CROSSING THE AEGEAN SEA: SAIL FROM LAVRION PORT TO KOS

Day 1: Lavrion - Kythnos island, bay of Kolona (25 nautical miles - nm)

 Everyone was summoned in Lavrion on Tuesday morning. After provisions and the small details were complete, we set sail to Kythnos island. We wanted to enjoy swimming and the beautiful sea in the Cyclades, so we anchored in the bay of Kolona. After a 4-hour sailing trip we arrived to Kythnos, and soon we were enjoying the wonderful beach at Kolona. In the evening we enjoyed dinner in the restaurant at the hill by the cove, concluding a beautiful first sailing day. 

Day 2: Kithnos - Syros island (36 nm)

The next day we sailed to Syros island. The winds were expected strong, so we decided to follow an alternative route to the shortest option, which is heading north of Kythnos, and then east to Syros. Instead, we sailed south from Merichas to the southernmost cape of the island, and then turned north, keeping close to the eastern coast of Kythnos. The distance was increased only by 4 nm, so we decided that it was worth it. Once we reached the bay of Kanala, we set small sails and headed East, toward the southern coast of Syros. Despite this plan, the waves were high, occasionally reaching two meters tall, but they smoothened as we approached Syros island.

We headed to the port of Ermoupoli, although we could stop in the port of Foinikas, at the southwestern coast of Syros. Foinikas protects fully from the northern winds, contrary to Ermoupoli, where you might find swell with strong winds. Luckily, the winds were expected to be calmer at the eastern coast of Syros, so we decided to spend the evening in the charming and historic port of Ermoupoli.

Day 3: Syros - Mykonos (18 nm)

The  next day, after enjoying breakfast and a morning coffee in Ermoupoli, we sailed to Mykonos island. The distance is rather small, around 3 hours of sailing, so we had time for a swim in the beautiful bays of Rinia, a small island on our way to Mykonos with amazing beaches and sea colors. 

There are various options for berthing or anchorage in Mykonos island. The most comfortable is docking in Tourlos marina, which needs to pre-booked via an online application. Another option is to stay on anchor, at one of the southern bays, such as Paradise Beach. 

Day 4: Mykonos - Paros island, Naoussa marina (18nm)

After our swim in Rinia, we sailed south toward Paros island. The northern wind gave us a boost, so we covered the distance rather fast. We chose to berth in Naoussa marina, in spite of each considerable higher cost than the main port of Paros, Paroikia, because it offers better shelter to the northern winds compared to the exposed port. The marina in Naoussa offers lazy lines, securing the yacht better than the anchor. The staff helped us moor, so soon we enjoyed a walk in the picturesque alleys of the village. In the evening, we enjoyed dinner and drinks in the restaurants and bars, by the sea. 

Our group was also keen to try kite surfing, considering the strong winds on the day. We chose the right spot for this, so a few people enjoyed the fascinating sport, while the rest had some great time swimming in the crystal waters of the cove. It was a wonderful day. 

Regarding the evening, there are a few safe options to spend the night, even when strong northern winds apply. The bay of Agios Georgios, at the southern coast of Antiparos and close to the islet of Despotikon offers such an option. The bay is protected by both islands and from all wind directions, so anchorage there is highly recommended. Another feature are the delicious restaurants at the southern coast of Antiparos, offering a wide variety of local food and fresh fish and seafood.

Our decision was to anchor in the port of Antiparos. The dock that was built and operated first year in 2026 offers good protection to the winds (north or south direction). If the dock is full, anchoring just at the south of it is also safe, although less convenient to get to the shore with the dinghy. Antiparos is a small island, but the village is busy, as many young people visit the island in summer months. We enjoyed the vivid nightlife and a wonderful day overall.

The Minor Cyclades is a sailing area providing many wonderful options. Unfortunately we had limited time in this trip, as we had to continue further east. In these cases, we chose the best options considering the wind conditions, but we knew that we would miss other options. The island of Iraklia is one of them, with a small, port at the northeast coast, with amazingly clear waters and beautiful landscape. Schoinoussa island also offer an amazing coastline, with favorable protection to the Northern winds. Antikeria also composes a wonderful swimming spot, when the winds are calmer. Spending a week in the Minor Cyclades can sustain an unoforgettable sailing week. 

Date 8: Amorgos - Leros island (54 nm)

Next day we started the sailing trip early, as it was the longest so far, 54 nautical miles, which finally lasted around 8 hours. We were lucky for the northern wind to be mild, hence we could move with our sails, without being bothered by large waves. Things would be harder if waves were an issue, especially in this part of the Aegean, famous for the turbulence caused by the strong winds.

We headed to Leros marina, where booking our spot was feasible, unlike most of the ports in Greece. We arrived in the afternoon, and berthed without any issues, since the marina staff assisted us and the winds had dropped, especially in that deep bay. 

As Lakki is not particularly developed for tourism, we rented a car, visited the Castle of Panteli, and had dinner in the cute bay under the Castle. It was a beautiful day, alhtough we were tired from the long trip.

Day 10: Kalimnos - Pserimos (10 nm)

We continued our trip south, and the next island to visit was Pserimos. It is a wonderful, calm islands with a few only inhabidants and basic infrastructure. We only found 2 beach bars on the shore, and another one a few meters onto the island. The port is small and cute, with clean, transparent water and we could moor there later in the afternoon, after the daily boats had left. Before reaching the port, we had a wonderful swim in a small island next to Pserimos, Plati, as well as a stop in the southern bays of the island.

Pserimos will be remembered for the pure environment, the sandy beach, near the port, and the overall tranquility that it offered us.