Literally. You can’t see it. It had been a rocky ride and were ready to be tucked in for the night after the long motor from Lipsi to Palymnos on the island of Kalymnos. We were on track and as we approached where we were certain the entrance to the protected harbor would be, it simply wasn’t there. No opening, no boat masts, no buildings. Nothing. “It isn’t here,” I said (possibly shouted?) My husband replied that it had to be, I took another look, and stood by my original observation. We did a slow drive by of where we thought we should go. Still, nothing. And we really didn’t want to have ..read more

“There are vicarious lessons to be learned everywhere in sailing. You just have to be willing to listen.” – Charles Maxwell on the dock of Lipsi, Greece The meltemi winds are no joke. It isn’t that we thought they were, I’m just confirming that fact. And if you aren’t sure what meltemi winds are (I hadn’t heard the term before we went to Greece) they are basically extra strong, potentially destructive winds from the North that get bigger and bolder as the day progresses. They also offer the opportunity to build your sailing knowledge-bank, either through your own trial and error or vicarious ..read more

I was about to tell the island of Patmos that you never get a second chance to make a first impression, because when we sailed into Skala on the east side of this historic island we were altogether unimpressed. After slowly spending some time looking for the place where charter sail boats like ours were intended to dock and discovering that it was just steps away from a loud, busy road, we were disheartened. We’d spent the prior two nights in charming Vathis and inviting Pandeli, and here we were at Patmos, possibly the most storied of all the islands in the Dodecanese, and we were docked nex ..read more

I was about to tell the island of Patmos that you never get a second chance to make a first impression because when we sailed into Skala on the east side of this historic island, we were altogether unimpressed. After slowly spending some time looking for the place where charter sail boats like ours were intended to dock and discovering that it was just steps away from a loud, busy road, we were disheartened. We’d spent the prior two nights in charming Vathis and inviting Pandeli, and here we were at Patmos, possibly the most storied of all the islands in the Dodecanese, and we were docked next ..read more

Pandeli on Leros Island in the Dodecanese is exactly what you envision when you think about sailing in Greece: White and blue buildings climbing up hilltops, seaside bars and cafes offering fresh fish and calamari, crystal clear water, and the opportunity to explore a Medieval fortress before heading back to your boat for the night. It is perfection. When you sail from Kos, Pandeli is a great second night’s stop before heading North to Patmos or Lipsi, and you might even consider staying for a third night too as there is so much to see and do. Here’s what you need to know: Mooring The shelter ..read more

By no one’s estimation am I an astute student of geography, which is why it isn’t surprising at all that the first I’d heard of Kos Greece was when I saw it as the launch point of our Charter company’s boats. “I wonder where that is,” I thought, quickly typing flight queries into my browser. With a bit more Google research, I landed on the term Dodecanese and learned that is the official name for the twelve islands making up this Greek sailing area just off the coast of Turkey. We planned our trip so quickly that there wasn’t much time to ponder the details, I only knew that this sailing tri ..read more

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Kalymnos Island is perhaps best known for the ancient, literally breathtaking art of sponge diving. For centuries, the brave men and their fathers and forefathers on “Sponge Diver’s Island” have descended up to 30 meters, free diving for three to five minutes without air to gather then sell natural sponges from the warm waters of the Aegean Sea. As we slowly entered the what I initially considered the too-narrow-to-moor inlet of Vathis, a small fishing village on Kalymnos Island, Manolis appeared on the dock with his skipper hat, long grey beard, and remarkably large moustache ready to assist ..read more

Before diving into the details of our July 2021 sailing trip to Greece, planned just one month prior, we wanted to share a quick overview of the Covid travel guidelines we encountered. Important: Rules are different for every country, so keep in mind this short blog is specifically for travel from the USA to Greece and back and was written regarding a trip taken July 14 – 25, 2021. Going anywhere else? Keep Googling. Going months after this was written? Track down an update. Covid travel rules, regulations, and guidelines are a moving target, so before you head half-way across the planet to ..read more

Yes, that is my dad in the photo. Could be yours. Make it happen. Here’s the thing. If we learned anything from 2020 it is that quality time with people we love isn’t a guarantee, and creating and cherishing opportunities for connection is perhaps the most important thing we can do. So, when I say, “let’s start planning Father’s Day” please pause for a moment before telling me it is only January. I know that. What I also know are these important facts: June is a perfect time of year to sail Father’s Day is June 20, 2021, a lovely time of year to sail in many locations around the world and it ..read more