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Sailing the Greek islands

June 3, 2019 | Michael Turtle | 30 Comments

ADVENTURE TRAVEL

A yacht trip in the Ionian Sea

We tune the boat’s radio to channel 72.

“Vathi harbour, this is Gypsy Love,” we say into the handset.

There’s a bit of static then a crackle.

“Gypsy Love, we have a space for you,” comes the reply. “You can pull in in front of the restaurant with the white awning.”

The voice on the other end is British, a woman’s. It’s no surprise to hear the accent, though.

Although we’re in Greece, these islands in the Ionian Sea are the summer playground of visitors from across Europe. Greek flags on the boats mix with those from Italy, Germany, England and Norway, among others.

Sailing Ionian Sea Greece

We guide our boat into the space in front of the restaurant and put our gangplank onto shore. It lands less than a metre from one of the tables.

That’s the way with these local ports on the smaller islands. The boats, the restaurants, the shops – they’re all intertwined physically and symbiotically.

It’s the first day of my sailing trip with Intrepid Travel, on board the ‘Gypsy Love’, a strangely-named forty foot catamaran. For the next week it is our home, the waters our days, and the islands’ harbours our nights.

Sailing Ionian Sea Greece

Sailing Ionian Sea Greece

The sun shines down fiercely for the whole week, despite the claims one evening from our Greek captain, Adonis, that a pain in his wrist is an indication of an approaching storm. The waters are a rich dark blue and islands are covered in trees, much greener than their sandy and rocky counterparts on the eastern side of the country.

Sailing Ionian Sea Greece

Although the region here gets enough rain in the winter to sustain all the plants, the summer is notoriously hot. Looking at the other sailors in the ports, with their even brown skin, is evidence of that. My red shoulders and nose are another reminder.

Some of the other sailors are clearly in this for the long-term – or at least a longer period than me. Although their yachts move quickly though the waters, when they hit land there’s a languid rhythm to the atmosphere.

Activities are slow, everything is relaxed and the ports are a refuge from stress as much as they are protection for the boats.

Sailing Ionian Sea Greece

A father fishes with his two young daughters and a homemade rod by the water’s edge; a family sits outside on their deck and shares some food and a bottle of wine; a woman lies in the shade and reads a book through her sunglasses.

In some of the ports, tourist ferries arrive and hundreds of people will wander through the town for an hour before leaving again.

The club of sailors, of which I have temporary membership it seems, don’t consider themselves tourists and tolerate the brief crowds, knowing there’ll be peace again soon enough.

Sailing Ionian Sea Greece

The Greek islands for sailors

The ways of the island-hoppers was a mystery to me before I joined the trip. Now I see there’s not really much to it.

The days are spent travelling between ports – not because the next one is any better or even particularly different, but because the wind in your hair is activity enough in these parts.

It never gets boring to hear the sound of the sails flapping in the wind and ropes juddering before they can be pulled taut and catch the wind. There’s a tease in the salt water splashing up onto the boat and onto your skin while you’re on your way to the next swimming spot.

Sailing Ionian Sea Greece

Sailing Ionian Sea Greece

The nights fall late in Greece this time of year but most of the boats make for a mooring by late afternoon. It means there are still a few hours of daylight to enjoy a drink and an afternoon snack and wait to watch the sun set over the waters.

It also guarantees a spot for the night.

Some of the smaller harbours are quite popular and can get full well before night falls. Not that it’s ever a big problem – there’s always somewhere else to stay an hour or two away.

You know what they say, ‘any port in a storm’. It seems the opposite is true here too, ‘any port because they’re all as beautiful as each other’.

Sailing Ionian Sea Greece

Sailing Ionian Sea Greece

It’s a lifestyle that’s very easy to fall into and very hard to drag yourself out of again. There’s enough variety, enough activity, enough relaxation and enough simplicity in the lives of these sailors.

I can see why people would do it for weeks or months on end over the summer. The Mediterranean and associated seas offer plenty to explore.

And where else do you sail into town and park your accommodation a metre away from your dinner?

Time Travel Turtle was a guest on Intrepid Travel’s Sail Greece – Ionian Sea trip but the opinions, over-written descriptions and bad jokes are his own.

Greece Travel Guide

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT Greece?

See my Greece Travel Guide

To help you plan your Greece travel:

  • As 3 day itinerary for historic Athens
  • Hoe to get a free local tour of Athens
  • The wonder of the Acropolis in Athens
  • How to see the origin of the Olympics
  • An ancient civilisation as a day trip from Athens
  • Is this where modern medicine all began?
  • The Greek island where Jackie Onassis escaped to

Let someone else do the work for you:

You may also want to consider taking a tour of Greece, rather than organising everything on your own. It’s also a nice way to have company if you are travelling solo.

I am a ‘Wanderer’ with G Adventures and they have great tours of Greece.

You could consider:

  • Sailing Greece – Mykonos to Santorini (8 days)
  • Best of Greece (15 days)
  • Sailing Greece – Athens to Santorini (15 days)

When I travel internationally, I always get insurance. It’s not worth the risk, in case there’s a medical emergency or another serious incident. I recommend you should use World Nomads for your trip.

Reader Interactions

    Comments Cancel reply

  1. Sandra Foyt |

    August 6, 2012 at 10:06 pm

    Reply

    What a dream trip!

    • Michael Turtle |

      August 20, 2012 at 6:56 am

      Reply

      It was fantastic! A great way to see some of the islands without any of the hassle! 🙂

  2. D.J. - The World of Deej |

    August 6, 2012 at 10:11 pm

    Reply

    Wow…what a way to spend a week indeed! I love being on the water, and would jump at an opportunity to see the Greek Isles this way!

    • Michael Turtle |

      August 20, 2012 at 6:57 am

      Reply

      I’m actually not sure what I enjoyed more – the islands or just being on the water. Luckily they kind of go hand in hand.

  3. Laurence |

    August 6, 2012 at 10:38 pm

    Reply

    Hell of a way to spend a week! Nice one 😀

    • Michael Turtle |

      August 20, 2012 at 6:57 am

      Reply

      Certainly no complaints here!

  4. Elmer Cruz |

    August 7, 2012 at 1:10 am

    Reply

    Loved the photos! I am definitely saving up for Greece next year.

    • Michael Turtle |

      August 20, 2012 at 6:58 am

      Reply

      I hope you get there next year – you’ll love it. And the great thing is that Greece isn’t even that expensive at the moment.

  5. Molly |

    August 7, 2012 at 3:49 am

    Reply

    I am soooo jealous 🙂 What a beautiful place.

    • Michael Turtle |

      August 20, 2012 at 6:58 am

      Reply

      No need to be jealous… just pop over and check it out for yourself 🙂

  6. Andrew |

    August 7, 2012 at 4:42 am

    Reply

    Very cool. I did something very similar in the Cyclades just 2 years ago with Gap Adventures. Was an amazing week. I look forward to reading more about it.

    • Michael Turtle |

      August 20, 2012 at 7:00 am

      Reply

      Glad you enjoyed it when you did it too. There’s just something about the freedom of island hopping that’s so relaxing!

  7. Natalie |

    August 7, 2012 at 11:36 am

    Reply

    I love the way you wrote this. It is hard to describe a sailing holiday but you nailed it

    • Michael Turtle |

      August 20, 2012 at 7:00 am

      Reply

      Thanks, Natalie! I’m glad I was able to capture the mood.

  8. Kristen - Hopscotch the Globe |

    August 9, 2012 at 12:25 am

    Reply

    I also did this in Greece and it was so much fun. So beautiful!

    • Michael Turtle |

      August 22, 2012 at 2:45 am

      Reply

      It’s such a stunning part of the world, isn’t it? If only you could spend the rest of your life there…

  9. Linda McCormick |

    August 9, 2012 at 1:03 pm

    Reply

    I love the name Gypsy Love! And what a dream come true trip, this is a beautifully written post.

    • Michael Turtle |

      August 22, 2012 at 2:49 am

      Reply

      I’ve got to admit, the name of the boat grew on me by the end of the week…

  10. The Travel Fool |

    August 11, 2012 at 4:30 pm

    Reply

    Greece is definitely on my list of must see places. I think it would be a blast exploring all the small fishing villages.

    • Michael Turtle |

      August 22, 2012 at 2:50 am

      Reply

      A lot of people think only of the big islands and the ruins when they think of Greece. But there are thousands of smaller islands with some really cool villages to explore.

  11. Angela |

    August 14, 2012 at 8:02 pm

    Reply

    Wonderful, typical village-like atmosphere.

    • Michael Turtle |

      August 25, 2012 at 2:08 am

      Reply

      I’m normally a fan of big cities but these small villages on the islands were irresistible!!

  12. yovana |

    September 13, 2012 at 12:44 am

    Reply

    Ah what a great trip!
    Definitely excited about going there in less than a week 🙂

    • Michael Turtle |

      September 14, 2012 at 8:27 pm

      Reply

      Oh, I’m very jealous you are going on the trip next week. I’d love to get back on that boat!! 🙂

  13. Mary @ Green Global Travel |

    October 9, 2012 at 7:14 am

    Reply

    I have been dreaming about sailing the Greek Islands for at least 20 years. Sounds like you had a great time!

    • Michael Turtle |

      October 22, 2012 at 11:57 am

      Reply

      20 years is too long to be dreaming without ever findind the time to do it! I think you need to put this on the to-do list for 2013!!

  14. John @ Vietnam tours |

    January 21, 2013 at 7:49 pm

    Reply

    Interesting island!

    • Michael Turtle |

      February 6, 2013 at 12:31 am

      Reply

      Yeah, there are some fascinating islands to explore in this part of Greece!

  15. bursa kuru igneleme |

    February 26, 2013 at 6:16 am

    Reply

    greek islands are really great. sailing must be really fascinating and exciting

  16. mustafa |

    November 14, 2017 at 1:27 am

    Reply

    what a lovely place. photos are so fascinating.

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This is the website of travel writer, Michael Turtle. After working in broadcast journalism for a decade in Australia, Michael left Sydney to travel the world indefinitely and write about the places, people and experiences he discovers. This isn't a diary - these are real stories from the world.

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