Spetses Yacht Anchorages: The Complete Guide

Spetses sits in the Saronic.

The Saronic and Argolic gulfs are markedly calmer than the Cyclades, with light northeasterly to easterly summer winds (mostly Force 4 to 6).

Short distances make it forgiving family cruising close to Athens.

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.

The Saronic and Argolic are calmer than the Cyclades, which makes Spetses forgiving family sailing.

Ashore: Spetses Town and its War-of-Independence heritage (the annual Armata commemoration) and the traditional boatyards of Baltiza.

No private cars on the island.

Spetses is the far end of the Saronic week from Athens: 50 nautical miles from Alimos on our distance table, 25 from Hydra and 30 from Poros, which on a fast motor yacht is ninety minutes from Athens and on a displacement hull a long morning.

The three records here are the old port, Baltiza, a natural inlet where the yacht berths at or north of the Panagia Armata pier or takes a line ashore at Agios Nikolaos, affected by north-westerlies and water-taxi wash; Agii Anargyroi on the west coast, sand with good holding and a rocky ledge at about five metres, open from west-north-west to south-south-east; and Zogeria, clear water surrounded by pines, for the swim.

Depths at Spetses vary and are confirmed on the chart.

The Athens-based motor yachts we represent do the run: ONE, the Pershing 90 at 33 knots, in about ninety minutes at EUR 45,000 to 49,000 a week; MARY, SEA YA or M FIVE at 24 knots in about two hours from EUR 17,500; per yacht before VAT and APA on their own rate cards.

Where can a yacht anchor at Spetses?

Spetses has 3 anchorages in this guide: Baltiza (Old Port), Agii Anargyroi, Zogeria. Each entry below gives depth, holding, shelter direction and what is ashore.

What is the holding like at Spetses?

Agii Anargyroi: Sand, good.

When is the best time to anchor at Spetses?

Baltiza fills in July and August with the Athens weekend fleet and the water taxis run all day, so the yacht that wants quiet anchors at Zogeria or Agii Anargyroi and tenders in for Bouboulina's house and the harbour restaurants. The Meltemi arrives softened here, in the lee of the Peloponnese; the north-westerly is what Baltiza feels. May, June and September are the months the island is itself, 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. October in the Saronic is the value week of the Greek year.

What does the captain plan around at Spetses?

Baltiza for the evening ashore, at or north of the Panagia Armata pier or with a line ashore at Agios Nikolaos, depths confirmed on the chart and the water-taxi wash expected; Zogeria for the swim among the pines; Agii Anargyroi on the west coast, sand with good holding, minding the rocky ledge at about five metres and the exposure from west-north-west to south-south-east. Dokos, five miles west of Hydra and 25 miles back east, is the quiet night before the run home; Alimos is 50 miles, done in the morning. 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