The Cyclades

(Kikladhes Nisoi)

This is the central group of islands in the Aegean, so named because they more or less surround Delos, the ancient centre of trade and worship (kukloi = rings). I will not attempt to describe the islands here, but describe each separately when I come to them. To impose some order on the scattered islands they are broken down into three sections: northern, middle and southern Cyclades.

Northern Cyclades Kea, Kithnos, Siros, Andros, Tinos, Mikonos, Delos and Rinia.
Middle Cyclades Sérifos, Sifnos, Andiparos, Páros, Naxos, Dhenoussa, Iráklia, Skhinoussa, Koufonisia, Amorgos and Lévitha.
Southern Cyclades Milos, Kimolos, Folégandros, Sikonos, los, Thira and Anafi.

Weather patterns in the Cyclades

The prevailing wind in the summer is the infamous meltemi blowing from the NE-N-NW. The meltemi begins to blow fitfully at first in June, blows strongest in July, August and September, and dies during October. In July and August the meltemi blows at Force 5-6 and may reach Force 7-8 on occasions. It may blow for 1-3 days or it may sometimes blow for 2 weeks at a time. There is no way of knowing just how long it will blow. It has a thermal component in that it loses some strength at night and increases again in the day.

In June and again in late September the wind strength is considerably less at about Force 4-5 and there may be wind from other directions. The direction of the meltemi varies down through the Cyclades. In the northern Cyclades it blows from the NE, curving to blow from the Ν in the middle Cyclades and curving again to blow from the NW-WNW in the southern Cyclades. In the SW islands of the Cyclades the wind is marginally less strong than in the northern and eastern islands.

In the spring and autumn the wind is predominantly from the Ν although there are also winds from the S. Gales are commonly from the Ν or the SE.

Note Care must be taken of violent gusts off the high land on the lee side of the islands when the meltemi is blowing. These gusts may be considerably stronger than the wind strength on the open sea -gusts of Force 7-8 may be experienced when the wind on the open sea is Force 5-6. At times small whirlwinds may accompany the gusts which strike with great force and very quickly. Places noted for these squalls are the Doro Channel between Evia and Andros, the south coasts of Andros and Tinos, Yiaros, the Kéa Channel, Mikinos, Naxos and the islands S of it, the S coast of Amorgos, Kimolos, Folégandros, and the S side of los.

In the summer months the Cyclades are hot and temperatures average 25°-26°C (79°F) and often reach 33°-35°C (95°F). In the summer there is very little if any rain and many of the islands run short of water towards the end of the season. Snow will only fall on the peaks of Andros and occasionally Tinos in the winter.

Routes

Route planning in the Cyclades is really a matter of going Ε or W. Anyone who has sailed there will know that getting back through the islands from the Ε against the meltemi is the problem. If you are going Ε the meltemi blowing down from the NE-N-NW will give you a sleigh ride to the Dodecanese or Crete. At times there will be too much wind even for a beam reach and you may have to bear off under headsail alone, but overall choosing the route to the Ε is more a matter of personal choice than of weather considerations.

How to get back to windward through the Cyclades is a much debated point. I favour going S in a great semicircle around the southern Cyclades where the wind is less strong and you can make to the Ν through the Saronic islands. From Kos or Kalimnos head for Astipalaia, Anáfi, Thira, Ios, Folégandros, Kimolos and Milos. At times the meltemi can be just as strong around ios/Folegandros/MNos as elsewhere, so you may need to keep going to the Peloponnisos! Others maintain that you should go Ν in the eastern Cyclades or the Dodecanese and then W through the northern Cyclades. One thing is clear - going Ε through the Cyclades is infinitely preferable to going W when the meltemi is blowing.

Data

PORTS OF ENTRY

Ermoúpolis (Siros)
Mikonos
Adhamas (Milos)
Thira

PROHIBITED AREAS

Nisidhes Karavi is sometimes used for target practice by the air force.

MAJOR LIGHTS

Northern Cyclades

Kéa
Áy Nikolaos FI(2)10s15M
ÁkTamélos FI(2)15s17M
Kithnos
Ák Kéfalos FI.4s9M
Ák Áy Dhimitrios FI.10s12M
Ák Mérikha FI.WR.5s5/3M
Siros
Nisis Gaidharos FI.6s12M
ΝAspronisi FI(2)12s7M
Nisis Nâta FI.3s6M
Ermoupolis FI.G.3s6M
Ak Trimeson FI(2)14s12M
Ák Velostâsi FI(3)12s6M
Andros
Ák Passa FI.10s25M
Ák Kastri FI.6s8M
Ák Kolona FI.3s5M
Órmos Kâstrou FI(2)15s6M
Ák Griá FI.10s25M
Vrâkhoi Kaloyeroi (Kaloyeri Reef) FI(2)15s17M
Âk Ây Kosmàs FI.3s.7M
Tinos
Nisis Dhisvaton FI.10s16M
Ák Livádha FI.15s7M
Limin Tinou FI.R.3s7M
ΝPlanitis FI(2)Us10M
Mikonos
Ák Armenistis FI.10s22M
Nisidhes Prassonisia FI.3s6M

Middle Cyclades

Sérifos
Ák Spathi FI(3)30s19M
Ák Kiklops FI(2)14s9M
Sifnos
Ák FMippos FI.5s9M
Ák Kokkâla FI(2)10s9M
Âk Maistros FI.2s7M
Âk Stavros FI.1-5s5M
Pâros
Vk Portes FI(2)10s7M
Ák Áy Fokas FI.4s6M
Ák Kratzi FI(3)WG.15s12/10M
Ák Korakas LFI.12s14M
Vk Mirmingas FI.5s8M
Ns StrongiloFI(2)14s5M
Naxos
Limin Nâxou FI.R.4s7M
Ák Stavros FI(2)16s13M
Vrákhoi Amaridhes FI.WR.4s5/3M
Vrakhonisos Koprià FI(2)12s10M
Dhenoussa
AkKalota FI.(3)15s10M
Irâklia
Nisis Mikro Avélos FI(3)10s7M
Skhinousa Mirsini FI.4s6M
Amorgos
ÂkGoniâ FI.8s11M
Ormos Katâpola/Âk Ây Nias FI(2)10s12M
Ây Annas/Ák Langadhia FI.5s8M
Nisidhes Liadhi (N) FI(2)20s9M
Lévitha
Ák Spano Fl.lOsllM

Southern Cyclades

Milos
Nisidhes Akrâdhia FMOslOM
Ák Bombárdha FI.5s12M
Andimilos FI.2s8M
Nisis Paximâdhi FI(2)15s12M
NisisAnânes FI(3)12s9M
Poliagos
Âk Mâskoula FI.5s19M
Folégandros
Ák Aspropounda FI(3)30s17M
Sikinos
Órmos Skála FI.5s8M
Ios
Ák Fanàri FI.5s9M
Thira
Ák Akrotiri FI.10s24M
Epanomeria FI.4s7M
Nisidhes Khristianá FI(3)9s10M