Sailing Style with La Koketa App
Sailing has always given me this infinite sense of freedom and the exhilarating thrill of adventure. Even though I’ve been sailing the Greek islands for over 10 years now, they never cease to amaze me with their magnificent seascapes and pristine beauty. I’ve blogged about our sailing adventures many times before, but seasoned sailors know that every voyage is different for it holds new and unexpected experiences.
This time around we headed to the Ionian islands, which are located on the western part of the country and are known for their lush greenery, emerald blue water and Venetian heritage. Like I’ve mentioned before, apart from the weather conditions being the top priority, the outfits dilemmas come as close second in terms of importance.
Sailing style has an etiquette of its own and demands deliberate planning and consideration. For instance, you need outfits for the life afloat with its diverse occasions like sailing, swimming and partying in remote anchorages on one hand; roaming cute villages and wining & dining in picturesque island towns on the other.
Really, so many daunting style questions to consider and one app to solve them all! Yes, that’s right. I always check my saved sailing outfits on La Koketa app when packing and then try to remix them by mixing and matching my new pieces together to avoid getting bored by old styles every sailing trip around.
In my experience, the clothes we wear deeply influence our experiences when exploring new places. Selecting the right outfit not only helps me merge with the local vibe, but it also amplifies my connection with the setting.
So, here’s my strategy for planning and styling sailing outfits:
✅Planning: I knew I needed to plan beach outfits for swimming, casual looks for hanging and helping onboard, party clothes for the unfailing events, glam combos for the port towns.
✅Packing: Having digitized my clothes, I mixed and matched complete outfits, which added to the hashtag #Ionian-sailing on La Koketa app
Lefkas and Meganisi Islands
We sailed away from Lefkas’s marina in late afternoon when our catamaran was prepped up by the leisurely port staff and headed to a quiet bay in Meganisi, which is a charming little island perfect for a welcome party of our flotilla of four vessels.
The master plan is always to raft up the boats next to each other and then have a rendezvous with friends on our “party catamaran”. We were graced with calm weather and the maneuver to position, anchor, and tie the boats together was flawless.
My choice of outfit for sailing and partying embraced the casual elegance of adventurous spirit. I mixed the rugged chic of ripped white denim shorts with the feminine peach color of a cropped graphic vest. To top it off I added a pop of color with a neon pink baseball cap to echo the energy and excitement of the journey ahead.
Kalamos Island and Varka Taverna
On the next day, we headed to Kalamos that is another off-the-beaten-track destination known for its dense pine forests, striking cliffs, and secluded beaches. Our goal was to indulge in a delicious long lunch at quaint beach taverna, a hidden gem known only to seasoned sailors. As we relished the delightful seafood menu, our island-hopping plans took a back seat and we decided to stay for the night.
We desperately needed to combat the food coma, so we took a leisurely hike in the pine woods in the late afternoon (yes, that’s how our lunch lasted). As the day waned, the western-facing bay bestowed upon us a spectacular sunset on board topped with a candle-lit dinner. At moments like these you couldn’t help but wonder – could life offer anything more enchanting?
My choice of outfit for the day was a chic knit combo: striped orange shorts teamed with a cropped mesh blouse, punctuated by a burnt orange cap for that splash of color. In the evening, I slipped into a pair of flared floral pants and a cropped pink tee that perfectly mirrored the setting sun. Paired with matching sneakers, this outfit was my perfect companion for the leisurely hike.
Atokos Island
The magnificent weather graced us with its brilliance on the next day when we headed to Atokos for a refreshing day swim in a beautiful bay with turquoise water and vertical cliffs. Uninhabited and wild, this island captures the imagination with its dramatic rocky coastline and a breathtaking seabed, making it a must-visit for snorkeling and diving.
We dropped anchor to explore the picture-perfect beach inhabited by wild goats and pigs that gave an unexpected twist to our adventure. Then, we indulged into swimming, paddle boarding, popping champagne and bonding with the crew members of our flotilla. We had a lot of fun under the rhythm of sirtaki and salsa as we danced our way to the next destination.
The outfit of the day needed to reflect the spontaneous and free spirit of the journey. I opted for a frilly burgundy bathing suit and a chic black mesh sun tunic, perfect for beach exploration. Later, I slipped into a playful ensemble of cheetah print biking shorts and a graphic cropped batwing tee and I was ready for anything the day had in store.
Vathi, Ithaca Island
Ithaca is steeped in myth and history as the legendary homeland of Odysseus and its capital Vathi is an absolute favorite of mine. It’s a bustling coastal town nestled within a deep bay (very suitable in bad weather) that encapsulates the idyllic charm of Greek island life.
The harbour is lined with tavernas, coffee shops and buzzing bars, while the narrow alleyways lead to cute souvenir shops, intimate squares and beautiful churches.
No sooner had our boat grazed the pier, than we eagerly immersed in the bustling shopping streets, with our journey ending at a seaside taverna. As the sun set, we found our way to a cocktail bar with a breathtaking view of the twilight sky. 🍹
Such vibrant experiences call for the right outfit. To match the rhythm of the island, I chose a breezy paisley print dress in shades of azure and white, teamed with comfortable flat sandals. This ensemble was not just a fashion statement, but a nod to the vibrant spirit of Ithaca.
In the morning, after enjoying a brunch at the yacht club, I decided to change the perspective by climbing up the steep streets of the village to take a better view of the moored sailing boats in the bay.
Stavros, Ithaca Island
As we sailed away afterwards, we explored the rugged coastline of Ithaca lined with lush greenery and discovered enchanting bays for anchoring and indulging in a refreshing swim. As the evening descended, we nestled into an intimate cove for the night near a little village called Stavros on the western side of the island and had a kid’s birthday party on board a friend’s yacht.
Then we ventured on the island, scaling the heights to visit the hilltop village and experience the local dining scene. Although the culinary endeavor proved less than perfect to put it softly, we embraced the spirit of “the journey, not the destination”.
Sivota, Lefkas
Getting into the rhythm of cruising life also entails some mental and physical prep-up because true sailors know that you practically marry your crew (yeah, that’s right, you all should be dancing to the same tune). 😊
Our voyage then called us back to the southern reaches of Lefkas to pick up an all-important crew member who was professionally detained to join us on time. Despite having sailed into Sivota’s port before, I was pleasantly surprised to see how the small village had developed over the years adding additional pontoons to welcome an increasing fleet of sailors.
The marina was a symphony of color and charm, with local tavernas, cozy coffee spots, and lively bars huddled side by side. I prepped up for the evening by slipping into a metallic mini dress and pastel yellow platform sandals to honor the beautiful sunset view while sipping cocktails at the yacht club and enjoying a delicious dinner.
Grand Closing Party, Atokos Again
Interestingly enough, all the skippers on board are also DJs and since it was our last night, it was time for the grand farewell party traditionally held in the uninhabited bays of Atokos (boat raft up and party all night, you know). 🥳
As we cruised towards the island, the energy on board began to sizzle and we had a fun afternoon of music, swimming and dancing that naturally transitioned into a spirited party on deck. One crew member tuned out to be a maestro mixologist with a very decent selection of drinks on board so friends from all vessels were swarming to the epicenter of festivities.
Naturally, we donned our party gear to keep the high tide of the celebrations going. As you might expect, the event called for bold hues and breezy fabrics that scream ‘sailing adventure!’. My partner in crime and I rose to the occasion in matching outfits combining bright wide-leg linen pants with flirty tops that echoed the vibrant rhythm of the party.
Lefkas and Amente Restaurant
The final day of our trip delighted us with high wind and offered an enjoyable sailing experience with around 20 knots all the way to Lefkas. The crew was more than happy with the favorable wind conditions and we safely arrived at our final destination.
After so much partying and sightseeing, it was time to complete the adventure with a gourmet sunset dinner on the western mountain top of the island. Time to switch gears and dip into the evening glamour! The spellbinding views from Lefkas’s mountain-top were the perfect backdrop for this change. The Amente restaurant, however, was overcrowded and more pretentious than expected, but we were determined to enjoy it nevertheless.
Before we hit the restaurant, we couldn’t help it but raid our favorite shops in Lefkas and buy matching luxe satin sets in eye-catching colors designed to steal the show. We chose maxi skirts and string tops in hot pink and sage green for a stand-out look to end the seafaring voyage on a high fashion note. 👗
I combined the pink satin set with crisp white sneakers and a cool denim jacket for an edgy touch, while Nev paired the sage green outfit with a cozy cropped sweater and beaded wedge sandals.
As our journey across the Ionian sea came to a close, we were happy to have the sea horizons reflected in our eyes and the beauty of the places we discovered imprinted in our hearts. 🌊⛵
One thing is also certain: where style meets the sea, unforgettable memories are created, one wave at a time.
Our thoughts on:
