Crete

The largest of the islands, Crete is largely undiscovered for windsports. Yet 1,040km of coastline contains some awesome beaches, which – like the Northern Aegean – are in the realm of the Meltemi and offer excellent conditions; from freeride in Caribbean-esque blue waters to outstanding wave conditions. Greece’s biggest Meltemi waves break in the east at Faneromeni; while Phalasarna on the west coast goes off in winter southerlies. Although the north has its established tourist destinations of Heraklion and Chania, the south still offers plenty of authentic Greek charm. The west is really green and forested, in contrast to one Europe’s driest and sunniest regions in the east. Geographically, Crete is practically in Africa; just 200km from Libya, it’s the second most southerly European outpost after the Canary Islands.