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Dodecanese sailing area - Sailing in the eastern Aegean Sea

Short Overview Aegean Sea

In the area of the Dodecanese the strong wind Meltemi blows. Beginners and families recommended to sail in the transitional periods.

  • Moderate infrastructure 
  • High winds
  • Many bays
  • Season: March to October
  • Mediterranean climate
Boats in Aegean Sea
Show more boats nearby
Marinas nearby
  • Marina of Almios
  • Marina Aghia
  • Marina of Epidavros
  • Emporio Harbour
  • Milina Marina
  • Marti Marina

The Dodecanese is a group of islands in the eastern Aegean Sea between Crete, the Cyclades and the Turkish coast. The archipelago has 200 islands (50 large ones and 150 smaller ones), which reach Patmos in the north and Kasos in the south. In addition to the 12 main islands (Rhodes, Astypalia, Kalimnos, Karpathos, Kassos, Kos, Leros, Nissiros, Patmos, Symi, Tilos and Halki), Dodecanese has many smaller islands that are all quite close together. The landscape is mainly mountainous with sparse vegetation. The coasts are often steep and in places there are beaches and coves. The capital Rhodes, founded in 408 BC, lies on the northern tip of the island. The sights of Rhodes include the Grand Master's Palace of St John, the Suleiman Mosque, the old city wall, the aquarium and Mandraki port. The town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.
Image Gallery Aegean Sea

The infrastructure of the Dodecanese sailing area is not particularly modern or well-equipped and comfortable marinas are hard to find. The island of Kos is situated in the center of the Dodecanese and is a good base for sailing trips. It has one of the most modern marinas in Greece and is ideal for yacht charter. The island is known through the Dodecanese Cup and is very popular with sailors. The international race is held there in October every year. Besides Kos, there are also good yacht charter possibilities on Samos and Rhodes. These three islands are great starting points as they also have their own airports. It is also possible to travel to the islands by ferry from Athens. Sporting crews can go directly from Athens or Lavrion to the Dodecanese, the route is about 270 miles. Symi and Halki are among the most beautiful islands in the area and should definitely be visited on a route around Rhodes. In the summer months the Meltemi wind has a pleasant cooling effect. It comes from West and averages at around 4 Bft. One should not underestimate the wind in the high season, because it can blow at more than 8 Bft for days. Less experienced sailing crews could find the strong north wind and wave activity difficult. South of the island of Karpathos the Meltemi can blow at 5 to 7 Bft for several weeks. This is an ideal spot for wind surfers.
Marinas and harbors in the Dodecanese sailing area
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Airports nearby Aegean Sea
  • Athens International airport Eleftherios Venizelos to Kalamaki harbor: 33,9 km, 44 minutes
  • Alexandros Papadiamantis international airport (Skiathos) to Skiathos: 2 km, 4 minutes
  • Kos International airport "Hippocrates“ to Chalki harbor: 25,9 km, 52 minutes
  • Naxos island national airport to Paros: 39,1 km, 1 hour and 11 minutes
  • Rhodos International airport, Diagoras to Rhodos: 15,9 km, 28 minutes
  • Samos International airport - "Aristarchos of Samos" to Marina Aghia: 2,8 km, 3 minutes
  • Santorini (Thira) Island National Airport to Thira: 7,2 km, 13 minutes
  • Syros Island National airport to Syros: 2,3 km, 4 minutes
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Climate & Weather

The area of the Dodecanese has a Mediterranean climate. Because the summer is very long, the sailing season begins in March. In the months of July and August temperatures rise well above 30 °C, but relatively low humidity and a cooling breeze makes the heat bearable. From May to September there is no rain expected. In late autumn, the average temperatures rarely drop below 20 °C and even in November you can still go swimming. In high season the sailing weather is optimal.