Sail Dodecanese.

The Dodecanese hug the Turkish coast in Greece's south-east corner, and they sail differently from the Cyclades or Ionian. Distances between islands are short, the water is clear down to the anchor chain, and the mix runs from busy harbour towns to islets where the only sound at night is your own halyard tapping the mast. Rhodes and Kos are the anchors, with Symi, Tilos, Nisyros, Kalymnos and Leros filling the gaps. It suits sailors who want variety without long open-water legs, and who like tying up on a town quay for dinner rather than living at anchor all week.

Most charters run between Kos and Rhodes, a sensible one-way or return corridor with plenty to stop for. From Kos you can reach Kalymnos (the sponge-diving town of Pothia, plus quiet Vathy fjord) and Leros in a day. Heading south, Nisyros gives you a live volcano crater to walk into, and Symi is the postcard stop — a horseshoe harbour ringed by neo-classical houses, though the quay fills fast in season, so arrive early. Rhodes offers Mandraki Port under the old town walls and the newer marina to the east. Anchorages worth the detour include Palon on Nisyros and the bays on the west side of Tilos.

The sailing window runs May to October. The dominant summer wind is the meltemi, a dry northerly that builds through July and August and can blow Force 5–7 for days. It's manageable but demands respect: plan legs early, watch the forecast, and don't count on a fixed schedule in peak summer. May, June, September and early October are the kinder months — steadier breeze, warm water, thinner crowds. Winter charters aren't offered here; the fleet lays up. If you want reliable wind for sail training, August delivers it, but families and first-timers are usually happier either side of the meltemi's peak.

We base yachts out of Kos (Kos Marina, Port of Kos) and Rhodes (Rhodes New Marina, Mandraki Port). The bulk of the fleet is bareboat — monohulls and catamarans you skipper yourself, with an ICC or equivalent plus a sailing CV. A smaller number of crewed yachts come with a skipper who knows the meltemi patterns and the quiet anchorages, which is the easier choice if you're new to the area or want to switch off. One-way charters between Kos and Rhodes are possible and save backtracking, though a repositioning fee usually applies. Skippered day and half-day sails can be arranged from either base.

Costs move with boat size, age and season, so treat these as ranges. A mid-size bareboat monohull in the shoulder months typically runs lower than the July–August peak, when prices climb with demand for the meltemi weeks. Catamarans sit well above comparable monohulls. On top of the base fee, budget for fuel, the end cleaning charge, and a cruising tax; a skipper, if you take one, is charged per day plus their food. One-way drops carry a repositioning fee. Rather than quote figures that go stale, we give live pricing on request — message us on WhatsApp with your dates, party size and preferred base and we'll come back with real numbers.

Day 1 — Board at Kos Marina, provision, short shakedown sail, night on the quay.

Day 2 — Kos to Kalymnos (Pothia or Vathy). Two to three hours; time to explore ashore.

Day 3 — Kalymnos to Leros. Anchor in Lakki or tie up in the old harbour.

Day 4 — South toward Nisyros. Longer leg; walk into the volcanic caldera at Mandraki.

Day 5 — Nisyros to Tilos. Quiet island, good bays, few boats.

Day 6 — Tilos to Symi. Aim for an early arrival to get a quay spot; dinner in Gialos.

Day 7 — Symi to Rhodes, roughly three hours. Berth at Mandraki or the New Marina, walk the old town.

Reverse it if your one-way runs Rhodes to Kos. In peak meltemi, keep a spare day in hand — the wind occasionally pins you in port, and a rigid schedule is how people get caught out.

Both Kos and Rhodes have airports with direct summer flights from much of Europe, so arrival is straightforward. Aim to land the day before boarding rather than cutting it fine. Check-in is usually mid-afternoon on the start day; provisioning is easiest done that evening or first thing next morning at supermarkets near both marinas. Bring your ICC and sailing CV for bareboat — charter bases check them, and can decline a boat if the paperwork doesn't hold up. Water and fuel are available at the main harbours; smaller islands can be limited, so top up when you can. For bookings, dates and pricing, WhatsApp is the fastest way to reach us.