Rhenia (Delos) Yacht Anchorages: The Complete Guide

Rhenia (Delos) 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.

Ashore: Delos, the UNESCO World Heritage archaeological island and birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, one of the most important ancient sites in Greece, and uninhabited Rhenia with four sandy beaches in protected coves.

Rhenia is the quiet twin of Delos and the swim stop of every Mykonos week: uninhabited, four sandy beaches in protected coves, ten nautical miles from Mykonos across the channel, with the archaeological island beside it.

The two records say what each is for: South Bay on Rhenia, excellent shelter from the Meltemi in a beautiful setting, the popular meeting point near Mykonos, for the day rather than the night because there are no facilities; the Delos anchorage, four to five metres over sand and rock with only moderate holding and at least 35 metres of chain, used only while visiting the site in its opening hours, roughly eight in the morning to three in the afternoon, entered from the south because the Rhenia-Delos channel funnels gusts and confused swell in a strong northerly.

The yacht sleeps at Ornos, six to twelve metres over sand with excellent shelter from the north, on Mykonos.

Where can a yacht anchor at Rhenia (Delos)?

Rhenia (Delos) has 2 anchorages in this guide: South Bay (Rhenia), Delos anchorage (visiting hours only). Each entry below gives depth, holding, shelter direction and what is ashore.

Which Rhenia (Delos) anchorages are sheltered from the meltemi, the summer north wind?

South Bay (Rhenia): Excellent shelter from the Meltemi in a beautiful setting.

How deep are the anchorages at Rhenia (Delos)?

Delos anchorage (visiting hours only) 4-5m. Depths are typical sand-bottom anchoring depths; the captain drops on current chart data.

What is the holding like at Rhenia (Delos)?

Delos anchorage (visiting hours only): Sand and rock, only moderately good, use at least 35 m of chain.

When is the best time to anchor at Rhenia (Delos)?

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 the channel between Rhenia and Delos funnels it. South Bay on Rhenia is the sheltered day stop when Mykonos's own beaches are crowded; the Delos anchorage is a visiting-hours anchorage in any month. July and August fill Delos with ferries by mid-morning, so the tender lands at opening; June and September are the months the site is walked in peace, 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 Rhenia (Delos)?

Delos first thing, entered from the south, the yacht lying in four to five metres with 35 metres of chain and the tender at the site at opening; South Bay on Rhenia for the lunch and the afternoon swim, excellent Meltemi shelter, nobody ashore; back to Ornos or Kalafati on Mykonos for the night. In a strong northerly the channel is unpleasant and the day is planned for the morning calm or dropped. Depths and holding here follow published cruising sources; the captain confirms the anchor drop against current charts on arrival.

Cyclades

Saronic

Ionian

Sporades

Dodecanese

Crete