By Lambe Lamis 
The Saronic Gulf and the centre of the Aegean Sea – the Cyclades – have some of the most stunning islands in the entire of Greece. Background was built below and you obtain a multitude of fascinating historical sites when leisurely sailing from island to island. Remarkable volcanic landscapes dotted by hilltop towns with the usual Cycladic white-washed houses and windmills, crystal-crystal clear waters, authentic cuisine and ambiance make a yacht constitution below so exceptional and enjoyable. Enable us convey to you a bit more about this wealthy cruising floor in element.
Why is the Aegean Sea such a sought-following constitution location?
The Saronic Gulf is the connection among the Ionian and the Aegean Sea. It is a aspect of the Aegean Sea and lies at the jap aspect of the Corinthian Gulf, which is a 100 km long extend of drinking water. It consists of the japanese entrance and exit place of the Corinth Canal, the town and port of Athens and the main islands Aegina, Salamis, Poros as very well as quite a few smaller ones. There are some astounding historical web-sites like Delphi, Corinth, Mycenae and hundreds additional. A really practical starting off place for an Aegean yacht charter is Athens with its large airport and the huge marina of Kalamaki that offers a multitude of charter boats. It is positioned because of south of Athens. From there you can specifically head to the Saronic Gulf with its attention-grabbing coastline and islands. The best yacht constitution base for the Cyclades is Lavrion, about 37 km south-west from Athens airport.
The Cyclades incorporate the islands of Amorgos, Anafi, Andros, Antiparos, Delos, Eschati, iOS, Kea, Kimolos, Kythnos, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Folegandros, Serifos, Sifnos, Sikinos, Syros, Tinos, and Thira or Santorini in addition several additional more compact types. It simply is a vast sailing ground with countless highlights to explore. Distances in between the islands are a great deal bigger than in some of the other Mediterranean archipelagos, so it is perfectly suited for the experienced sailor.
The attractiveness of the islands is famous. Delos is a person of the most critical ancient Greek web pages. Then there is the volcanic island of Milos. Or Santorini with its huge crater and tremendous-steep cliff that constitutes 1 of the most famous organic points of interest in the globe.
The biggest airports are Santorini and Mykonos, which provide lots of constitution flights in summer time from most European even bigger cities. Paros, Naxos, Syros and Milos also have airports with domestic flights. The ferry backlinks between the islands among each and every other and with the mainland are good, so it´s no challenge to get to everywhere.
As all over the place around Greece, you will locate wonderful genuine taverns with excellent neighborhood food stuff and fresh new fish, charming ports and blue/white painted villages as well as romantic thatch-roofed windmills. The backdrop are spectacular serene landscapes, which include volcanic rocky coastlines. There are almost no tides but the often happening Meltemi winds require fantastic sailing abilities.
Some related info for Aegean sailboat charter:
Place: Mediterranean Sea east of the Peloponnese south of Athens north of Crete
Main Charter Bases: Kalamaki (just outdoors Athens) Lavrion (37 km south-east of Athens) Paros
Principal airports: Athens, Mykonos, Santorini
Place code: +30
Weather: Mild, Mediterranean
Which primary charter locations are there in the Saronic Gulf and the Cyclades?
The Saronic Gulf is generally very guarded as there is incredibly tiny prospect of the Meltemi blowing and it is hence a fantastic cruising floor for relatives sailing vacations.
One particular of the basic sailing routes in the Saronic Gulf qualified prospects from Athens alongside the coastline to Cap Sounion. On the western shore of the largely mountainous coastline of the Peloponnese there is well-known Epidaurus. The Methana peninsula is an ancient volcano about 6 NM north-west of Poros Island. Poros is independent from the Peloponnese only by a 300 m wide channel. It has a charming port and principal city developed on a hill with a attribute bell tower looming previously mentioned it.
Salamis, the premier island in the Saronic Gulf with a rocky coastline of 104 km, is situated only 2 km off the coastline of Piraeus, Athens. It´s renowned for its crucial section in many sea battles and provides some very awesome high-quality sandy shorelines. Look at out the lively port of Paloukia in the North-East of the island or Peristeria in the South – a tiny town with a yacht harbour and cleanse seashores. Then there is the significant bay of the most important city, Salamina.
You can get the constitution yacht to Aegina, the so-known as ´pistachio island´ because of to its substantial cultivation of the crop. It is an extinct volcano with rugged coastline and includes the ports of Perdika and Aegina Town with great taverns and souvenir shops.
Hydra, which is geographically not portion of the Saronic Gulf but just one of the Saronic Islands, is a charming location well known with artists. Moor up in the secured port of its major city Hydra or the peaceful unspoilt port of Ermioni with a gorgeous steep hilly backdrop.
When sailing to Spetses, you can anchor in the bay or moor up directly in the major city on the north-japanese suggestion of the island.
Cruising the Cyclades Kea is one particular of the very first islands you come across. It is a common Cycladic island with a wonderful previous town and located 12 NM south-east of Cape Sounion.
Kythnos, just to the South, has a extremely indented coastline terrific for anchoring or mooring in the lovely bays or ports, for occasion Stefanos bay on the east side or guarded Loutra port in the North East. Try the community cheese, which is a famed specialty. The major marina to use on a yacht rental is Merikha on the west side.
Seriphos has a excellent entry into a lengthy bay surrounded by higher-mounting hills. The port at the finish is Livadhi. Go up to the Chora, the place you have an certainly amazing see.
Sifnos lies a 9 NM sailing vacation south of Serifos. Kamares on the north-west facet is a perfectly-secured port at the stop of a massive bay.
When on a boat constitution in the Cyclades, you ought to pass by the island of Milos. It is an old volcano that types a huge caldera surrounded by pumice cliffs. The port of Adhamas in the north part of the crater is one particular of the best-secured harbours in the Mediterranean.
Last but not least Santorini: Getting into the humongous caldera from the North-West and approaching the steep cliffs is a highlight for each individual sailor.
From Santorini you can steer the sailing yacht by using iOS to Amorgos, a bare rocky island that has retained very a lot of its genuine character and doesn´t have that considerably tourism.
Naxos is the greatest of the Cyclades Archipelago. Only about 4 NM west of Naxos lies Paros, and adjacent to it, Antiparos. There are numerous safeguarded bays and inlets. The channel in between Paros and Antiparos is superior for anchoring as nicely as the guarded bays of the principal city, Parikia, and the preferred fishing port of Naoussa.
At the coast off the ancient internet site of Delos yachts are only allowed to anchor until eventually 3 pm, which is when the exhibition grounds near. Fourni Bay a tiny to the South, or the southern bay of neighbour islet Reneia are alternatives to set anchor overnight.
A major attraction of just about every Aegean yacht charter is Mykonos. There are adequate bays on the south side to appear for shelter from the northerly Meltemi.
Syros, Tinos and Andros are 3 much more of the even bigger Cycladic islands and there are several smaller sized types on top of that, delivering the yacht charterer with unlimited alternatives for sailing routes.
What are the prevailing temperature devices for a yacht constitution all over the Aegean Islands?
The northerly Meltemi wind can get to power 7, in some cases 8, in July and August. It can come about very unpredictably as properly as blow for 5 days on finish, so in that circumstance fantastic sailing techniques are required. It may not just take put at all, however, and there have been summers without the need of Meltemi entirely. Finest suited for family sailing holidays is the nicely-guarded Saronic Gulf.
Summary of the weather circumstances for sailing a yacht constitution in the Aegean with the illustration of Santorini:
Months with best normal temperature: July/August, 26°
Months with cheapest common temperature: January/February, 12°
Month with best average precipitation: December, 167 mm
Months with least expensive typical precipitation: July/August, mm
Thirty day period with the greatest everyday sunshine hrs: July, 14 hrs
Month with the lowest every day sunshine several hours: December, 6 hours
Average wind velocity in summer time: 3 – 7 Bft.
Month with greatest regular water temperature: August, 25°
Month with lowest common water temperature: January, 16°
Principal season: May possibly – Oct
How a lot is Aegean yacht rental and what are the distinct constitution kinds?
You can lease a 12 m sailboat, for occasion, from about 1,400 € a 7 days. Costs increase in accordance to size, product and gear of the yacht. Because of to the robust winds, there aren´t definitely any flotilla charters. You can do bareboat or skippered charter, and decide on amongst catamaran constitution and sailboat or motor yacht use. You could go for a day charter or choose for luxurious boat retain the services of that comes with a lot of extras and a crew in accordance to your particular wants.
What else is there to do apart from sailing on a boat employ the service of in the Cyclades and the Saronic Gulf?
On a yacht retain the services of in the Saronic Gulf, check out Epidaurus on the Peloponnese, a substantial historic sanctuary and centre of therapeutic set in the forest. Its ruins consist of a theatre with amazing acoustics, where a whisper on the phase is heard any place on the 54 tiers of seats, a stadium and a great deal more. Also verify out the museum illustrating what accurately happened at the sanctuary in antiquity.
If you rent a yacht in Lavrion, go down to Cape Sounion which is situated only about 10 km because of south. It is a temple for Poseidon in a attractive environment on a steep cliff overlooking the sea.
Spetses Classic Yacht Regatta starting of July makes for some exciting racing with some wonderful sailing yachts, Aegean typical schooners and lateens.
Kea main city, Ioulis, is very picturesque. It sits large on a plateau like most Greek island cities – they employed to be created like that for defense from pirates. Moor up the sailboat and take a look at the medieval Venetian castle. And north-east of Kea town there is the well-known carved lion from the 6th c. BCE. Look at out the seaside vacation resort of Vourkari where by you face an historical city with the oldest temple located in the entire of Greece (15th c. BCE). Kea is really common with scuba divers as the water has fantastic visibility and wealthy wildlife and there are great opportunities for cavern and wreck diving – a person of the sister ships of the Titanic, the HMHS Britannic, sank there in 1916, among other folks.
If you have some time in-concerning sailing trips, show up at just one of the many classic festivals in Sifnos – there is one particular held virtually each individual month. With 360, the island has the optimum total of churches in all of the Cyclades. For occasion, enjoy a usual Greek marriage at The Church of the Seven Martyrs in Kastro with its incredible location over the sea. Or pay a visit to the fantastically architected capital of the island, Apollonia.
Milos presents impressive volcanic landscapes which include its big caldera as nicely as the very hot springs. For some sightseeing head to the stays of the medieval castle of Palaiokastro at the best level.
Must the Meltemi blow a little also solid for sailing, get some time and take a look at the remarkable archaeological web-site and museum at Santorini. Also admire the stark volcanic landscape – there are no trees, just craters and pumice cliffs. Go to Fira, which is a sea of whitewashed properties sitting down substantial on leading of the black rocks that are beautifully lit up at night. Look at the sunset in excess of the crater from a person of the many bars and places to eat. There is a cable vehicle getting you up to the city or you can experience a donkey up the serpentine path. Test and savour the area wine, which is in particular flavoured from the volcanic soil.
Amorgos was the backdrop for Luc Besson´s film The Major Blue and when you employ a motor- or sailing yacht in the Aegean Sea, you can go there on your own and soak up the amazing colour of the sea and the sky. Go up to the charming Chora of Amorgos sitting on leading of the hill subsequent to scattered windmills and a Venetian castle with a amazing see. Other gorgeous villages are Tholaria and Langada and the towering monastery of Panagia Hozoviotissa in the cliff facet north-east of Chora is also well worthy of traveling to,
You could investigate some of the a lot of ruins on Naxos or employ the service of some windsurfing/kitesurfing equipment at a single of the lots of faculties there.
Acquire a swift split in-amongst sailing outings on your yacht constitution and try out out the buzzing and globe-well known nightlife in Mykonos. For social gathering, go to the Scandinavian Bar in the centre or the significant Cavo Paradiso Club at Paradise Bay to the south. The future day unwind at 1 of the attractive beaches, wander by the great charming town with its funky retailers and purchase some artwork or souvenirs.
Delos was the centre of the cult of Apollo and, as these kinds of, a holy island. Splendid online games have been held there and a rich sanctuary with outstanding architecture was constructed. You can visit the broad ceremonial grounds and the continues to be of stunning temples and statues as very well as the archaeological museum. So don´t pass up out on the prospect to wander these traditionally significant mosaic floors when you´re doing a bareboat yacht charter in the Aegean Sea.
Have a search at a single of the most wonderful churches in Greece – Panagia Ekatontapilyiani in Parikia on Paros, constructed all over the 7/8th century by a single of the architects of the Hagia Sofia. Or go to the close by ´Butterfly Valley´, a park with tens of countless numbers of butterflies. Check out the picturesque previous port of Naoussa on the north coast with its white-washed properties and squares that are lit up at night time and build a excellent atmosphere to sit outside and have evening meal in a person of the dining establishments prior to continuing the sailing or motor yacht charter the up coming day.