Sailing Greece - Yacht Charter Sporades Islands Chart & Sailing Routes Aegean Sea Greece

This chapter covers the island of Evia, which lies parallel to mainland Greece (Locris, Viotia and Attica prefectures), the mainland coast from Cape Sounion (Sounio) to the Trikeri peninsula, and the Northern Sporades. The inner route up the narrow gulf between Evia and the mainland is the most travelled. The area has sheltered waters and many safe harbors and anchorages.

Along the east coast of Evia there are a few anchorages sheltered from the wind. Nonetheless, in the past, caiques bound for the north would take the open water route making for Skyros and then slanting NW to Thessaloniki. The return trip was generally down the inner route.

The prevailing wind in the summer is the "Meltemi" that blows from the NE. Like in the Cyclades, the "Meltemi" begins blowing in June, grows stronger in July and August, and dies down in September and October. In July and August it blows with a wind force of 4-6 and even 7 Beaufort on occasion. In the spring and autumn, winds also come from the N (NE - NW) as well as from the S.

There is great diversity in the overall weather pattern. In the Trikeri and Orei Straits (the Stenon Trikeri and the Stenon Oreon), winds are funneled into the channel blowing from E-ENE. During spring and autumn, a NW wind of force 2-5 often blows across the valley from the Gulf of Volos (the Pagasitikos Gulf). Southern winds may also blow in the summer months.