tight government restrictions. The bay was lovely, the sunset unforgettable.

Day 12 – Sivota (Karvouno Beach)

With a cyclone approaching, we reserved a spot at Karvouno Beach, just outside Sivota.

We spent the evening observing how boats managed in rough conditions at the city pier. A good reminder that preparation and timing matter — a lot.

Slamming Boats, Sivota

Day 13 – Mandraki Marina, Corfu

Our final night was spent in Mandraki Marina, nestled right below the ancient walls of the Old Fortress of Corfu. Guests of the marina don’t have to pay entry to the fortress — the gate is the marina's exit.