Chartering in Greece

[skipmac]

Hello. Not sure if this is the right forum but couldn't find one that seemed more appropriate. If a better spot, please do let me know.

Planning a bareboat catamaran charter in Greece around Sept this year. Might be waiting a bit too late to book as most of the big charter companies I know of (which is not many since I've only chartered a couple of times) are mostly booked. Any recommendations for companies? Bit concern is reliability as we will have several family and friends buying tickets to Greece and would be a real problem if the boat wasn't available or had problems. Had it happen before when I chartered a cat in Florida. Previous charter party (with a professional, licensed captain) managed to run straight into a large channel marker and render the boat unusable. And the company didn't have any replacement or backup to offer.

While I'm on the subject, best time of year? My first thought is August will be the busiest, most crowded time but by mid/late Oct will be a bit cool

 

[Clancy Moped]

Time wise I would say back end of May into June and second week of September onwards for the month, much quieter time.

 

[skipmac]

Time wise I would say back end of May into June and second week of September onwards for the month, much quieter time.

Thanks. May-June not an option due to prior commitments with my surgeon so September sounds like the time. Unfortunately the company and boats I was looking at are booked until Oct. Never been to Greece but Mr Google tells me it might get getting a bit cool for swimming and snorkeling by then. Thoughts about October, weather wise?

 

[Clancy Moped]

Thanks. May-June not an option due to prior commitments with my surgeon so September sounds like the time. Unfortunately the company and boats I was looking at are booked until Oct. Never been to Greece but Mr Google tells me it might get getting a bit cool for swimming and snorkeling by then. Thoughts about October, weather wise?

We would be out till late October - mid November as liveaboards, but you're into touch and go territory.

 

[Tranona]

Agree October is risky and most shoreside places are beginning to shut down. When we had our boat in Corfu September was our best month. Only the odd chance of a day or 2 of iffy weather and sea still warm.

Cats are less common in Greece as there is not the infrastructure to support too many, particularly mooring space on village quays which is far and away the dominant overnight mooring.

my boat was managed by Kriacoulis which is perhaps the biggest and generally pretty efficient although like many multi site operations local service can vary. They are showing availability for 2 cats in Corfu in mid September. Just picked those because i shall probably be there that week - shore based, getting a bit past boating for a week now. kiriacoulis.com/charter/search?port=79&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIp4Tq_5nr_QIVtGLmCh3R1APZEAAYAiAAEgIzpvD_BwE

You will have far more choice with a big 12-15m mono.

 

[skipmac]

Agree October is risky and most shoreside places are beginning to shut down. When we had our boat in Corfu September was our best month. Only the odd chance of a day or 2 of iffy weather and sea still warm.

Cats are less common in Greece as there is not the infrastructure to support too many, particularly mooring space on village quays which is far and away the dominant overnight mooring.

my boat was managed by Kriacoulis which is perhaps the biggest and generally pretty efficient although like many multi site operations local service can vary. They are showing availability for 2 cats in Corfu in mid September. Just picked those because i shall probably be there that week - shore based, getting a bit past boating for a week now. kiriacoulis.com/charter/search?port=79&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIp4Tq_5nr_QIVtGLmCh3R1APZEAAYAiAAEgIzpvD_BwE

You will have far more choice with a big 12-15m mono.

Thanks for the info Almost everything I read about cruising Greece talks about Med mooring to a quay. I'm OK with that but what about anchoring? Does no one do that in Greece? Prohibited because you might snag some ancient relic or just to much work for most?

Also, what's the cruising, diving, snorkeling like around Corfu? I was thinking farther south.

 

[skipmac]

Agree October is risky and most shoreside places are beginning to shut down. When we had our boat in Corfu September was our best month. Only the odd chance of a day or 2 of iffy weather and sea still warm.

Cats are less common in Greece as there is not the infrastructure to support too many, particularly mooring space on village quays which is far and away the dominant overnight mooring.

my boat was managed by Kriacoulis which is perhaps the biggest and generally pretty efficient although like many multi site operations local service can vary. They are showing availability for 2 cats in Corfu in mid September. Just picked those because i shall probably be there that week - shore based, getting a bit past boating for a week now. kiriacoulis.com/charter/search?port=79&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIp4Tq_5nr_QIVtGLmCh3R1APZEAAYAiAAEgIzpvD_BwE

You will have far more choice with a big 12-15m mono.

Well did a bit of online research. Corfu sounds amazing and seems like lots of diving opportunities.

 

[Misterbreeze]

We did a Sunsail resort week in October half term, Punta Zeza. Far too windy to venture out in their Dufour 28s. Chanced it one day with an adult crew, we were back within the hour. Consensus amongst the somewhat reluctant staff crews was that October is just too late in the season weatherwise and lots of tavernas are already closed. Mind you, that was 30 years ago and climate change might have moved things along since then!

 

[Tranona]

Well did a bit of online research. Corfu sounds amazing and seems like lots of diving opportunities.

Yes it is. We first chartered there for 2 years and then bought our own boat through Kiriacoulis which we kept for 10 years. Still go there shoreside but not so often now with Covid and health issues restricting us. Hope to go in September.

Anchoring is very much possible with amazing bays such as Lakka on Paxos and the many bays along the NE coast of Corfu, but one of the big attractions of Greek cruising is the Greek harbour villages with their rows of tavernas often backed by mountains. Typical day is a sail (or more likely motor) in the morning, anchor in a bay for lunch and a siesta followed by a sail in the usual afternoon breeze in time to back up to a quay for the evening. Not so easy to do in July and August because the place is jammed, but very civilized in September when European families have gone back to work/school. Mooring charges are modest and even free in some locations.

Thoroughly recommend.

 

[skipmac]

We did a Sunsail resort week in October half term, Punta Zeza. Far too windy to venture out in their Dufour 28s. Chanced it one day with an adult crew, we were back within the hour. Consensus amongst the somewhat reluctant staff crews was that October is just too late in the season weatherwise and lots of tavernas are already closed. Mind you, that was 30 years ago and climate change might have moved things along since then!

Thanks. Confirms what I've been thinking. Will try to stick with Sept.

 

[skipmac]

Yes it is. We first chartered there for 2 years and then bought our own boat

What company did you charter with? I'm perhaps a bit paranoid about who to charter with having been burned once. With people flying in from Florida, Massachusetts and London for the trip if the charter company drops the ball it will be unpleasant to say the least.

 

[DownWest]

We had a Sept trip on the other side. Near Volos. Bit quieter and not so windy. Water was warm enough. Bareboat with a Benny 46 from Sunsail. Good fun.
We anchored some nights, but mostly in ports because of the restaurants.

 

[Clancy Moped]

Thanks for the info Almost everything I read about cruising Greece talks about Med mooring to a quay. I'm OK with that but what about anchoring? Does no one do that in Greece? Prohibited because you might snag some ancient relic or just to much work for most?

Also, what's the cruising, diving, snorkeling like around Corfu? I was thinking farther south.

We would be at anchor for months on end moving from bay to bay, dinghy in for supplys, but did have a lot of solar panels, generator, and watermaker.

 

[Mistroma]

Thanks for the info Almost everything I read about cruising Greece talks about Med mooring to a quay. I'm OK with that but what about anchoring? Does no one do that in Greece? Prohibited because you might snag some ancient relic or just to much work for most?

Also, what's the cruising, diving, snorkeling like around Corfu? I was thinking farther south.

Another vote for September. No idea why anyone would think people didn't anchor in Greece. We spent more nights on quays last year but majority of our time was spent at anchor. It's normal for us to spend days at anchor in one spot and go ashore to shop or have a meal. We can day sail with lunch stops at anchor or just anchor off the shore on a longer passage. It is perfectly normal in Greece but you might have problems finding a spot at peak times. We usually stop early if visiting a busy area and it's worth checking on flotilla routes to avoid their visits when possible. Which area are you considering in Greece? Cyclades will be pretty windy vs. light winds in Ionian.

EDIT: Clancy moped got in ahead of me.

 

[Frogmogman]

I agree with Tranona; far better to charter a monohull in Greece for berthing reasons. The whole business of tying up to the town quay and toddling off to the taverna is one of the great pleasures of sailing there.

 

[Tranona]

What company did you charter with? I'm perhaps a bit paranoid about who to charter with having been burned once. With people flying in from Florida, Massachusetts and London for the trip if the charter company drops the ball it will be unpleasant to say the least.

Long time ago and it was a small English company, although the second year the boat was a Greek owned Bavaria 42 which was what got us into buying our own Bavaria. We bought that through Kiriacoulis and they managed it for us for 7 years.

If I were chartering in Corfu the very best is here sailingholidayscorfu.com Bob and his wife Litsa (and now his daughters) have been running their operation for over 30 years and in my view are the best kept boats on the island. However no cats, but the big Jeanneau 49 is ideal for the locality and is comfortable for 8 people. Bob looked after my boat after I stopped chartering and up to the time I sailed it back to the UK.

If you do go to Corfu it is easy access by air from UK or via Athens and the airport is 20 minutes taxi to the marina. The other big selling point is that unlike many of the Greek islands it is large and has a big all year round population. It is well worth adding a few days shoreside as there are some spectacular places to visit and Corfu town is historically and architecturally fascinating because of its location and being ruled by Byzantines, Ottoman empire, Venetians, French, British before it joined the Helennic mainland. A day trip by hydrofoil to Albania to visit the Butrint site is a must if you are into history and archeology. On the website there is a link to Hotel Telesilla which is just outside the marina. We stay there when not boating. Very comfortable Greek family run hotel with a pool and traditional Greek food.

Enough of the tourist big sell. Plenty of information on line about the area. Suggest you buy Rod Heikell's pilot book for Greece amazon.co.uk/s?k=greek+waters+pilot&adgrpid=117335226422&hvadid=509926909853&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1007082&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=13370911772098495614&hvtargid=kwd-1136051059&hydadcr=24404_1748884&tag=googhydr-21&ref=pd_sl_6iwkk23it1_e or the more focused Ionian edition which will give a detailed picture of what is available across Greece.

Enjoy

 

[skipmac]

If I were chartering in Corfu the very best is here sailingholidayscorfu.com Bob and his wife Litsa (and now his daughters) have been running their operation for over 30 years and in my view are the best kept boats on the island. However no cats, but the big Jeanneau 49 is ideal for the locality and is comfortable for 8 people. Bob looked after my boat after I stopped chartering and up to the time I sailed it back to the UK.

Personally and historically I mainly sail monohulls. Reason I'm looking at a cat is for the sun protection. Wife is at high risk for skin cancer and must stay out of the midday sun. The problem with 99% of monohulls is out of the sun means below, cut off from the outside world. A Bimini top helps but still way too much reflected sun from the water unless there's side curtains, big pilothouse or a deck salon layout. Cats have a big salon with big windows so she can still enjoy the locale without the burn.

 

[skipmac]

I agree with Tranona; far better to charter a monohull in Greece for berthing reasons. The whole business of tying up to the town quay and toddling off to the taverna is one of the great pleasures of sailing there.

Don't disagree at all for this and othe reasons but see comment above about the wife and the sun.

 

[Tranona]

Appreciate that. Many of the monos have spray hoods that cover the forward part of the cockpit which might help.

Bit more touristy stuff. This is our first or last night spot, about 2 hours north of the marina. agnibay.com

 

[Tranona]

Just to add another choice. this sailionian.com/yacht-charter-prices/ has a Nautec available mid Sept. another family owned and run company. Neil and Di have been doing this for 25 years or so, both in Levkas and the Grenadines in the winter. boats are privately owned under a management scheme so are kept in good condition and usually less than 5 years old (this boat is 2021).

Levkas is southern Ionian with a good choice of going either north or south. Not so easy to access as the local airport is mostly charter flights from N Europe and UK, but reasonable taxi/minibus ride from Athens which they will arrange for you. Or if you want the authentic Greek experience take the airport bus to the downtown terminal and then the regular bus to Levkas, Spectacular scenery including the huge bridge across the Gulf of Patras. Takes about 4 hours with a short comfort break.