Cyclades in Seven Days

The route

A loop from Athens through the heart of the Cyclades and back, roughly 160 nautical miles. Kea or Kythnos on the first evening, then Syros, Paros, Naxos, a night at anchor off Koufonisia, and back via Mykonos and Kea.

Day by day

The first day is short on purpose, so the crew settles in before the longer legs. Days three to five are the heart of it, with mornings under sail, afternoons at anchor and evenings in port. The final leg back to Attica is the longest and usually starts early.

Wind and season

The meltemi builds through July and August, which makes for exhilarating downwind sailing and occasionally uncomfortable nights at anchor. May, June and September are calmer and the anchorages are emptier.

Alternatives

Every day has a fallback bay on the leeward side of the same island. A change in the forecast means a different anchorage, not a cancelled plan.