Preliminary program 2018
Cruises of different length starting from the marina of Agios Nicholaos, a lively seaside town on the north-eastern coast of the Island of Crete. Crete is the largest island of the Aegean Sea and has two international airports connecting it (especially in the summer) to several European cities; several daily connections to Athens and to other Greek sites are guaranteed all year around. The closest airport to Agios Nicholaos is Heraklion, at 1h30 drive from Agios Nicholaos (several buses per day between Heraklion airport and Agios Nicholaos). The other international airport lies in the Northwest coast of Crete, at Chania around 200 km from Agios Nicholaos. A daily ferry service ensures the connection between Crete and the port of Piraeus as well as to some of the other Aegean islands.
These are our proposals for spring and early summer 2018
Route 1) Northern coast of Crete: departure from Agios Nicholaos and arrival at Chania with stops to be decided mostly depending on the wind but with a not-to-be-missed visit to the magnificent and pristine Gramvousa (1 week; 10 days/2 weeks for the return trip to Aghios Nicholaos)
Route 2) East coast of Crete departure and arrival at Agios Nicholaos (1 week)
Route 3) Southern coast of Crete. Departure from Chania and arrival at Agios Nicholaos. (2 weeks) This is a more challenging cruise and definitely a “wilder” one due to the miles to be sailed, the features of this area and the scarcity of ports in the area. The enchanting and wild southern coast of Crete is quite desert, sometimes barren and in full summer is swept by extremely violent gusts of “meltemi” due to the geography of the Island: because of the very high mountains at the centre of the island, the north-westerly wind, the “notorious” meltemi accelerates as it goes down along the mountain slopes falling with an extreme violence on the Southern coastal areas. For this reason the southern coast of Crete is inaccessible to sailing boats during the summer (never sail South of Crete as the adagio says) when the meltemi blows in full swing and is feasible only in late spring or early summer. The itinerary also includes a stop in the island of Gavdos, the southernmost land of Europe, amidst the Libyan sea. (**To know a bit more about this area also look at the South of Crete description in the Places of the heart section)
Route 4) Karpathos and Kassos, (arrival and departure Agios Nicholaos) two wild jewels of the Aegean, located mid way between Crete and Rhodes in a challenging area for sailing yachts due to wind and sea conditions. Thrill and awe are guaranteed!!! This cruise is recommended only in favourable weather conditions.
In July and August we propose thrilling cruises of variable length between Crete, the Cyclades and the Dodecanese with routes to be decided in agreement with our guests. These are some of our suggestions:
Route 1) Agios Nicholaos, Kassos, Karpathos, Rhodes (dep. Agios Nicholaos – arr. at Rhodes)
Route 2) Rhodes and Kastellorizo (Rhodes has an International airport and Kastellorizo a domestic one)
Route 3) South Dodecanese (Rhodes, Tilos, Halki, Symi, Nissiros, Giali, Kos with International airport)
Route 4) Agios Nicholaos, Anafi, Astiphalea (Astiphalea has a domestic airport with flights for Athens)
Route 5) North coast of Crete with departure from Agios Nicholaos and arrival at Chania – and vice versa (both with international airports)
Route 6) Southern Cyclades (Astiphalea, Anafi, Santorini, Ios, Folegandros, Milos (Santorini has an International airport; Milos only domestic airport)
In this period our cruises will cover mostly the area around Crete with departure and arrival at Agios Nicholaos and routes similar to those indicated for May and June
KEEP IN MIND: All the cruises and routes described in this chapter are to be intended as proposals or suggestions and can be modified depending on wind conditions, ports of arrival and departure and length of cruises. Consider them as “suggested itineraries” because the actual cruises will be “tailor-made” taking into account the requests and wishes of our guests, always bearing in mind that the first element to be considered is the wind. We are open and willing to listen to your proposals and suggestions to offer you your “dream cruise”. Last but not least, in preparing for your journey remember that all Greek islands are connected among them and with the port of Piraeus by ferries and high-speed catamarans (in addition to flights for the island with an airport).