Kos

Kos sits in the south-eastern Aegean, close enough to Turkey that the minarets of Bodrum are visible from the harbour. The island's charter base is compact — Kos Marina on the east side of town handles most of the fleet — and the airport, connected to northern European cities by seasonal charters, is 25 kilometres to the south-west. The town of Kos is flat and bicycle-friendly, built around a Crusader castle and the ruins of the Asklepion, the ancient healing temple where Hippocrates is said to have practised. The plane tree in the town square, purportedly planted by Hippocrates himself, is almost certainly younger than claimed but provides shade for the cafes beneath it regardless. From Kos, the natural cruising routes extend in three directions. North to Kalymnos — the former sponge-diving island, now a rock-climbing destination — is a short hop of under 10 nautical miles. The channel between the two islands can accelerate the meltemi, so morning departures are preferable. South, the small island of Nisyros sits around 15 miles away, its dormant volcanic crater accessible by a hike from the harbour at Mandraki. East, the crossing to Bodrum takes under two hours in settled conditions but requires port clearance in both directions; charter company policies on cross-border sailing vary and should be confirmed at booking. The meltemi reaches Kos reliably in July and August, blowing from the north-west at 15-22 knots and occasionally higher. The wind drops markedly in the shelter of the Turkish coast, which creates an asymmetric pattern: the outbound passage north can be boisterous, while the return south is often calmer in the lee. Shoulder months — May, June, September, October — bring lighter, more variable winds and are better suited to less experienced crews. Provisioning in Kos town is easy — a large supermarket sits within walking distance of the marina, and the town's central market sells produce, olives, and local honey. On the smaller islands, shops are basic. Water and fuel are available at Kos Marina; elsewhere in the Dodecanese, fuel docks are intermittent and worth planning around.