Classic yachts carry a particular rightness in the Northern Sporades. Alonissos’s restored hilltop village, the Byzantine monasteries of the outer islands and the unhurried pace of the Sporades generally suit a vessel with varnished teak and a crew who understand that the point is the passage, not the schedule. Eight classic yachts currently charter across Greece, and those positioned for Sporades itineraries offer an experience entirely different from the crowded Cyclades route.nnThe classic yachts available in this region span traditional Greek motor sailers, Mediterranean ketch-rigged sailing yachts from the 1960s and 1970s, and carefully restored timber vessels from Italian builders that were ahead of their time in design. Below decks, these boats carry modern navigation, air conditioning and updated galley equipment; above decks, everything is mahogany, bronze and canvas. Most carry three to five guest cabins and a crew of two or three who know the Sporades waters well.nnCharter rates for classic yachts in the Alonissos area run from roughly 10,000 to 80,000 euros per week. The APA covers provisions, marina fees and fuel for any motoring legs. The classic yacht category has a limited pool of available vessels in Greece; early booking is advisable, particularly for July and August. September is an excellent time for classic charter in the Sporades: the weather is reliably good, the anchorages empty and the forested scenery at its most atmospheric in the lower light.nnThe pace of a classic yacht suits Alonissos’s own rhythm almost perfectly.
