Fri 6/19: From our position in the cockpit we had a front row seat to some unfortunate souls who ran soft aground on a shallow spot in the channel – just left of center – closest to the breakwater. We were all vulnerable to it as the channel is narrow to begin with but made narrower by having the boats tied up outboard one another.
We noted some of the issues associated with same and passed them on to some boats who asked about our stay in the Fishing shelter. Shown below is an abbreviated and edited version of the report focusing on the water depths associated with a visit here:
“- It is not a Thira/Vlichadha marina: it is a "Fishing Shelter". Some other cruiser who sounded like he knew (?) said it focuses on fishing boats because public funds were used to build it so they have priority for services. It also explains their lack of concern for water depth which can be tricky the further in one goes into the shelter - which the fishing boats do. We draw 5' and did okay but we carefully avoided a shallow spot which other boats "discovered" as they departed from their berth outboard 2 or 3 other boats (i.e. they started from a position outboard which gave them little room to maneuver).
- Water depths: Approach Channel: I noted the depth decreased to 8-9 feet as we approached the end of the outside breakwater. As we turned to go into the channel between the end of the outer breakwater and the outer edge of the oval shaped "mole" and crossed a line between the end of the breakwater and the navigation mark on the eastern end of the mole I noted 7.5 feet. When we passed the opening into the inner harbor I saw 6.4 feet and then it went up a little. At that point I got busy getting into the berth. Noted 7.5 feet alongside the curved mole.
- Water depths: Notes on the channel between the breakwater and the outside of the mole: The silting as reported in Heikell's guide remains an issue along the inside of the breakwater and is perhaps marginally worse at this time in spots. We saw several boats get stuck near or in the center of the channel (soft groundings) who managed to get off (with help provided by their neighbors via lines ) after backing and filling for a time.
Heikell’s Pilot (10th edition) does warn “…depths are variable with some shallow patches”. Also the little sand bar which gave so many of our neighbors fits is indicated in the chartlet he includes for this shelter.