Sep 192 min read

#18 Sailing Latin in the Saronic Gulf: A week with the IOLI

Ahoy dear sailing friends,

Let yourself be carried away by our exciting sailing tour in the Saronic Gulf with the Bavaria Cruiser 46 "IOLI"! Seven sea dogs, aged between 38 and 73, set sail in June and explored the beautiful islands of Greece.

Saturday in Athens: In the footsteps of antiquity

Before heading out to sea, we immersed ourselves in the history of Athens on Saturday. The Acropolis, majestically towering over the city, left us amazed.

Sunday: Cast off, heading for Hydra!

On Tuesday afternoon it was finally time to "cast off"! In the Marina Alimos we picked up our IOLI, a well-maintained Bavaria Cruiser 46 from 2016. You could tell straight away that it was an owner's yacht.

We sailed south in a long stretch to Hydra, where we anchored in Mandraki Bay. A delicious dinner in a nearby restaurant rounded off the day.

Monday: Hydra - a lively port town

The next morning we walked to the town of Hydra. We were fascinated by the hustle and bustle of the harbor with sailors, yachts, excursion boats and water taxis. We took the water taxi back to the IOLI and then continued to Dokos Bay, where we anchored again.

Tuesday: Poros - a charming port town

On Tuesday we circumnavigated Hydra on the south side and moored in the evening in the city harbor of Poros directly on the promenade. A boozy evening in the restaurant and bar, run by our nice colleague who helped us moor, rounded off the day.

Wednesday/Thursday: Moni - Swimming and Hiking

Finally, wind! On Wednesday we sailed under gennaker to the small island of Moni and anchored there at around 5:30 p.m. On Thursday we climbed the 150-meter-high hill of Moni. The last few meters were steep and the scree was slippery, but the view made up for all the effort.

At midday we lifted anchor and sailed to Perdika on Aegina, where we stocked up on provisions. Unfortunately, in the afternoon we only had to motor to reach Magicos Bay on Agistri.

Friday: Course Athens, farewell to the sea

On the last day we sailed leisurely back to Alimos Marina near Athens, where the tanker was waiting for us at around 2 p.m.

Conclusion: An unforgettable sailing trip

Overall, it was a beautiful, sunny trip with lots of opportunities to swim in beautiful bays. We loved the area with its diverse anchorages. Unfortunately, there was also rubbish in some bays, which we removed where possible.

Ahoy and see you next time!

PS: In addition to the places described, we explored numerous other bays and enjoyed the Greek hospitality.

Tips for sailors:

The Saronic Gulf is an ideal area for beginners and advanced surfers.
The winds are usually moderate, so longer trips are also possible.
There are numerous restaurants and taverns in the ports and bays.
Provisions and water should be stored on board, as not all bays are well supplied.
Please take rubbish back to land and dispose of it!

Further information about the area can be found here: Area information: Sailing in the Saronic Gulf (Greece)