In
Greece two areas are widely popular for beginners or those who seek easy sailing without seasickness and heavy seas and winds: the
Ionian Sea to the west and the
Saronic Gulf near Athens to the east. As should be no surprise these areas are also home of the majority of the flotilla fleets in the eastern Mediterranean basin, few flotillas are organized in the Aegean (
Dodecanese/
Cyclades). The Ionian and the Saronic are separated by the Pelopponesus peninsula and visiting both would require sailing around this huge land mass (3 weeks itinerary) or a passage through the Corinth Canal.
Typical bareboat terrain (and hence more adventurous) is the Aegean and especially the southern part of the Cyclades (all the islands south of Paros) where distances between the safe anchorages and harbours are much greater and the weather can be quite harsh: experienced sailors adore this part of Greece!
Due to these conditions the Gulets (motorsailers) prefer the Dodecanese over the Cyclades and the best ports to start a blue cruise from are indeed Kos and Rhodes.
Sailing bareboat
The minimum length (l.o.a = length over all) of the typical
charter yachts in Greece is 28 feet, usually though 30 feet. There isn't of course a maximum length but for bareboat purposes it is handy to realize that few monohulls over 50 feet are chartered without skipper or crew, over 56 feet it is usually impossible to sail the yacht yourself. Often there is also a maximum of guests. Moreover, for
Turkish yachts sailing in Greece (across the border) there is a protectionist law preventing yachts with more than 12 guests to enter Greek waters!
.: Back to our sailing adventure in Greece :.