[WPI]

Hello,

I’m considering a small cruise on a monohull (between 36 and 40 feet) at the end of June (week 26) in Greece.

Since the crew is either inexperienced or very little seasoned, the first articles I’ve read encourage me to ask my predecessors…

We plan to sail around the Cyclades (departing from Paros) for about a week to 10 days.
But the Meltemi seems to blow very hard in the summer (Beaufort 7 to 8 at worst).

My questions are:

1. Does the Meltemi blow this hard in June, or is it mainly in July and August?
2. Does the Meltemi blow the same way across the Aegean Sea, or is it more prevalent in the Cyclades than in the Sporades (further north)?
3. Finally, if that’s the case, do the Sporades or the Ionian Islands really offer more compared to the Cyclades?

Thanks and fair winds…

[Matt]

The Meltemi can start earlier than July and end later than August… a bit like Air France flights, it’s never perfectly predictable.

It does blow very strongly, and it’s no surprise that there are windmills everywhere over there.

It can blow even harder in the Sporades! But in the Cyclades, it’s already pretty wild, especially with wind accelerations between the islands! With the terrain, the wind blows in all directions, so very often right in your face. It can be very challenging for a crew not used to sailing. Be careful, Greek charter contracts prohibit sailing in winds above Force 6, and I’ve even heard some ban anything over Force 5. This means you’re not insured if you go out despite this.

But the Cyclades, they’re so beautiful! If you’re leaving from Paros, I highly recommend heading over to Serifos, the island across to the west: absolutely typical of the Greek Cyclades, very few tourists since there are few ferries and hotels, and the locals are very warm (though be warned, they’re Greek-style warm, don’t expect smiles right away). It has great anchorage and lovely beaches… However, sturdy sneakers are a must for hiking up to the village (500 to 800 meters of elevation, I’ve never done it on foot—must be mad to do that!) or hitchhiking (that’s my method!) if you’re in a small group (no more than two): you’ll definitely get picked up by the first car that passes!

As a general rule, avoid all the overly touristy islands (it’s enough to make you sick of Greece; tourism is industrialized to the extreme there!) but there are still plenty of lovely spots.

[Sylvain]

It’s true, it’s a bit of a lottery, but when it’s calm, it’s really worth it.

The Meltemi blows especially hard along the central axis of the Cyclades, but it’s calmer along the edges.

For example, from Paros, it’s gusting to 35 knots, weakening overnight to 20 knots, heading towards Hydra (90 miles) and then everything is fine. By the way, it’s true that there are touristy spots, but south of Hydra, there are some amazing anchorages, sometimes with no boats around at all.

Another option for a first-time visit to Greece is the Saronic Gulf (very chill, low winds, with some beautiful anchorages as well), and it can also serve as a starting point for visiting some ancient sites.

Another choice, much closer, are the Ionian islands, especially south of Lefkas (short steps, great anchorages, less wind, but sometimes a lot of boats in the evening, especially flotillas without much consideration).

Don’t forget about the formalities, the authorities can sometimes be quite picky.

Greece, it takes years to explore, and even then, it’s never quite enough…

[Dany]

I came across a site that archives weather data since March 2000. It has several weather stations across the Aegean Sea.

What I think I’ve learned:

1. The proportion of north winds (330-030) is really significant. 85% in July and 88% in August for Naxos.
2. Winds can be strong, but real storms (sustained 40+ knots) occur either in spring or (more often) in autumn.
3. There are surprising differences between sustained wind speeds and gusts. I see a 10-knot average speed on July 24, 2000, but gusts up to 50 knots! (exceptional).
4. I haven’t analyzed the numbers, but it’s not easy to identify a strong daily pattern. The cycles seem relatively irregular and can last several days.

In short, one might wish for a slightly less intense pattern and more variation in directions, but for someone planning to sail north to south and stay well sheltered overnight, or someone doing crossings while watching the weather, the Aegean seems great.

[Author]

Posts