Crete yacht charters 
This nautical map of Crete shows in navy coloured arrows the Meltemi winds and squalls in the summer season and tourist season. The southern coast is adversely affected by these squalls and cruising - let along bareboat yacht charters - during the summer month are not recommended. The northern coast is less dangerous and is more indented - plenty of secluded natural ports and anchorages. The typical cruising routes in the Mediterranean is from the Ionian Sea, via Kythira, via Crete (northern coastline), via Kasos and Karpathos to Rhodes. Subsequently either north towards the Dodecanese and the Eastern Sporades or crossing the border into Turkey: the Carian, Ionian or Lycian coasts. The typical sailing holidays and yacht charters are rare in Crete, since the nearest charter base are Paros, Syros or Rhodes. Occasionally, picking up a charter yacht from Milos or Santorini is possible in which Souda, Chania, Paliokastra, Rethymno, Iraklion etc can be visited in “just” a one week itinerary. Otherwise, from Athens for instance, the island is only visited on 3 weeks or longer itineraries.
The best month to visit the island is June:
- Few tourists, which tend to cover the coastal parts of the island similar to locust swarms during July and August and first week of September;
- Already warm seawater for snorkelling and diving;
- Meltemi storms start early July, and spring storms are in the past;
- Often cheaper to rent a yacht - check reliable yacht charter firms;
- In the summer months it can be too hot: this is the southernmost part of Europe!
