Popularity: Very High
Style: Freeride, Freestyle, Slalom, Race/Formula, Speed
Level: Intermediate, Good, Specialist
The beaches of Achaea considered suitable for those who want to confront the forces of water and wind.
Drepano is ideal for mistral winds. Wind & kite surfers can count on windy conditions here 335 days per year.
The spot is one of the best kite spots of Greece. An annual kite surfing event is staged at this village’s little pebble-covered beach, while a national kite surfing competition is also held here, usually in July. 5x World Champion Aaron Haldow said that it is one of the top3 spots that had ever been!
Medium Months: June, July, August, September, October
Wind Type: Thermal Winds
Best Direction: SW, W
Main Direction: NNE, NE, E, SW, W
Worst Direction:
Wind Factor: 17-21 knots (5 bft), 22-27 knots (6 bft), 28-33 knots (7 bft)
Main Wind Direction: Side Shore, Side Offshore
Blowing at: Midday, Afternoon
Wave Tack:
The winds here come in from both the east and west. There are many local riders in the spot through all year. Usually, when it’s windy in Attica there is no wind in Drepano -and the opposite!
Best conditions in winter season and autumn. The wind is very steady and the best direction is W/SW. Average wind strength 15-30 knots (with western thermal). Patra’s channel makes wind stronger, so don’t count on forecasts. Side-shore conditions. On the flat side the wind is side-offshore.
June to October wind blows every day between 14:00-20:00 all summer.
Quality:
Depth: Average (deepens gently and incrementally)
Seabed: Sand, Pebbles, Rocks
Attention: Currents
The water is super flat, ideal conditions for speed windsurfing. The more well-formed sand-reef, the more flat water conditions on the one side of it. Waves on the other side.
Be careful, there is strong current. Not suited for beginners.
Access to Drepano:
From Athens: First Route: Follow the National Highway Corinth - Patras and take the exit toward Selianitika, Loggos and Kamares Villages, after Egio. Get the old National Road Corinth - Patras. After 18 km, after Psathopyrgos Village you will find a kitesurf school on your right. Just before the school turn right. Then, at the intersection you will find in front of the concrete factory of titan turn right and after a while you will reach the sea. Turn left and park before the lighthouse.
From Athens: Second Route: Exit the National Highway Corinth - Patras at Actaio Village, in Rio Exit, and get the old National Road Corinth - Patras towards Athens. After Arachovitika Village, when you reach the village of Drepano, you will see the kitesurf school on your left. Just after it turn left. The distance from Actaio Village till the kitesurf school is 6,5 km. After then, at the intersection you will find in front of the concrete factory of titan turn right and after a while you will reach the sea. Turn left and park before the lighthouse.
From Patras: 28 km from the port of Patras, towards Athens on the old national road. After Arachovitika Village, when you reach the village of Drepano, you will see the kitesurf school on your left. Just after it turn left. The distance from Actaio Village till the kitesurf school is 6,5 km. After then, at the intersection you will find in front of the concrete factory of titan turn right and after a while you will reach the sea. Turn left and park before the lighthouse.
Access to Achaea: Achaea is accessible through a modern highway from Athens, by private vehicle or public transportation in the following ways:
Arrival by Airplane: The new airport of Athens “Eleftherios Venizelos”, one of the best airports in Europe, (IATA: ATH, ICAO: LGAV) is located in Spata Town and serves flights to Greece daily from several international airlines from all over the world. You can take a charter flight, so you can carry your windsurf equipment with you as well.
You can flight also to the airports of Araxos (70 km northern) and Andravida (100 km northwestern).
Arrival by Car, Moto, Camper Van: In order to go to Achaea by car from Athens, the distance is about 200 km, from Thessaloniki the distance is about 460 km,
from Ioannina the distance is about 250 km and from Korinthos the distance is 140 km.
From Athens: To get to Achaea by car from Athens, coming from the capital, select the new National Road Athens - Corinth. After Corinth continue on the right traffic stream to enter the National Highway Corinth - Patras. The total route Athens - Patras is part of the great Olympia Odos motorway.
From Athens International Airport "El. Venizelos": Starting from the airport enter Attiki Odos and drive to the end of it (at Eleusis). After you exit Attiki Odos you will automatically enter National Highway Corinth - Patras.
From West Peloponnese (Pyrgos, Ancient Olympia, Kyllini, Araxos): Access to Achaea from these areas is carried out by the National Road Patras - Pyrgos.
From South and Central Peloponnese (Tripoli), Achaea is connected via Highway 111.
From Central Greece (Agrinio, Messolonghi, Arta), the National Road Ioannina - Antirrio connects Patras with northwestern Greece and Epirus. Arriving at Antirrio you can choose ferry boat Rio - Antirrio or by car cross the bridge to reach Patras and Achaea.
Arrival by Ferry/Boat: If you are coming from the European continent and you prefer to take the ferry from an Italian Port, you need to head towards Italy and the Italian ports of Ancona, Venice Bari or Brindisi. Those ports have daily connections to Corfu, Igoumenitsa and Patras New Port: When you exit from the new port, follow the signs to Athens.
Coastally, there are also daily time-tables from Agios Nikolaos of Fokida to Egio.
Arrival by Bus, Train or Taxi: From the airport of Athens “Eleftherios Venizelos”, the metro and the Proastiakos-Suburban railway, as well as taxis and buses to and from the centre of Athens are to be found opposite the main exit of the airport. The distance is 44 km. The bus journey takes between 35 and 45 minutes to the city centre at Syntagma (Parliament) Square (of course depending on the time and traffic), therefore the best way is to take the “Athens metro” that connects the airport with Athens and Piraeus. There are also car hire agencies at the airport, in case you want to rent a vehicle.
The bus E93, which leaves from the main building of the airport (ports 4-5) get off Kifissos bus station from where you change and take Intercity bus running daily from Athens to Akrata, Egio, Korinthos, Diakopto, Kalavryta and Patra.
If you prefer the trains of OSE (public Greek railways), take the Athens Suburban Railway to Kiato and then take the bus that leaves every 1 hour from Kiato heading to Achaea.
Windsurf Lessons
Windsurf Rental
Kitesurf Lessons
Kitesurf Rental
Surf Lessons
Surf Rental
SUP Rental
Storage
Washing
Rescue
There is available local security assistance rescue boat and kite surf instructor team during the summer periodEquipment Store
2 km before the spot is available local kite surf shopEvents
Freestyle, Speed & Slalom Windsurfing Events, An Annual & National Kitesurfing event is also organized
Parking
May park on the beachToilet
Shower
Beach facilities
Food
Market
Acommodations
There are some hotels in the neighboring villagesRoom for Camper Vans
Yes, but difficult access (The short coastal road is quite narrow)Nightlife
Internet Access
Medical Center
General Hospital in Patra Town (22 km SW), General Univercity Hospital in Rio (10 km SW)