Folegandros anchorage guide · Cyclades
Folegandros Yacht Anchorages: The Complete Guide
Where to anchor a yacht around Folegandros: documented depth, holding and shelter for the island's main anchorages, drawn from published cruising sources.
Last updated August 2026
Folegandros sits in the Cyclades.
The Cyclades are dominated by the summer Meltemi (Etesian) northerly, strongest mid-July to mid-August (around Force 5 to 7, gusting higher in open water).
Plan south legs downwind and overnight on lee and south coasts.
May, June and September are calmer.
This guide covers the island's main anchorages with the practical detail charterers and captains actually use: depth where a published cruising source documents it, holding, and shelter direction.
Where a figure was not documented we say so rather than guess.
Folegandros has no all-weather anchorage, so it is best used in settled weather with readiness to relocate.
Ashore: Chora, a clifftop Cycladic village with a medieval Kastro, the Panagia church and viewpoint above town, and the Chrysospilia (Golden Cave).
Katergo beach is reached by local boat from Karavostasi.
Folegandros is the cliff-top village every Cyclades week wants for dinner and the island the captain treats with respect, because it has no all-weather anchorage.
It is 30 nautical miles from Santorini on our distance table, 25 from Ios and 45 from Sifnos.
The three records say it plainly: Karavostasi, the only port, has sand and rock that does not always hold and is not safe in a strong Meltemi, best stern-to the quay; Vathi and Angali on the south coast, four to five metres over sand and weed, take very strong gusts and swell in a Meltemi; Agios Georgios on the south-east, solid sand in four to six metres behind its islet, is the settled-weather night, open from east-north-east to south-west.
In settled weather it is one of the most beautiful nights in Greece; in a Meltemi the yacht sleeps at Ios or Sifnos instead.
The yachts that carry the Cyclades wind comfortably are the 20 metre and larger catamarans and the 26 metre and larger motor yachts: on the Greek Charter Index 2026 a 20 to 22 metre sailing catamaran runs EUR 31,500 to 43,500 a week, a 23 to 24 metre EUR 54,900 to 90,000, a 26 to 31 metre motor yacht EUR 35,900 to 75,000, per yacht before VAT and APA.
The anchorages
3 anchorages around Folegandros
Use this guide to understand your captain's routing, request specific anchorages on your preference sheet, judge whether Folegandros fits your charter style, and pair it sensibly with nearby islands.
Karavostasi (the only port, SE coast)
Holding
Sand and rock, does not always hold
Shelter
Not safe in strong Meltemi; best stern-to the quay.
Holding is unreliable; have an alternative ready.
Best for: Settled weather only
Vathi / Angali (south coast)
Depth
4-5m
Holding
Sand and weed, good
Shelter
Anchor off the hamlet; very strong gusts and swell in the Meltemi.
East of Cape Aspropounta.
Agios Georgios (SE coast)
Depth
4-6m
Holding
Solid in sand
Shelter
Protected by Ay Yioryios islet but open ENE to SW.
Anchor in 4 to 6 m.
When to visit
The Cyclades are dominated by the summer Meltemi, the northerly that blows hardest from mid-July to mid-August, around Force 5 to 7 and gusting higher in open water, and Folegandros is the island that shows it: in a strong blow the yacht moves on, to Manganari on Ios 25 miles east or Vathy on Sifnos 45 miles north-west. June and September, when the wind is softer, are the months the Chora is a night at anchor rather than a lunch, and on the Greek Charter Index the shoulder months price 15 to 25% below peak on the same rate card with three to four months of lead time rather than a year.
Captain's note
Come with the forecast and a fallback. Agios Georgios, four to six metres on solid sand behind the islet, for the settled-weather night, the Chora a taxi up from the port; Karavostasi stern-to the quay for the evening ashore when the wind is light, never trusting the anchor in the bay; Vathi and Angali on the south coast only in calm. When the Meltemi is forecast, Ios or Sifnos take the night and Folegandros becomes the lunch stop on the way, which is still worth the detour. Depths and holding here follow published cruising sources; the captain confirms the anchor drop against current charts on arrival.
Questions about anchoring at Folegandros
Where can a yacht anchor at Folegandros?
Folegandros has 3 anchorages in this guide: Karavostasi (the only port, SE coast), Vathi / Angali (south coast), Agios Georgios (SE coast). Each entry below gives depth, holding, shelter direction and what is ashore.
Which Folegandros anchorages are sheltered from the meltemi, the summer north wind?
Karavostasi (the only port, SE coast): Not safe in strong Meltemi; best stern-to the quay. Vathi / Angali (south coast): Anchor off the hamlet; very strong gusts and swell in the Meltemi.
How deep are the anchorages at Folegandros?
Vathi / Angali (south coast) 4-5m; Agios Georgios (SE coast) 4-6m. Depths are typical sand-bottom anchoring depths; the captain drops on current chart data.
What is the holding like at Folegandros?
Karavostasi (the only port, SE coast): Sand and rock, does not always hold. Vathi / Angali (south coast): Sand and weed, good. Agios Georgios (SE coast): Solid in sand.
When is the best time to anchor at Folegandros?
The Cyclades are dominated by the summer Meltemi, the northerly that blows hardest from mid-July to mid-August, around Force 5 to 7 and gusting higher in open water, and Folegandros is the island that shows it: in a strong blow the yacht moves on, to Manganari on Ios 25 miles east or Vathy on Sifnos 45 miles north-west. June and September, when the wind is softer, are the months the Chora is a night at anchor rather than a lunch, and on the Greek Charter Index the shoulder months price 15 to 25% below peak on the same rate card with three to four months of lead time rather than a year.
What does the captain plan around at Folegandros?
Come with the forecast and a fallback. Agios Georgios, four to six metres on solid sand behind the islet, for the settled-weather night, the Chora a taxi up from the port; Karavostasi stern-to the quay for the evening ashore when the wind is light, never trusting the anchor in the bay; Vathi and Angali on the south coast only in calm. When the Meltemi is forecast, Ios or Sifnos take the night and Folegandros becomes the lunch stop on the way, which is still worth the detour. Depths and holding here follow published cruising sources; the captain confirms the anchor drop against current charts on arrival.
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Speak with George P. Biniaris directly. MYBA-standard contracts, full Greek charter fleet.