Why Grèce??
In addition to its ancestral culture, Greece, nestled in the south of Europe, offers a choice of innumerable stopovers with its thousands of islands. Depending on one's desires and the time available, one can sail through its numerous navigational basins which stretch from the Aegean Sea to the Ionian Sea. However, beware of Meltem, the local wind, which makes it a pure sailing destination.
The country is home to 50% of the world's charter fleet (approximately 5?000 units) and accounts for 50% of the world's ship bookings, almost equally with Croatia. With 15?000 km of coastline compared to 6?000 for Croatia, it is the world's leading destination for rental yachts. It is therefore easy to rent a boat in Greece
If prices are similar in charter budgets (between 2?500 and 3?500 euros for a 45-foot monohull and from 4?000 to 6?000 euros for a 40-foot catamaran), everything else is different. Starting with life on the spot. Greece is not expensive, but life is more bohemian... You can't find electricity everywhere for example.
The culture, mentality and lifestyle in general are also very different. Greece is a welcoming country with a real culture, a gastronomy - squid, octopus, moussaka, olive oil, uzos - served in the taverns of towns and villages.
With its villages of Turkish or Italian impregnation, with whitewashed walls and winding streets, Greece offers very varied and magnificent landscapes to discover.
A large navigation basin
The Cyclades offer an extensive basin with often long distances - on average 5 to 6 hours of nav' - to cover between the different islands they shelter. It is the mythical spot for all boaters. Two weeks will not be too much to discover these islands with their rather arid beauty. From wild islands to magnificent fishing villages, you will discover the historical side of the country, in the meeting of a rich culture.
Beware of the Meltem, a powerful wind, particularly virulent in August, which blows from north to south with acceleration effects between the islands. Favour a cruise in June or in mid-July, or even in September to avoid the strong wind.
To visit the Cyclades, you can leave from Paros - in the heart of the southern Aegean archipelago - or from Lavrio, 40 minutes by car from Athens, which will save you a day's sailing compared to a departure from the capital.
What voir?? Andros, Naxos..
The Saronic Gulf - also located in the Aegean Sea, but further west of the Cyclades - is a kind of inlet that will allow you to shorten sailing with islands close to each other. This relatively flat sailing basin is quite protected from the Meltem, but with enough wind for beautiful sailing cruises. Although it is smaller than the Cyclades, it offers many islands to discover, with exceptional sailing conditions, even if gusts of up to 50 knots can nevertheless occur from time to time (still that unfortunate Meltem). More practical and accessible than the Cyclades, it will suit families wishing to spend a weekend at sea for example. Aegina, Paris or Epidor are among the islands that are worth the detour and offer varied landscapes and pretty villages to visit.
The access is quite simple since it will be enough to take a flight to Athens and join Lavrio for example.
The Ionian Sea - accessible from Corfu, the most convenient destination with flights from Europe - is a wild and beautiful basin. The islands are green and hilly and the architecture is Venetian, due to its proximity to Italy.
From the Gouvia marina or from Lefkada - a huge marina - you can easily find charter or rental companies. On the other hand, this destination is a little more difficult to reach by air with rather reduced lines.
What voir?? Paxos or Antipaxos.
The Dodecanese is an archipelago in the Aegean Sea, located near Turkey, east of the Cyclades. You will be able to discover the largest island Rhodes, or the island of Kos, known for its numerous beaches. This basin is quite similar in appearance to that of the Cyclades with beautiful anchorages and beautiful beaches. The Meltem also blows there, but not as strongly as in the heart of the Cyclades.
The Sporades are located north-west of the Cyclades and north-east of Athens, still in the Aegean Sea. This archipelago consists of 4 main islands, which can be visited in a week's cruise with reasonable distances of 10 to 20 miles between the spots. It is a Mediterranean summer destination without too many tourists and offers many mooring possibilities. The islands are very green and full of pine trees and hilly forests, due to the rain that falls copiously in winter.
The Meltem blows there, but much less than in the Cyclades, generally around 20 knots during the day and calmer in the morning and evening.
- Skiathos
This is where the airport is located, but there are no direct flights from France. You will therefore have to leave Austria or Germany or transfer from Athens. It is the tourist destination par excellence with many nightclubs and restaurants. If tourism is intensive on land, in the beautiful island of Skiathos, it is less so at sea. Indeed, only 5 or 6 rental companies share a single pontoon and there are about 50 boats. At the port, as at anchor, you will find space all the time.
- Skopelos
This unspoilt island is ideal for relaxing away from tourism. It is here that the musical comedy Mamma Mia?! was filmed, with this famous chapel in the northwest of the island, which can be visited by renting a scooter. You can also enjoy an incredible anchorage in Panormos.
- Alonissos
On the island of Alonissos, take the opportunity to visit Greece's first national marine park from Diaselo.
- Kyra Panagia
This tiny island north of Alonissos Island offers an inland lake for an anchorage in the north of the island, ultra protected under the stars. The entrance is quite narrow, but the manoeuvre is worth it coup?!
What is the characteristic of the navigation? pool?
In the Aegean Sea, you have to be wary of the phenomena of Meltem, a kind of very powerful mistral, which requires a good mastery of your boat. Thus, for novices, choose rather the basins of the Saronic Gulf and the Dedocanese, and avoid the heart of the Aegean Sea and the Cyclades. Otherwise, opt for a cruise with a skipper.
Tip: Remember to prepare your sailing well and anticipate gales and weather changes.
When to leave and for how many temps??
In summer, favour the months of June and July, which are less subject to Meltem and generally 20 to 25% cheaper than August. For novices, avoid the months of August. Finally, take advantage of a very beautiful late season in September, with very warm water. In Greece, charter companies open from April to mid-October and the weather is ideal during this period to enjoy a sunny cruise.
On a week's cruise, visit the Saronic Gulf, the Sporades or the Dodecanese. Over two weeks, you can enjoy the immense Cyclades and Ionian Basin.
Monocoque or multicoque??
It's up to chacun?! The offer is huge in both cases, even if there is a large catamaran clientele.
When réserver??
For larger units, this should be done relatively early even if there is a large supply. Count on six months in advance to have the best boats and the best charterers. You will always find boats, but not necessarily the best value for money.
For the summer, the best time to book a stall is from December to March.
Port or mouillage??
Both my capitaine?! The ports are numerous and very accessible and the moorings are free and varied. Be careful however in summer, there can be some problems with places in the ports. Don't expect superb marinas either, the infrastructures are rudimentary, but that's what makes Grèce? so charming!
Spots incontournables??
Hydra in the Saronic Gulf, whose hilltop town is off-limits to cars. Beware, however, here you anchor in the Mediterranean style, dropping anchor and retreating to the pontoons, then by rows of boats, if there are many people.
For those who are not very comfortable with this technique, you can hire a skipper. You should also choose to arrive early to avoid the flood of tourists who disembark every day from the ferries that commute from the mainland.
Paros in the Cyclades is a beautiful island. You can stop at Naoussa Marina and visit the beautiful villages, small fishing ports and beautiful Gallo-Roman remains.
Amorgos is the island of the Big Blue and you can dive into its waters and think you are Jean Reno.
Iraklia The Cyclades - also known as the Little Cyclades - is a small paradise island south-east of Naxos, part of a group of beautiful islands.
But encore?? Spetses and its many pine forests bordering beautiful sandy beaches, Epidaurus (west of Aegina) in the Peloponnese and its famous theatre of international renown, Kythnos and the protected anchorage of Kolona, Santorini - but it is difficult to anchor there -, the beach of Zante known for its wreck.
