Andros and Tinos sailing holidays
The thickly wooded island of Andros, the most northerly and, after Naxos, the largest of the Cyclades, is a kind of south-easterly continuation of Evia, from which it is separated by a busy and sometimes stormy channel only 8 nm wide.
In the island’s four ranges of hills, the largest of which is Mount Petalon (997 m), are marble quarries which were already being worked in antiquity. Thanks to its unusual abundance of water Andros – most Cycladic islands are rather barren – has a flourishing agriculture.
To the south east, beyond an every narrower channel, is the island of Tinos. Its highest peak is Mount Tsiknias (713 m), at the east end of the island. The inhabitants live by farming on terraced fields. Characteristic features of the landscape are the Venetian-style tower-like dovecots, of which there are some 1300. There are also numerous windmills.
It is prohibited to anchor near or set foot on the island of Yiaros, which is an arid and desolate island with no good anchorages. After the Second World War, particularly under the military dictatorship, it was a prison island and place of internment.
Despite their charming ports both Andros and especially Tinos are rarely visited by charter yachts. Yet, the ports of Batsi, Gavrion and Kastro on Andros, and the ports of Panormos and Tinos on Tinos island are definitely worth extra mileage.