The Adventure of Greece

“The sun blazed above us as the sails filled with wind, pulling our boat smoothly across the horizon. The air smelled of salt and warm pine from the islands drifting in and out of view. I had sailed in Greece many times before, but each trip felt like the first. How often I return, there is always a new island, a new meal, or a new adventure waiting to amaze me.

I have been sailing for a long time always trying to find a new destination but Greece will always pull me back there. The endless scatter of small islands, exploring ancient caves, sailing alongside a school of dolphins, or walking alongside a lively harbour full of restaurants and music, my family love the freedom of sailing here, no fixed schedules, just a mile of eternal sea. Whenever the wind takes us.

Over the week, each island feels like a new adventure. Either a remote island with whitewashed houses and a fishing dock painted bright blue, or a larger island with broader allies and stray cats dozed on the doorstep whilst old men played cards in the shade.
One of my favourite moments was strolling along the shore in the late summer night, when the whole island seemed to glisten. The light eased to gold, bouncing off the water and onto the mosaic roofs. We walked through the narrow streets where the fragrance of jasmine lingered in the air, and every small alley revealed something unknown: a little bakery, a local church, or a town square where children were playing.

Life on the boat made me feel both free and close to nature. We woke to the peaceful rocking of waves. Some mornings the sea was so steady it looked like glass, contemplating the blue sky above. Other times, strong winds tugged at the sails and made the boat jump over the threatening waves.

By midday, the heat was harsh, so we did what we had to, jumped straight into the ocean. The water surrounded me like silk, warm on the surface but cooler as I plunged deeper. Drifting there, staring up at the endless blue sky, I felt silent, as though the world had stopped.
The ocean is one reason to keep coming back to, but the food is another. Platters of olives appeared first, always bursting with flavour. Then came plates of grilled fish, caught only hours before, smoky and tender. We ate salads piled high with tomatoes so sweet they tasted of sunshine, and creamy tzatziki that we scooped up with crusty bread. One night, we ate fried squid, served with a squeeze of lemon. Another night, a waiter insisted we try his mother’s homemade baklava, which was delicious.

Not every scrumptious meal on an island was easy to get too. One time what was supposed to be an easy, relaxed sail, turned into the most challenging journey in my life! The wind was pleasant, not too powerful and not too slow until a blast of wind hit the boat: the winds picked up, the waves hammered over the boat, and we didn’t have much time till sunset. As the waves grew intenser it was already dark, the only thing guiding us was the gleaming light of the island ahead. Each wave that smashed into the hull felt like an ocean surge, at last you can see the island coming. I am safe!

By the end of the week, I felt both exhausted and alive. Sailing in Greece is never just a holiday. It’s a mix of salt and sun, relaxation and difficulty, moments of challenge and moments of glee. I learned that the easiest things: swimming in the beautiful waters, eating local food , and watching the sunset from the boat are often the most effective.”

Written by Nicole S.

Age 13.