This is the operational passage plan. Each day includes the primary plan with departure times, nav hazards and targets, a Plan B (alternative destination if conditions or timing don't work), and a Plan C (fallback if Plan B is also unavailable). All plans include skipper's decision notes. Total estimated distance: 125–140nm depending on routing. Click any day to expand the full detail.
Day Plan
Arrival and check-in day — no sailing. Arrive at Pier 6, Alimos Marina by 16:30 to allow time for the check-in process before the 17:00 formal handover. The base manager (Christos or Evi) will walk you through the boat inventory, safety equipment briefing, and documentation.
After boat handover: fuel check (should be full on delivery — verify on gauge and confirm with base manager). Brief crew while completing the inventory walk-around. Familiarise everyone with the boat layout, heads, safety gear locations, life raft, flare pack, fire extinguishers.
Provisioning: Sklavenitis supermarket is on Poseidonos Avenue, approximately a 5-minute walk from the marina. Critical: it closes at 20:00 on Saturday and is CLOSED on Sunday. Do not leave provisioning until Sunday — there is no second chance. Stock for 7 days: bread, dairy, drinks, snacks, breakfast items, pasta, rice, sauces, fresh veg (Day 1–3), tinned goods (Day 4–7). You can supplement at Poros Town (Day 3) and Hydra (Day 5 — expensive).
Evening: Dinner ashore in Alimos or Kalamaki. Early night — Day 2 departs 08:30. Complete a weather briefing using Windy, POSEIDON, or PredictWind before bed. Note Meltemi forecast for Day 2.
Check in at 17:00 at Pier 6. Provision at Sklavenitis by 20:00. Dinner ashore. Weather briefing. Early bed.
No alternative required. This is a fixed arrival day.
Primary Plan
Depart Alimos at 08:30 after breakfast. Head SW out of Alimos, then south and west around the northern coast of Aegina. The route passes through the Saronic Gulf in mostly open water — good conditions for a first proper sailing day. Perdika is on the SW tip of Aegina, a small fishing village with a quay and anchorage.
Approach Perdika from the north. The quay can accommodate 6–8 yachts stern-to in 3–4m. Alternatively, anchor in the bay to the N of the quay in good holding sand/weed. This is one of the quieter stops of the trip. In the afternoon, consider motoring or sailing to Moni islet (1nm S of Perdika) for swimming — anchor off the E side in 3–4m clear water.
If Perdika quay is full or you arrive too late for a berth: Aegina Town (main port, 8nm NE of Perdika) has more facilities and a larger town quay with reliable space. More touristy and busier, but fully safe. Stern-to at the town quay in 3–5m.
Souvala is a quiet fishing village on the NE coast of Aegina. Anchor or quay berth. Very basic facilities, no restaurants to speak of, but calm and safe. Use only if both Perdika and Aegina Town are impossible (very unlikely).
Primary Plan
Depart Perdika at 08:00. Head south, passing below the southern tip of Aegina, then southeast across the open water toward the Methana peninsula (a volcanic finger of the Peloponnese coast). From Methana, curve south and then east through the Poros Strait.
The Poros Strait is one of the most beautiful passages in the Aegean — barely 200m wide at its narrowest, with the town of Poros rising on the island to starboard and the mainland village of Galatas to port. Reduce speed to 3–4kt in the strait, post a bow watch, and monitor VHF Ch 16 for ferry traffic. The Flying Dolphin hydrofoils use this channel — they give no warning. Fuel berth is on the E end of the Poros town quay.
If the Meltemi builds strongly before you reach Poros (>25kt on the beam/aft in open water) or if Poros quay is reported full: anchor in Vathy Bay on the east side of the Methana peninsula. Sheltered, quiet, beautiful swimming, good holding. No facilities, but calm. Continue to Poros the following morning.
The mainland village of Galatas is directly opposite Poros across the strait. Basic quay, no yacht facilities to speak of, but perfectly safe overnight. Only use if Poros is completely impossible and Vathy Bay is also unsuitable.
Primary Plan
Depart Poros at 09:00. Head SE, out of the Poros Strait (watch current direction at exit) and into the Argolic Gulf. Pass Dokos island to port — it's worth a glance as the anchorages on Dokos are spectacular (no stop today, but note for Day 6 return). Continue SE to Ermioni.
Ermioni sits on a pine-covered headland with two bays either side. Approach from the west. The southern bay (Koiladhia) is better sheltered from the NW Meltemi and preferred for yachts — anchor in 5–10m, sand bottom, good holding. Alternatively, stern-to the town quay in 2.5–4m if space permits. Very little swell in the bay. An easy, pleasant day.
Afternoon: walk the pine headland — it takes about 30 minutes to circle and the views back across the gulf are excellent. Book a taverna for dinner — Ermioni has several good options and locals will happily recommend. Book early in July.
Porto Heli is 10nm further SE from Ermioni, on the SE Peloponnese coast. Well-equipped marina, reliable all-weather shelter, good facilities. More touristy and expensive than Ermioni, but perfectly comfortable. Use if Ermioni is untenable or if headwinds on the leg are too strong to make Ermioni easily.
If approaching headwinds (unusual for this area) prevent reaching either Ermioni or Porto Heli comfortably: anchor in Koiladhia Bay itself (before reaching Ermioni headland) and wait for conditions to moderate. This is rare — Ermioni bay is well sheltered.
Primary Plan
Depart Ermioni no later than 09:00 (earlier is better). Head NW toward Hydra. The passage is short — only 10nm. In the morning calm this is an easy 1.5–2 hour motor or sail. Approach Hydra from the NW, entering the natural harbour. Contact the harbour master on VHF Ch 12 as you approach — they will assign a berth.
Mooring at Hydra: stern-to the stone town quay. The harbour master assigns spots and may direct you to raft up (2–3 boats deep with bow anchor out and stern lines to quay). Be prepared for rafting — carry fenders for both sides. Water taxis (small motorboats — the only motorised transport on Hydra) create significant wash continuously — make sure lines and fenders are set properly.
Alternatively, if the quay is already full: anchor west of the harbour entrance in 8–12m sand. Hold is good. Take the dinghy (or a water taxi) ashore to the stone landing steps. This is actually quieter and more peaceful than the quay — worth considering even if a quay spot is available.
Hydra is one of the highlights of the entire trip. No cars. No motorbikes. Stone mansions, donkeys carrying luggage, crystal harbour. The evening on the quay with a glass of wine watching the world go by is memorable.
If the town quay is completely full and the anchor area outside the harbour is also crowded: Mandraki Bay is on the eastern side of Hydra island, about 2nm from the town. More sheltered in NW Meltemi. Anchor in 5–8m sand. Take a dinghy or water taxi (available from Mandraki) around to town. Quieter, but you lose the quayside atmosphere.
If, for any reason, Hydra is completely untenable (full harbour AND Mandraki full AND conditions too rough to anchor): Spetses is 20nm further SE. Beautiful island, similar character to Hydra, excellent restaurants, quay berths usually available. This is an extreme contingency — Hydra will almost certainly have a solution if you arrive before 13:00.
Primary Plan
Depart Hydra at 09:00. Head NW, retracing the route toward Poros. Dokos Island is approximately halfway — stop here for a swim and lunch anchor if time and conditions allow. Dokos has excellent anchorages on its SE coast in 5–8m crystal water with good holding. Resume passage after 1–1.5 hours.
Continue NW past Dokos to Bistiou Bay on the north coast of Poros island. Bistiou is a sheltered, quiet bay well protected from the prevailing NW Meltemi by the hills above. Anchor in 4–8m, sand bottom, good holding. Recommended spot: 5–6m over sand in the middle of the bay, scope 5:1.
No facilities ashore — Poros Town is only 3nm away for anything needed. This is the final night at sea. Make it memorable: dinner on the boat, stars, the smell of pine from the hillside. Brief the crew on tomorrow's early start before they go to sleep.
If Bistiou has swell or unexpected wind from an unusual direction: Russian Bay is on the SW coast of Poros, more enclosed, beautiful, lemon trees. Good holding. Slightly further from the return route but not significantly. Equally quiet.
If both Bistiou and Russian Bay are unsuitable (rare — requires southerly or easterly swell): Poros Town is entirely familiar from Day 3, has all facilities, and is completely reliable. Adds small logistical overhead to Day 7 departure but otherwise fine.
Primary Plan
Anchor up at 07:00. The morning window in the Saronic Gulf is typically calm to light NW 5–10kt — use it. Head N/NW out of Bistiou Bay, past the Poros Strait (watch current at exit), and into the Saronic Gulf. Initial sailing may be possible if the Meltemi has not yet established.
By 10:00–11:00 the Meltemi will begin to build. By midday it will be 15–20kt on the nose. Motor-sail (sail up to reduce rolling and add a knot) or engine as required. There is no shame in motoring the last 10–15nm home — the deadline controls everything today.
Expected passage: 5–6 hours at 5–6kt average = arrive 12:00–13:00, giving you 4 hours of buffer to the 17:00 deadline. Use the buffer to clean the boat before arrival.
Before docking: Clean the boat thoroughly (heads, galley, interior, cockpit), stow all personal gear below, coil and hang all lines and fenders properly, complete fuel refill at the marina fuel point before coming to the pier. The base manager checks everything — a clean, tidy, fuelled boat makes the handover smooth and protects your deposit.
If Bistiou Bay is rough overnight (unusual southerly or easterly conditions): motor 3nm to Poros Town in the evening and sleep there. Add approximately 5nm to the return passage (35nm total) — depart Poros at 06:30 instead of 07:00 to compensate. All other considerations identical.
If the NW Meltemi is already 25kt+ at 06:00: depart immediately, do not wait. If conditions make Alimos unreachable before 17:00: call charter company immediately (Christos: +30 6974 735529) to warn of possible delay — do not just arrive late without notice. In extremis: shelter at Aegina Town (midway point) and call the base. This situation is very unlikely with a 07:00 departure but the plan exists.