Sailing the Cyclades: Safest round trip passage from Lavrion to Mikanos

[ilya ts]

Hello,

I'm leading an inexperienced group on a three boat sailing trip in Greece in early September.
We have 1 week. Depart and return (hopefully) from/to Lavrion.

Our ideal plan included making it to Mikonos before heading back. I've been reading the Greek Pilot book and reading a lot of forums out there.

It sounds like the Meltemis peak during August, but since we're going in early September, I assume that we can expect them to still blow quite hard...

What is the safest passage for a round trip from Lavrion to Mikonos and back with well protected harbors along the way? (if there is such a thing)
I assume that I need to leave an extra day or two in case we get stuck in one place due to bad weather...

How predictable are the weather forecasts and can strong winds be forecast more than a day in advance?

Does a trip like this even make sense - considering that the crew is very inexperienced, no one has sailed in that area before, and I would ideally prefer to keep our daily hops to no more than 30 miles and prefer not to sail in more than 25 knots of wind...

Does it help if we sail early in the mornings?

Basically, trying to figure out if there is a relatively safe strategy to head to Mikonos, or if we should just go to the Saronic Gulf side instead...

Thanks a lot!
-ilya

 

[KellysEye]

> or if we should just go to the Saronic Gulf side instead...

My suggestion would be to do that if you have an inexperienced group.

 

[Tony Cross]

> or if we should just go to the Saronic Gulf side instead...

My suggestion would be to do that if you have an inexperienced group.

+1

If the Meltemi hangs around you may need more than a day or two to hide out, either that or go out into pretty rough conditions. The Saronic would be safer and your group would probably have more fun (and want to come with you again!).

 

[vyv_cox]

Mikonos is possibly the last place in the Aegean that I would be heading for. Nasty expensive place with a poor harbour and exposed to some of the strongest winds the meltemi can throw at you. Getting back to Lavrion against the meltemi could be an epic trip with an inexperienced group. The Saronic would be far more suitable.

 

[Melody]

Mikonos is possibly the last place in the Aegean that I would be heading for. Nasty expensive place with a poor harbour and exposed to some of the strongest winds the meltemi can throw at you. Getting back to Lavrion against the meltemi could be an epic trip with an inexperienced group. The Saronic would be far more suitable.

Definitely agree with this!