Sailing the Greek Cyclades Islands, Sept 9-23, 2013

We had sailed the Ionian Sea just last year, prompted by a magazine article featuring Captain Kostas Ghiokas and his lovely wife Lynda Childress.  So when an opportunity presented itself for us to sail with Lynda and Kostas in the beautiful Aegean Sea; well, we just jumped-right-in.

The "Stressbuster" is a 70 foot Greek Designed Atlantic 70 foot cutter, seen here moored in Paros at the Parikia Yacht Harbor. We met "Stressbuster" on the island of Paros, which enabled us to sail back toward the mainland of Greece (Athens), visiting 5 different Cyclades islands.

Day at sea, cruising from Serifos to Kythnos.  The winds in September are generally more tame, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t blow hard nor change its mind often.

Sailing off the mainland near the Temple of Poseiden, where King Ageus jumped to his death and gave the sea her name. We anchored at a nearby cove for a lunch time swim.

Kostas is enjoying some slack time.  When he is not busy with duties of the ship, we found that Kostas has his own special and delightful insights into Greek mythology and other political and social issues, as well.  Yia mas!

The majestic blue of the Mediterranean is something that you just have to sea for yourself and the bow pulpit is the perfect place to do that.

Kostas is not mixing a drink, he is melting wax around the top of our message in a bottle.  Our crew of friends, Dan & Donna, Jim & Sue, and Christeena & Miki launched a special message on our last day at sea.

I am proud to brag that this Greek Roasted Chicken with lemon and fresh herbs (Kotopoulo Psito Lemonata) is just one of a bunch of wonderful lunch time meals prepared fresh by Lynda in the galley below while we sailed the islands.  

The Cyclades islands are really the most popular sailing islands, situated in the center of the Aegean. Bright white stucco buildings perched on hillsides like sugar cubes beneath cerulean skies with a landscape sprinkled with windmills.

 Octopus drying in Parikia, Paros.  A typical day called for a huge lunch around the middle of the afternoon with wine and beer at sea, then snacks at sunset, and then the big hurrah was tons of Greek food and wine at a taverna (located along the quay) much later that night. 

 Our sea glass expert, Christeena Hockin-Minopetros  (www. seaglassjewels.com) was most enthusiastic (always) whether jumping into the sea for a swim or showing us where and how to collect beautiful sea glass along the shores of these fabulous small Greek islands.