General Info about Sailing Greece with a Yacht Charter

An Aegean yacht charter presents slightly more challenging conditions weather wise on your sailing holiday with the infamous Meltemi blowing through the summer season but most navigation is by line of sight and in the main provides for a perfectly relaxing yacht charter.

The Ionian Sea lies to the west of the mainland of Greece, it combines both good sailing weather, sunny and warm with predictable winds with a fascinating group of islands. Navigation is generally by line of sight and a passage between islands is generally only a few hours in duration The islands are attractive and steeped in Greek mythology. This is a great place for people learning to sail or building experience and so it is no surprise that it is home to several companies running flotilla sailing holidays. Islands that can be visited include; Corfu, Paxos, Levkas, Meganisi, Ithaca, Cephalonia and Zakinthos. More information about yacht charter in the Ionian Sea can be found here.

The Aegean Sea lies to the south and east of mainland Greece and can be divided into the following areas; Crete, Cyclades, Dodecanese, Eastern Sporades, Gulfs of Corinth and Patros, Northern Sporades, Peloponisos and the Saronic

Crete is the largest island in the Aegean Sea and marks the boundary between Europe and Africa. It is 140 miles long (E – W) and around 20 miles wide (N – S). The centre of the island is mountainous and it is rocky and barren in the main. The exceptions being the plains on the north coast and Lasithi Plateau in the mountains. These areas are cultivated and a wide range of fruit and vegetables are grown on Crete.

The Cyclades is the central group of islands in the Aegean Sea. It can be split into three groups; the Northern Cyclades that includes the islands of Kea, Kithnos, Andros, Tinos, Yiaros, Siros, Mikonos, Delos and Rinia; the Central Cyclades that includes Serifos, Sifnos, Andiparos, Paros, Naxos, Dhenoussa, Iraklia, Skhinoussa, Koufonisia and Amorgos; and the Southern Cyclades including the islands of Milos, Kimolos, Folegandros, Sikonos, Ios, Thira and Anafi.

The Dodecanese is a complex of over 163 islands and islets of which only 26 are inhabited. The islands form part of Greece’s eastern border with Turkey. The group of islands can be split in three groups; the Northern Dodecanese and the islands of Arki, Lipso, Kalimnos, Levitha, Leros, Patmos and Gaidharos; the Central Dodecanese and the islands of Kos, Astipalea, Niseros, Symi and Tilos; and the Southern Dodecanese including Rhodes, Karpathos and Kasos.

The Sporades. The Northern Sporades is the correct name for what people usually call the Sporades and the yacht charter area is made up of the scattered, widespread and fertile islands of Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos, Skyros, Pelagos or Kira Panayia and the uninhabited Peristera, Skantzoura, Yioura, Piperi and Psathoura. Skiathos and Skopelos are the main yacht charter bases in the Northern Sporades. The less travelled Eastern Sporades refers to the yacht charter area that includes the islands of Lesbos, Limnos and Chios that run along the Turkish coastline.

The Peloponnisos can be split into the coast of the Western Peloponnisos and the Gulfs of Corinth and Patras. The Western Peloponnisos is in the most part high, rugged mountains, still often snow capped in the spring. The two principal ranges, Taiyetos and Parnon, run south ending at the capes of Matapan and Malea respectively. The northern coast of Peloponnisos is made up of the Gulfs of Patras in the west and Corinth to the east. The Peloponnisos was originally an island but great geological upheavals united with the mainland. A later retreat by the sea formed the Isthmus of Corinth which in turn was cut in the 19th century to make the Corinth canal and made Peloponnisos an island again.

The Saronic Gulf lies to the south of Athens, the capital of Greece. As a practical sailing area it includes the Athens or Attica coast on the mainland, the eastern coast of the Peloponnisos including the Gulfs of Idhras and Argolikos. Some of the better known Islands include Aigina, Poros, Idhra or Hydra and Spetsai.

source: Ken Jones at http://www.yasser.tv

Suggested Routes for Sailing the Argo-Saronic Islands

Base Marina Alimos Athens One week sailing Saronic & Argolic Gulf Alimos – Epidaurus 30 mls Epidaurus – Poros 20 mls Poros – Hydra 13 mls Hydra – Spetses 15 mls Spetses – Hermioni 10 mls Hermioni – Aegina 33 mls Aegina – Alimos 17 mls Base Marina Alimos Athens Two weeks sailing Saronic, Argolic Gulf& Eastern Peloponnese Alimos – Aegina (main port) 17 mls Aegina – Epidaurus 14 mls Epidaurus – Poros 20 mls Poros – Hydra 13 mls Hydra – Porto Heli 18 mls Porto Heli – Nafplio 23 mls Nafplio – Leonidion 26 mls Leonidion – Monemvasia 30 mls Monemvasia – Kyparissi 18 mls Kyparissi – Spetses 20 mls Spetses – Hermioni 10 mls Hermioni – Aegina (Perdika) 30 mls Perdika – Sounio 27 mls Sounio – Alimos 22 mls

The Argo-Saronic Islands lie between the Saronic and the Argolic Gulf. They consist of Aegina, Angistri, Poros, Hydra, Spetses and Dokos. The main Island of the Saronic Gulf is Salamis, where the Greek Navy battled the Persians in the battle of Salamis. In the Argolic Gulf, the main Island is Bourtzi, a small Island with a castle which is now a monument. The gulf is crossed by ferry routes from Nafplio and Spetses and Leonidi. The cities and towns that lie next to the gulf are: Leonidio, Astros, Myloi, Nea Kios, Nafplio, Tolo, Iria Beach, Porto Cheli.