BOAT-COMPARATOR Guide
The Ionian islands: gentle Greece, perfect for a first charter
Corfu, Lefkada, Kefalonia, Ithaca: why the Ionian Sea is Europe's best cruising ground for a first sailing holiday — itinerary included.
While the meltemi batters the Cyclades in high summer, the Ionian Sea on the other side of the Peloponnese offers the exact opposite: gentle, regular thermal winds (10-18 knots in the afternoon, calm mornings), short distances and sheltered anchorages everywhere. This is THE cruising ground for first charters.
Two bases, two loops
From Lefkada, the southern loop: Meganisi and its finger-like creeks, quiet Kastos and Kalamos, mythical Ithaca and Kefalonia (Fiskardo, Assos) — never more than three hours between stops. From Corfu, the northern loop: Paxos and Antipaxos (the 'Greek Caribbean'), Parga on the mainland, and the coves of Erikoussa.
Why it is ideal for beginners
Predictable, moderate winds, flat water in the lee of the islands, village harbours where you moor stern-to (anchor out, stern to the quay: the Greek manoeuvre takes two days to learn), tavernas that manage the buoys… The Ionian forgives where the Aegean punishes. Sailing schools know it: this is where they send newly qualified skippers.
Season and budget
May to October, with a gentle heart of season even in August (it is the anti-Cyclades). A 36-40 ft monohull runs €1,500 to €3,500 per week by date — among the best value in the Mediterranean. Saturday-to-Saturday charters, plenty of flotillas out of Lefkada.
The insider tip
Book the first and last nights at the same quiet anchorage near the base (Nidri or Sivota for Lefkada): a serene embarkation, a stress-free return, and the whole week for the best of the archipelago.