This trip is for anyone who wants to discover Greece from the water: in one week we sail from our home port of Poros through the legendary Corinth Canal, across the Gulf of Corinth beneath the imposing Rio-Antirio Bridge, past the historic lagoon city of Messolonghi, via Ithaca to Kefalonia, the largest of the Ionian Islands. Relaxed daily legs and places steeped in history – enjoyable sailing with around 170 nautical miles in the wake of Odysseus.
Galini, our Hanse 575, is a true bluewater boat – built for living and travelling at sea. We sail with warm-hearted people, discover the world together and experience genuine boat life: sun, wind, salt water, little adventures and the feeling of truly discovering something together as a crew. Galini is at home on the sea and usually far from her home port of Poros. You become part of life on board. Not everything will always go according to plan – sometimes something breaks or the weather changes our course – but that is exactly what makes it real. We are also delighted to show you the technology on board, and you can take part in all the activities – navigating, steering, cooking right through to technical work. Not a cruise, but a lived-in community, real experiences and the magic of the sea.
We decide our stops in harbours and anchorages together. We are a crew that plans the route according to preferences, wind and weather.
This trip links two fascinating cruising grounds: the Saronic and Corinthian Gulfs and the Ionian Islands. From the sheltered Gulf of Corinth with its calm waters and few anchorages, we head out into the open Ionian Sea – with short distances between the islands and a reliable north-westerly wind. In September conditions are good: the Meltemi is easing off, the winds are moderate and the weather patterns are mostly stable. From the home port of Poros you can quickly reach Piraeus by ferry and Athens airport in about an hour. Kefalonia has an international airport for departure.
Our adventure begins on Saturday in Poros – our home port. After boarding, getting to know each other and the safety briefing, we set off northwards towards the Corinth Canal. The passage between the sheer rock faces is the spectacular opening to this trip. In the Gulf of Corinth we sail westwards – framed by mountains, with a stop on the little island of Trizonia or in charming Galaxidi. Passing beneath the imposing Rio-Antirio Bridge, we reach Messolonghi, the historic lagoon city on the Gulf of Patras – once the scene of heroic resistance in the Greek War of Independence and the place where Lord Byron spent his final days. From Messolonghi we sail to Ithaca, home of Odysseus, with the picturesque harbour of Vathy – and on to Kefalonia, the largest of the Ionian Islands. Here there is time for Fiskardo or Argostoli and the island's dramatic landscape, before the trip ends on Saturday. Exactly which harbours and bays we call at, and how long we stay where, is decided – as with real sailing – by the wind, the weather and the crew together.
For anyone collecting miles towards their next sailing certificate: this trip, too, will add a fair few nautical miles to the logbook. Naturally, we will issue you an official mileage certificate at the end of the voyage.
Our Galini is sailing the world – and you can be part of it! With us you are no anonymous guest on a standard route, but part of a real crew discovering new horizons together. We are not a classic charter company that runs the same tour every week. Instead we sail together, experience true boat life and embrace the adventure the sea holds for us.
Step aboard a well-equipped, lovingly maintained boat and enjoy something special: nothing off the peg with us. Every trip is unique – sometimes spontaneous, sometimes planned, always full of surprises. Unplanned experiences are as much part of it as relaxed days on deck.
Do you want more than just sailing along? We look after the technical side of the boat together, and you can lend a hand yourself if you like. You can turn a holiday cruise into a real experience on a long-distance cruising yacht and become part of life at sea.
Our trips combine holiday, adventure, mindfulness and true boat life. Become part of our crew and enjoy a special time on Galini – authentic, communal and full of a spirit of adventure.
Our beautiful GALINI is a very fast, large and comfortable yacht. She spent the winter in the Caribbean and crosses the Atlantic in April/May.
She is a modern Hanse 575 with 4 double cabins and a skipper's cabin. Each cabin has its own bathroom with electric toilet. Wi-Fi via Starlink (optional), multi media, generator 220 V / 7 kW, (230 V in all cabins) washing machine, air fryer and coffee machine. She has large solar panels, radar, AIS, a watermaker, hydraulic swim platform and a tender with outboard motor. An abundance of safety and navigation equipment and much more – in short, everything needed to travel self-sufficiently without having to call at a supply port. A yacht that meets the highest standards of safety, design and comfort.
The sailing characteristics are also outstanding! The Hanse was designed by Volvo Ocean Racers and is the fastest yacht in her class. The joy of sailing is guaranteed!
In September conditions are pleasant: temperatures are 25–30°C in the air and 24–26°C in the water – summer-warm, but no longer as oppressively hot as in August. The Meltemi noticeably eases in September, and the prevailing winds in the Ionian Sea blow moderately from the north-west at Force 2–4. In the Gulf of Corinth a westerly wind dominates, strengthening in the afternoon. September is regarded as one of the best sailing seasons in the central Mediterranean: stable weather patterns, little rain and pleasant temperatures – ideal for an enjoyable week of discovery.
Anyone can, if they want, help with sailing, take the helm now and then, or simply enjoy the beautiful nature and the day. In addition, everyone is jointly responsible for the crew's well-being. This means that everyone takes their turn preparing breakfast or looking after dinner. Usually the hobby cooks on board quickly emerge, and those who are not so into cooking simply stand back and do the washing up. When berthing and casting off, everyone generally lends a hand according to their abilities and after instruction from the skipper. The boat must be kept clean by the crew members during the voyage. The final cleaning, however, is carried out by the marina staff.
All crew members (except the skipper) pay an amount agreed together into the kitty. During the voyage, this kitty covers all joint costs incurred (e.g. diesel, harbour fees, deposit insurance, transit log, tourist tax, national and nature park fees, service pack for the provided bed linen, final cleaning, gas, marina fee for the first and last night in harbour, etc.). In keeping with old seafaring tradition, the crew also covers the skipper's food during the voyage.
Berth charter is the best opportunity for anyone who wants to get to know sailing life. Prior knowledge or your own sailing experience is not necessary. Perhaps you have already gained sailing experience and completed sailing training and want to deepen it? – Then the skipper will give you the opportunity to try things out for yourself and help you gain future confidence. The crew can help shape the course of the voyage and their wishes will be heard, subject to safety and weather. On such a trip you meet like-minded people, can make new pleasant acquaintances, and have an experienced skipper at your side who takes care of all nautical matters. The cabins on the yacht are mostly different, but very similarly equipped. The berths are allocated by the skipper taking crew wishes into account. Whole cabins can be chartered by individuals, couples or families. Payment is per person and you don't have to worry about anything else.
We want to make sailing more sustainable and environmentally friendly. On GALINI we test various products that provide a great sailing experience while putting less strain on the environment. At the same time, she is on a journey to explore the world. Her base is on Poros, Greece. Most of the time, however, she is on a long voyage. Our small team of skippers looks forward to sharing a real sailing experience with you!
