Amish wrote in message
news:Pine.LNX.4.58.0403230822200.32422@mems...

Just wondering if anyone has any tips or experiences
in sailing in Greece. My friends and I are planning
Aug 20-28 trip in the Cyclades. I am trying to
figure out if starting and ending at Paros is
better than Laviron.

I'm assuming you're in for day hop cruising, gawping at the local
scene and downing the odd draft vino at $3 a kilo. The white wine
(levko) is always best. If you're more ambitious, much longer
trips are feasible. Buy a copy of the 'Rough guide to Greece'.
More valuable than a chart when planning trips round the Aegean.

Starting in Lavrion in high summer there's no point in going E to
Hydra etc; they're just too crowded, though the water is
sheltered. A typical charter circuit is to cruise SW, making a
circle around Syros, Paros, Sifnos, Serifos, Kea and back. Make a
wider circuit if you're more ambitious.

However, in high summer, periods of strong (30-35kt) northerly
winds (the meltemi) are common, so you may find yourself with an
uncomfortable (even violent!) beat home.

Hence my choice to start and finish in Paros. Go south to Thyra
(mind the mud on the way into the little harbour, try a draft
beer in the very couth hotel, hire a car, tour the crest of the
crater, especially Ia, visit a vineyard). Then work north through
Ios (Sunset bar up the hill on the right, Welsh couple run a
curry house on the harbour front!), the archipelago south of
Naxos (quiet little spots), The Paros you didn't see first time
around (wide choice of anchorages in Naoussa bay), Syros (the
main harbour is very Greek, excellent shopping, but a little
bouncy when the ferries come in. Nice harbour on south coast
though with good restaurants). Then nip across to Mikonos marina
(catch frequent bus to gawp at town and summer residents) before
going home via the rock dodgers paradise of ancient Delos. With
that plan you can always get home downwind if the meltemi comes
in.

Beside the meltemi your biggest challenge will be other charter
boats lifting your anchor, or anchoring over yours so you lift
theirs. Beats television for evening entertainment.

Smashing area, sometimes hot (40c), always sunny, windy, vis
often 5nm.

JimB, yacht Rapaz, sadly, for sale:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jim.bae...cification,htm