Cruising the Northern Sporades
Practical Boat Owner|July 2023
Popular with charter yachts in summer, Genevieve Leaper explores these Greek islands at the quieter end of the season
Genevieve Leaper
Cruising the Northern Sporades

Admittedly, it wasn't the most dignified departure. Beduin, our Nicholson 32, was moored stern to the quay in Milina harbour so all we had to do was let go of the stern lines and haul the anchor. But then the remote control for the windlass stopped working and the skipper started shouting. Once out of the harbour we found a nice breeze and the skipper's mood improved with lunch. It was too late to get out of the Gulf, so we anchored in an un-named bay at the end of the Trikeri peninsula, the tip of the Pelion, which curls like a beckoning finger around the Gulf of Volos.

The clouds were turning pink as we left in the morning and the sun was already up over Evia when we rounded the corner and the islands came into view. Despite the name-Sporades means scattered-the Northern Sporades, curving in an arc east from the Pelion, are actually one of the more compact groups of islands in the Aegean. For us just a day's sail from Aleko's home village of Milina, the Sporades are ideal for a short cruise, which was all we wanted in October.

Coming from the south, the archipelago is a short sail from northern Evia.

Beating up towards Skiathos, Aleko caught a swordfish-so that was dinner sorted. Coming into calmer waters in the lee of the island we passed Koukounaries, often described as 'the most beautiful beach in the Aegean. From the sea the most conspicuous feature is a huge hotel, but out of season it is a lovely beach overhung by pine trees with a lagoon behind.

Wind stops sailing

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 2023-Ausgabe von Practical Boat Owner.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 2023-Ausgabe von Practical Boat Owner.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS PRACTICAL BOAT OWNERAlle anzeigen
Orca sink yacht in Strait of Gibraltar
Practical Boat Owner

Orca sink yacht in Strait of Gibraltar

Spain's maritime rescue service, Salvamento Maritimo, has reported that a 15m (49ft) yacht sank in Moroccan waters in the Strait of Gibraltar following interaction with a pod of orca.

time-read
1 min  |
Summer 2024
No kill cord or lifejackets were worn during fatal powerboat crash
Practical Boat Owner

No kill cord or lifejackets were worn during fatal powerboat crash

A kill cord and lifejacket are useless unless worn-that's the warning from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), following its investigation into a powerboat crash that killed a 32-year-old woman and five-year-old girl on 2 October 2022.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
Summer 2024
Multihull sail work
Practical Boat Owner

Multihull sail work

Brush up on multihull sailing skills before heading off on charter with Gavin Le Sueur's guide to spinnaker handling, tacking and gybing

time-read
4 Minuten  |
Summer 2024
Five top causes of engine failure and how to prevent them
Practical Boat Owner

Five top causes of engine failure and how to prevent them

Jake Kavanagh talks to Sea Start marine engineer Nick Eales about how to avoid the five major causes of an engine breakdown at sea

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
Summer 2024
Sail the Atlantic with strangers
Practical Boat Owner

Sail the Atlantic with strangers

Would you sail across the Atlantic with someone you've just met? Ali Wood meets the cruising crews who've done just that

time-read
10 Minuten  |
Summer 2024
IZIBoat: simple sailing
Practical Boat Owner

IZIBoat: simple sailing

Rupert Holmes sails an innovative catamaran design intended to widen participation in sailing among those with little time to get on the water in more conventional craft

time-read
7 Minuten  |
Summer 2024
30 WAYS TO GET AFLOAT
Practical Boat Owner

30 WAYS TO GET AFLOAT

From tall ships to small dinghies, you needn't own a boat to sail. Ali Wood looks at the options, and how skippers can also find crew

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
Summer 2024
Boats for restoring under £20,000
Practical Boat Owner

Boats for restoring under £20,000

Duncan Kent picks the best sub-35ft sail and power boats to look for when aiming to undertake a restoration on a budget

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
Summer 2024
Seaworthy dinghies for less than £500
Practical Boat Owner

Seaworthy dinghies for less than £500

For low cost traditionally-styled GRP trailer-sailers, consider the Foreland and the Otter available at bargain basement prices

time-read
5 Minuten  |
Summer 2024
Playing with coloured sails
Practical Boat Owner

Playing with coloured sails

Maintaining an hourglass-shaped balloon and ratcheting up the log numbers

time-read
3 Minuten  |
Summer 2024