Sailing Areas

DODECANESE ISLANDS

Overview

• Sailing level: intermediate
• Airports: Kos, Rhodes
• Departure ports: Kos, Rhodes
• Wind conditions: mild to moderate
• Key locations: Kos, Rhodes, Patmos, Astypaleia, Kalymos, Karpathos, Leros, Tilos, Nissiros, Chalki, Symi, Kastellorizo and the Asia minor coast (Turkey)

Area

The Dodecanese (Δωδεκάνησα, Dodekánisa), which means `the Twelve Islands` in Greek, lie in a crescent chain down the Asiatic Turkish coast curving west towards Crete. They are a group of 12 larger plus 150 smaller Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, of which 26 are inhabited. They have a rich history, and many of even the smallest inhabited islands boast dozens of Byzantine churches and medieval castles.

The islands are for the most part bare of vegetation although not to such an extent as the Cyclades. Several of the islands with abundant natural springs, notably Kos and Rhodes, are relatively green and wooded. The most popular islands of the Dodecanese are Rhodes and Kos, while Karpathos has recently become a more popular holiday destination. Kalymnos is popular for rock climbing, Leros for diving, while Patmos is famous for its spiritual character.

Wind and Sailing Conditions: Easy to Intermediate

In the summer the prevailing wind is the Meltemi blowing from the NW-W. It starts in June, blows strongly in July through to August and dies down in September. In the summer months it regularly blows Force 4-6 and may on occasion reach Force 7. It does not blow every day, but may blow without break for 5-10 days. When the Meltemi is blowing at full strength in July and August the gusts off the lee side of an island can be considerably stronger than the wind strength in the open sea.

Gusts are particularly strong off Patmos, Kalymnos, Kos, Nissyros, Tilos, Karpathos and Astypalea. In the comparatively open stretch of sea between Astypalea and Karpathos a large and distributed sea is set up when the meltemi blows for days on end. Although it is possible to go N when the meltemi is blowing, it makes better sense to plan to be heading S in July and August. The typical short seas it sets up make sailing or motoring to windward arduous and tiring. In spring the Meltemi blows mainly SE and is not very strong. During the winter it usually blows SE and sometimes N or S. Temperatures in the summer can reach 35 degrees Celsius.

History

The Dodecanese islands have been inhabited since prehistoric times.The island of Rhodes has dominated this part of the Aegean since ancient times, although many other islands in the Dodecanese also developed into significant economic and cultural centres; most notably, Kos, which in classical times served as the site of the school of medicine founded by Hippocrates.

Like the Ionian islands, the Dodecanese islands have experienced a varied and turbulent history, at different times being occupied by the Minoans, the Mycenaens, the Dorians, the Persians, the Macedonians, the Romans, the Byzantians, the Venetians, the Ottomans until 1912 and then the Italians until World War II. In 1947 they became Greek again.

Planning your trip

There are direct flights to Rhodes, Kos and Samos from many international airports, or domestic flights from Athens. A longer route, by sea is possible, with daily ferries from Pireaus. Whether you fly to Kos and sail south, or Rhodes and sail north, you will most likely do a circular route, returning back to the same base, though sometimes one way trips between the islands are possible. Turkey and the Turkish coast is easily accessible, though you will need a special permit to enter Turkish waters by sea and you may need to pay for individual visas too. Crewed gulet charter is popular in this area and we offer a weekly alternating flotilla route from Kos. 

Travel Notes

Fly direct to Kos or Rhodes or take a ferry from Piraeus. 

Key Locations

The twelve islands of the Greek Dodecanese are:

• Rhodes (Rodos)
• Kos (home of Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine)
• Patmos
• Astipalea
• Kalimnos/Kalymnos
• Karpathos
• Kasos
• Leros
• Nisyros/Nysiros
• Simi/Symi
• Tilos
• Kastellorizo
• Other islands in the chain include Agathonisi, Alimia, Arkoi, Chalki, Farmakonisi, Gyali, Kinaros, Levitha, Lipsi, Nimos, Pserimos, Saria, Syrna and Telendos.

Area map