We will try to give you as much information as we can find about sailing in Greece.
Whether one wishes to sail for pleasure or for high endurance sport, Greece can satisfy all sailing expectations.
Greece is considered as a paradise for sailing and offers, with its many gulfs and archipelagos, all kind of seas and winds.
A trip in the Greek seas on a pleasure bareboat, privately owned or chartered, is a unique experience.
Greece offers more than 2000 islands and islets of which only the 169 are inhabited, each and every one of them offering unique beauty, charm and many bays only accessible by boat.
The winds in Greece:
Concerning Greece sailing, the country’s winds can be divided in two sea regions: the Aegean Sea and the Ionian Sea.
The Aegean Sea Winds usually blow during the summer season, from May to September, but they are particularly known for the months of July and August. Those winds are called “Meltemi” and they are mostly blowing during the day and their average duration is from 2 to 4 days.
The “Meltemi” do not have the same direction in all the regions of the Ionian Seas. In the North Aegean, they come from the NE, in the central Aegean (Cyclades) from the North and in the South Aegean from the NW. The intensity of the winds depends on the region. One of the stronger Meltemi can be found in the Island of Naxos, in the Cyclades, which attracts many windsurfers.
Many winds blow on the Aegean Sea also during the winter with a power of 8-9 Beaufort.
The Ionian Sea Winds usually appear during summer season and are called “Maistros”. They are blowing from the NW. The winter winds of the Ionians are called “Sirocco”
Famous sailing Areas:
Poros Sailing, Lefkada Sailing and more info: Hydra Sailing, Paros Sailing, Skiathos Sailing,Alonissos Sailing, Corfu Sailing and more...
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An insider's tip: the best period for those who wish to sail during winter, is the “Alkyonides” days, the so-called “short summer”, in the middle of January. This is a good time to appreciate the beauty of stunning seascapes, picturesque villages, archaeological sites, and wonderful pine-clad landscapes.
In the serene atmosphere of the islands enjoy real Greece as you mingle with the locals in tavérnas and in “kafeneía”, and become part of the true “Island culture”.
Sailing in the Saronic Islands and Argolic Gulf
If you are willing to sail near Athens, the Saronic Islands and the east coast of Peloponnese will satisfy your demands for a safe trip in calm waters. In close proximity to the Attica Prefecture (where Athens belongs) are some wonderful sailing routes that offer ideal sailing conditions, clean and calm waters, splendid coasts and different Islands to explore. The Saronic Islands of Aegina, Poros, Hydra and Spetses are the most popular sailing destinations.
In the Argolic Gulf and along the east coast of Peloponnese you can make use of superb sailing and well-organized port facilities in the historical cities of Nafplion and Tolo, and marinas in Porto Heli, Astros and Leonidio.
Sailing in the Cyclades Islands
Sail across the deep blue of the Aegean Sea, amongst the island cluster of Cyclades, famous for its picturesque whitewashed houses, traditional character, cosmopolitan lifestyle, sun-kissed beaches, thousands of bays and creeks, and superb clear crystal waters. Sailing in Cyclades Greece is a wonderful and memorable experience!
The Cyclades Islands Cluster is split up into 3 groups:
* the Southern Cyclades Islands: Milos, Kimolos, Folegadros, Sikinos, Ios, Santorini (Thira) and Anafi
* the Middle Cyclades Islands: Serifos, Sifnos, Paros, Antiparos, Naxos and Amorgos
* the Little Cyclades Islands: Schinoussa, Iraklia, Koufonisia and Donoussa
* the Northern Cyclades Islands: Kea, Kythnos, Andros, Syros, Tinos, Mykonos, Delos and Rinia.
Sailing the Dodecanese Islands
The beautiful Dodecanese Islands are located in Southeast Aegean. They are known for their excellent climate, clear sandy beaches, exquisite natural attractions and impressive historical and religious monuments.
The Dodecanese Islands Cluster is comprised of Rodos (Rhodes), Kos, Kalymnos, Patmos, Leros, Astypalea, Kasos, Karpathos, Nissiros, Symi, Tilos and Kastelorizo, as well as a number of smaller islands.
Sailing the Ionian Islands
The Ionian Islands are considered as the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean.
They are located in the Ionian Sea, off the west coast of Greece, and they are composed of the beautiful islands of Corfu, Paxi and Antipaxi, Lefkada, Ithaki, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Meganissi, Kalamos and Kythira.
Go on a leisure cruise along the open Ionian Sea, and take enjoyable and relaxed sailing holidays!
Need more information about Sailing in Greece ?
Information about the sport in Greece, the sailing clubs in each geographical region, the requirements and procedures needed to participate in special training programs, is provided by:
Hellenic Sailing Federation
51 Poseidonos Ave, 183 44 Moschato – Athens
Tel: 210 9404825 (8 lines) – Fax: 210 9404829
Hellenic Sailing Federation Web Page
Sailing Tips for Greece
Anchoring in Greece
Even if you are an experienced sailor, anchoring in Greece when sailing the Greek islands can be a daunting experience due to the particularity of the deep and the waters. Anchoring is about safety. Under the very worst conditions – when leaving the anchorage or port is dangerous – you should be able to rely on your anchor system. In the east Mediterranean – Greece and Turkey – more time is spent at anchor than under sail and you will predominantly anchor off the quay while “stern to” (rarely “bows to”): berthing Mediterranean style.
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| Anchoring in Greece |
Advantages of Mediterranean Anchoring when Sailing in Greece
1) Any wash of ferries, changes of wind direction, any swell entering the bay, gusts, etc. will be cushioned by the catenary curve of the anchor chain which will keep the yacht clear of the quay: berthing along side won’t protect the yacht.
2) In the Mediterranean – especially when sailing in Greece – berthing along side is often hampered by blocks of ballasting near the quay. No neighbouring crews walking on your deck greatly adds to your privacy, especially so if bows-to.
3) Some islands in Greece are home to rats, cockroaches, etc. Mediterranean mooring (with the gangway raised from the quay!) helps to prevent vermin getting on board.
4) It is much easier to leave a (crowded) port. No skipper likes to be the innermost yacht – four yachts thick – in an along side mooring situation.
5) As the bow anchor typically offers more holding power and a longer (heavier) anchor chain it is very useful to become an expert in the stern-to variant of berthing Mediterranean-style
Mediterranean mooring manoeuvre– Tips and Hints
1.Position the bow the full length of your anchor chain away, or otherwise as far as possible, ready to drop anchor. In a crosswind go a little upwind since by the time the anchor touches seabed you will have drifted out of position.
2.Drop anchor in front of the spot on the quay you are aiming for. Note, that anchoring NOT perpendicular to the quay (as people often do in a crosswind), could well mean crossing and potentially fouling the anchor lines of your neighbors. Also, the wind could be blowing from the opposite direction later.
3.Just before the anchor reaches the seabed, put the engine in reverse. Maintaining speed helps you to manoeuvre, and moving astern also prevents fouling the anchor with its own chain. Moreover, if there is room, I would advice a gentle one knot speed in reverse, before dropping the anchor: a)Less chance the anchor will foul. b) Less drifting out of position in case of crosswind. c)The anchor will often set earlier which means a greater distance from quay, maximising the scope.
4.With the engine in reverse, the “prop walk” will steer the yacht to the left when looking at the intended spot on the quay. Yet, this is only the case when the engine is in reverse and not if it is in neutral. First make speed and counteract the prop walk as much as possible by putting the rudder at 45 degrees (more will only brake), then put the engine in neutral and the yacht will listen to the rudder normally.
5.The crew on the foredeck should put a mild tension on the anchor line, while reversing, to help the anchor dig deeper. Not too much, since you would lose speed and also the anchor could break out.
6.Near the quay there is an increased risk on lose lines, fishing nets and other rubble, so it is good practice not to use the prop the last few meters. Braking by feeding the anchor less line works better also helps the anchor set firmly.
7. With one line on shore (windward one if cross wind), it is time to put pressure on the anchor: take anchor chain in till the catenary curve becomes more of a straight line. If after a while (sometimes immediately) the catenary curve reappears, your anchor has not set... by the time you have winched one third of the anchor line back on board, start considering a second attempt.
So, during this whole Mediterranean mooring manoeuvre, not so much the helmsman but the foredeck is in control. Although it is a first a bit scary to steer backwards into a tight slot between two expensive yachts, speed keeps the yacht manoeuvrable.
Extra Tip: Plan to arrive early (typically before 15:00) at the port of destination so that there is ample space to manoeuvre and lots of berths at the quay to choose from.
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| Anchoring Mediterranean Style |
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