A Guide to Sailing The Greek Islands
Take a sailing tour through Greek Islands, where you can wake up in the Mediterranean and dive in for a swim. Even dock off the coast of a deserted island. Whether you’re looking to explore the Mediterranean swell or just want an escape from everyday life. You can sail with Sebastus will give that occasion. Greece is the land of luxurious olive groves, ancient societies, and relaxed beach life. It is made up of thousands of islands grouped into families with their individual traditions, culture, and geography. Our bases are spread throughout the islands in the Aegean and Ionian. We will give you a plenitude of options when planning your charter itinerary.
Greece is the world’s most popular and most attractive yacht duty destination. The country has around islands, which are the most in the Mediterranean Sea. It has a lot of different climatic areas and foliage, and big differences in culture and armature. Because Greek sailing areas have so important to offer from multitudinous islands. Therefore it would take you further than just one sailing trip to explore this marvelous country, anyhow you are a beginner or a professional.
Reason For Sailing in Greece
The most popular areas for having a sailing vacation in Greece are the Ionian Sea, the Cyclades, the Saronic Gulf, the Dodecanese, and the Sporades. The Ionian Sea and the Saronic Gulf are perfect for newcomers, whereas the Cyclades are better for professional mariners in spring. This sailing companion has all the necessary information to make your sailing vacation in Greece as accessible as possible.
This blog post will cover what sailing in Greece entails, including how long it takes and when is the stylish time for sailing the Greek islands.
How Much Time Do You Need for Sailing in Greece?
The typical sailing holiday in Greece is one week. But still, if you want to explore all the islets, it would be stylish to spend two weeks sailing around the Greek Islands. Exploring so numerous beautiful locals takes time. However, you’ll need at least two weeks, If you want to witness sailing in Greece in its full glory. Keep in mind that Greek autonomous land includes, islets and islands scattered in the Aegean and Ionian Swell. Just 12 privileged islets (Astypalaia, Chalki, Ikaria, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kasos, Kastellorizo, Leros, Nisyros, Patmos, Symi, Tilos) are very important areas. You will want to have enough time to explore their unique nature, culture, and heritage. However, there’s a possibility that you won’t have enough time to truly enjoy their beauty and your sailing in Greece experience If you’re on of ham schedule.
Types of Sailing / Charter Possibilities
Decide what Greek islets you would like to visit and rent a desirable boat. Choose a bareboat yacht duty if you’re an educated seaman, or conclude for a skippered yacht duty. If you want to have further free on board and feel secure with a professional commander handling the boat. Greece has veritably hot and sunny summers with raised breath probability and is less defended from the Azores High. There are more showers in the inland area and more frequently in June than in summer. Should you anticipate a storm, it could be veritably delicate to find some sanctum for protection due to the long distances between the islets. Therefore we recommend having a commander on board. It’s veritably important to prepare yourself and regularly check rainfall vaticinations.
Furthermore, do you want a complete holiday with no worries about your boat, duty a skippered boat, If you warrant sailing experience? the commander will take full responsibility for the yacht, sailing pushes, and dairy. Hire a domestic commander because of their specific set of chops and for their knowledge of original islets, customs, anchorages, caffs, kudos, strands, and all other pivotal information for a successful sailing vacation.
Crewed Yacht Overview
A step further would be renting a crewed yacht. The crew consists of a professional commander, host/ chef, or/ and professional chef. On larger yachts, there will also be a deckhand on board to help with all the ropes and landing operations. The crew can take you on tenures on the islets and give you a short overview of the history and artistic heritage. However, you’ll enjoy indefectible Greek cookery intermingled with stylish Greek wines. Some of them belong among the most stylish wines in the world If you choose to hire a domestic chef.
Gulets are a frequent type of crewed yacht duty on the Greek seacoast. A gulet is a fascinating rustic sailing yacht, and there’s a large variety of gulets in the Mediterranean Sea. Utmost of them have a minimum of three or four crew members conforming to a captain, deckhand, host, and chef. Gulets are veritably wide, so you’ll feel veritably comfortable while spending time on the ocean. Among offered gulets, you can find the most luxurious bones with all demanded luxury goods on board. There are also possibilities for day tenures, but we recommend checking those on the- spot.
Best Month to Sail Around Greek Islands
The sailing season in Greece lasts from April to November and is analogous to other Mediterranean countries. The peak/ high season lasts from the last week in June until the middle of September. During this time, you can anticipate crowded marinas and anchorages, and numerous day-travel power boats that enthrall the maturity of harborage levees on islets, so be prepared for occasional anchoring. There are numerous sailing yachts, catamarans, motor boats, and gulets with excellent fees offered to duty, and you can be sure that the cafes and shops are always open.
Summer months can be veritably hot and dry, with a lot of sun and temperatures up to 35 °C around the seacoast and islets, but not in the Cyclades where the Meltemi winds are constantly blowing for weeks and up to 8 Beaufort in July and August. Ferries are also not allowed to sail, and some duty- companies don’t allow boats to leave the harbor. The stylish time to sail is in shoulder seasons, in June and from the alternate week in September. You can enjoy the fate of summer and reasonable prices. There are also indigenous differences in the season due to the size of Greece for illustration, summer and shoulder seasons are longer in the south of the Aegean islets where swimming is also possible in December.
Sailing Season in the Greek Islands
The sailing season in Greece is from May to October. The rainfall during the themed season is mild with veritably many storms, making it the perfect time for sailing the Greek islets. High-season months for sailing in Greece are July and August. This is a perfect time for sailing the Greek islets and enjoying the Mediterranean climate of hot, dry summers with an average temperature between 26 and 30 °C. The whole sailing season is special in its own way. You’ll get great views of the changing geography as a different corridor of Greece comes alive with springtime flowers or autumnal colors. The only question is in which colors you would like your sailing the Greek island adventure to be?
Best Way to Get Around Sailing The Greek Island
There are numerous ways to get around the Greek islets, but there’s no other way like doing it by boat. That’s right. There’s no better way than taking your own yacht and exploring all that Greece has to offer you. Your only concern will be how important time I have. How long does it take to sail around the Greek islets? Sailing the Greek islets comes hand in hand with a wide offer of different types of boats. From sailing catamarans to luxury yachts. We’ve commodities perfect for each one of our guests, depending on the wishes and type of experience you want. On the other hand, you can be sure that every boat you bespeak with us is precisely named and meets our high norms.
Is Sailing in Greek Islands Hard?
Sailing the Greek Island islets isn’t only relaxing and easy, but it’s also safe as long as you follow simple guidelines.
First of all, make sure to check the rainfall report before sailing around the Greek islets. This way you’ll always be an over-to-date with any changes in your route or conditioning on the ocean. Sailing the best Greek islands is indeed better if you have a good commander on board. notoriety with original knowledge and sailing experience will make the utmost of your trip. A commander is someone who’ll take care of any changeable rudiments like possible strong winds, storms, or rocky beachfront. We precisely named amazing and educated people who’ll make your adventure while sailing the Greek islets indelible. After all, with our help, you can be sure that your sailing holiday will be safe, relaxed, and easy, and that you’ll have enough time to enjoy and see what each islet has to offer.
Sailing Vacation on the Greek Islands
Packing makes sailing adventures perfect. Since space on board is limited, we’re sure that it’s handy to have a quilting list for sailing recesses. We formerly wrote to you about it, so check it out! Keep in mind that every position is a bit different, so we recommend that you bring along many effects with you for an affable time ashore during your sailing holiday in Greece chapeau, sunglasses (with a swatch), sunscreen, swimsuit, and kerchief. Also, bring some cash just in case you want to try original cookery or go out for a drink in the city.
Sailing the Greek Islands Must-See Locations
For an indelible sailing adventure, make sure to visit at least one of the Greek islets. We have a list of some amazing destinations that are perfect for your coming Mediterranean sailing holiday.
- Mykonos – This islet is notorious for its windmills and white houses which makes it look like a puck tale land. It’s also known for its escapism and the amazing strands it has to offer.
- Ionian islands – These islets are a great place to start your sailing trip in Greece. With so numerous different islets, each with its own charm and beauty, you’ll find commodities for everyone then. The Lefkas sailing route will take your breath down with its amazing views.
- Cyclades islands – this islet group in the Aegean Sea includes 220 islets forming a circle around the sacred islet of Delos. However, the place you need to visit while sailing the Greek islets is Parikia on Paros Island – a graphic city with a maze of narrow thoroughfares and white-washed homes, If you ask us. You can relax on the beautiful Martselo flaxen sand and explore Panagia Ekatondapiliani – “the church of 100 doors”.
- Saronic gulf route – if you don’t have important time, but still want to enjoy sailing the Greek islets with crystal clear water, the comforting atmosphere, and the long history – this is a perfect position for you. Amazing armature, elegant palaces, and numerous conditioning ideal for family recesses are staying for you then.
We hope that this composition was helpful and answered some of your questions about sailing the Greek islands. However, don’t vacillate to communicate with us for further information! We’re always happy to help, If not.
Booked an Organized Sail week in Greek Islands
There are colorful possibilities to bespeak a cabin on a yacht or the whole yacht in Greece. However, this is the stylish result for you, If you don’t want to be bothered with all of the organizational procedures. You only need to pay for the trip and show up on the yacht. Once you arrive at the marina your yacht will be staying for you with a professional commander on board and with all demanded outfits. Organized sailing will mean that places in anchorages and marinas are staying for you. The same can be applied to caffs and some other offered to condition, performing in furnishing redundant value for the guests. Since organized party sailing events have come relatively popular in Greece, you can conclude a duty specialized in partying.
Costs of Sailing on Greek Islands
Once you decide on the integral thing about be it newer or seasoned, you can start planning your charges that vary depending on your asked way of sailing. Greece generally has fairly low prices in yacht duty assiduity. In all marinas and anchorages freights are determined by the length of the yacht. For illustration, for a ten-cadence yacht, you’ll pay €5.50 to € 10/ night for a landing in harbors. You can be sure that the friendly and hard-working marina staff will take care of your boat. However, it’s multiple times cheaper to sail in Greece, If you compare the prices with other countries. It’s to say that the structure of harbors and aseptic installations are in generally worse condition than in other countries, and there are fewer levees and buoys to anchor your boat.
After you finish your sailing vacation in Greece, it’s common to fill up the boat’s energy tank with an energy tank truck, which will be organized by the duty company. This is a common process in Greece because there aren’t numerous energy stations near harbors. The energy prices are more advanced than in utmost other South European countries, and the difference between the main seacoast and the islets can also vary a lot. The energy prices on the islets are really high, and it’s also possible to get energy adulterated with the sea. However, or that energy isn’t unheroic green, please don’t tank, If you suspect that the energy isn’t brownish red or pale unheroic. A duty base should advise you about energy quality if you’re to sail long distances.
Climate in Greece
The climate in Greece is affected by the Mediterranean, and as mentioned less defended by the Azores High, but this guarantees long summers. The rainfall is characterized by damp, mild layoffs, while summers can be veritably hot and dry. After a long summer period, at the end of October, the rainfall begins to be more unstable because of the dwindling Azores High, and the admixture of the cold and hot air millions can beget showers.
The further south you sail, the further sun you’ll have. For illustration, the region of Crete counts 300 sunny days at a time, and the other islets like Rhodes or Thira (Santorini) have the same values. This value counts among the loftiest in Europe. The temperatures can reach high situations really presto, but moisture stays around comfortable 50, and the air is occasionally dry. The drift differences are virtually negligible, which causes relaxed embarkation from anchorages.
Winds in Greece
Winds in Greece are known to be veritably changeable, especially in downtime months, where high and low- pressure differences (fields) are dominating. In the months from mid-October to mid-June, the wind is changing direction and strength relatively frequently. During summer, a mark isn’t a good index to prognosticate the rainfall.
There’s also a rule of 3-4 days which means the wind will change its direction from north to south and back every 3-4 days. The most applicable wind is the Meltemi which is dominating from the end of June till the morning of September. The Meltemi blows up to 8 Beaufort and brings cold and dry air with a moisture of 50-70, therefore making summer temperatures veritably affable. The Meltemi declines in the morning and evening and reaches its strength during sunny hours. After its decline, it could be possible that the seacoast gets weak south winds between 1-3 Beaufort. It’s useful to set an alternate anchor also.
Greece can be divided into five wind zones. The winds of each zone are blowing occasionally singly, but not so if the Meltemi gets strong, also you’ll have analogous wind directions more or less far and wide. . All the other regions near the seacoast can anticipate north-dominated winds because of the land millions. Keep in mind there are gusts of winds blowing between and behind islands with high mountains. The differences between the gusts and distant ocean winds can be conspicuous.
Wind directions
N = animi vorii
NE = vorio anatolikos
E = anatolikos
SE = notio anatolikos
S = notios
SW = notio ditikos
W = ditikos
NW = vorio ditikos
How to choose where to go and what to do in Greece?
Without mistrustfulness, the stylish way to explore and witness the Greek seacoast would be to sail to all of its islets. Each and every of, the 000 Greek islets is more beautiful than the other, and they all have their special charm. The Greek seacoast can be divided into the Ionian Sea, Epirus, Central Greece, the Peloponnese, the Cyclades, Crete, the Dodecanese, the Aegean islets, the Sporades, Macedonia, and Thrace. Then you’ll find an overview of the whole Greek seacoast and the stylish ways to sail along it and its islets.
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea is a veritably popular sightseer and sailing area with ancient European artistic influence. Numerous vacation mariners sail then. Be apprehensive of tough winds at the end of the summer season, with heavy gusts if you pass high mountain islets. The region doesn’t have a plenitude of marinas but has multitudinous graphic kudos and harbors where you can get good traditional food and a wide variety of Greek vines. Still, you’ll reach the Peloponnese, a promontory connected with the landmass by the Corinth Canal, If you sail more southward. It has high mountains, rich history, and a culture. It’s also possible to see beautiful kudos with clear blue water where you can drop the anchor.
After girding the Peloponnesian seacoast, you can sail southeast to the biggest and sunniest islet of Greece. The Cyclades are a central sailing position and are the most intriguing sailing area if you’re looking to just sail around and do numerous long hauls a day. You’ll also find numerous artistic spots, sightseer hotspots, scarcely peopled islets, or party islets like Mykonos. The Dodecanese are eastwards of the Cyclades and at the border of Turkey. They’re well-known for their bitsy kudos and ancient metropolises with bastions from the Venetian occupation. On the north, you’ll find the Sporades which are analogous to the Ionian Sea. Nature then’s beautiful with conservation areas and a lot of artistic spots and remains. They’re ideal for short sailing passages. Not to mention graphic strands with clear blue water.
Marinas where you can Anchor
- KG Med Marinas– a first-class Marina association in Greece with four marinas.
- Gouvia Marina( Corfu) – the biggest marina in the association with 1235 places, has requests, landing places, electricity, water, stores, cafés, caffs, petrol station, dry jetties, etc.
- Lefkas Marina – 620 places, veritably contemporary for the area, it has everything that an ultramodern marina should have plus a hostel and conference apartments
- Zea Marina, Piraeus – 670 places, provides high standard services, has a water sports center
- Kalamata Marina, the Peloponnese – a recently repaired marina with 250 places
- Cleopatra Marina – a recently erected private marina with space for one hundred vessels up to 30 measures in length, located in the west of Greece in the Ionian Sea and near the metropolises of Preveza and Lefkada, good structure, all places are handed with electricity, water and levees, a small request and restrooms, fluently accessible for people with disabilities
- Flisvos Marina – located near the Port of Piraeus, perfect if you want to duty a megayacht, connected to the megacity center of Athens, offers yachting services, you can find a shop in the marina
- Alimos Marina – ideal if you want to start sailing from Athens, the largest marina girdled by the megacity where you can find caffs, café bars, clubs, shops, groceries, rent an auto, etc., the marina staff and the staff of duty companies is friendly and engaged to help.
- Marina Agios Kosmas – a prominent marina built for the Olympic Games 2004, located on the Attica seacoast, has a high-quality standard with good creators for electricity, private security, and 320 places, well-defended against every wind and swell. https//marinaagioskosmas.com
- Marina Lavrion (Olympic Marine) – located on the southernmost point of the Attica seacoast, the most ideal marina if you want to explore the Cyclades, has many duty bases, accessible from Athens by auto or machine, 690 places, a veritably good standard with a dry form wharf, won several prizes and is called the most ultramodern marina in the Med
- Marina Agios Nikolaos( Crete)– a small marina with 250 places on the islet of Crete, has moderate prices and offers good rainfall protection, suitable for stopovers if you’re sailing long distances, girdled by the megacity of Agios Nikolaos
- Rhodes Marina (Rhodes Island)– a high-standard marina with professional services, duty agencies, shops, cafes, etc., located on the northeast side of Rhodes Island, won numerous instruments and has a veritably good character, has good environmental norms( pollution control, electric transport vehicles inside the marina, carbon dioxide collector and storehouse) and a green flag instrument, a good starting point to explore the SE Aegean Sea
- Kos Marina (Kos Island)– a Blue Flag- certified marina located on the SE end of the harbor of Kos, 250 places with levees, water, and electricity force, defended by guards, offers services similar to yacht duty companies, brokerage, luxury apartments, shops, boat yard, rent an auto, etc., a good starting point to explore the SE Aegean
Licenses in Greece
According to Greek maritime laws, there have to be at least two persons on board with sailing licenses. That means that the skipper has to show the license to the duty company, too. In the case that the skipper doesn’t hold a sailing license, but has the sailing experience, there’s a possibility to subscribe to a so-called “protestation of honor”, which has proven to be a frequent practice in Greece.
Greece accepts nearly every license of the European countries, but it has to be at least original to an RYA Yacht Master Coastal with a range of 20 navigational long hauls. After you bespeak your yacht, you have to shoot your license to a duty company along with details and passports of the whole crew on board, and evidence of your navigational history. It’s also necessary to have the SRC short-range instrument.
Radio channels and telephone numbers you might need in Greece.
The VHF Radio Channels are as follows
The main littoral radio station is Olympia Radio with a Hellenic seacoast guard. However, you can call the guards with your mobile phone (telephone 108 or 112), If you don’t have a VHF radio set. You can reach the littoral station Olympia Radio by telephoning 302106001799 with your phone. Olympia radio is constantly harkening to channels 2.16 and 70 and transfers exigency calls to the seacoast guard. Furthermore, you can do it with channels 1, and 2, If you want to hear the vaticinations. The number of the police is 100, sightseer police 171, ambulance 166, SOS lifelines 175, and the Red Cross 150! You can also find the necessary channels and figures in boat flyers. Check them orderly, and if you don’t see them, ask for them at the duty base. Please noway use your phone as a cover for VHF.
Sailing Tenures & Passages in Greece
Sailing in Greece is an adventure that every yacht nut should witness. After your appearance in Athens, we suggest you take many hours to explore the megacity and also get ready to sail across the demitasse blue waters of the Mediterranean to watch magical evenings in Santorini and Oia and also party the night down in Mykonos. Or, you sail on a Catamaran and Monohull around the Greek islets from Crete to Rhodes and Corfu.
Stunning Destinations in Greece
We sail in three beautiful areas of the Greek islets. All are uniquely suited to our style of laid aft procession leaves. If you’re new to sailing or looking to introduce family and musketeers to the most relaxed terrain. The possibility that the Ionian islets can not be beaten. If you have done a procession or two ahead and fancy. A little further wind the Saronic islets are the perfect coming step. If you’re a keen seaman and want to method your way off the beaten track. The Sporades islets offer brilliant wind and gin clear swell.
Ionian Island Flotillas
Our Ionian Island processions are the perfect place to start. If you’re a complete newcomer or feeling a little gravel. Our unique brand of guided sailing in the Ionian islets is well within the utmost people’s capability. Enjoy easy days with light winds. Enjoy sailing from bay to bay with syncope stops along the way. We give an exclusive selection of procession routes in the Ionian islets. All of which is a fantastic preface for sailing. For educated mariners, a procession in the Ionian is the perfect way to introduce family and musketeers.
Saronic Islands Flotillas
The wind then’s a little stronger than the Ionian, making it the perfect step over for mariners with some experience. The major nature of the area means there are always effects to explore on a reinforcement after noble days spent sailing. Enjoy stunning kudos by day and ancient intricate metropolises by night. When we are cruising in this area, we always wish we had another week. As there are so numerous places to explore. We’re frequently amazed to find some harbors pressed. Indeed in August and the hello in each place gives you a taste of true Greek hospitality.
Sporades Greek Islands Flotillas
Following times of badgering from our lovely regular mariners, for a procession in the Sporades islets of Greece. We were thrilled to launch this new route in 2012. It has proven so popular that in 2016. We launched our alternate procession in the area. The Sporades islets are our most popular area with plaint mariners. The combination of gin-clear water and the good wind seems to be proving rather infectious.
