Cruising the Dodecanese Islands

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Cruise of the Dodecanese Islands

Cruise of the Dodecanese

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MORE notes about the passage

Introduction

Dodecanese (Δωδεκάνησα - 12 islands) is a group of islands in the SE Aegean. It actually consists, despite its name, of 163 islands of which 26 are inhabited. It is prefecture of Greece and its capital is Rhodes.

In the early Bronze Age the Dodecanese were dominated by the Minoans from Crete and later, about 1400 BC, by the Achaeans, the people of the Iliad and the Odyssey. In Classical times the islands, inhabited by Dorian Greeks, played a role in the Persian Wars. They have been invaded and dominated by the Persians, Macedonians, Romans, Byzantines, Crusaders, Genovese, the Knights of St. John, the Ottomans, and in the 20th century by the Italians under Mussolini. Finally in 1947 they became part of Greece.

For historical details see the pages of individual islands.

For the cruiser, there are many interesting sight-seeing sites as well as many anchorages. From the popular Rhodes and Kos with strong archaelogical interest, to the volcanic Nisyros, and to the almost uninhabited Levitha and Syrna.

Climate & Weather Information

In the summer months the weather is dominated by the meltemi which comes from the NW.

For details see Aegean Weather.

Weather Windows

The best times to tour the Dodechanese are in the Spring, May to June, and in the autumn, September to October. You are less likely to encounter strong meltemi winds and also all the anchorages are less crowded. Other than the weather-wise unpredictable winter months, the worse time to be cruising the Sea of Samos is during the month of August. In August not only will you encounter a number of "meltemi" gales but all harbors and anchorages, even the most remote, will be crowded as this is the prime vacation time in Greece and the rest of the EU.

In October, especially late in the month there can be southerly winds and occasionally thunderstorms, some of which can be severe. If you are cruising during that time you should always have two possible anchorages in mind: one protected from N winds and one from the S winds.

Radio Nets

See Aegean Sea.

Navigation Charts Required

Chart Source

Chart Number

Passage Description

FULL description of this passage.

Distance & Duration

• Distance =
• Duration =

Possible Departure Points

Route/Suggested Stopovers

(In sequence)

Possible Arrival Ports

CruiserLog Forum discussions

Links to discussions on the CruiserLog Forum

External Links

• Dodecanese (Wikipedia)

Also see Aegean Sea.

References

See Aegean Sea.

Personal Notes

• I have sailed almost all of the above passages. --Istioploos

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