Route Detail

The Saronic Islands are similar to the Ionian in that the coastline is lush and verdant, and the harbours are small and friendly.

The winds in this area are generally from the southeast and can be a little fresher than found in the Ionian, so some experience is necessary. Cruising the Saronic Islands will be a fleet of Beneteau 311s, 331s and 361s. Each flotilla will also have a "two heads" yacht attached; either our new Beneteau 40, or the 4 cabin Bavaria 44.

For 2012, we will retain our two flotilla presence in this area, as we continue to evolve the route, which everyone seems to be raving about. Switching to the ‘one way’ configuration meant that we could visit many more spots.

Those of you who have sailed on our yachts before will feel instantly at home. Two week flotillas are ideal for a good look around and the new ‘one way route’ leaves time for some independent sailing too.

When we sailed in this area for a fortnight, we could have used another week as there are so many places to explore!

The taverna atmosphere remains familiar with the addition of a few dishes from further such as Kleftiko, the famous 'stolen lamb'. Local wine is certainly very pleasant and the ambience is addictive.

Our sail furling systems mean that we can sail easily on half sails without losing any speed if necessary if the breeze gets up a bit..

There are many Greek island style villages with traditional tavernas. These are one of the main reasons why we enjoy sailing around the sunny Greek islands so much.

Dining out is more than a meal - it is a life experience if you allow yourself to go with the flow. Certainly, it will be pointless bringing a laptop with you for example because your brain will be preoccupied.

Some of the harbours we visit will vary with the time of year. For example, Hydra harbour becomes impossible in August but really nice in May and June. Monemavssia with it's spectacular Gibraltar like rock and the natural harbour of Ierakia sometimes come within range of the flotillas but not always.

We were amazed to find the area quite uncrowded even in August. There was no rush to get into harbours and the welcome in each place was really friendly.