Useful information about your sailing cruise in the Cyclades islands
Cyclades Islands compose a challenging sailing area. Main factor that defines the wind force in summer months (July to September) is the 'meltemi', the northern wind that blows usually around 5-6 Beaufort (20+ knots), although gusts can reach up to 8 (35 knots). The wind blows stronger during mid day, so sailors usually travel early morning to avoid the strong wind. Wind direction is purely north, or North West.
Big waves can be also caused by the meltemi. The waves cover hundreds miles' distance from North Aegean coast to the Cyclades, so they can reach 3-4 meters tall, or more. Nevertheless, it is fun to navigate the yacht up to 25 knots, but it can be hard and risky in more extreme conditions.
Sailing with strong winds is even harder on a catamaran. These yachts are almost impossible to sail against the tall Aegean waves, while sailing creates an intense and unpleasant shake. Classical sailing yachts (monohulls) are a better choice, if you wish to sail the Cyclades with strong winds.
The distance of the sailing trips between most of the islands is another factor to consider, when renting a yacht in the Cyclades islands. Average distance of 3-5 hours makes it hard to find a shelter when sailing on a windy day. On the same grounds, most ports offer only a limited number of berthing spots, so arriving late in the afternoon makes it hard to moor safely, if the port is full.
On the other hand, strong winds are not constant, in the sense that there can be long intervals of a week, or more. Usually, winds can be predicted accurately 3-4 days in advance, so there is time to plan your sailing trip safely and avoid unpleasant conditions.
Calmer winds for happy sailing prevail in other months, from April to June and in October. Nowadays, it is common to enjoy a sailing cruise in April, May or October, because winds are calmer, temperature is milder, compared to the hot summer months, and every destination is less busy than the peak season.
The strong winds prevail more forcefully in the Northern Cyclades islands, Andros, Tinos and Mykonos. On the other hand, the Minor Cyclades, Koufonissi, Schoinoussa and Iraklia, are better protected from the North wind by the large island of Naxos: sailing holidays in the Minor Cyclades are pleasant, even on super windy days.
This should be taken into account when choosing the port to start your sailing cruise in the Cyclades islands: Renting a yacht in Mykonos can be hard, considering the distance of the island from other safe ports. On the contrary, starting the sailing holidays in Paros island is much more preferable, considering its close proximity to Antiparos and the Minor Cyclades. One can spend a whole sailing week in that area, enjoying incredibe destinations in calm conditions.
Finally, Athens marinas offer an alternative advantage when chartering a sailing yacht for the Cyclades islands. Starting your sailing trip in Athens, e.g. rent a boat in Lavrion or Alimos marina, allows to decide about the sailing area just before the trip starts. If winds are too strong, you can choose to sail in the Saronic Gulf, offering amazing destinations, and much calmer, but still exciting, sailing conditions.
Plan now your sailing trip
View our suggested routes, most impressive swimming spots and our favorite ports
Naši čarter savetnici će sastaviti listu najboljih opcija za jedrenje po vašoj meri
ZATRAŽITE PERSONALIZOVANU PONUDU
