Charting the Course Behind the Scenes
This page hasn’t quite made it out of the harbour yet. We’re still charting the final details, but your next great adventure is just over the horizon.
Go BackGreece is one of those destinations that sounds like a cliché until you're actually there — anchored in a turquoise cove with a cold Mythos, watching the sun drop behind a whitewashed village. The Greek islands deliver in person. The question isn't whether to go, it's how to do it properly.
Chartering a Lagoon 51 is one of the most practical answers to that question. At 51'2" with a 26'7" beam, she gives a group of 8 to 10 genuine space to coexist comfortably across a week's sailing — separate social zones on the flybridge, foredeck, and aft cockpit, proper queen-bed cabins with en-suite heads, and a galley that can actually provision a full week without daily stops at a supermarket. She also happens to suit Greece's sailing grounds particularly well: a shallow 1.40m draft opens up anchorages that larger boats simply can't reach, and her sail plan — with the mast positioned forward for drive in choppy water — handles the Aegean's notorious Meltemi conditions better than older models in the same size class.
But Greece isn't one sailing destination. It's three or four very different ones depending on which region you choose, and the Lagoon 51 suits some better than others. Here's how to match the boat to the waters.
The Three Regions: What You're Actually Signing Up For
The Ionian Islands — Best for First-Timers, Families & Relaxed Groups
The Ionian sits on Greece's western coast and is the country's most forgiving sailing ground. The primary summer wind is the Maistros — a north-westerly sea breeze that rarely tops 15 knots in the Ionian, follows a reliable daily rhythm, and generally dies down by evening. September and October are frequently considered the best time to sail the Ionian: the sea remains warm, weather is usually settled, and the crowds have thinned.
In practical terms: passages are short (most inter-island crossings run 2–4 hours), anchorages are plentiful and sheltered, and the infrastructure — marinas, provisioning stops, tavernas within walking distance of a mooring — is genuinely well set up for charter groups. The Meltemi is far more relevant for an Aegean charter than for an Ionian one — the Ionian is generally the better choice for clients who want a more relaxed sailing holiday, easier passages, gentler sea conditions, and a more forgiving environment.
The Lagoon 51's shallow draft proves its worth here. The islands of Lefkada, Kefalonia, Ithaca, Paxos, and Anti-Paxos all have shallow-water bays and coves that reward boats that can get in close — and keep out deeper-drafted monohulls.
High Tide Recommended Lagoon 51s in the Ionian:
- ERRANT VAGABOND — ideal for groups who want flexibility in itinerary and a capable sailing crew
- NORTH STAR — a solid option for larger groups or multi-family charters in this region
Best for: Families, first-time charterers, mixed experience groups, those prioritising swimming, snorkelling, and island exploration over sailing performance.
Best season: Late May to mid-June or September offer lighter winds, fewer crowds, and 30–40% lower charter prices than peak August.
The Cyclades & Aegean — Best for Experienced Sailors & Groups Who Want Drama
The Cyclades — Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, Santorini, Milos — is where Greece's postcard imagery comes from. It's also where the Meltemi wind makes its presence very clearly known.
The Meltemi occurs mainly during the summer season from June to September, peaking in July and August, and is not uncommonly reaching Force 5–7 (17–33 knots) during the day, persevering during the night, and sometimes lasting for up to ten days at a stretch. This isn't something to be caught out by — it's a feature of Aegean sailing that shapes every decision about routing, timing, and anchorage choice.
For a crewed Lagoon 51 charter, this is where having a professional skipper stops being a luxury and starts being essential. The Meltemi is manageable and exhilarating in the right hands — the Lagoon 51's forward mast position and high-roach mainsail handle it well, and a competent crew will time passages for the early morning before the wind builds in the afternoon. For bareboat charterers, the Cyclades is better suited to crews with stronger sailing experience or guests who prefer the support of a skippered yacht charter.
The payoff is significant: the Cyclades deliver dramatic scenery, world-class beaches, volcanic caldera sunsets in Santorini, and the kind of island-hopping itinerary that's genuinely hard to replicate anywhere else in the Mediterranean.
High Tide Lagoon 51 in the Aegean/Cyclades:
Charter a Lagoon 51 from Athens
High Tide Yacht Charters offers a hand-picked selection of Lagoon 51s from Athens Greece to explore from the sheltered Saronic Gulf to the wind-driven Cyclades. Every yacht below is crewed, based in Athens (Alimos Marina), and available May to October.
▼ Cyclades
Not sure which yacht or region suits your group? Talk to James Teague at High Tide →
- EFKRATI — well-positioned for Cyclades itineraries, with a capable crew experienced in Aegean conditions
- JEWEL — a strong choice for groups wanting a well-appointed crewed experience in the northern Ionian
- BABALU — one of the most well-reviewed Lagoon 51s in Greece, with consistently strong charter feedback
Best for: Experienced sailors, crewed charter guests confident with stronger winds, groups who specifically want to visit the iconic Cyclades islands.
Best season: Mid-June for the best overall balance of conditions, or the first half of September if warm water matters more than long daylight hours. Avoid late July and August if wind strength is a concern.
The Model Family: Lagoon 51 vs Lagoon 50 vs Lagoon 52F
If you're searching for a Greece charter and find Lagoon 51s listed alongside Lagoon 50s and older Lagoon 52Fs, here's what the differences actually mean for your trip:
Lagoon 51 (2021–present) — The current flagship
The 51 is the newest and most refined of the three. The forward mast position generates more drive from the genoa, which pays real dividends in choppier Aegean conditions. Electric furlers on the genoa and Code 0, a solar-equipped flybridge, and the flexible 4-to-6 cabin configuration make this the most capable charter platform of the three and the easiest to manage short-handed or with a small crew. If it's available, it's the one to book.
Lagoon 50 (2015–2020) — The predecessor worth considering
The master suite in the starboard hull of the Lagoon 50 is almost ridiculously large, with the entire length of the hull dedicated to the owner — a walk-in closet, a large desk, a settee, and a skylight to the saloon. The key layout difference from the 51: on the Lagoon 50, the master cabin sits further aft in the starboard hull, giving it more separation from the saloon and a stronger sense of privacy. On the Lagoon 51, the saloon extends further aft, which creates a better-connected indoor-outdoor flow but gives the master slightly less seclusion. For owner-led charters where one couple's privacy matters most, some prefer the 50's layout. For group charters where saloon social space is the priority, the 51 wins.
Lagoon 52F (2014–2019) — The older generation
The Lagoon 52F came with a flybridge and oodles of space — luxury at anchor at its best, with a mast positioned aft for performance benefits and a shorter boom that's easier to control short-handed. At 52 feet with up to 6 cabins and 169m² of sail area, she's a capable, spacious boat — but she's now 7–12 years old depending on the hull, and charter condition varies significantly. At her best, she's a strong option; at her worst, the age shows in systems and finish. Always ask for refit history. The 51 and 50 are generally in better charter condition and benefit from more recent construction standards.
Who Should Book a Lagoon 51 Charter in Greece?
The Ionian is your answer if:
- You have a mixed group — some sailing experience, some none
- There are children in the group
- You want short, easy passages with maximum time at anchor
- This is your first sailing holiday in Greece
- You're travelling May–June or September–October
The Cyclades/Aegean is your answer if:
- Your group has genuine sailing experience, or you're booking a crewed charter
- Visiting Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, or Naxos is a non-negotiable
- You're happy adapting your itinerary to wind conditions day by day
- You're travelling in June or early September
The Lagoon 51 specifically suits your group if:
- You're 6 to 10 people wanting genuine private cabin space
- You want a boat that's capable across both calmer Ionian and more demanding Aegean waters
- You want a modern, well-equipped boat rather than an older hull at a lower rate
Ready to book a Lagoon 51 charter in Greece?
Whether you're looking at the Ionian with JEWEL, BABALU, ERRANT VAGABOND or NORTH STAR, or the Cyclades/Aegean with EFKRATI, James Teague at High Tide Yacht Charters can confirm current availability, advise on the right region for your group, and put together an itinerary that makes the most of whichever waters you choose. Enquire now →
Start planning your yacht charter adventure with High Tide Yacht Charters, today!
