The cradle of democracy

Greece in particular is often called the “cradle of democracy” or the “cradle of Western civilization”, this makes it today a very exciting destination with a lot of history to discover.

Sail in Greece through Europe’s longest coast

The country has Europe’s longest coastline with 6000 islands each of 227 of which are inhabited, this makes it very good to sail in Greece. Greece is a very safe destination to go to when a wind called Meltemi blows from the north-northeast with a strength of 3-12 m / s.

Republic

The state is a republic which in Greek is called Greece (pronounced Ellás). Greece borders Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey. Today, 11 million people live in the country and 3 million of them live in the capital Athens.

Member of the EU

The country has been a member of the EU since 1981. In Greece, National Day is celebrated on March 25 when the Greek revolution against the Ottomans began, and National Day is also celebrated on October 28, which is called Oxi Day, which means no, because in 1940 they said no to the Italians. invaded – “I do not capitulate, rather war than we become slaves to another country”

Language: Greek

The official language is Greek and belongs to the Indo-European language branch used in the Greek alphabet. Ancient Greece was the birthplace of democracy, Western philosophy, the Olympic Games, Western literature and historiography, political science, scientific and mathematical principles, and Western drama, both tragedy and comedy.

sailing in Greece & its three seas

It has three seas, the Ionian Sea to the west with the Ionian Islands, the Mediterranean Sea south of Crete and the Aegean Sea to the east with the Cyclades, Saronic Islands, Sporades, Dodecanese called the Twelve Islands and the North Aegean Islands.

Mountain

Its highest mountain is called Olympos and is located in northern Greece in the region of Macedonia. Olympos is 2917 masl and it was here according to the ancient Greeks that the highest gods lived. Did you know that at first there were over 30,000 gods but that only 12 of these lived on Olympos?

Gods and Goddesses

Some of these gods who initially lived on Olympos were Zeus who was the king of the gods, Poseidon who was the god of the sea and Apollo who was the god of the sun. Unlike many other religions, man in the Greek faith is not considered a slave to the gods and inferior to their capriciousness, but instead emphasizes their similarities and man’s ability to make his own decisions and the gods can make slips and possibly big mistakes just like man.

World famous food

You are also well known for your good food, some dishes to try when you are in Greece are tzatziki, lamb, moussaka, stifado fish and cheese saganaki which is better known as saganaki only. Saganaki, however, is not a dish but a special frying pan that is used to cook a single serving dish in so you can get mushroom saganaki, shrimp saganaki or something similar if you are not really aware of what they serve on the menu. For this you can drink some Greek wine, for example retsina which is a white wine with a taste of resin. Retsina gets its character of dried and powdered resin (about 1 kilo per hectolitre of wine) from the aleppotallen.

Wine

The wine industry is spread all over the country and many islands have their own local wine growers. The Greek historian Thucydides believed that it was only when the Mediterranean peoples learned to grow olives and wine that they rose from barbarism. In the islands and mainland around the Aegean Sea, this happened at least 5,000 years ago. In exchange for wine and olive oil, the Greeks eventually received grain from Egypt and the Black Sea region, silver from Andalusia, copper from Syria and Cyprus, and gold and ivory from Nubia and Egypt.

Another drink that is very popular in Greece today is Ouzo which is a spirit with an anise flavor. Today it is often drunk with a splash of cold water or a piece of ice in it, which makes the spirit go from being clear and transparent to finally turning milky white. Finally, the opportunity to sail in Greece is something that every individual should experience at least once in their lifetime.

Arrival

Upon your arrival in Greece, your driver will be waiting for you at the airport to take you to Alimos Marina. If you land in the morning, there will be a moment of waiting while the boat is being prepared. We then recommend that you spend the time looking at the city and eating lucnh so that you are ready when the boat is ready. If you land later in the evening, the boat is ready when you arrive and you just have to board the boat.

Pass rules when planning to sail in Greece

Today, you must be provided with a passport that is valid for at least 3 months from the date of return during the time you are in the country.

Things to consider in case of allergies when sailing in Greece

If you have any allergies or special wishes regarding food, it is important to make us aware of it as soon as possible, so that we can then in the meantime adapt the food to your needs.

Valuables

For security reasons, take copies of passports, bank cards, airline tickets and other important papers. (It is always good to have a copy of them at home in Sweden and one in your bag in case of an accident.)

Sailing in Greece & travel insurance

Review so you have a good travel insurance or check with your home insurance. Today, it is also possible to take out travel insurance and cancellation insurance via More Sailing.

Currency & amp; card payment

The currency used officially is Euro, €. In most restaurants you can pay by card, but otherwise you move with the advantage of cash. In Alimo’s marina, our base, there is an ATM and during most of the stops during the trip.

Sailing in Greece & amp; stay on board the boat

Living on board a boat is not that different from living at home, the biggest difference is that you have limited water and electricity on board. While moored at a buoy or anchor, keep in mind to be frugal with the water and take shorter showers. While sailing you can charge mobile phones etc. via 12v sockets and 220v sockets you can use when you are in the marina because you can then connect shore power.

Can I learn more about sailing?

Ofcourse you can! In the meantime, our talented skippers and hostesses are happy to share their knowledge and anyone who wants to can try standing at the helm, hoisting sails and reading charts.

What should I bring with me when sailing in Greece?

In addition to packing what you usually do, also remember to bring mosquito repellent, sunscreen, sunglasses, swimwear, something to read, a cap or a hat and motion sickness tablets if you get seasick easily. Since only one towel is included, it can be good to pack an extra if you e.g. want one more fresh water and one more salt water. If you enjoy snorkeling in the turquoise waters, feel free to bring a snorkel and cyclops. Last but not least, pack in a soft bag that you can fold up and put away on the boat, hard bags take up a lot of space in your cabins.

Do I need to bring a life jacket with me when I sail in Greece?

On board the boat there are life jackets that can be used whenever you want and should be used when the skipper or hostess deems it necessary. If you want a smoother sailing vest, you are welcome to bring it yourself.

Breakfast and lunch are included, where do you eat dinner?

Every night we dock in a harbor or in a bay. When we dock in a bay, the dinghy is taken ashore where there are restaurants. The staff on board are happy to help with tips on good restaurants and to book a table.

What information do I need to provide when intending to sail in Greece?

Before your sailing trip, we need a social security number, passport number, first and last name and any allergies.

Can I charge my phone / camera on board?

The current on board is limited as we are not in port and can not connect to shore power. Out at sea, it is possible to charge with a 12v charger and when we are in port, you can charge in the usual 220v sockets.

Do I need to bring bed linen and towel?

Bed linen and a shower towel per person are on board the boat. We recommend that you bring an extra, so you can have one more salty bath and one more shower.

Do I need to bring a rain gear when I sail in Greece?

It rarely rains along the coast of Greece and when it does, there are only brief showers. Even when it is raining, it is hot in the air. So rain gear is a bit to take in, but maybe a waterproof jacket can be nice if you were unlucky enough to encounter a rain cloud.

Restaurant prices?

A 2-course meal with beer / wine with the food costs approximately SEK 200-250, but of course it varies between different restaurants.

Click here to read our travel conditions for sailing trips.