SeaTV · Greece · Dodecanese Islands · North Coast of Leros
North Coast of Leros — Blefouti Swimming Bay, the Boatyard & the Airport-Side Anchorages
Three stops on the clean-water north coast of Leros — Blefouti Bay for transparent-water swimming and an old Italian military ruin on the south shore, the Artemis Leros Boatyard for technical work close to the airport, and the sheltered mud anchorage at Ormos Partheni. The complement to Lakki Bay on the south: this is where you swim, refit, and rotate crew.
The north coast of Leros is the clean-water side of the island — opposite end from the working-naval-base atmosphere of Lakki Bay. Three SeaTV-recommended stops cover everything from clear-water swimming at Blefouti, to a working boatyard with airport-proximity for crew rotation and refits, to a sheltered private mooring bay with mud bottom. None of these are tourist resorts — the north coast is quiet, practical, and (in Blefouti’s case) the cleanest swimming on the island.
⚠ Reality check:
→ Rocks at the entrance to Blefouti Bay · careful approach
→ Open to N–NE winds · Blefouti not a Meltemi shelter, only a calm-day swim stop
→ Fish farms around the boatyard area · navigate carefully
→ Avoid anchoring on seagrass at Blefouti · sand patches only
→ No facilities at Ormos Partheni · provision before
⚓ The Three Stops at a Glance
Blefouti Bay
37°11′.35N · 26°49′.07E · clear-water swim stop
Artemis Boatyard
37°11′.17N · 26°47′.73E · refits + airport access
Ormos Partheni
37°11′.53N · 26°48′.40E · sheltered mud bay
Setting
Quiet north side · airport-proximity
⚓ 1. Blefouti Bay — The Swimming Stop
Position · 37°11′.35N · 26°49′.07E · Sand + Seagrass · Clear Water
Blefouti Bay
Position: N coast of Leros · the bay opens N onto the strait between Leros and the smaller islets to the N.
Water quality: Transparent waters · the source’s exact phrasing: “perfect for swimming”. The cleanest swim stop on Leros · clear visibility down to the seagrass.
Bottom: Sand and seagrass · ⚠ avoid anchoring on seagrass (Posidonia protected · plus the holding is poor on grass).
Best anchoring spot: Drop your anchor to the west of the bay · ensure it’s well dug in before stepping back.
⚠ Entrance hazard: Care needed at the entrance to the bay due to rocks. Approach slowly · keep eyes on the depth sounder · know the line before committing.
⚠ Wind: The bay is open to N and NE winds · well-sheltered from S only. This is a settled-weather day-stop or settled-weather overnight, not a Meltemi shelter.
Cultural detail: On the south side of the bay is an old Italian military structure · a remnant of the 1923-1947 Italian Royal Navy presence on Leros · visible from the anchorage and worth a swim or dinghy visit ashore.
⚓ 2. Artemis Leros Boatyard — Refits Close to the Airport
Position · 37°11′.17N · 26°47′.73E · Boatyard + Lift
Artemis Leros Boatyard
Position: Located close to Leros airport (LRS) on the N coast · the practical advantage of this side of the island.
What’s here: Working boatyard for technical work · “Stand by to lift” mooring buoys available (yachts ready to be lifted out for haul-out work).
⚠ Fish farms: Care is needed around the fish farms in the area · plot them on the chart · don’t sail through the farm zones.
Best for: Charter handover via Leros airport · planned refits (haul-outs, antifouling, hull work) · technical issues that need shore-based attention.
Crew rotation advantage: Leros airport is on the N coast and the boatyard is right next to it · this is the easiest spot on Leros to drop off or pick up crew without a long road transfer from Lakki Marinas on the S side.
⚓ 3. Ormos Partheni — Sheltered Mud Anchorage
Position · 37°11′.53N · 26°48′.40E · Mud · Good Holding
Ormos Partheni
Position: Sheltered bay near the boatyard and fish farms on the N coast.
Mooring: Private mooring buoys available · the bay is established as a sheltered anchorage option.
Bottom: Mud · good holding · sets reliably and stays put.
Shelter: Sheltered · the N-coast bay protected by surrounding land.
⚠ No facilities: No provisions, water, or services at Partheni · stock up at Lakki before sailing here · this is a quiet anchorage stop, not a service marina.
Which N-Coast Stop Should You Pick?
Blefouti Bay — for clear-water swimming · settled-weather day-stop or overnight · the Italian military ruin on the south shore as a cultural bonus. Skip if N or NE winds in forecast.
Artemis Boatyard — for charter handover via Leros airport · planned haul-outs and refit work · the practical technical stop on Leros. Not for tourist overnight.
Ormos Partheni — for a quiet sheltered overnight on the N side · good mud holding · no shore amenities. The “anchor and have a quiet evening” option.
The North Coast in Context
Complement to Lakki — South vs North
Leros has two distinct sailing characters that suit different needs. The south coast at Lakki Bay gives you the historic Italian Royal Navy harbour, the Mussolini-era model town, the 220-berth Marina Leros with all-weather shelter, and the most layered cultural stop in the central Dodecanese — but the bay isn’t ideal for swimming. The north coast is quieter, has the airport-proximity advantage for crew rotation and refits, and gives you the clean-water swimming at Blefouti. A typical Leros visit uses both — Lakki for the architecture, museum, and provisioning · the N coast for swimming, refits, and crew change.
Italian Military Legacy — Visible Throughout
The N coast carries the same Italian military legacy as Lakki — the old Italian military structure on the south side of Blefouti Bay is one example. Italy’s Regia Marina (Italian Royal Navy) made extensive use of the entire Leros coastline from 1923 onwards · the airport itself has Italian-era origins · gun emplacements, lookout posts, and naval infrastructure remnants are scattered across the N coast hillsides. After the November 1943 Battle of Leros, German forces took over and reused much of the Italian military infrastructure. What you see today is a mixed Italian-German military landscape from a 25-year period of foreign military presence.
Leros Airport — The Practical Difference
Leros has its own commercial airport (LRS) on the N coast · daily flights to Athens (Olympic Air / Sky Express) plus seasonal connections. For yachts that want to plan crew rotation, mid-charter family pickups, or charter handover at Leros, the N coast (especially the Artemis Boatyard) is significantly more convenient than transferring crew from Lakki/Marina Leros on the S side (~25 minute road transfer). This is the practical advantage of the N stops.
Wind Strategy on the N Coast
Summer prevailing winds: N and NW (Meltemi) · this is the dominant Aegean summer wind. The N coast is exposed to these winds in a way that Lakki Bay (which opens S) is not.
⚠ Blefouti Bay specifically: Open to N–NE · uncomfortable to dangerous in strong Meltemi · use only on calm days or move to Lakki/Marina Leros when the Meltemi picks up.
Ormos Partheni: Sheltered by surrounding land · holds in moderate conditions · the N-coast option that handles a moderate Meltemi.
Best season: May, June, September, October give the cleanest weather windows for the N coast · August has the strongest Meltemi · plan accordingly.
Pro Tips for the Leros N Coast
Pair Blefouti with Lakki. Spend the morning swimming at Blefouti’s clear water · sail S around the island to Lakki for the afternoon · the architecture walking tour, dinner, overnight at Marina Leros. Two halves of Leros in one day.
Approach Blefouti slowly. Rocks at the entrance · don’t take the line on faith · use the depth sounder · second-time entry is fine, first-time approach should be at low speed with full attention.
Drop W in Blefouti, on sand only. The source is specific: anchor west of the bay · avoid the seagrass · dig in well · Posidonia anchoring damages the seabed and gives poor holding.
Use the Boatyard for charter handover. Leros airport (LRS) right next door · daily Athens flights · easier than transferring from Lakki on the S side. Build the airport-proximity advantage into your charter plan if you need a mid-week crew change.
Plot the fish farms. Multiple farms on the N coast · plot them all on the chartplotter · don’t sail through the farm zones (commercial property + entanglement risk for the keel).
Don’t overnight Blefouti in a Meltemi. The bay is open N-NE · the prevailing summer wind is exactly that direction · settled-weather only or move to Lakki for the night.
Visit the Italian military ruin at Blefouti. S side of the bay · swim or dinghy ashore · part of the broader Italian military legacy on Leros · cultural bonus to the swimming stop.
Stock up before Partheni. No facilities · provision, water, fuel all done at Lakki before sailing N · Partheni is for the quiet anchor evening only.
Plan refits in advance. Artemis Boatyard is a working yard with limited haul-out slots · contact in advance if you need lift-out work · don’t show up expecting same-day service.
Routes from the N Coast
S to Lakki Bay (around the island): The most-used Leros stop · Italian Rationalist town + 220-berth Marina Leros. See Leros Marinas.
SE around to Panteli Bay: The NE-coast picturesque village + Pandeli Castle. See Panteli Bay Leros.
N to Patmos: ~10 NM N · UNESCO Apocalypse island · the natural N stop from Leros.
S to Kalymnos: ~12 NM S of Lakki · sponge-diver island. See Kalymnos Island · Kalymnos Port · Vathy Cove.
Dodecanese full route: See Dodecanese — Our Route.
✅ Sailor’s Checklist for the Leros N Coast
▢ Wind forecast checked (no N or NE forecast for Blefouti)
▢ Blefouti entrance rocks plotted · slow approach planned
▢ Anchor drop spot identified (W side of Blefouti, sand only)
▢ Fish farms in N coast area plotted on chartplotter
▢ Provisioning done at Lakki before sailing N (no facilities at Partheni)
▢ Boatyard contacted in advance if lift-out work planned
▢ Crew rotation logistics planned if using Leros airport (LRS) via Boatyard
▢ VHF on Ch. 16 throughout
Emergency & Service Numbers — Leros
European Emergency: 112
Greek Coastguard: 108
Coastguard Distress (VHF Ch. 16): Universal
Marina Leros (Lakki, S coast): +30 22470 24733 · VHF Ch. 10
Watch the SeaTV Visual Pilot Video
Drone passes over Blefouti Bay’s clear water with the rocky entrance and the old Italian military structure on the south shore, the Artemis Leros Boatyard with the airport visible inland, the fish-farm zones to navigate around, and the sheltered mud anchorage at Ormos Partheni. The complete N-coast picture in one visual pilot. Free for members.
Related SeaTV Pages
Leros Island
→ Leros Marinas (Lakki Bay, S coast) · 220-berth Marina Leros + Italian Rationalist town
→ Panteli Bay Leros · NE coast + Pandeli Castle
South to Kalymnos
Sailing the Leros N Coast?
3 stops · clear-water swimming at Blefouti · refits + airport access at the Boatyard · sheltered mud anchorage at Partheni · the complement to Lakki on the south.
→ Lakki Marinas (S coast) · Panteli Bay (NE) · Leros overview
“The north coast of Leros is the working complement to the south — Blefouti’s transparent water for clean swimming with an old Italian military ruin on the south shore as a cultural bonus, the Artemis Boatyard for haul-outs and crew rotation through Leros airport just inland, and Ormos Partheni’s sheltered mud bottom for a quiet evening at anchor with no facilities and no demands. Plot the rocks at Blefouti’s entrance, plot the fish farms throughout, drop your anchor west and on sand only, and the N coast opens up as the practical other half of a properly-sailed Leros visit.”
— SeaTV Visual Pilot · Dodecanese Edition
