The Dodecanese islands
The Dodecanese, which means ' the Twelve Islands' in Greek, lie in a crescent chain down the Asiatic Turkish coast curving west towards Crete. The name "Dodecanese" is of comparatively recent origin.
The islands are for the most part bare of vegetation although not to such an extent as the Cyclades. Several of the islands with abundant natural springs, notably Kos and Rhodes, are relatively green and wooded.
Wind and sailing conditions
Intermediate to Advanced
In the summer the prevailing wind is the meltemi blowing from the NW-W. It starts fitfully in June, blows strongly in July through to September and again fitfully in October. In the summer months it regularly blows Force 4-6 and may on occasion reach Force 7.
It does not blow every day, but may blow without break for 5-10 days. When the meltemi is blowing at full strength in July and August the gusts off the lee side of an island can be considerably stronger than the wind strength in the open sea. Gusts are particularly strong off Patmos, Kalymnos, Kos, Nissyros, Tilos, Karpathos and Astypalea. In the comparatively open stretch of sea between Astypalea and Karpathos a large and distributed sea is set up when the meltemi blows for days on end. Although it is possible to go N when the meltemi is blowing, it makes better sense to plan to be heading S in July and August. The typical short seas it sets up make sailing or motoring to windward arduous and tiring. In spring the Meltemi blows mainly SE and is not very strong. During the winter it usually blows SE and sometimes N or S. Temperatures in the summer can reach 35 degrees Celsius.
One week itinerary from Rhodes
1st Day Mandraki Marina Check-in 17:00
2nd Day Simi Island 23 NM
3rd Day Palos (Nisiros Island) 32 NM
4th Day Kos Island 21 NM
5th Day Tilos Island 35 NM
6th Day Halki Island 14 NM
7th Day Mandraki Marina 37 NM
8th Day Check-out 9:00
2 week itinerary from Rhodes
1st Day Mandraki Marina Check-in 17:00
2nd Day Simi Island 23 NM
3rd Day Palos (Nisiros Island) 32 NM
4th Day Kos Island 21 NM
5th Day Leros Island 27 NM
6th Day Patmos Island 20 NM
7th Day Lipsos Island 10 NM
8th Day Levitha Island 23 NM
9th Day Kalimnos Island 27 NM
10th Day Astipalaia Island 39 NM
11th Day Tilos Island 53 NM
12th Day Halki Island 14 NM
13th Day Lindos (Rhodes Island) 49 NM
14th Day Mandraki Marina 23 NM
15th Day Check-out 9:00
1 week itinerary from Kos
1st Day Kos Marina Check-in 17:00
2nd Day Nisiros 23 NM
3rd Day Tilos 20 NM
4th Day Halki 17 NM
5th Day Rhodes 36 NM
6th Day Simi 23 NM
7th Day Kos Marina 60 NM
8th Day Check-out 9:00
2 week itinerary from Kos - Cyclades - Kos
1st Day Kos Marina Check-in 17:00
2nd Day Leros 42 NM
3rd Day Patmos 20 NM
4th Day Amorgos 40 NM
5th Day Skinousa 25 NM
6th Day Ios 25 NM
7th Day Folegandros 20 NM
8th Day Santorini 30 NM
9th Day Anafi 18 NM
10th Day Astypalea 30 NM
11th Day Tilos 48 NM
12th Day Rhodes 35 NM
13th Day Simi 26 NM
14th Day Kos 35 NM
15th Day Check out 09:00