Nisos Aigina (Aiyina, Aegina, Egina)

Aigina is the roughly triangular island lying some 12 miles SW of Zéa Marina. The summit of Aigina, Oros (532m/l,745ft), is near the southern end of the island. The island is mostly rocky and barren, but there are a few wooded areas around the coast.

The position of Aigina guarding the northwestern approaches to the Aegean has meant that it was important from the very early days of trade. It was occupied by a Neolithic people who were in turn supplanted by a Bronze Age people around 2000 BC. The Mycenaeans occupied it about 1400 BC, but appear to have abandoned it after a couple of centuries. Later it was recolonized and the inhabitants began to build up their own merchant marine fleet. In the Battle of Salamis the fleet from Aigina was said by Herodotus to have distinguished itself above all others. The growth of the maritime fleet aroused the envy of the Athenians to the extent that Aristotle remarked that the island was 'the eyesore of Piraeus'.

At the beginning of the Peloponnesian War the island opted for the Spartan side (its relationship with Athens had never been a happy one), and was subsequently subdued by Athens. It never recovered and thereafter endured the usual succession of invaders: the Romans, Byzantines, the Saracens, Venetians and Turks. From 1826-28 the city was the capital of the newly liberated Greece and the first modern Greek coins were minted here and the new Greek national flag flown.

The island is very popular with tourists and Athenians alike. By hydrofoil from Zéa it is only 20 minutes away and is a popular excursion for the smog-bound Athenians. Tourists visiting Athens often come on a day trip here. Consequently the strip of water between Aigina and Athens is constantly churned up with ferries and hydrofoils hurrying back and forth, and at the weekends with Athens-based pleasure boats scurrying to get out or back to the capital.

AIGINA (Aegina, Egina)

Imray-Tetra G14
BA 1657

Approach

Conspicuous The town of Aigina is conspicuous from the distance. Closer in a Doric column on Ák Kolona immediately NW of the town and a white chapel near the outer nd of the W mole are conspicuous. A red conical buoy marks a rock with 3m over it off the marina and another red conical buoy marks a shoal patch with 2-4m least depths just W of the entrance.
By night Use the light on Âk Plakâkia Fl(2)15s7M, Nisis Moni (Ák Kostis Fl(2)WRG.10sll-8M; the white sector 296°-322° covers the safe passage across the shoal water between Aigina and Angistri), and the lights at the entrance: F1.5s7M5 F1.R.3M and F.G.3M. The entrance to the marina is lit Fl.G.3s.

Dangers

1. Care should be taken when making an approach from the S as shoal water extends Ε from Nisis Metopi across to Aigina. There are least depths of 8-9m through the fairway of the channel.
2. Care is needed at the entrance to the harbour as numerous ferries and hydrofoils use it and they enter and leave at speed. A good lookout is needed.

Mooring

Go stern or bows-to the town quay or off the café on the S quay. If you want to berth in the marina then apply to the port police for a berth. The harbour gets very crowded with yachts in the summer months.
Shelter Good all-round shelter although strong southerlies send in an uncomfortable swell. The bottom is mud with some rocks - poor holding in places. Some yachts winter afloat here.
Authorities Port police and customs.
Aigina Marina The marina is now in use and yachts berth stern or bows-to the pontoons. There are laid moorings tailed to the quay at some berths. If you use your anchor then a trip line is advisable. At the time of writing many of the berths are occupied by local boats and yachts permanently based here. The marina is still not finished and the situation is in a state of flux. If you can find a berth here use it. Otherwise it is really better to be on the town quay if space is available. Shelter in the marina is generally good and only NW winds cause a swell to enter.

Facilities

Services Water and electricity points on the town quay and in the marina. The service points in the marina are not yet connected.
Fuel Some distance from the harbour. A mini-tanker can deliver to the quay.
Repairs Limited mechanical repairs. Chandlers. For hauling see section on Boatyards on the Ν side of Aigina.
Provisions Good shopping for provisions. Large supermarket on the coast road going S out of town (turn left at Miranda Hotel). Fruit and vegetables can be bought from caϊques moored on the town quay. Ice available.
Eating out Good tavernas around the waterfront.
Other PO. OTE. Banks. ATM. Greek gas and Camping Gaz. Hire motorbikes and bicycles. Buses to the other villages on the island. Ferries to Piraeus and to the other islands in the Saronic Gulf.

General

The small town around the harbour is a pleasant homely sort of place despite the large numbers of tourists deposited here in the summer months. It has the distinction of being the first place in Greece where the Greek flag was raised at the end of the Greek War of Independence. This flag differed from the present-day one, being red and gold in colour. The single column on Ák Kolona is all that remains of the Temple of Aphrodite that formerly stood on the cape.

PERDIKA

Approach

The small bay on the SW end of Aigina. The small village on the Ν side of the bay is easily identified from seaward.
By night Use the light on Nisis Moni Fl(2)WRG.10sll-8M and the light on the end of the outer mole Fl.R.l-5s2M.

Mooring

It's always a bit of a squeeze trying to get into Perdika in the summer. Go stern or bows-to either side of the centre mole, the new pontoon immediately Ε or on either side of the outer mole where possible. Depths are variable around the centre mole and in general you are better off trying to go bows-to. Note Do not obstruct the end of the centre mole where the water tanker berths alongside. Shelter Good shelter from the normal summer winds. The bay is open to the W and with fresh to strong NW-W winds the outer part of the harbour is very uncomfortable and may become untenable.
Anchorage There is room for a few yachts to anchor and take a long line to the stubby mole on the S side.

Facilities

Water on the quay. Fuel 500m out of the village, although he may deliver to the quay. Several mini­markets. Good tavernas on the waterfront, some of which specialise in seafood.

General

The bay is an attractive place, but fills up quickly in the summer with visiting yachts. Get here early and take some time off for a wander around the village and a beer on the seafront.

NISIS MONI

In calm weather a yacht can anchor in the bay on the Ν side of the island. Anchor in 8-1 Om. A taverna opens in the summer. The S side of the island is bare weathered rock, but on the Ν side it is partially wooded.

SOUTH SIDE ANCHORAGES

0·10Μ S of Ák Pirgos 37°40'·29Ν 23°28'·82Ε WGS84

In settled weather yachts can anchor off in the bays on the S side of Aigina. Órmos Mourioti and Órmos Klima afford the best shelter. Órmos Ligia and Órmos Kipou can be used in calm weather.

AYIA MARINA

Ayia Marina light (FI.G.2s3M) 37°44'·7Ν 23°32'·4Ε

An open bay near the NE corner of the Nisos Aigina. A large hotel on the waterfront is conspicuous. In calm weather anchor near the NW corner of the bay in 4-6m. Sand and weed bottom. With the meltemi this anchorage is not really tenable. A small quay in the NW corner is reserved for caique ferries bringing tourists to see the Temple of Aphaia. It would be prudent to leave someone on board the yacht while visiting the temple in case there is a sudden change in the weather.

The Temple of Aphaia (5-6 BC) on the NE corner of the island has been called the most perfectly developed classical temple in Greece. Cruise ships anchor in Ayia Marina to disembark passengers wishing to view it. In calm weather this is the nearest anchorage to the temple for a yacht - alternatively buses run from Aigina town to Ayia Marina.