The Ionian | captainmusic

the Ionian

Often refereed to as the Caribbean of Europe, thanks to its deep blue waters and lush green islands, offering hundreds of safe anchorages and beaches, its easy to understand why it is one of the most popular yachting destinations in Europe.

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The Waters

The Ionian sea is renowned for its deep blue waters and stunning beaches. More importantly it offers very safe and mostly calm sailing conditions, without the relentless winds of the Aegean. With almost no tide or currents to talk about, safe anchorage every 20 or so nautical miles under any wind direction, the only things you really need to be careful of is protection from the Sun and perhaps too much food.

Unless you are a hard core sailor who cannot be bothered lifting anchor unless its blowing a Force 5+, every other sea loving creature will find these waters a slice of paradise. With long periods of calm weather, often 7-10 days long, these waters are particularly suited to fast powerboats to savor all those stunning destinations.

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The Islands

This region is also known as 'eptanisa' or seven islands, even though there are numerous small, uninhabited islands scattered all over the Ionian. Of the seven inhabited islands Corfu is the largest with 120,000 people, followed by Zakynthos, Lefkada, Kefalonia, Paxi, Kythira and the legendary Ithaki.

Today these islands offer a blend of history, culture, religion, natural beauty, modern life and entertainment for wild clubbing to gourmet culinary experiences.

But their biggest attractions are along their coastlines, from breathtaking beaches, caves, shipwrecks, and charming villages right by the shore.

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The Weather

Unlike the windswept Aegean sea renowned for its relentless winds during the summer months, the Ionian has a very predictable wind cycle, typically 7-10 days of calm mornings with light to moderate afternoon local sea breezes, with steadily rising temperatures and humidity. This cycle is abruptly interrupted by 1-3 days of strong, dry, north westerlies capable of reducing hot summer days by 5 degrees or more , dropping the average tempretures to high 20's or low 30's before the cycle starts all over again.

The Ionian is also the wettest coastal region of Greece which explains why all the islands are so green. Most of the rain falls between Oct.-Dec. but the rains persist until the end of spring. Refreshing summer showers are not uncommon, but typically last for an hour or two, washing down all the boats and put a sparkle on all that lush vegetation. If you are luck to get caught in a Summer shower, get your cameras ready for the rainbow to follow.