Aegina
An hour and a half from base, and the easiest first night of any Aegean charter. Pistachio groves, a working town harbour, and the fishing village of Perdika on the south-west corner for a quieter evening.
Destination · Athens Base
Sailing the Aegean.
Bare rock, white villages and a hard blue sea. The Aegean asks more of a crew than the Ionian — and gives back the Greece everyone pictures.
Leaving Athens, you have a choice to make within the first two hours. Turn south-west into the Saronic Gulf and you get a gentle, harbour-rich week among pine-covered islands an hour apart. Turn south-east and you are pointed at the Cyclades — bare, bright, windy and unforgettable.
Both start from our Athens base. Both are sailed in deeper blue water than the Ionian, with longer passages, stronger wind and villages that look like the photographs. The Aegean is where you go when the sailing itself is part of the point.
Conditions
The meltemi decides.
WindF4–7 N
The meltemi blows from the north through high summer, often for days. Shoulder months are lighter and more variable.
Day's run25–40 nm
Longer legs between island groups. Plan for real sailing days, and start early when it is blowing.
Saronic10–20 nm
The sheltered alternative — short hops between Aegina, Poros, Hydra and Spetses.
SeasonMay–Oct
May, June, September and October are the kindest. July and August are the windiest and the busiest.
The islands
Two very different weeks.
Poros
Separated from the mainland by a channel a few hundred metres wide, with a clock tower above tiers of terracotta roofs. Sheltered whatever the wind does, and a favourite for a relaxed second night.
Hydra
No cars, no scooters — donkeys and stone. A perfect stone amphitheatre of a harbour that fills early in summer, so arrive at lunchtime or anchor outside and take the tender in.
Spetses & Ermioni
The southern end of the Saronic. Spetses has grand old captains’ houses and horse-drawn carriages; Ermioni, opposite, is a quiet mainland peninsula with tavernas on both shores.
Kea & Kythnos
The gateway to the Cyclades. Vourkari on Kea is a smart, sheltered inlet; Kythnos hides one of the best anchorages in Greece at Kolona, a sandbar with sea on both sides.
Serifos & Sifnos
Serifos rises to a white village stacked on a cone of rock above the port. Sifnos, its neighbour, is the food island of the Cyclades — and Vathi bay on its south coast is a fine, protected night stop.
Milos
Volcanic and strange, with cliffs the colour of bone at Kleftiko and coloured fishing garages cut into the rock. Further south, and worth the extra day it costs you.
Paros, Naxos & Mykonos
The heart of the Cyclades: Naoussa’s little fishing port, Naxos’ marble gate above the harbour, the ancient site of Delos, and Mykonos when you want one loud night in the middle of a quiet week.
Sample itinerary · Saronic & the Cyclades
Seven days in the Saronic & the Cyclades.
The route we recommend for skippered charters sailing the Aegean for the first time.
- Day 1
Athens → Aegina (Perdika or anchorage)
Sail to Aegina. Spend the night either moored in Perdika or anchored in one of the calm bays around the village.
- Day 2
Aegina → Poros
Sail down the Peloponnese coast towards the narrow channel of Poros. Enjoy a swim stop before entering the channel, then settle in on Poros island for the night, with its waterfront tavernas and relaxed island vibe.
- Day 3
Poros → Serifos
Cross into the Cyclades with a longer but rewarding passage. Arrive in Serifos, known for its rugged hills, whitewashed villages, and crystal-clear bays perfect for anchoring.
- Day 4
Serifos → Sifnos
A short hop to Sifnos, one of the Cyclades’ most elegant islands. Explore its calm coves, swim in turquoise waters, and enjoy dinner in one of the island’s exceptional tavernas.
- Day 5
Sifnos → Milos or Koufonisia
Depending on weather and group preference, head either to Milos island, famous for its coastline and hidden coves, or to the more remote Koufonisia island for pristine beaches and a slower, island-life feel.
- Day 6
Milos → Spetses or Hydra
Sail north again, re-entering the Saronic region. Choose between Spetses, with its elegant neoclassical mansions, or Hydra, with its iconic stone harbour and car-free charm. If timing allows, make a detour ashore to visit the ancient theatre of Epidaurus.
- Day 7
Return to Athens
A relaxed final sail back towards Athens, with optional swim stops along the Peloponnese coast before returning to base.
Good to know
Aegean questions.
What is the meltemi and when does it blow?
The meltemi is a dry northerly wind that dominates the Aegean from roughly mid-June to mid-September. It can blow force 5–7 for several days at a time, sometimes more between the islands. It is a fine sailing wind for an experienced crew, and the reason we suggest the Saronic Gulf to everyone else in high summer.
Can you sail the Cyclades in one week?
You can reach the western Cyclades — Kea, Kythnos, Serifos and Sifnos — comfortably in a week from Athens. A full circuit taking in Paros, Naxos and Mykonos is better suited to ten days or more, because the meltemi can pin you in a harbour for a day.
Which route suits a first Aegean charter?
The Saronic Gulf. Aegina, Poros, Hydra, Ermioni and Spetses are close together, sheltered from the worst of the meltemi, and full of harbours — a week there is relaxed even in August.
Is a catamaran a good idea in the Aegean?
For comfort at anchor, yes — and the shallow draft opens up bays a monohull cannot use. In a strong meltemi a catamaran is more affected by windage when berthing, so we would usually put a skipper aboard for a first Aegean week.
Athens base
Sail out of Athens.
Tell us your dates, your crew and how much wind you actually want. We will match you with the right yacht and the right route.