Sailing in Greece
Greece is the world’s most popular and most attractive yacht charter destination. The country has around 3,000 islands, which is the most in the Mediterranean Sea. It has a lot of different climatic areas and vegetation, and big differences in culture and architecture. Because Greek sailing areas have so much to offer, from numerous islands to cultural heritage to competitive prices, it would take you more than just one sailing trip to explore this marvelous country, regardless you being a beginner or a professional.
The most popular areas for having a sailing holiday 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 beginners, whereas the Cyclades are better for professional sailors in spring or autumn, because there can occur strong winds up to 8 Beaufort in summer months. This sailing guide has all the necessary information to make your sailing holiday in Greece as convenient as possible.
Best time to sail in Greece
The sailing season in Greece lasts from April to November, and is similar 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 expect crowded marinas and ports, and many day-tripper motorboats that occupy the majority of port moorings on islands, so be prepared for occasional anchoring. There are many sailing yachts, catamarans, motor boats and gulets with excellent price offers to charter, and you can be sure that the restaurants and shops are always open.
Summer months can be very hot and dry, with a lot of sun and temperatures up to 35 °C around the coast and islands, 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 then not allowed to sail, and some charter-companies do not allow boats to leave the harbor.
The best time to sail is in shoulder seasons, in June and from the second week in September. You can enjoy the aftermath of summer and reasonable prices. There are also regional differences in the season due to the size of Greece; for example, summer and shoulder seasons are longer in the south of the Aegean islands where swimming is also possible in December.
Types of sailing/charter possibilities
Decide what Greek islands you would like to visit and rent a desirable boat. Choose a bareboat yacht charter if you are an experienced sailor, or opt for a skippered yacht charter if you want to have more free time on board and feel secure with a professional skipper handling the boat.
Greece has very hot and sunny summers with raised breeze probability, and is less protected from the Azores High. There are more thunderstorms in the inland area and more often in June than in summer. Should you expect a storm, it could be very difficult to find some shelter for protection due to the long distances between the islands, hence we recommend having a skipper on board. It is very important to prepare yourself and regularly check weather forecasts. The exception is the Ionian Sea where the distances are shorter, and the bays and harbors are close to each other. This beautiful area is ideal for sailors-beginners, so one can opt for a bareboat yacht charter.
If you lack sailing experience, or you want a complete vacation with no worries about your boat, charter a skippered boat. Skipper will take full responsibility over the yacht, sailing maneuvers, and itinerary. Hire a domestic skipper because of their specific set of skills and for their knowledge of local islands, customs, ports, restaurants, bays, beaches and all other crucial information for successful sailing holiday.
Step further would be renting a crewed yacht. The crew consists of a professional skipper, host/cook, or/and professional cook. On larger yachts there will also be a deckhand on board to help with all the ropes and mooring operations. The crew can take you on tours on the islands and give you short overview of the history and cultural heritage. If you choose to hire a domestic cook, you will enjoy flawless Greek cuisine merged with the best Greek wines, some of which belong to the best wines in the world.
Gulets are a frequent type of a crewed yacht charter on the Greek coast. A gulet is a charming wooden sailing yacht, and there is a large variety of gulets in the Mediterranean Sea. Most of them have minimum of three or four crew members consisting of a captain, deckhand, host and cook. Gulets are very wide, so you will feel very comfortable while spending time on the sea. Among offered gulets you can find the most luxurious ones with all needed luxury goods on board.
There are also possibilities for day tours, but we recommend to check those on-spot.
Book an organized sail week in Greece
There are various possibilities to book a cabin on a yacht or the whole yacht in Greece. If you do not want to be bothered with all of the organizational procedures, this is the best solution for you. You only need to pay for the trip and show up on the yacht. Once you arrive to marina your yacht will be waiting for you with a professional skipper on board and with all needed equipment. Organized sailing will mean that places in ports and marinas are waiting for you. The same can be applied to restaurants and some other offered activities, resulting in providing extra value for the customers.
Since organized party sailing events have become quite popular in Greece, you can opt for a charter specialized for partying.
Costs of sailing in Greece
Once you decide on the integral thing – a boat – be it newer or seasoned, you can start planning your expenses that vary depending on your desired way of sailing.
Greece generally has relatively low prices in yacht charter industry. In all marinas and ports fees are determined by the length of the yacht. For example, for a ten-meter yacht, you will pay €5.50 to €10/night for a mooring in harbors. You can be sure that the friendly and hard-working marina staff will take care of your boat. If you compare the prices with other countries, it is multiple times cheaper to sail in Greece. It is to say that the infrastructure of harbors and sanitary installations are in generally worse condition than in other countries, and there are less moorings and buoys to anchor/moor your boat. Due to crowded marinas, it is advised to have a good anchor gear with a lot of chain and a good second anchor. You can find a restaurant where you can eat and get a mooring space for your boat beside the restaurant for free.
Almost each marina and harbor have their own grocery shop, but they are more expensive than shops on land. Stock up on groceries at the beginning of your sailing journey. If you have a skipper on board, you will be responsible for their wellbeing – a skipper should be provided with three meals a day. The same applies for a hostess.
After you finish your sailing holiday Greece, it is common to fill up the boat’s fuel tank with a fuel tank truck, which will be organized by the charter company. This is a common process in Greece because there are not many fuel stations near harbors. The fuel prices are higher than in most other South European countries, and the difference between the main coast and the islands can also vary a lot. The fuel prices on the islands are really high, and it is also possible to get fuel diluted with water. If you suspect that the fuel is not brownish red or pale yellow, or that fuel is not yellowish green, please do not tank. A charter base should warn you about fuel quality if you are to sail long distances.
Climate in Greece
The climate in Greece is affected by the Mediterranean, and as mentioned less protected by the Azores High, but this guarantees long summers. The weather is characterized by damp, mild winters, while summers can be very hot and dry. After a long summer period, at the end of October, the weather begins to be more unstable because of the decreasing Azores High, and the mixture of the cold and hot air masses can cause thunderstorms.
The more southern you sail, the more sun you will have. For example, the region of Crete counts 300 sunny days (3,000 sunny hours) a year, and the other islands like Rhodes or Thira (Santorini) have the same values. This value counts among the highest in Europe. The temperatures can reach high levels really fast, but humidity stays around comfortable 50%, and the air is sometimes dry.
The tide differences are practically negligible, which causes relaxed embarkation from ports. The highest values are measured around the coast of Attica (0.7 m).
Winds in Greece
Winds in Greece are known to be very changeable, especially in winter months, where high and low-pressure differences (fields) are dominating. In the months from mid-October to mid-June, the wind is changing the direction and the strength quite often. During summer, a barometer is not a good indicator to predict the weather since it never goes over 10 hPa.
There is also a rule of 3-4 days that means the wind will change its direction from north to south and back every 3-4 days. The most relevant wind is the Meltemi which is dominating from the end of June till the beginning of September. The Meltemi blows up to 8 Beaufort and brings cold and dry air with humidity of 50-70 %, thus making summer temperatures very pleasant. The Meltemi declines in the morning and evening, and reaches its strength during sunny hours. After its decline, it could be possible that the coast gets weak south winds between 1-3 Beaufort. It is useful to set a second anchor then.
Greece can be divided into five wind zones. The winds of each zone are blowing sometimes independently, but not so if the Meltemi gets strong, then you will have similar wind directions more or less everywhere. The Ionian Sea is dominated by northwest winds which start blowing in the late midmornings and decline in the evening. The coast around Peloponnese is dominated by west winds which can reach up to 6 Beaufort, and sometimes south winds (Scirocco) as well. All the other regions near the coast can expect north-dominated winds because of the land masses. Keep in mind there are gusts of winds blowing between and behind isles with high mountains. The differences between the gusts and distant sea winds can be noticeable.