Santorini and the central Cyclades are synonymous with Greek sailing: the Meltemi blowing hard from the northwest in midsummer, the white cube architecture of the islands as successive landmarks on a passage, and the caldera anchorage as the destination that every sailing charter in the Aegean eventually organises itself around. Eight sailing yachts are available for charter in Greece that can structure a Santorini-based itinerary, ranging from performance monohulls suited to hard Meltemi conditions to larger blue-water ketches that cover the island chain with more comfort in a swell. The classic Cyclades circuit from Santorini to Paros, Naxos, Mykonos, Delos and back takes around seven days on a sailing yacht making good use of the prevailing wind, with the northbound leg a beat or broad reach and the southward return typically a run. Folegandros to the west and Ios to the north make natural waypoints with sheltered anchorages in the bay of Manganari and the harbour at Karavostassis. From Santorini, the passage to Crete takes around 12 hours in settled conditions and opens the Minoan archaeological sites of Heraklion and Knossos as a southern extension. Weekly charter rates for crewed sailing yachts in the Cyclades start around 10,000 euros and rise to approximately 30,000 for larger, better-specified vessels. The advance provisioning allowance of around 30 percent covers fuel, food, marina dues and provisions throughout the week.
