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A 30 to 40m yacht the Dodecanese in 2026 peak (July and August) runs $80,000 to $120,000 per week plus a 30 percent APA, takes 8 to 10 guests, and positions in from Rhodes (the dominant base), Kos, or repositions across the Greece-Turkey straits from Bodrum or Marmaris. The Dodecanese span 18 inhabited islands from Patmos in the north to Kastellorizo off the Turkish Lycian coast, with the charter cluster centred on Rhodes, Symi, Kos, and Patmos. The bracket inventory positioning through Rhodes at peak runs to roughly 25 to 40 yachts on rotation. The Dodecanese carry the strongest cross-border product in the Aegean because of the Turkish Lycian coast 8nm east of Rhodes, and the bracket is the calibration that makes the Greece-Turkey itinerary work.
Why the Dodecanese at this bracket
The 30 to 40m bracket fits the Dodecanese because Rhodes Mandraki holds bracket-class berthing on confirmed reservation, Symi harbour holds the bracket on the eastern town quay (depths 5 to 8 metres, exposed to easterly), and the inter-island distances (Rhodes to Symi 22nm, Symi to Kos 35nm, Kos to Patmos 55nm) all sit inside half-day or single-day windows. The bracket also clears the crossing east to the Turkish Datca peninsula (Rhodes-Datca 18nm), the southern Lycian coast (Rhodes-Kekova 60nm), and the Knidos peninsula north of Datca.
The Dodecanese are the bracket sweet spot for clients who want the Greek islands and the Turkish Lycian coast on the same week. The Greek-Turkish border-crossing logistics at Rhodes-Marmaris and Kos-Bodrum are well-established and the bracket handles the customs and dual-flag paperwork that smaller yachts handle inconsistently.
Above 40m the Symi town quay closes and the overnight defaults to the Pedi Bay anchor 2nm east (calm but loses the town proximity). Below 30m the day-charter and bareboat sail fleet from Rhodes and Kos dominates and the bracket-class distinction blurs.
Weekly rates from the Dodecanese in 2026 season
Ranges below are for peak weeks (mid-July to late August) before APA at 30 percent and gratuity at 10 to 15 percent. The Dodecanese run 5 to 10 percent under the Cyclades and 5 to 10 percent over the Sporades.
| LOA bracket | Motor yacht (low to high) | Sailing yacht (low to high) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 to 33m | $80K to $95K per week | $60K to $85K per week |
| 33 to 36m | $90K to $105K per week | $75K to $100K per week |
| 36 to 40m | $105K to $120K per week | $90K to $110K per week |
Shoulder weeks (June and September) trim 15 to 20 percent. The cleanest weather window for the Dodecanese is the second half of September, when the southeast Aegean meltemi drops and the cross-border run east to the Turkish coast opens up without the August thermal afternoon wind. The Greek-Turkish crossing weeks (early May, late October) run at 30 to 40 percent off peak and the bracket repositioning rates are the cleanest value entry on the Aegean calendar.
What you get in the Dodecanese-positioned fleet at this bracket
Cabins. 5 cabins for 10 guests on motor yachts. Sailing inventory at the bracket runs 4 cabins for 8 guests on the higher-quality Greek-flag sail product.
Crew. 5 to 7 on motor yachts, 4 to 5 on large sailing yachts. The Dodecanese crew rotates through Rhodes and Athens and the bench includes a strong cohort of Greek-Turkish bilingual cruise crew who handle the cross-border paperwork. The chef category at the bracket on Rhodes-positioned yachts is solid; the southeast Aegean food culture supports the kitchen and the Symi seafood programme is a anchor product.
Tenders. A primary tender for the Symi town drop and the Patmos cave anchor (St John's Cave at the southern end of the island), plus a beach-landing tender for the Lycian coast crossings and the Datca peninsula coves on the Turkish side. A jet ski programme runs with standard utility off Rhodes and is permitted on the Turkish side outside designated anchorage zones.
At-anchor stabilizers. Required at 33m and above. The Symi town quay rolls on easterly afternoons, the Patmos south anchor sits exposed, and the Kalymnos-to-Patmos passage runs choppy through July and August.
Route shapes from the Dodecanese at this bracket
The Greek-Turkish cross-border week. Embark Rhodes, one night Rhodes Old Town, two nights Symi (town quay plus Panormitis Bay), one night Datca on the Turkish side, two nights east along the Lycian coast (Knidos, Bodrum, Gocek depending on time), return Rhodes via Kos. Seven nights. The bracket sweet spot for repeat Aegean clients.
The Dodecanese-only loop. Embark Rhodes, two nights Symi, two nights Kos and Pserimos, two nights Patmos, return Kos for the flight. Seven nights. The standard first-time Dodecanese week.
The southern Dodecanese-Kastellorizo run. Embark Rhodes, two nights Symi, two nights southeast to Kastellorizo (the easternmost inhabited Greek island, 1nm off the Turkish coast at Kas), two nights back via the southern Rhodes coast, return Rhodes. Seven nights. For repeat Dodecanese clients who want the southeast end of Greek waters.
What this bracket does not do well in the Dodecanese
A Symi town quay overnight in late August without a 6-month reservation. Symi runs the tightest bracket-class quay capacity in the Dodecanese and the alternative is the offshore Pedi Bay anchor with tender to the town, which works but loses the immediate town proximity that is the Symi anchor product.
A overnight on the south Patmos coast in peak meltemi. The south anchor at Grikos and Diakofti sits exposed and the overnight in late afternoon north wind is uncomfortable. Default to the protected Skala harbour or the Lampi north anchor.
A Greek-to-Turkish crossing without confirmed dual-flag paperwork. The Rhodes-Marmaris and Kos-Bodrum crossings run a Greek transit log and a Turkish entry process that takes 2 to 4 hours on the Turkish side at peak; the bracket-class crew handle this but unprepared paperwork on a cross-border week is a half-day cost.
What we would pass on
Yachts without an established Greek-Turkish cross-border charter programme on a week that includes the Lycian coast. The paperwork experience matters and a yacht doing its first Turkish-flag crossing of the season is the wrong choice. We would also pass on any 30 to 40m motor yacht for a Symi-Kastellorizo week without verified at-anchor stabilizers; the southeast Dodecanese exposed anchors are the most punishing in Greek waters for an under-equipped yacht.
What to book
For two couples, seven nights in late September: a 33m motor yacht with 4 cabins, embark Rhodes, Greek-Turkish cross-border week with three nights Dodecanese and three nights Lycian coast. Budget $85K plus APA, all-in roughly $120K. Booking lead time: 6 to 9 months.
For a family of 10, seven nights in mid-July: a 38m motor yacht with 5 cabins, embark Rhodes, Dodecanese-only loop with Symi, Kos, and Patmos. Budget $110K plus APA, all-in roughly $155K. Booking lead time: 9 to 12 months.
Build year, refit, condition
The Dodecanese 30 to 40m motor fleet rotates through Rhodes and the threshold runs in line with the Athens-based Aegean inventory. A 2018 build or later with a 2024 refit is the motor-yacht threshold. Sail inventory at the bracket on the Dodecanese includes a strong Greek-flag cohort a Rhodes-to-Bodrum repositioning loop and the threshold there is a 2019 build or later with a 2024 rig survey and engine performance documented within the past 12 months.