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 fortunate that no one had rented the boat the week before, so we were able to depart earlier than planned. Around 3pm we started heading south, sailing for about 3 hours to anchor in Anavyssos, a very protected bay, for the first night.
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 not push the boat too hard.
It was an incredible sail, but with such strong winds our first planned anchorage (above) was not protected enough, so we decided to lift sails 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 climbing the mast to fix it, so we planned to do 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 windlass 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 26th , Tuesday
Sirus, boat maintenance
We sailed to Syros to get the anchor windlass 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 a few hours for the technician to come 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
Nousa, Paros
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
Iraklia and Ios
We sailed to Iraklia, where we stopped for a few hours at a secluded beach for lunch.
From Iraklia, we sailed to a calm and almost private bay in Ios for the night. Both were great spots for drone footage and perfect for enjoying as a 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. In the morning I rented a car and went to pick up Silvia, Stu, Monica, and Darron. We brought them to the boat for breakfast and after that moved the boat to the dock where it would stay until next morning.
After securing the boat we rented a second car and went to explore Santorini until 7pm, when we had to pick up Coi, Loira, Paula, and Eduardo from the airport and then head 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.
From Oia 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, Mandrakia
After sailing to the main port of Milos for some resupplies and lunch,
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 arrived it was not as appealing as we hoped, so instead of anchoring there for the night we set sail again and returned to Kolona, where Ale and I had such an amazing evening the previous week.
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 moored the boat and spent the night on board.
Day 15 – June 6, Saturday
Disembarking, end of the trip
Time to disembark and return Albertina II back to BVA Charter for her next lucky sailors!
Goodbye Albertina II, we will forever cherish the amazing memories from the outstanding moments we lived on board!
There is nothing better than a friend with a boat 
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