The Saronic Gulf has been the home of traditional wooden vessels since the Greek shipping families of Hydra and Spetses sent their fleets into the eastern Mediterranean. A classic yacht charter from Poros draws on that heritage: the harbour at Hydra has welcomed wooden-hulled vessels for centuries, and arriving in a traditional vessel at the waterfront gives access to a different conversation with the place than any modern yacht can offer.
Classic yachts chartered from Poros include restored caiques with comfortable modern interiors, traditional motorsailers that have been sailing these waters for decades, and the occasional racing yacht with a documented racing history. Crew sizes are small but experienced: captain and one or two others who sail, cook and handle service between them. The pace of a classic yacht week suits the Saronic, where the best experiences are the slowest: a long lunch at anchor in a quiet cove, an evening tied alongside the Hydra waterfront, a morning swim off the transom.
Weekly rates for classic yachts in the Poros area run from approximately 20,000 to 120,000 euros. Add the advance provisioning allowance of roughly 30 percent for fuel, food, drinks and berthing. Classic vessels under sail use far less fuel than any motor yacht in the area, making the APA more predictable and typically lower than guests expect.
The Poros channel passage is one of the most photographed in the Saronic: the pine trees, the white houses and the narrow strait create a frame that makes any vessel look good in photographs, but a classic wooden hull fits the composition particularly well. Hydra harbour accepts classic yachts of all sizes stern-to the waterfront quay. The anchorage at Dokos island is quiet enough to hear only the wind in the rigging, which is exactly what a classic charter week should include.
