Cruising the Dodecanese Islands
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Cruise of the Dodecanese Islands
| Cruise of the Dodecanese | |
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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.
- 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
You can, instead, start your cruise at any of the islands on the suggested route below.
Route/Suggested Stopovers
- Start from Skala in the island of Patmos
37°19.4′N, 26°32.9′E and
- sail first SE and then S to Cape Ilias 37°16.1′N, 26°34.5′E, then turn to the S and sail
- 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
- 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.
- sail first SE and then S to Cape Ilias
- From Levitha head south to Cape Poulari 36°34.8′N, 26°28.7′E at the eastern tip of the island of Astypalea,
- 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.
- then turn WSW to the main harbor of Astypalea, Skala
- From Astypalea you can, if you want, proceed SSE for 22 nM to remote Syrna 36°20.06′N, 26°40.65′E.
- 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.
- From Emborió, Kasos we sail E to the small island of Strongili 35°26.5′N, 27°1.0′E,
- then we turn right and sail SE to 35°23.6′N, 27°8.1′E,
- at which point you we turn left and go to 35°25.6′N, 27°10.6′E,
- 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
- then we turn right and sail SE to
Possible Arrival Ports
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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