VOYAGE
explains Popy Kaia, charter director of Atalanta
Golden Yachts. “They know the secrets of where to
go and how to tie up to shore – they aren’t afraid to
get in close, so you don’t have to be anchored far out
and tender in.”
Summer in Greece may be more commonly
associated with partying in Mykonos or dodging
tourists to scope out the sunset in Santorini but this
corner of Greece – nicknamed the Greek Riviera –
offers a quieter pace of life. “It’s very close to Athens,
but what’s wonderful is the nature – it is unspoiled,
lush and green, and there are a lot of coves
everywhere, so you can take your boat and be alone,
even in August,” says Katopis. “The weather is quite
mild all year, and you don’t have the strong winds of the Aegean, but you
always have a nice breeze in the afternoon to cool things down.” Captain
Grammatikos agrees that this area is less formal than other yachting hotspots.
“It would be unfair to compare it to Monaco. It’s relaxed here, more like Cap
Ferrat, if you’re speaking about the French Riviera, or maybe even the
Hamptons in America,” he explains.
As we cruise to our next destination, Spetses, we pass a bounty of gorgeous
mainland villas stretching from the hilltops to the seaside. We arrive at the
quaint island, which is car-free save for a handful of taxis, at dusk and are
greeted by two horse-drawn carriages. Once ashore we are whisked along the
winding harbour path to the Poseidon Grand Hotel as the sun dips below the
horizon. The sunset is unreal, like strokes of an impressionist painting
brought to life, adorning the sky in pink and orange.
The next morning, I head out on foot to explore Spetses’ narrow streets,
which are lined with fashionable boutiques and cafés. One of the things that
makes Spetses so special is that it has only a few hotels. As a result, not a lot
of “regular” tourists come here and instead it’s populated by rich Greeks who
own or rent villas. Its bustling harbour front is dotted with restaurants that
kiss the water’s edge, such as Mourayo, which is housed in a 200-year-old
I