Experience the magic of the Saronic and Argolic Gulfs on our relaxed shared sailing trip from and back to Poros in August. From our home port we head south to the most beautiful islands of Greece: Hydra, the car-free artists’ island, Spetses with its dreamy anchorages and the wild coasts of the eastern Peloponnese. Short daily passages, countless sheltered bays and picturesque harbour towns with rustic tavernas directly on the water – this trip is relaxed island sailing at its finest.
In the morning, jump from the bathing platform into crystal-clear water; in the afternoon, sail with the thermal wind to the next bay; in the evening, stroll through the car-free alleys of Hydra and enjoy fresh fish in a taverna with views of the sea. We sail together, learn from one another and savour the freedom on the water.
Galini, our Hanse 575, is a true bluewater yacht – created for living and travelling at sea. We travel with warm-hearted people, discover the world together and experience true boatlife: sun, wind, salt water, small adventures and the feeling of truly discovering something together as a crew. Galini is at home on the sea and mostly far away from her home port on Poros. You will be part of life on board. Things will not 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 very happy to show you the technology on board, and you can take part in everything – from navigating, steering and cooking right through to the technical side. Not a cruise, but a living community, genuine 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.
The Saronic and Argolic Gulfs are among the most relaxed and varied cruising grounds in the entire Mediterranean. Sheltered by the Peloponnese, the Meltemi blows noticeably more gently here than in the open Aegean – 3–4 Beaufort is typical, rarely more. The islands and coastal places lie close together, with typical day passages of only 5 to 20 nautical miles – so there is always plenty of time for swimming, anchoring and simply enjoying. The area offers a fascinating mix of cosmopolitan harbour towns such as Hydra and Spetses, secluded anchorages, ancient sites and the wild coastal landscape of the eastern Peloponnese. As we start from our home port of Poros and return there again, we know this cruising ground especially well. From Poros, a ferry takes you quickly to Piraeus and from there in around an hour to Athens International Airport – the journey is uncomplicated and easy to plan.
Our adventure begins on Saturday in Poros – our home port, which we know especially well. After boarding, getting to know each other and the safety briefing, we head south. This trip is deliberately flexible: the distances between the islands and the coast are short and the possibilities are many – where we sail is decided jointly as a crew. Hydra, only around 10 nautical miles away, welcomes us with one of the most beautiful natural harbours in Greece – a car-free island on which time seems to have stood still. The uninhabited island of Dokos offers remote bays for anchoring, swimming and snorkelling in absolute peace and quiet. Further south lie Ermioni and Spetses, with their sheltered bays and fragrant pine forests down to the water’s edge. From Porto Heli, a detour to Nafplio is possible – the first capital of Greece with its impressive Palamidi fortress. Depending on the wind and the crew’s mood, we sail even further south along the Peloponnese coast or enjoy an extra swimming day in one of the countless bays. At the end of the week we return to Poros – a homecoming in the truest sense. Which harbours and bays we call at exactly, and how long we stay where, is decided – as in real sailing – by the wind, the weather and the crew together.
For anyone collecting miles towards their next sailing certificate: as we will be heading for the pearls of the Saronic Gulf on this trip, a good number of nautical miles will go into the logbook. Of course, we will issue you with an official mileage confirmation at the end of the voyage.
Our Galini travels 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 real boat life and embrace the adventure that the sea has in store for us.
Step aboard a beautifully equipped, lovingly maintained boat and enjoy something special: with us, nothing is off the peg. Every trip is unique – sometimes spontaneous, sometimes planned, always full of surprises. Unplanned experiences are just as much a part of it as relaxed days on deck.
Would you like to do more than just sail along? We look after the technical side of the boat together, and you can get stuck in yourself if you want to. You can turn your holiday sailing trip into a real experience on a long-distance cruising yacht and become part of life at sea.
Our trips combine holiday, experience, mindfulness and authentic 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 August, high-summer temperatures prevail (air: Ø 30–36°C, water: Ø 26–27°C). The Meltemi blows considerably more gently in the Saronic Gulf than in the open Aegean – typically 3–4 Bft from north to north-east. Between Hydra, Spetses and the Argolic Gulf, a pleasant thermal wind from the south-east dominates, setting in around midday and dying down again in the evening – ideal for relaxed sailing. Mornings are often calm, perfect for swimming stops and a gentle start to the day. Rain is virtually out of the question in August – brilliant sunshine and the special light of the Aegean are guaranteed.
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!
