Cyclades Islands by Bareboat Charter

A family of five experienced sailors, including three teenagers, were looking for an exhilarating week of bareboat sailing with stop offs on the beautiful Greek islands.

They wanted a blend of culture, history and food, with good sailing conditions (warm and fairly windy), pretty towns and peaceful anchorages.

As the family weren’t tied to the school holidays, we recommended a week of sailing around the Cyclades islands in June.

At this time, these gorgeous Greek islands offer plenty of heat, lower seasonal pricing and the meltemi – the breeze that blows through the Cyclades over summer – is strong enough for sailing but isn’t yet overpowering.

Spacious, modern and comfortable, the Hanse 455 boasts four double cabins and 2 bathrooms – perfect for giving this family the privacy they desired. The roomy cockpit offers plenty of space for al fresco dining and relaxing throughout the day.

At the rear, the drop-down platform lends itself to swimming straight from the boat, and the well-equipped galley kitchen is ideal for whipping up a meal to enjoy on deck.

Here is their story, in their own words:

An hour’s transfer from Athens airport took us to Lavrion, where we were briefed on our yacht for the week. We couldn’t wait to get going!

With the sea breeze in our sails we headed for Kolona Bay on Kythnos, which was our first night’s anchorage.

Watching the sunset as we barbecued on the beach really helped us settle into holiday mode.

Following a morning dip off the back of the boat, we used the meltemi to cruise to the island of Paros.

We anchored for the night at Naoussa, a quintessential Greek town with whitewashed houses stacked up the gentle hill beyond the marina.

After wandering through its maze of streets, we settled at a traditional taverna and feasted on huge plates of heavenly moussaka.

Waking well rested, and still full from the night before, we took a short sail to glamorous Mykonos.

Mooring in the main marina, we enjoyed a leisurely meze lunch while the kids took on a cycling tour of the island.

Later on, the whole family got involved in some watersports in the harbour. Jet skiing was a particular hit!

A morning of sailing across the azure Aegean took us to Syros, where we moored at Ermoupoli and hired a car to explore the island.

Winding roads took us over rocky hills with stunning vistas, before leading us down to a quiet and secluded bay.

After a refreshing dip, a meal of local seafood in a beachside taverna rounded off the evening.

Glorious sunshine and crystal waters set the scene for today’s day-long sail from Syros over to the island of Kea.

Arriving late afternoon, we swam in the blissfully sheltered bay of Vourkari and sunbathed on the deck.

While the town has plenty of cosy tavernas, we chose to eat our evening meal on board the yacht and gaze at their lights twinkling along the shore.

This morning was spent exploring the bay of Vourkari on foot, which is home to numerous walking trails.

After lunch we set sail back to Lavrion, and what a sail it was!

Harnessing the solid breeze of the meltemi was truly thrilling as we skipped over the sea – we could still feel the wind on our faces when we dined in Lavrion that evening.

We bid goodbye to our yacht this morning, but still had time to explore Olympia in Athens: home of the original Olympic Games and the iconic Temple of Zeus.

As our flight home gained altitude over the Aegean that afternoon, I felt sure I could see our yacht down below – starting its next voyage out over the turquoise sea.

• Yacht and compulsory extras: £2,550
• Fuel: £80
• Provisions (Food & Drink): £400
• Mooring Fees: £10

Total: £3,040