Sailing Area

The majority of our charters are in the Cyclades and Saronic Isles. However, multi-week charters in the Ionian and Sporadic Isles are possible. In this section we will share first-hand experience about our favourite island marinas, places to visit and anchorages where you can take shelter and spend the night in nature. We will not recommend any typical routes as we find the ultimate freedom at sea is to decide your next island destination once you wake up in the morning and check the wind prediction app while drinking your morning coffee.

Points of interest in the Saronic route

Alimos marina

Alimos marina overview

Aurora Yachting is based at Alimos marina which is situated on the southern Attika next to Kalamaki neighbourhood with easy access to the Cyclades isles. There is dense transportation network in the area and the it is easily accessible from the city center (15km) and the main port of Piraeus (8km). It is also very well connected to Athens Airport (30km) – by express bus line X96.

There are few supermarkets within a walking distance to the marina that do free delieveries to the piers. There are also couple of nice restourants and beach night clubs.

AURORA LOCATION

Aurora Yaching is based at pier 7. The yacht is usually docked at 761-763 berths, but occasionaly it may be moved to the foating pontoon further down on pier 7.

For further information plesase reffer pages Base and FAQ

Island of Poros

Russian bay on Poros

If you sail from Athens direcly to Poros you will leave the island of Aegina on your right. Once passing the Poros lighthouse you will enter in a small strait between the island and the mainland. The first bay that opens to your left side is called the Russian bay after the abandoned 18 century old Russian naval base there. The remains can be seen on the shore. In the middle of the bay there is a small island with a church. The place is a nice anchorage for swimming and also for overnight stay especially during the high season when no docking place can be found in the main harbour. The western side it is quite protected from the wind and the wash created by passing ferries and fast boats.

PORT OF POROS

Poros town harbour provides excellent year round shelter but, because of the constant traffic of large and small ferries, there is an almost continual wash caused by their wakes. The town is built on a small peninsula surrounded by quays along the S and NW sides. On the more popular and quieter NW side, visiting yachts can berth using their anchors stern/bows-to either the quay or the long pontoon that extends out at right angles from the N end of the quay. Pontoon berths: Signs on the pontoon forbid alongside berthing, however, any boat that attempts a stern to near the root of the pontoon will cross anchors with boats moored stern to in the immediate vicinity of the pontoon on the town quay (which is in 90 degrees to the pontoon). In practice, boats on the root of the pontoon are tied alongside, while some of the boats at the outer end are moored stern to. Depths along the quay here range from 2.5 – 3.5 metres and on the pontoon from 3.5 metres at the inshore end to over 10.0 metres at the outer end (as of June 2018, pontoon mooring is mostly alongside and there is no water/electricity on the pontoon). You will be dropping your anchor in around 10.0 metres wherever you decide to berth, so allow for lots of chain. Holding is excellent in mud. Water and electricity can be obtained on the quay but not at present on the pontoon. Part of W quay is under repair, and during weekends, the southern part of the west quay will be reserved for influx of local/Athenian cruiser boats. Yachts moored in this are will be asked to move further north towards the pontoon area.

POROS CHANNEL

The village of Galatas is opposite the S quay of Poros town on the Peoloponese mainland. On the S quay, yachts can moor using their anchors stern/bows-to the quay just W of the laid moorings of the charter fleet and local boats. Depths here are 3.0 – 4.0 metres and you will be dropping your anchor in 5.0 – 6.0 metres. Holding is excellent in mud. Alternatively, at less busy periods a limited number of yachts can lie alongside the quay immediately E of the ferry quay (being sure not to obstruct the ferries), where there are depths of 3.5 – 4.0 metres.

Island of Hydra

Island of Spetses

Nafplio

Porto Cheli

Island of Aegina

AEGINA PORT

The harbor of Aegina, being close to Athens, is always crowded - especially at weekends. Yachts moor stern/bow-to using their anchors either on the N quay, where there are depths of 2.0 – 2.5 metres, or on the S quay, where there are depths at the W end of 5.0 – 6.0 metres but little more than a metre at the E end near the slipway. A yacht should keep well off the quay in either spot, since the ferries cause quite a wash on entry. Outside the harbour is a small marina, Aegina Marina, protected by a long detached breakwater, where yachts berth on long pontoons. However, this is usually filled with local yachts on permanent moorings and there is little space for visitors.

PERDIKA PORT

The small harbour of Perdikas lies on the SW coast of the island, 3.5 miles SSE of Aegina harbour. The harbour offers reasonable shelter in settled weather, but is open W and strong winds from that direction make it untenable. Yachts moor stern/bows-to using their anchors wherever there is space, taking lines to one of the two stone jetties. Depths are variable from 2.0 to 3.0 metres, but less in areas of ballasting.

PERDIKA TAVERNS

Perdika was once a fishremen village but today seems to exist only for its taverns as the whole harbour is surrounded by them. The fish and octopus specialties are outstanding.

ISLET OF MONI

he island of Moni is opposite of Perdika harbour. There are no inhabitants, but only deer, wild goats and peacocks that come close to you, in order to feed them. They serve as a local attraction by the people who run the snack bar on the beach.

The bay have deep, clear waters, good anchor holding. It's full of pine trees and it has a nice sandy beach as well as other places where you can go swimming, fishing or hiking through the island.

AEGINA ANCHORAGES

There are couple of nice anchorages on the southern side of Aegina. Most popular of them Afoklisti offers a good holding and quite protected from the wind. During the season may be well crowded to stay on anchor so mooring line to nearby rocks is advisable to avoid turning with the wind. Another nice anchorage is Agia Marina on the eastern side of the island. The quay is packed with local fishermen boats but you can drop an anchor to the northern part of the bay where the water is crystal clear.

Points of interest in the Cyclades route

Alimos marina

Alimos marina overview

There are few supermarkets within a walking distance to the marina that do free delieveries to the piers. There are also couple of nice restourants and beach night clubs.

AURORA LOCATION

Island of Kea

Island of Kythnos

Island of Kythnos - Colona bay

So called Colona bay is a beautiful and most polular anchorage on Kythnos. It is split by a sand bar into two small coves Fikiadha and Kolimpithres. Both are very well protected from the meltemi and southerlies. Depending on the prevailing wind, anchor either on the N or S side of the little coves. If the anchorage is full, you can drop your anchor near the NW and take a line to the N shore. Kolimpithres or Kolona is E of the sand bar which separates it from Fikiada is also a very attractive anchorage. On a small beach on the N side of the eastern cove, there is a hot spring in the shape of a small bathtub where you can relax. Unfortunately, it is very popular with motor cruisers from Athens during the summer weekends. Anchor to the S and take a line to a rock on the N shore. The bottom is weed and not always good holding. Drop the anchor on a sandy patch and always check the anchor by snorkeling.

There is now a restaurant over the sandbar. Its food is of an average quality.

Merikas port - Kythnos

The harbour of Merikas lies on the W side of the island, five miles S of the cape of Ak Kefalos at its northern tip. The main harbour used by the ferry boats and offers reasonable protection from the meltemi, which mainly gusts here from the NE. Visiting yachts can moor stern/bows to the quay SE of the short ferry jetty, where depths are 3.0 – 5.0 metres and the holding good in sand and mud. Shelter is good in the prevailing NE winds but strong westerlies would probably make the harbour untenable.

There are several tavernas and a minimarket ashore. Buses go from here regularly to the Chora two miles uphill to the NE.

Loutra port - Kythnos

The harbour of Loutra is on the NE side of the island and it is more yacht-friendly than the main ferry harbour. Yachts can moor in one of three positions: stern/bows-to the quay of the NE breakwater using their anchors, where there is space for around 12 yachts; alongside the inside of the L-shaped extension, where there is space for two yachts; or alongside the outside of this extension, where there is room for four yachts. There is a hot mineral spring known from ancient times. Visitors can take relaxing batch in freely accessible hot water bathtub opposite to the harbour (S end of the beach). Water contains iron that was also mined on the island. An alternative if the harbour is full is the anchorage of Agias Irene cove.

Island of Serifos

Island of Sifnos

Island of Milos

Island of Syros

Sailing Area

Points of interest in the Saronic route

Alimos marina overview

AURORA LOCATION

Russian bay on Poros

PORT OF POROS

POROS CHANNEL

MANDRAKI BAY

PORT OF HYDRA

ANCHORAGES ON HYDRA

SPETSES OLD PORT

NEW PIER

PALAMIDI CASTLE VIEW

NAFPLIO TOWN

PORTO CHELI

ISLET OF CHINITSA

AEGINA PORT

PERDIKA PORT

PERDIKA TAVERNS

ISLET OF MONI

AEGINA ANCHORAGES

Points of interest in the Cyclades route

Alimos marina overview

AURORA LOCATION

Vourkari - Kea island

Island of Kythnos - Colona bay

Merikas port - Kythnos

Loutra port - Kythnos

Livadhi - Serifos

Megalo Livadhi - Serifos

Sifnos - Kamares port

Sifnos - Kastro

Sifnos - Platis gialos

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