Chartering in Greece - help!

[Will]

Any advice greatly appreciated as it would the first time. Places to avoid, companies to avoid? Anyone used Latesail?
Thinking about maybe Levkas, Corfu or Skiathos - do they all look like the brochures or are some destinations significantly better than others?

Thanks,
Will

 

[hlb]

I've used Odisious (Or whatever) A couple of times. Very easy going and dont, or didn't need much in the way of paper bits. We set off from Corfu but that leaves quite a few miles to go down to Levkas for the rest of the Islands and the wind is always going the wrong way. Go bare boat and then just muck in with the flotila or not, at will. If you want short hops, start from Levkas IMHO. Think Corfu is about 60 miles away with a couple of stop offs on the way.

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn

 

[Guest]

Hi,

I used Cross Eagle - www.cross-eagle.gr - twice. Both times we had great service and got a cheaper and better deal than latesail were offering. Friend of mine tried them elsewhere than the Athens base and was not impressed.

Having said that. Athens is a great place to start for a first trip. Kalamaki yacht harbour is close to the airport and the sailing is relatively easy. Nice trip over to Aegina for the first day, short hop to Poros on day two (and spend a day or two exploring the bays and coves - Russian Bay was favourite of mine) then off towards Hydra and so on. Great trip and some lovely anchorages and stern to moorings.

Poros is great but when the ferry comes in watch out for the surge. I saw several expensive new Bavarias having their bathing platforms splintered when they moored too close. Then, of course, there is the daily ritual of watching the great Greek anchor dance - as not everyone is too careful about where they lay their cable! Hydra is impossible to get into during peak season but there are plenty of other places to visit.

Have fun.


Regards


Fred

 

[tcm]

levkas is open (to south) to ionian, I went there last year, nice and warm sea, fine for a week, bit samey after that or praps just take it slowly. Seems all greek islands look about the same, so it's cutesy-town hunting time. Ithaca town and fiskardo recommended. Not too wavy amongst the islands if wary wife/kids. Food uniformly quite crap.

 

[Barry_Hill]

I've used Dartmouth Yacht Charters a couple of times who are agents for Kavas Yachts. Service and boats very good. Athens is not a bad place to start as convenient for airport and a few sights to see if you survive the taxi service. For first trip better to stay south to south west of Athens as once you put your nose round the corner to the east you may encounter the Meltemi. Poros is good and Hydra as mentioned earlier although latter very crowded. Nice little bay with good taverna at end of Athens penninsular which keeps you within the more sheltered area. Rod Heikel's Greek Waters Pilot 8th edition a must.

Good sailing. Cheers Bazz

 

[poter]

Why not try the Dodecanese, sailing out of Rhodes Mandraki harbour, plenty of local islands to visit and Simi ( about 25 miles from Rhodes ) is not to be missed. Wait until all the ferry's have departed usually around 16:00 and the town is all yours. Rhodes Island itself is excellent and Rhodes town, especially the old walled town is well worth a visit. Lindos, just down the coast from Rhodes is also worth a visit, and at night the town, which is a natural harbour, rises above you into a mountain bowl, & it is just a magical sight. ( sipping your Greek 5 star brandy )
I personally think the scenary with lots of mountains falling into the sea is more spectacular than up north but hey thats IMHO.
Food...... stay away from the tourist bars and eat the local seafood its excellent, on Simi for instance there is a local bakery just up from the harbour which has bread and delecacies to die for. We also only drink the local beer and wine which is cheap and mostly good. Tip: try the local honey and yougart for breakfast with a greek coffee, you will never eat Tesco yougart again.

We use Cosmos see the web site http://www.cosmosyachting.com
reasonable rates and a good selection of Yachts mostly all new & all well kitted out.
If you call them speak to Ryan and tell him to give you a good deal.

Let us know how you get on.

Have fun, we are there in September look us up.


poter.

Agree: Rod Heikell Greek Waters Pilot is a must.<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by poter on Tue May 14 00:21:30 2002 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[zefender]

Corfu - Gouvia marina is a good start, mainly because of the flight availability. There's loads of charterers there too. The marina itself is pretty ghastly and worth leaving asap IMHO. Try to arrive am and clear it with the company that you definitely want to leave before 1500 - then scoot around the NE corner to Stephanos, which is a better first night stop.

Head South, stopping at Sivota (Mourtos) on the mainland, then Lakka on Paxos. At the southernmost tip of Paxos is Monganissi which is just a bay with a quay. You'll need bows too in most of the places due to rocks off the quay. Sometimes crowded with flotillas, it can though be a good noisy bash - just one taverna with music, nothing else. Last time I was there there were quite a few rats about though! Leave very early the next morning for the longish haul through Levkas canal. There's rarely wind for most of this trip, unless you leave it til later on in the day. You can stop in Levkas if you wish (new marina), but I find it a bit of a bleak oven of a place. Go the extra bit into Spartahouri on Meganissi. Then, buzz about wherever you want to - Port Kioni on Ithaka, Fiskardo (relatively sophisticated, but remember we talking relative here!), Sivota on Levkas, Nidri for supplies, Vassiliki (usually windy) and thousands of secluded bays for overnight anchoring. Basically do a circle to avoid repeating your trip on the way back. Insead if Levkas, I'd stop at Parga - a beach resort and the main 'quay' is a 10 min water taxi ride away from the town itself. Not my cup of tea, bit of a tart of a town, but my kids have always loved it - watersports, good (very rare) beach, and, once they reached mid teens, clubs etc.

For Corfu, I'd suggest contacting Lucas Scordillis who runs Ionian Marine holidays. He's by no means a Sunsail type operation though. Some of his boats are older and thus cheaper though some are brand new.

Generally the winds in the Ionian are almost nothing until about 1300, then a gentle southerly turns to a Northerly, becoming progressively stronger at about 1600 until 2000 when it stops dead. So you just time your departure for the kind of sailing you want. However, because the harbours are so busy in the peak season, you are often forced to leave earlier than you might like to be sure(ish) of finding somewhere to stop. You will spend more time under motor than sail.

If you fancy much more lively sailing, then the Sporades (Skiathos, Alonissis etc) can provide more challenging sailing (sometimes too much so) as the Meltemi blows there quite hard.

 

[steve_cronin]

You\'re out of date!

They opened a new airport 16km NE of the City Called Eleftherios Venizelos (after the founder of modern Greece) so Kalamaki airport is now closed except for a few private Cessnas etc.

Steve Cronin

 

[Guest]

Re: You\'re out of date!

Hi,

I'm not an old foggy sailor like Steve - I don't remember Kalamaki airport - but I did mention kalamaki harbour - and it is fairly close to the airport. (16 Kms as he states)Certainly a lot closer to scheduled flights than many of the Islands and it makes a great starting place for someone new to Greece as the wind is usually less violent in the afternoon.

Regards


Fred

 

[steve_cronin]

Re: You\'re out of date!

OLD!

The new airport only opened in March 2001 and if it is a testimony to Hellenic organisation then the Olympics will be a nightmare. We have moved to Corfu for this season.

Steve Cronin

 

[Guest]

Re: You\'re out of date!

Hi,

Steve Cronin wrote

> The new airport only opened in March 2001

<FX>

Grovels hugely and apologises.

</FX>

Still, I wouldn't actually want to keep my boat in Kalamaki Marina but it remains a great place for a first timer.

Regards


Fred

 

[steve_cronin]

Re: You\'re out of date!

Well, we did for part of last year and part in Kos. Kalamaki is OK in the winter but as you say it is a dreadful place in the summer and best left astern asap.

Steve Cronin

 

[Wensum]

Depends how much challenge you want. Cyclades is perhaps most demanding because the islands are a bit further apart. For this area a number of companies eg Vernicos have moved their base to Lavrion, which is nearer the new Athens airport (half hour by taxi) and a better jumping off point for the islands. Kalamaki is further from the airport but is better for the easy Saronic Gulf (but the area is v busy in the summer and Kalamaki is horrible).
Ionians are easy sailing, perhaps avoid Corfu if poss and go for Levkas (possible charter flights to Prevetsa), southern islands offer fine sailing.
Sporades is easy and good sailing, though direct flights to Skiathos are hard to get. Dodecanese (Samos Kos Rhodes) is pretty easy except when the meltemi is blowing.
Go for a reputable charter company (avoid GPSC). You can get advice at no cost from Nigel James, a broker I've used, on 020 8568 8562. Tell him what you want and ask him for suggestions.
Wensum.

 

[Mr Cassandra]

Re: You\'re out of date!

Strange I .quite like Kalimaki , Now that the airport is closed,lots of good chandliers across the road ,some very good places to eat ,in the side streets.It just that if you only go there to pick up your charter or managed boat you only spend 1 day there each end of your holiday ,for others who have longer there are nice parts and if you go a little south a very nice place to visit Gifarda Voula It seems to me that most comments made are taken from the Rod H pilot and not fact!
ps the Disco is very good it stays open until dawn .Cheers bobt

Bob T

 

[sailbadthesinner]

I have done about seven charters in Greece and used late sail twice. We got an extra cheap deal cos they were one way charters Athens to Paros . I was surprised at the area too. thought it would be really busy but once you are away from Aegina it quietens down a lot and scenery is good and food is excellent, some of the best i've had.

Managed to get a Sleasy Jet in and out of athens by returning from Paros on the ferry. ( week after the ferry disaster, that sharpended up the number of sightings we took on approach .) Any way the late sail turned out to be Kyriacoulis Yachting which is now part of Island Charter so if late sail have nothing you could try them direct.use web for details. Boats were in good nick and tho' not the back up of sunsail there was still support if needed by phone.

I have done sunsail all over. and do rate them if you are nervous or first time. Esp good if you can sail, but not fix, boats.

Ionian is good early season, gets v crowded lhigh season . Winds generally light ( hostage to fortune there)so good for novice, although there can be storms in June they are gone in a day normally.
Getting in and out of Ionian flight wise is a bit harder. Do not just look to fly to the island. Remember there are ferries allover so if the cheap operator doesn't fly to the boat they may go to the next island.

The subject is just too big to cover and it all comes down to taste. Stick to one week tho' you can get a bit taverna'd out by staring at the same menu every night for a fortnight. remember there is loads to explore. When i did a flotilla 13 years ago there was a guy on his 7th sailing trip to greece at the time i thought he was a bit sad. Alhtough i have been much further a field i do keep on going back and have yet to tire.


best of luck i am sure you will enjoy it.


If F***s Flys or Floats, Rent it.