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 a 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, many of them 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

BA

236 Hisurönü Körfezi to Taslik Burnu including Rhodos

872 Kalimno to Rhodes

1040 Nísos Íos to Vrakhonisídha Kandhelioússa

1055 Rhodes Channel and Gökova Körfezi

1546 Samos Strait to Güllük Körfezi

1604 Gulf of Kos, Doris and Simi

1667 Rhodes Island

2682 Kolpos Patalion to Nisos Nisiros

2824 Scarpanto (Karpathos) and Kasos islands

3922 Astipalia (Stampalia) Island

3923 Niseros and Adjacent Islands

3926 Lero island and approaches

3927 Patmos, Arki and Lipso

Imray-Tetra

G32 Eastern Sporades, Dodecanese & the Coast of Turkey

G34 Southern Cyclades

G35 Dodecanese and the Coast of Turkey

G36 Marmaris to Kekova Adasi

NIMA

54400 Nisos Samos to Nisos Rhodhos

54403 Samos Strait to Nisos Kalolimnos

54407 Nisos Kalymnos to Kadriga Burnu

54408 NIsos Kos To Nisos Tilos

54410 Nisos Astipalaia

54412 Nisos Amorgos & Plans in Astipalaia

54416 Nisos Rodhos

54420 Iskandil Burnu to Dildarde Burnu

Greek

42 Andros to Chalki Island

422 Naxos to Samos & Opposite Coast of Asia Minor

423 Paros to Astypalia

451 Leros to Rhodos

452 Rhodos to Castelorizo

Passage Description

It is assumed that you start your cruise from the island Patmos which not only is an interesting place to visit but it is located on the NW of the Dodecanese. You can, of course, start your cruise at any other island. Also, you may skip or add islands to the overall cruise.

You start the cruise by sailing in the easy southern direction and then proceed east, the NW, and finally north to close the circle. Although most distances are short, given the many interesting islands, it advisable to allow at least a month for the cruise. Should you be pressed for time it best to visit fewer islands and spend a couple of days exploring each island that you do visit. You can either rent a motor-scooter or a car for your land explorations. In many places you may also hire a taxi. Most young drivers will speak some english and the older ones some french.

Distance & Duration

See also Aegean Distances Tables.

Possible Departure Points

• Skala, Patmos 37°19.4′N, 26°32.9′E

You can, instead, start your cruise at any of the islands on the suggested route below.

Route/Suggested Stopovers

1. Start from Skala in the island of Patmos 37°19.4′N, 26°32.9′E and
   1. sail first SE and then S to Cape Ilias 37°16.1′N, 26°34.5′E, then turn to the S and sail
   2. to Cape Spano at the eastern tip of the island of Levitha 36°59.2′N, 26°30′E, then turn W and head for
   3. the East Cove, Levitha 37°0.14′N, 26°28.06′E where you catch a mooring. The distance from Skala is 23 nM.
      
      You can take several hikes around this small island, populated by a single family. Do not fail to eat at the hamlet.
      
      
2. From Levitha head south to Cape Poulari 36°34.8′N, 26°28.7′E at the eastern tip of the island of Astypalea,
   1. then turn WSW to the main harbor of Astypalea, Skala 36°32.9′N, 26°21.4′E. The distance from Levitha is 32 nM.
      
      Do not fail to climb to Chora and visit the Quirini Castle.
      
      
3. From Astypalea you can, if you want, proceed SSE for 22 nM to remote Syrna 36°20.06′N, 26°40.65′E.
   
   
4. The next stop after an almost direct sail S is Emborió, Kasos 35°25′N, 26°56′E, 56 nM from Syrna and 73 nM from Skala, Astypalea.
   
   
5. From Emborió, Kasos we sail E to the small island of Strongili 35°26.5′N, 27°1.0′E,
   1. then we turn right and sail SE to 35°23.6′N, 27°8.1′E,
   2. at which point you we turn left and go to 35°25.6′N, 27°10.6′E,
   3. finally we turn left again and arrive at Pigadia Bay in the island of Karpathos 35°31.5′N, 27°12.1′E, a total of 24 nM from Emborió, Kasos.
      
      In Karpathos, do not fail to visit some of its remote and picturesque villages
      
      

Possible Arrival Ports

• Skala, Patmos 37°19.4′N, 26°32.9′E

You can, instead, end your cruise at any of the islands on the suggested route above.

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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