Hi everyone,
First time posting here, and first time sailing in Greece! I recently booked a 7-day yacht charter through luffyachting.com and I am super excited, but I just got off a call with the skipper they assigned and he is telling me that going from Athens (Alimos marina) to Mykonos and back in 7 days is possible but not very pleasant...
I honestly thought it was doable - it doesn't look THAT far on the map? But he's saying with winds, stops, and actually enjoying the islands, we'd be sailing 6-7 hours every single day just to make it.
Has anyone done a similar route? Is the skipper right, or is he being overly cautious? We are a group of 6, none of us are experienced sailors, and we really had Mykonos as our dream stop.
Any advice from people who know the Cyclades would be hugely appreciated!
Posted by
Surrey, UK
918 posts
Don't know the Cyclades, but I've had boating experience. Had a look at the map and it's about 100 nm. Sailing boats travel at, say 5 knots. That's a minimum of 20 hours sailing each way. You just have to build in a contingency for weather, as well.
I was once locked in a harbour for four days.
So your skipper is right. There is no such thing as overly cautious when dealing with the sea. You never plan anything to tight deadlines, and in your case, you would have to be back in Athens on time.
Trust your skipper and choose another destination.
After all you do want to sctually enjoy the voyage.
Posted by
Chania, Crete
27 posts
July is also in the peak season for Meltemi winds and that will possibly affect your sailing time-table
Posted by
France Southwest - Occitanie
3795 posts
Listen to what the skipper says, he's the one who knows the sea and the possible sailing conditions in this area.
Indeed, around Mykonos, especially between Mykonos and Tinos, the neighboring island, the Meltemi wind coming from the north / northwest is channeled and intensified, and it's stronger in the summer. Many boats have dismasted there, or had their sails torn.
Also note that Mykonos, besides being a cruise ship destination, is above all a favorite spot for Europeans who want to party and spend time in beach bars with music. It's one of the most expensive places in Europe, a favorite of all kinds of celebrities and stars. During peak season, expect to spend at least three times as much compared to any other Cycladic island.
It's something like this:
If this is what you're looking for, this is the ideal place.
Otherwise, all the other Cycladic islands have beautiful beaches, whitewashed houses, and blue domes.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Hi all, thanks so much for the replies, this was really helpful! All of the things you mentioned were completely off my radar!
I think we'll have a proper chat with the skipper and let him suggest a more sensible route around. As JoLui says, all the islands have beautiful beaches and whitewashed houses.
Thanks again everyone. I really appreciate you taking the time!
Posted by
France Southwest - Occitanie
3795 posts
It's funny, the author of this post used the name of the CEO of the yachting company he mentions. You can find his name on the website (About us page) .
So this seemingly innocent question is, in my opinion, just advertising.
Posted by
9999 posts
Wow, booking a yacht must have cost quite a lot.
I have been to Mykonos twice. It is nice, the second time, did an excursion to the island of Delos. It was the ancient capital of the Delian League and definitely worth a visit.
Another great island is Santorini, it will be crowded, but worth the visit.
Best way to see these and other islands is on a cruise.
Taking a ferry takes a bit more time to travel, flying is expensive.
https://boattheglobe.com/sailing-in/mediterranean/greece/saronic-gulf/sailing-from-athens-to-mykonos
When are the winds and weather like from Athens to Mykonos?
In summer (May to September), the Meltemi is the dominant wind in the Aegean Sea. It is a dry, northerly wind that can be quite strong. The main season for the Meltemi is June to September, with a peak in July to August. It is usually weaker/less frequent in May and late September, but can still occur. The Meltemi can create choppy seas, especially in open water passages. During your journey, the main wind will probably be the Meltemi, which blows from the north or northwest. Outside of the Meltemi season in May-June and September-October, the wind can be more variable; the south winds (Sirocco) bring warmer temperatures and occasionally rain. Read about sailing in Greece September, or sailing in Greece in October.
How far is it, and how long does it take to sail from Athens to Mykonos on a private yacht?
The distance between Athens and Mykonos is approximately 88 nautical miles from the port of Alimos. This means that approx. 11 – 14 hours of non-stop sailing on an average sailing yacht, in average weather conditions, sailing at 6-7 knots per hour. In practice, most people break it up into several days to make it safer and more enjoyable through the Cyclades. The entire Athens – Mykonos – Athens route is approx. 22-28 hours of non-stop sailing. From Lavrion to Mykonos is about 65 nautical miles, which is about 8-10 hours of sailing.
An average motor yacht, under average weather conditions, travels at 15-25 knots per hour, so with a motor yacht the journey there can take around 3,5-5 hours, and the entire Athens – Mykonos – Athens route takes approx. 7-10 hours of travel. A motorboat comes with a lot more extra costs, the most important difference being fuel consumption.