Yacht_Charter_in_the_Central_Cyclades

							Title:
Yacht Charter in the Central Cyclade
s

Word Count:
1220

Summary:
The Cyclades is the central group o
f islands in the Aegean Sea. The mi
ddle group consists of Serifos, Sif
nos, Andiparos, Paros, Naxos, Dheno
ussa, Iraklia, Skhinoussa, Koufonis
ia, Amorgos and Levitha
Keywords:
yacht charter, bareboat charter, di
ving, sailing, boating, marine, cyc
lades, greece, adriatic

Article Body:
The areas prevailing wind during th
e summer months is the infamous Mel
temi blowing from the N-NW. It is f
irst felt in June and becomes stron
ger through July, August and Septem
ber when it can reach force 8. It d
ies down in October. In the spring
and autumn gales are common from th
e N and the SE. The summer months a
re hot, average temperatures are 25
 deg C and temperatures often reach
 35 deg C.

Milos is the southwesternmost of th
e Cyclades. A large bay, Ormos Milo
u, was scooped out when an ancient
volcano erupted and hot sulphur spr
ings still exist today. Adhamas is
the island's port Go bow or stern t
o the E side of the ferry pier or b
ow to the smaller pier to the E. It
  is also possible to anchor off to
the SE of the short pier. The botto
m is mud rocks and weed and poor ho
lding in places. There is good shel
ter from the Meltemi but winds from
  the south can produce dangerous co
nditions. There is water on the fer
ry pier and fuel can be delivered.
Most provisions can be obtained in
the village and there are some tave
rnas. Climb the hill to the Chora a
t Milos for breathtaking views acro
ss the bay. There are several other
  anchorages in the bay that are exp
osed to the north. There are no fac
ilities at any of them. Apollonia i
s in the NE of Milos. Go bow or ste
rn to the pier or anchor of the bea
ch. Holding is good on a sandy bott
om. There are tavernas and a mini m
arket ashore. Ormos Voudhia lies on
e mile to the south of Apollonia. T
here is good shelter from the Melte
mi but the surroundings are unattra
ctive with open cast mines and a wh
arf and ore carrier all in view.

Kimilos lies to the NE of Milos. Th
ere are two anchorages in Ormos Sik
ia in the SW of the island. They ar
e exposed to the N - NW and unsuita
ble when the Meltemi is blowing. Pi
rgonisi is a long sandy beach on th
e south coast and yachts can anchor
 almost anywhere along it in attrac
tive surroundings. Good holding on
sand and weed. Psathi lies further
along the coast to the east. Go bow
s to the quay or anchor off. There
is little shelter from the Meltemi
and yachts are advised to use this
anchorage only in calm weather. The
re are a couple of tavernas ashore
and limited provisions can be obtai
ned in the village. Just to the nor
th is Semina Creek and yachts can a
nchor in the bay. Like Psathi, ther
e is little shelter from the Meltem
i and Psathi should be used only in
 calm weather.

The in the NW of island of Poliagos
 there is a lovely secluded anchora
ge just to the south of the tiny is
land of Moanolsi. There is shelter
from the Meltemi and good holding o
n the sandy bottom. On the south si
de of the island there are several
coves that yachts can anchor in whe
n conditions are calm.

Folegandros is another barren, rock
y island with exception of the smal
l Chora in the NE that lies among g
reen trees and shrubs. The island_s
  ferry port is Karavostasi. Go bow
or stern to the mole on the south s
ide of the arm extending westward.
There is poor holding in places on
sand and rock. There is reasonable
shelter from the Meltemi. There are
  several tavernas but provisions ca
n be difficult to obtain and the is
land is totally reliant on deliveri
es by ferry. On the W side of Foleg
andros is the large bay, Ormos Vath
i. It can only be used in calm weat
her and there is poor holding in pl
aces on sand and weed.
Sikinos lies to the E of Folegandro
s. Ormos Skala is the only harbour
on the island. Yachts can go alongs
ide the quay or anchor off. There a
re tavernas ashore and some provisi
ons can be obtained. The setting is
 attractive and popular with Greek
tourists.

3.5 miles to the east of Sikinos li
es Ios. It is claimed Homer is buri
ed here. He died aboard a ship on p
assage from Samos to Athens and his
 body was thrown overboard and late
r washed up on Ios. Go bow or stern
 to in the harbour of Port Ios. The
re is excellent holding in mud. A m
ini tanker can deliver fuel and wat
er is available from a public fount
ain in the square. There are tavern
as all around the harbour and most
provisions can be obtained. The res
ort is popular with the young and m
ost of the bars play loud music in
the evenings/night. Ormos Milopotam
ou lies to the S of Port Ios. In th
e north of the bay there are 4 cove
s where yachts can anchor, the east
erly two provide the best shelter.
Holding is good on sand. There are
tavernas and hotels on the beach. O
rmos Manganari is a large bay on th
e south coast of Ios, it is possibl
e to anchor throughout the bay with
 good holding on sand. There are ta
vernas ashore.

Thira is similar to Milos in as muc
h as it is a volcano and when it er
upted in 1440 _ 1450 BC it created
the bay as it is today. The close l
ying islands of Thirasia, Nea Kamme
ni and Palaia Kammeni are also part
 of this huge volcanic structure. A
round the basin, on cliffs 300m hig
h you will see white Cycladic house
s with blue painted windows hanging
 from black volcanic rocks which ri
se sheer from the sea all group tog
ether to make Thira is one of the m
ost popular destinations in Greece.

Finikia lies in the N of Thira. Anc
hor to the W of the mole in 10 _20m
 with a trip line because the botto
m is rocky. Limited shelter from th
e Meltemi and completely open to th
e S. Skala Thira is the harbour of
the island_s capital on the steep s
lopes above. Go bow or stern to the
 quay with a line to the large moor
ing buoy. Departing is difficult wi
th the confusion of the many lines
attached to the buoy and it is reco
mmended that yachts are not left un
attended. There is water on the qua
y and several tavernas in the harbour.
On the coast south of Ak Akrotiri t
here are a number of anchorages tha
t provide good shelter from the Mel
temi. The bottom is good holding in
 sand but there is often some groun
d swell that causes yachts to roll
badly. Monolithos is a small harbou
r on the E coast. Go bows to the br
eakwater near its extremity with a
long line. There is a taverna and s
howers ashore.

Thirasia is the westernmost island
and the only anchorage is Ayios Nik
olaos. Yachts can anchor off but th
e small pier is reserved for local
boats. There are tavernas ashore an
d some provisions are available in
the village atop the cliffs.

Nea Kammeni has a number of small i
nlets where a yacht can anchor. A t
rip line should be used as the bott
om is strewn with rocks that are li
kely to snag an anchor. Nea Kammeni
 is known for it_s problem with lar
ge rats and there are many reports
of the getting aboard yachts.

Anafi is the southernmost of the Cy
clades. It has one anchorage on the
  S coast that is exposed. The islan
d is barren and parched and you wil
l not miss a lot if you choose not
to visit.