Travel the world: Highlight mileage cruise from the Aegean to Sicily

HIGHLIGHTS
We decide on our stops in harbors and anchorages together. We are a crew that plans the route according to preferences, wind, and weather.
- Corinth Canal: Spectacular passage between rock walls up to 80 meters high, only 24 meters wide
- Gulf of Corinth: 60 nautical miles framed by mountains, with the small island of Trizonia as a hidden gem
- Rion-Antirion Bridge: Passing under the modern masterpiece that connects the Peloponnese to the mainland
- Messolonghi: Historic lagoon city, scene of the Greek War of Independence and Lord Byron's last stop
- Ithaca: The home of Odysseus with the picturesque port of Vathy
- Kefalonia: Fiskardo, Argostoli and the dramatic landscape of the largest Ionian island
- Long crossing (~269 nm): The highlight: 2 nights on the open Ionian Sea, night watches, starry skies, dolphins and a true blue water feeling
- Syracuse & Ortigia: An ancient metropolis as a reward after the crossing
- Strait of Messina: Legendary strait with currents and jet effects
- Stromboli: Active volcano, lava spectacle when approached at night
- Lipari Islands: Lipari and Vulcano, a volcanic archipelago with hot springs and sulfur fields
- Cefalù: Norman cathedral and picturesque old town on the north coast of Sicily
- Palermo: A worthy finale in Sicily's vibrant capital

THE TRIP
This sailing trip is for those seeking a grand adventure: In two weeks, we'll sail from our home port of Poros across the Mediterranean to Palermo in Sicily. Through the legendary Corinth Canal, across the Gulf of Corinth under the imposing Rion-Antirion Bridge, past the historic lagoon city of Messolonghi, via Ithaca and Kefalonia – and then the grand crossing: approximately 270 nautical miles across the open Ionian Sea to Syracuse. From there, we continue through the Strait of Messina, past the fire-breathing Stromboli, through the Aeolian Islands, and along the northern coast of Sicily to Palermo. A true mileage-building trip of around 660 nautical miles – bluewater sailing at its finest.

THE RULE
This mile-long sailing trip connects three fascinating cruising grounds: the Saronic and Corinthian Gulfs, the Ionian Islands, and Sicily. From the sheltered Gulf of Corinth, with its calm waters and limited anchorages, the route leads into the open Ionian Sea – with short distances between the islands and reliable northwesterly winds. The long crossing from Kefalonia to Sicily (approximately 269 nautical miles) takes you across the open Ionian Sea and is the navigational highlight of the trip. Conditions are favorable in September: the Meltemi wind subsides, the winds are moderate, and the weather is generally stable. The Aeolian Islands off the north coast of Sicily are of volcanic origin – spectacular, but with limited anchorage options, requiring careful planning. The itinerary includes two built-in buffer days – before the long crossing to Kefalonia and after arrival in Syracuse – which can be used as waiting days or leisurely stops, depending on the weather. From the home port of Poros, you can quickly reach Piraeus by ferry and then Athens Airport in about an hour. Palermo Falcone-Borsellino Airport is only about 30 km from the marina and can be reached by shuttle in 35–40 minutes.

WIND & CLIMATE
September offers pleasant sailing conditions: temperatures range from 25–30°C (air) and 24–26°C (water) – warm, but not as oppressively hot as in August. The Meltemi wind subsides considerably in September, with the prevailing winds in the Ionian Sea being moderate northwesterly at 2–4 Beaufort. In the Gulf of Corinth, a westerly wind dominates, freshening in the afternoon. Variable winds are possible on the long crossing – from light calms to a fresh northwesterly. The Aeolian Islands experience light winds in summer, influenced by topography and thermals, predominantly from the northwest and west. September is considered one of the best sailing seasons in the central Mediterranean: stable weather conditions, little rain, and pleasant temperatures – ideal for a challenging long-distance cruise.