Sailing Area:
The Dodecanese Islands
Our sailing grounds encompass the areaof the Dodecanese Islands
Leros going north, ending with Patmos. This might appear to be a small area to non sailors, but a sailboat only does 6 miles an hour on the average!
The winds that we can expect are pretty steady as sailing winds go,
and so we have some routes that will allow us to take in various islands
in the Dodecanese Island group.
The Dodecanese Group:
This group of islands is made up of the twelve major islands
and their satellite islands of which there are many. The Dodecanese
is a chain running fairly close to the shores of Turkey, being
the eastern most "border" of Greece. These islands were occupied by
the Ottoman Empire for 500 years, and from 1919 to 1949, by Italy.
Each has left a mark on the people and traditions of each island,
and each island
is unique.
Our island sailing tour will most likely include
Leros, Lipsos, Patmos, Marathi, and Agathonissi,
and if the winds permit a longer sail to Levita, or on a calm day,
Aspronissi .
Our stops will alternate between larger and smaller islands,
anchoring on the docks of a village one night and in an isolated
anchorage the next.
Patmos is the most historic of all the islands in this group being
"Saint John's Island" where he composed the Revelations.
Little remains on these islands of Greece's ancient past, most
history here more from the 1100's.
Here in the Dodecanese you will savor the island life of the Greeks
as they have lived for centuries, often cut off from mainland
Greece for long periods of time. "Village Greek" is spoken in a
different way on each island and each island has it's unique
traditions and way of life, each considering the other almost a
foreign state- or at least, a rival. The simple fishing traditions
still prevail, and their easy going pace of life with it. Progress and tourism have brought modernity but here, neither has erased the past.
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We are lucky to be a part of this lifestyle that still moves at a pace
associated more with the mid 1900's . . . .
As a compliment to your sailing holiday. . .
We suggest that you stay one or two days on land before your
sailing holiday begins. Possibly visit the very interesting old
fortress town (a medieval maze) of Rhodes, (it is easiest to get
flights in to Rhodes and carry on from there by the
Island Catamaran Service "Dodecanese Express" the next day)
or stay on a smaller island and give yourself the chance to get
into Greek mode and island life.
It is strongly recommended to have at least one night land stay
ashore for jet-lag recovery before we depart so that you will be
alert for the first day orientation.
If you would like to have an extended island stay, there are
very nice
locations on Samos, Leros, Lipsos, Santorini and Marathi.
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Marathi,
a tiny,tiny island...
Begin your holiday in Greece with a stay on this tiny remote
island where one family has lived for at least 3 generations.
It takes a little longer to get here, but it is well worth the
relaxation.
Your best bet is to fly to Samos where you will take a hydrofoil to
Lipsi, then be picked up by a private boat. Otherwise, there is
the BlueStar ferry from Athens to Patmos and a daily tour boat
which services Marathi leaving Patmos every morning
.
We can make your reservations on Marathi Island for you.
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Spend three or more days in isolation in one of Marathi's small
B&Bs. Swim off the beach, snorkel, take a walk around the island
(in all about 2 miles).
Join the return clients from all over Europe at the taverna of the
ownerof the island for conversation. The evenings often
get quite lively with talk,music and dance.
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Mahalis & Dimitri, or down the beach at Stavros' rooms, all
charges around $35-$40US, A bargain, considering that
something similar in the Caribbean would cost over $200!
We will be sailing among the islands of
Patmos, Samos, Agathonissi, Arki,
Lipsi and Leros
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There are a number of small hotels on the shore, or inland,
which will make your stay on land a pleasant compliment to your
sailing holiday.
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At the beginning or end or your sailing holiday, an island stay
could be
a great addition to your Greek experience.
An island stay is intended for those who want true relaxation.
Slow down
and become a little Greek. Find out what you have been missing...
We hope that everyone that joins our trips will do just this.
A TASTE OF LEROS
Leros is a very simple and very tipical island where normal,
not tourist life,
goes along quite happily all year 'round.
You might choose to stay here before or after your cruise to get
to know our home port island.
