Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 Nahoa
Yachtmaster required
2020 Nahoa — Elba 45 out of Athens with gen, AC and watermaker
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Three Seas, Pick One.
Cyclades, Saronic, or Ionian. Greece is the most-chartered country in the Mediterranean — and the right choice changes which one you pick.
Overview
Greece is three distinct cruising grounds masquerading as one country. The Cyclades (Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos) are the dry, windswept, postcard Greece — but the meltemi northerlies in July–August blow 25–35 knots routinely, and the cruising is for sailors who like the rail in the water. The Saronic (Aegina, Poros, Hydra, Spetses) is the calmer, shorter-hop alternative south of Athens — easier on newer crews, less famous. The Ionian (Corfu, Lefkas, Kefalonia, Ithaca, Zakynthos) is greener, calmer, and more Italian-influenced in food and architecture — the family-charter Greece.
What's hard: peak season is hot (32–35°C / 90–95°F not unusual). The meltemi can pin you into a harbour for days in the Cyclades. Provisioning ashore is great when you find a town with a grocery, less great between towns.
Best for charterers who want big-water character (Cyclades), short-hop ease (Saronic), or family-friendly green-island cruising (Ionian). The decision is which sea, not whether Greece.
Quick Facts
- Best months
- May – October. June and September are sweet spots. July–August in the Cyclades is meltemi season — windier than most charterers want.
- Sailing conditions
- Cyclades: meltemi 20–35 knots from N in summer. Saronic: 10–18 knots from E. Ionian: 10–15 knots from NW in afternoons.
- Water temperature
- 65–78°F seasonal range. Warmest August.
- Typical trip length
- 7-day most-booked.
- Cruising character
- Varies by sea. Cyclades is for sailors who want wind; Saronic and Ionian for those who want shore-side ease.
- Customs
- EU member. Non-EU charterers get standard Schengen stamp.
- Currency
- Euro.
Sample Itineraries
All depart and return from the charter base. Distances are approximate nautical miles.
7-Day Saronic Loop (Athens base)
- Day 1 — Athens (Alimos Marina) → Aegina. ~17nm S. Short first sail. Anchor in Perdika or pick up a mooring at Aegina town. Fish tavernas line the harbour — the pistachio ice cream is the local specialty.
- Day 2 — Aegina → Poros. ~15nm SE. Pull into Poros town through the narrow channel between Poros and the mainland. Town quay. Walk up to the clock tower for the view.
- Day 3 — Poros → Hydra. ~12nm SE. No cars on Hydra — the entire island is donkey-and-foot. Pull into the harbour, walk the waterfront cafés, take the path up to the Profitis Ilias monastery if the legs are willing.
- Day 4 — Hydra → Spetses. ~12nm SW. The smaller, sleepier sister to Hydra. Anchor in the old harbor or use the marina. Bicycles for getting around.
- Day 5 — Spetses → Ermioni. ~10nm N. Mainland harbor; quiet, working town. Tavernas without the tourist markup.
- Day 6 — Ermioni → Epidaurus. ~15nm N. Anchor in the bay. Walk or taxi to the ancient theater of Epidavros — 14,000-seat acoustic marvel from 4th century BC.
- Day 7 — Epidaurus → Athens. ~30nm N. Return sail back to Alimos.
Available Yachts in Greece
Fountaine Pajot Saba 50 Lingaro
Yachtmaster required
2019 Lingaro — six-cabin Saba 50, a head for every cabin
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Jeanneau 60 Lyra
Yachtmaster required
2023 Lyra — 60-foot Jeanneau for skippers who want a big boat
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Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 410 Hygge
2024 Hygge — Sun Odyssey 410 for crews who want to sail
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Anchorages Worth Planning Around
Hydra Harbour
Main harbour of Hydra island.
Why stop here: Hydra is the no-cars island. Stone houses cascade down to a U-shaped harbor full of fishing boats, restaurants, and donkey traffic. The town quay seats you in the middle of all of it.
Holding & approach: Med-mooring stern-to at the town quay. Crowded in season; arrive by 3pm to find a slot. Anchor outside the harbor if the quay is full.
What to do: Walk the waterfront. Climb to the Profitis Ilias monastery (45 minutes up). Eat at one of the harbor tavernas. Watch the donkey traffic.
Getting There
- Airport
- Most charterers fly into Athens (ATH) for Saronic and Cyclades charters or Corfu (CFU) for Ionian charters. Direct flights from most European cities; from the US, connect via FRA, LHR, AMS, ZRH, or CDG.
- Charter Bases
- Dream Yacht Charter — Athens — Alimos Marina AND Corfu — Gouvia Marina.Navigare Yachting — Athens — Alimos Marina. Athens base is Alimos Marina, the same marina as Dream Yacht Charter.
- Airport Transfer
- ATH to Alimos is 30–40 minutes by taxi. Corfu airport to Gouvia is 15 minutes.
- Customs & Check-in
- EU member, no customs friction. Bring passport.
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