SegeLLeben - The sailing blog for tips, trends and trips

The magic of the Cyclades: Two weeks of island hopping in the Aegean

Whitewashed houses and windmills, crystal-clear water and secluded bays, rustic tavernas and Greek wine, sleepy fishing villages and trendy hotspots: the Cyclades offer all this and much more. This trip report describes a fortnight's island-hopping in the central island group of the Aegean including a detour into the Saronic Gulf. We sail in the early season, which on the one hand means that the harbours and anchorages are not quite so crowded, and on the other that the Meltemi is not yet as pronounced as it is in the months of July and August. Sailing area: Aegean – Cyclades/Saronic Gulf Route: Athens – Kythnos – Syros – Mykonos – Naxos – Schinoussa – Ios – Santorini – Folegandros – Milos…

Book review

Yacht sailing: basic knowledge for cabin charter sailors and sailing beginners

Many newcomers to sailing often want information about what happens on board, about the essential technical functions of a yacht and explanations of the most important sailing terms even before their first cabin charter. Sailing also comes with its own technical language, which can often seem daunting to beginners. For what does one do with a preventer? Is the topping lift a first name or does it in fact have something to do with sailing? Wilfried Krusekopf's book offers a good introduction to the subject and summarises in 180 pages what crew members should know on yachts. The book is not only useful for preparing for a cabin charter, but also serves during the…

Sailing area info

Islands of the Lesser Antilles: sailing areas in the eastern Caribbean

The Lesser Antilles is the name given to the island chain in the eastern Caribbean that stretches from the Virgin Islands in the north to the Venezuelan coast. Due to the prevailing north-east trade winds, the Lesser Antilles can be further subdivided into the Windward Islands and the Leeward Islands. In English, the Windward Islands are subdivided once more, namely into the Leeward Islands and the Windward Islands. So one can speak quite expertly of the Leeward Islands as part of the Windward Islands and still not have said anything wrong. The following list assigns the islands to the individual umbrella terms and also shows their national affiliation: Windward…