This passage is for anyone seeking the big adventure – and miles towards their next sailing licence: From Kefalonia we make the great crossing – roughly 280 nautical miles across the open Ionian Sea to Syracuse in Sicily. Two nights at sea, watch system, starry skies and true bluewater feeling. From Syracuse we continue through the legendary Strait of Messina, past fire-breathing Stromboli, through the Aeolian Islands and along Sicily's north coast to Palermo. A true mile-building passage of around 500 nautical miles – bluewater sailing at its finest.
Galini, our Hanse 575, is a genuine bluewater yacht – created for living and travelling on the sea. We sail with warm-hearted people, discover the world together and experience real boat life: sun, wind, salt water, small adventures and that sense of a crew genuinely discovering something together. Galini is at home on the sea and usually far from her home port of Poros. You become part of life on board. Things won't always go to plan – sometimes something breaks or the weather changes our course – but that is exactly what makes it real. We are also very happy to show you the technology on board, and you can take part in everything – navigating, steering, cooking, right through to the tech. Not a cruise, but lived 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 mile-building passage links two fascinating cruising grounds: the Ionian Islands and Sicily. The great crossing from Kefalonia to Sicily (~280 nm) leads across the open Ionian Sea and is the navigational centrepiece of the voyage. In September conditions are good: the meltemi is easing, winds are moderate and the weather patterns are mostly stable. The Aeolian Islands off Sicily's north coast are volcanic in origin – spectacular, but with limited anchorages that require careful planning. The route has two built-in buffer days – on Kefalonia before the big crossing and after arrival in Syracuse – which are used as waiting days or pleasure stops depending on the weather. Kefalonia has an international airport for the outward journey. Palermo Falcone-Borsellino Airport is only about 30 km from the marina and can be reached by shuttle in 35–40 minutes.
Our adventure begins on Saturday in Kefalonia, the largest of the Ionian Islands. After boarding, getting to know each other and the safety briefing, we use the first day to settle in: stock up on provisions, check the weather window for the big crossing and enjoy the island. Then comes the highlight – we cast off for the great crossing: roughly 280 nautical miles across the open Ionian Sea to Syracuse. Two nights at sea, watch system, navigating by the stars, sunrises over the water and, with a little luck, dolphins as companions. Once in Syracuse, we treat ourselves to a well-earned rest day on Ortigia, the baroque old-town island. From Syracuse we make our way up Sicily's east coast with Mount Etna as our companion, through the legendary Strait of Messina and on to Stromboli – on a night approach, an unforgettable experience when the lava illuminates the sky. The Aeolian Islands, Lipari and Vulcano, surprise with their volcanic landscape before we sail via Cefalù with its Norman cathedral to Palermo – a worthy finale in the island's vibrant capital. Exactly which harbours and bays we make for and how long we linger where is decided – as in real sailing – by the wind, the weather and the crew together.
For those collecting miles towards their next sailing licence: as we cross the open sea on this passage, a good many nautical miles go into the logbook – including night passages and genuine offshore experience. Naturally, we will issue you with an official mileage certificate at the end of the voyage.
Our Galini is travelling the world – and you can be part of it! With us you are not an 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 genuine boat life and embrace the adventure the sea holds for us.
Step aboard a superbly equipped, lovingly maintained boat and enjoy the special touch: with us nothing is off the peg. Every passage is unique – sometimes spontaneous, sometimes planned, always full of surprises. Unplanned experiences are just as much part of it as relaxed days on deck.
Would you like more than just sailing along? We take care of the technology on board together, and you can get involved yourself whenever you like. You can turn a holiday passage into a real experience on a long-distance cruising yacht and become part of life at sea.
Our passages combine holiday, adventure, mindfulness and genuine boat life. Become part of our crew and experience a special time on Galini – authentic, communal and full of the 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 (air) and 24–26°C (water) – summer-warm, but no longer as oppressively hot as in August. The meltemi noticeably eases in September; the prevailing winds in the Ionian Sea are moderate north-westerlies of force 2–4. On the great crossing, changeable winds are possible – from light calms to a fresh north-westerly. The Aeolian Islands have light winds in summer, influenced by topography and thermals, mainly from the NW and W. September is regarded as one of the best sailing seasons in the central Mediterranean: stable weather patterns, little rain and pleasant temperatures – ideal for a demanding mile-building passage.
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!
