Day 1 – May 23rd, Saturday – embarking and starting sailing journey
For the first week of this trip, the only ones onboard were Ric and Ale.
We rented Albertina II from BVA Charter, at Alimos Marina in Athens.
We were lucky enough that no one had the boat the week before us, therefore we were able to departure earlier than planned, at around 3pm started heading south for about 3 hours sailing to anchor in Anavyssos, a very protected bay, for the first night. After anchoring we got the dinghy and went to a nice dinner on shore, and back to the boat for a calm night of sleep.
Day 2 – May 24th, Sunday – Kea and Kythnos
We first sailed to Kea under strong northern winds reaching up to 30 knots and had to use the second reef on the main to keep things safe and do not push the boat too much. It was an incredible leg sailing but with that much winds our first planned anchorage, was not protected enough and we decided to lift sails again and head to Kolona Beach in Kythnos for the night, a more protected anchorage. While lifting the main, the lazy jack on starboard broke, which would require to climb the mast to fix it, so we planned for doing it when anchored in Kolona.
We got to Kolona still relatively early and while trying to secure a good hold on the anchor, the fuse box of the anchor’s windless broke and we could not lift the anchor again. That forced us to drop the anchor manually to give us time to do a bypass on the anchor fuse box. Once the fuse box bypass was done and the boat was secured on the anchor, I had to climb the mast to the first cross to get the lazy jack line and get it fixed. It was a long and somewhat tense day with 2 mechanical issues on the same day, but at the end the boat was secured and all the mechanical issues fixed.
Day 3 – May 25th, Monday – All day at kolona Beach Kythnos
Given all the issues on Sunday we decided to stay the whole day in Kolona, one of the most beautiful beaches we have ever visited, with a nice walk on the beach followed by an amazing dinner at the local small restaurant. What a great time!
Day 4 – May 26, Tuesday – Sirus, boat maintenance
We sailed to Sirus to get the anchor windless fuse box replaced. It was a nice and relaxing leg sailing south. We docked the boat in a tight spot at the port, and waited for a few hors to have the technician come to replace the broken part. Service was done, we had a delicious dinner at restaurant by the water and slept at the marina.
Day 5 – May 27th, Wednesday – Paros Nousa
We sailed to Paros, and anchored just outside of the Nousa marina, one of the most beautiful places in the Cyclades. With the boat secured, and calm conditions, I was able to fly the drone and register this magical anchorage!
For the night we headed to town and had dinner at Barbarossa a well appreciated recommendation from our Greek friends, that did not disappoint, at all! Great food nice atmosphere and pristine service! Reservation absolutely required!!!
Day 6 – May 28th, Thursday – Irakalia and Ios
We sailed to Iraklia, where we stopped for a few hours at a desert beach for lunch, and from there to a calm and almost private bay in Ios for the night. 2 more great spots for drone footage and calm spots, just perfect to enjoy as couple in the islands
Day 7 – May 29th, Friday – sail from Ios to Santorini
We headed to Santorini and sailed all the way to Vlychada Marina on the south end of the island. For the first night, the marina was absolutely full and we anchored just outside of the harbor entrance. We had dinner at a local taverna and had a calm night
Day 8 – May 30th, Saturday – All day in Santorini
This was the day to get the crew on board. So in the morning I got a rented car and went pick up Silvia, Stu, Monica and Darron. We brought them to the boat and also got the boat to the dock where it would stay until next morning. After securing the boat we got a second car and went explore Satorini, until 7pm when we had to get Coi, Loira, Paula and Eduardo from the airport and from there to Oia for sunset and dinner. Quite an experience and great way to start the week with everyone on board.
Day 9 – May 31st, Sunday – Santorini to Folegrandos
We sailed in the morning from Vlychada Marina to Oia, and got a mooring ball for about an hour to swim just below Oia, and from there we sailed to Folegrandos and spent the night at Karavostasis, a charming bay, with clear water and some shops, where we got some ingredients for a nice dinner on board!
Day 10 – June 1st, Monday – Folegrandos to Kleftko
One of the most iconic days of the trip! We had to use the motor as the wind did not cooperate, but we were able to get to Kleftiko, on the southwest tip of Milos, a bay with some very impressive rock formations, caverns and impeccable water. After staying anchored outside for a few hours, all the small boats left, leaving the place just for ourselves. We moved Albertina to inside part of the bay, and Med-moored it inside tying the stern to a rock to keep it in place. It was the most magical evening of the trip.
Day 11 – June 2nd, Tuesday – Milos and Mandrakia
After sailing to the main port of Milos for some resupplies, we ended the day at Mandrakia, one small fishing village with unique architecture, small house built into the rocks and one small restaurant that was absolutely packed!
Day 12 – June 3rd, Wednesday – Back to Kythnos, Kolona Beach
We left Milos in the morning and sailed to Serifos, looking for a nice anchorage, but when we got the place we wanted, it was not as nice as we wanted, so instead of the anchoring there for the night we set sail again and went back to Kolona where in the previous week Ale and I had such an amazing evening!
No disappointments! We were able to anchor on a very nice spot and had a delicious dinner on board!
Day 13 – June 4th, Thursday – sail back to mainland
After a great morning enjoying Kolona beach with some swimming, SUP and beach hikes, the weather forecast had some ideal winds in the afternoon to cover most of the distance still to be covered back to Athens, so around 2pm we set sail again and as expected, had a great sailing leg from Kythnos back to Anavyssos, the same bay where Ale and I slept on our first night!
Day 14 – June 5th, Friday last day sailing
After Breakfast and some additional boat maintenance, to fix again the lazy jack on starboard, we set sail to Fleves Island, where we anchored for a few hours for some swimming and snacks, before heading back to Alimos Marina where we had to spend the last night.
The entrance at Alimos was quite an experience, all the charter boats coming back around the same time, a long line of boats waiting to enter the marina and at the same time more than 100 ILCAs coming back from a regatta and all disputing the same narrow space to get into the marina. Once we got to our slot, we had to mooring the boat, and spent the night on board.
Day 15 – June 6, Saturday – disembarking
Time to disembark and return Albertina II back to BVA Charter for her next lucky sailors!
Goodbye Albertina II, we will forever keep amazing memories from the Outstanding moments we lived on board!
There is nothing better than a friend with a boat 
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