| The areas prevailing wind during the summer | | | | Ermoupolis is on the east coast. Go bow or stern |
| months is the infamous Meltemi blowing from the | | | | to the quay avoiding the ferry berth in the east |
| N-NW. It is first felt in June and becomes stronger | | | | of the harbour. Reasonable shelter except with |
| through July, August and September when it can | | | | winds from the SE when a large swell comes into |
| reach force 8. It dies down in October. In the | | | | the harbour making it at best very uncomfortable |
| spring and autumn gales are common from the N | | | | and at worst dangerous. Another hazard is the |
| and the SE. The summer months are hot, | | | | sewage that flows into the harbour making it |
| average temperatures are 25 deg C and | | | | very smelly in the summer. Non potable water is |
| temperatures often reach 35 deg C. | | | | available on the quay. Drinking water comes via a |
| Kea Island is very close to Athens, it is a | | | | tanker. There is good shopping within the town. |
| mountainous island and small valleys, planted with | | | | Plenty of tavernas around the harbour and in |
| fruit-trees and vines, break up its coarse beauty. | | | | town. As the past capital of the Cyclades the |
| This is quite holiday spot and its numerous bays | | | | town has a certain grandeur with many fine |
| and attractive villages offer quiet relaxation in | | | | buildings. The small island of Nisos Gaidharos lies |
| contrast to the other more popular islands in the | | | | just to the east. A small cove in the SE corner |
| Cyclades. Hora is the capital of the island and | | | | provides good shelter from the Meltemi. There |
| home to the Archaeological museum which hosts | | | | are no facilities. Varis is in the SE of Siros. Good |
| a number of Cycladic period finds. | | | | holding and shelter from the Meltemi. There are |
| Greek mythology has it that Kea was the | | | | several tavernas on the waterfront. In the SW |
| residence of the nymphs of the forest springs | | | | lies the sheltered bay of Finikas. Go bow or stern |
| who embodied the "liquid element". The gods | | | | to of the pier or anchor off. Holding is good. |
| envied its beauty and sent a fearsome lion to | | | | There is water on the pier and electric can be |
| persecute the nymphs who took escaped to | | | | connected. Showers and toilets on the pier. Some |
| Karistos. Then a long period of dryness began, | | | | provisions are available in the village. This is a |
| water levels decreased and the vegetation | | | | particularly place and well worth a visit. Further to |
| withered. The islanders asked for the help of | | | | the N is Galissas. There is a small mole to the |
| Apollo's son Aristaios. He came to the island and | | | | south of the bay, depths are shallow so take a |
| built a sanctuary to honour the Ikmaios Zeus, the | | | | long line to it. There is a mini market and tavernas |
| god of rain. The gods were pacified and the | | | | ashore. Kini lies further to the north. There is a |
| draught was reduced allowing agriculture to thrive | | | | taverna ashore and limited provisions are available. |
| once more. | | | | Andros is the most northern island in the |
| Korissia is the port of Kea and is situated at the | | | | Cyclades. It is mountainous and heavily wooded |
| southern end of the Limin Ay Nikolaou in the NW | | | | with limited cultivation. Gaviron is on the NW coast. |
| of the island. The houses of the port are built | | | | You can anchor in the north of the bay or go |
| around a bay, on a small plain. You can moor | | | | bow or stern to or alongside the quay. There is |
| stern or bows to the quay keeping clear of the | | | | good shelter from the Meltemi. Water is available |
| ferry berth. As the Meltemi blows straight on to | | | | from the village and there is fuel on the quay. |
| the quay ensure your anchor is holding. Vourkari | | | | Most provisions can be obtained in the village. |
| further NW in the bay also has a quay that you | | | | There are tavernas on the waterfront and in the |
| can moor stern or bow to. There are several | | | | village. Batsi is a small harbour 2.5 miles SE of |
| other possible locations to anchor in within the bay | | | | Gaviron. Go bow or stern to the quay or anchor |
| if the weather is calm. Fuel in available in Korrisa | | | | in the N or W of the bay. There is water on the |
| and provisions and tavernas can be found in both | | | | quay. Fuel and most provisions can be obtained in |
| Korrisa and Vourkari. During the summer months | | | | the village. There are tavernas on the beach, |
| the bay is more often than not crowded with | | | | around the waterfront and in the village. Further |
| yachts from nearby Athens with picturesque | | | | to the south is the open bay of Palaioupolis. |
| Vourkari being the most popular. | | | | Anchor to the north of the bay where the best |
| Loulis, the capital of Kea, is situated 5.5 km from | | | | shelter from the Meltemi is. The waters are |
| Korissia. Many of the old mansions are built next | | | | crystal clear and surroundings impressive. Kastro |
| to the ruined castle. The ancient acropolis of Loulis | | | | is on the E side of the island. The harbour is open |
| and the impressive sculpture of Kea's Lion are | | | | to the Meltemi and entry can be difficult. Go bow |
| both worth a visit. As are the churches of | | | | or stern to behind the mole. Water, fuel and |
| Panayia Gamila and Panayia Revmatiani and the | | | | provisions can be obtained from the village. There |
| ruined monasteries of Agia Anna and Dafni. | | | | are tavernas around the waterfront and in the |
| On the coast further to the south there is an | | | | village. Kastro is the capital of Andros. The walk |
| anchorage at Ormos Pisa, there are no facilities | | | | from the harbour, around the bay to the village |
| here. Further south still is the anchorage of Ormos | | | | will be rewarded as the maritime, archaeological |
| Kavia, open only to the south it provides good | | | | and modern art museums are all worth a visit. 6 |
| shelter from the Meltemi. The taverna run by | | | | miles to the south of Kastro is the open bay of |
| Manos can provide provisions, fuel, gas, water, ice | | | | Korthion. It is possible to anchor in the bay but |
| and showers. Ormos Polais is in the SE of the | | | | there is little protection from the Meltemi and the |
| island. This anchorage provides some shelter from | | | | accompanying swell is at best uncomfortable and |
| the Meltemi but holding is not always good. There | | | | could be dangerous. |
| are ruins ashore including those of a temple. | | | | There are several tavernas ashore and limited |
| Khalidhoniki is a small cove in the NE of the island | | | | provisions can be obtained. |
| with good shelter from the Meltemi. The small | | | | Tinos is yet another rugged mountainous island |
| village ashore has a taverna. Orgias is a small | | | | lying just to the south of Andros. The island is |
| cove on the northern coast that should only be | | | | wooded and many of the slopes have been |
| used to anchor in calm conditions. There are no | | | | terraced there is extensive cultivation. The main |
| facilities. | | | | port and capital is Tinos. Go bow or stern to the |
| The barren, rocky island of Kithnos lies 6 miles to | | | | quay to the north of the inner harbour avoiding |
| the south of Kea. Legend says that the Dryopes, | | | | the ferry berth. There is good shelter in all but |
| who came from Eboea, settled on Kythnos in the | | | | southerlies that produce some swell. Wash from |
| 11th century BC. In classical times the island was a | | | | the ferries can be uncomfortable. There is water |
| well organized city state praised by Aristotele. | | | | on the quay and the locals claim it to be the |
| Excavations have found a site dating back to the | | | | purest in Greece - a claim made by several other |
| Neolithic or even the Mesolithic period, making it | | | | places. Fuel can be obtained in the town, as can all |
| the oldest habitation in the Cyclades. In more | | | | provisions. There are plenty of tavernas close to |
| recent times, around 200 BC, the island was | | | | the harbour. Panormos lies on the NE coast. Go |
| frequently attacked by the Romans although they | | | | bow or stern to one of the two piers, care is |
| never succeeded in taking it. The island is 19 km | | | | need with the smaller pier, as there is less than |
| long and covers an area of about 80 square km. | | | | 2m depths except at it extremity. There is only |
| The only green shade in the heat of the summer | | | | limited protection from the Meltemi and it should |
| is provided by many the fig trees. Today the | | | | be avoided when it is blowing. |
| island is popular with Greeks who head for its | | | | Further to the south lies Mikinos. Perhaps the |
| many Spas that are located in the NE of the | | | | most popular tourist spot in Greece. It capital and |
| island. | | | | port go by the same name and it is the town |
| The capital of the island, Hora, stands inland on a | | | | that is the island's main attraction. Go bow or |
| hillside plateau, it is a typical Cycladic village with | | | | stern to the quay in the NE of the harbour. The |
| beautiful churches containing fine woodcarving, | | | | bottom is weed and it is difficult to get the |
| sanctuary screens and icons. On the western | | | | anchor to cut through. There is limited protection |
| coast lie the bays of Apokriosis and Fikiadha. | | | | from the Meltemi and some consider the harbour |
| Good holding and shelter in attractive surroundings. | | | | dangerous. Mini tanker can deliver water and fuel. |
| There are good white sandy beaches. No other | | | | There are many shops in the town and all |
| facilities. Further to the south lies the island's port | | | | provisions can be obtained. There are numerous |
| Merika. Moor stern or bow to the quay inside the | | | | tavernas varying in both quality and price. Just |
| ferry berth. The SW end of the quay shallows | | | | over a mile to the north there is a modern |
| and yachts should go bows to. Fuel is obtainable | | | | marina. This provides good all round protection. |
| by taxi. Most provisions are available in the village. | | | | Ornos bay is on the south coast. Anchor in the |
| There are several waterfront tavernas. The | | | | north of the bay, the bottom is sand and weed |
| anchorages of Kanala and Ay Nikolos can be | | | | and poor holding in places. There is a supermarket |
| found in the south east of the island. They should | | | | nearby and several beachfront tavernas. Kalafatis, |
| be visited in only calm weather. There are no | | | | further to the east provides good protection |
| facilities. Further to the north on the east coast | | | | from the Meltemi but is open to the S and E. |
| are the anchorages of Stefanos and Ioannis. They | | | | There is a taverna ashore. On the north coast is |
| offer good shelter from the Meltemi but holding is | | | | the large bay of Panormos. It cannot be used in |
| poor in places. A limited water supply is available | | | | the Meltemi season. There is a taverna ashore. |
| at Stefanos. No other facilities. The village of | | | | Rinia lies to the west. Skhinou is a bay on the E |
| Loutra is in the NE of Kithnos. Go bow or stern to | | | | coast. Anchor either in the north on sand taking |
| off the quay. Water is available on the quay and | | | | care of the rocks. There is good shelter from the |
| most provisions are available in the town. There | | | | Meltemi. Or in the south but there is no protection |
| are several tavernas. | | | | from the Meltemi here. There are further |
| Siros is another almost barren island. The north is | | | | anchorages at Chapel Bay, South Bay and Miso. |
| rugged and largely uninhabited while the south has | | | | There are no facilities at any of these anchorages. |
| gentler slopes and is cultivated towards the coast. | | | | |