Flotilla company recommendation please

[bosun53]

I would recommend Nisos Yacht Charter http://www.nisosyachtcharter.com/. English company expertly run. As well as bare boat charter they run an ABC system (assisted bare boat charter) which is very good if you don't want all the trappings of a flotilla holiday.

 

[sgr143]

http://www.greeksails.com
We had a very enjoyable week with this company. Based in Poros, so you start and finish somewhere nice. A relatively small family firm, who seemed (from talking to others on our outing) to get a lot of repeat business. We'd certainly be happy to go with them again.
Steve

 

[Tranona]

I question that assertion. Sunsail and every other flotilla company I've looked at seems fine with the dayskipper the OP already has:
https://sunsailuk.inbro.net/seeinsidebrochure/Sunsail-UK_Sunsail-Flotillas-2017/About-Flotillas/Why-Flotilla..../page_5
Sailing Holidays seem to ask for nothing at all:
http://www.sailingholidays.com/holidays/learn-to-sail

As with anything in Greece there is much inconsistency. The law does say that charterers must be able to demonstrate competence and the ICC is the most appropriate way. a Day Skipper is equally acceptable. However it is the local Port Police that issues the permit and you can get two officers in the same office with different attitudes (or even knowledge of what the rules are). Most charter operators maintain good relationships with the Port Police but they don't want to run the risk of a permit being refused so specify what they know is acceptable.

The situation with flotillas is different, because skippers are under supervision all the time so different from bare boating. Not entirely sure this is "legal" but the flotillas have been operating for many years loke this without any problems.

 

[John the kiwi]

Thanks to all.
Lots of good advice to ponder.
Much appreciated.

 

[Garry & June 'Friendship']

We had great fun about 3 years ago stood on a harbour wall in Greece talking to a Sunsail lead crew who were welcoming in their flotilla......after the second boat in a row had backed in to the quay wall at a rate of knots and actually hit it with some force then bounced off..... I asked them what was going on...I was amazed when he told me the new Sunsail policy was to take complete sailing novices who had never been on a yacht before. Then give them a 3 day !! crash course before handing them their nice shiny 38ft yacht to sail around the Greek waters..... and then people wonder why some of us are so keen to keep well away of some flotilla boats..

 

[dslittle]

We had great fun about 3 years ago stood on a harbour wall in Greece talking to a Sunsail lead crew who were welcoming in their flotilla......after the second boat in a row had backed in to the quay wall at a rate of knots and actually hit it with some force then bounced off..... I asked them what was going on...I was amazed when he told me the new Sunsail policy was to take complete sailing novices who had never been on a yacht before. Then give them a 3 day !! crash course before handing them their nice shiny 38ft yacht to sail around the Greek waters..... and then people wonder why some of us are so keen to keep well away of some flotilla boats..

We had a similar experience in Plateria, sitting in Olga's. The main difference was that the 'ducklings' were told to stand off and circle whilst the COACH DRIVER dived in and brought each boat in... Apparently they were on a coach trip which included a 'bit of sailing' en route. The driver did work for his money that afternoon. Further amusement was provided listening to them on Ch16.

 

[RupertW]

We had great fun about 3 years ago stood on a harbour wall in Greece talking to a Sunsail lead crew who were welcoming in their flotilla......after the second boat in a row had backed in to the quay wall at a rate of knots and actually hit it with some force then bounced off..... I asked them what was going on...I was amazed when he told me the new Sunsail policy was to take complete sailing novices who had never been on a yacht before. Then give them a 3 day !! crash course before handing them their nice shiny 38ft yacht to sail around the Greek waters..... and then people wonder why some of us are so keen to keep well away of some flotilla boats..

It all shows that sailing really isn't as hard as we were all taught in the UK. With reliable engines it takes a very little knowledge to get from one place to another, with or without flappy bits hoisted and with nothing worse than a scrape here or there whilst parking. I often think about how new stuff I learn each season and how the accumulated knowledge of all the years sailing has got me where I am now, then see flotilla newbies sailing into the same harbours without any of that.

 

[RichardS]

I often think about how new stuff I learn each season and how the accumulated knowledge of all the years sailing has got me where I am now, then see flotilla newbies sailing into the same harbours without any of that.

For many years, on occasions where there's been a certain combination of wind and waves I've been annoyed by the mooring buoy knocking against a hull all night. I had a think about this last August and came up with this whizzo "cat's cradle" concept whilst on Uglian Island:

It took years of sailing to come up with that concept!

Richard

 

[RupertW]

For many years, on occasions where there's been a certain combination of wind and waves I've been annoyed by the mooring buoy knocking against a hull all night. I had a think about this last August and came up with this whizzo "cat's cradle" concept whilst on Uglian Island:

It took years of sailing to come up with that concept!

Richard

I'm trying to think that through. If it's under strain then either rope would do. If it's all slack then wouldn't the bouy just ride up and hit the hulls anyway? There must be something I'm not seeing here.

 

[RichardS]

I'm trying to think that through. If it's under strain then either rope would do. If it's all slack then wouldn't the bouy just ride up and hit the hulls anyway? There must be something I'm not seeing here.

You're right. If it's under strain there's not problem but sometimes the breeze is not from the same direction as the waves because of reflection round a headland or similar and the boat can't "escape" from the buoy. In that situation the cat's crade should stop the buoy being able to get across to either hull .... although the situation we were in the day in the photo was calm so it wasn't actually a real test but more of a theoretical run-through.

The chap who came to collect the fee wasn't so impressed as has thought his buoy was a bit too "trussed-up" and asked me to loosen it a bit, which I did without ruining the effect. I think the photo was before I loosened but I'm not sure now.

Richard

 

[BrianH]

For many years, on occasions where there's been a certain combination of wind and waves I've been annoyed by the mooring buoy knocking against a hull all night. I had a think about this last August and came up with this whizzo "cat's cradle" concept whilst on Uglian Island:
It took years of sailing to come up with that concept!

Richard

The channel between Ilovik and St Petar islands in Croatia has the biggest and hardest of (fibreglass) mooring buoys in the mooring line that runs on the St Petar side and the strong stream that runs between the islands reverses direction at every change of tide. A mooring that has you comfortably settled downstream from the buoy will have you awake in the middle of the night as it constantly bangs on the bow at the change of tide.

​

I solve the problem by hauling up hard on a line from the buoy's top ring to my pulpit so that I pivot around the buoy on the change of tide. Not all boats have the necessary overhang for this however. I would have thought it easy for a catamaran to fit a bridle to keep a buoy central and away from both hulls.

 

[RichardS]

The channel between Ilovik and St Petar islands in Croatia has the biggest and hardest of (fibreglass) mooring buoys in the mooring line that runs on the St Petar side and the strong stream that runs between the islands reverses direction at every change of tide. A mooring that has you comfortably settled downstream from the buoy will have you awake in the middle of the night as it constantly bangs on the bow at the change of tide.

​

This photo is us anchored in Uvala Parzine in south Ilovik last Summer. A lovely little bay and a pleasant walk into town. No problems with adverse currents in the bay.

Great memories!

Richard

 

[BrianH]

This photo is us anchored in Uvala Parzine in south Ilovik last Summer. A lovely little bay and a pleasant walk into town. No problems with adverse currents in the bay.
Great memories!

Richard

And a great photo, Richard. :encouragement:

But that "pleasant walk" is quite a long one, and, I guess, on a rough track. Coming back after dining well ... 'hic' ... in the dark, well, I'm too lazy. I even use the outboard to dinghy over for Elsa's cuisine at the Amico, right by the steamer pier.

 

[John the kiwi]

Hi All
I have revived this thread to say a big thank you to all who made useful suggestions.
We have just returned to NZ after a holiday that included a weeks flotilla sailing in Greece with Sailing Holidays.
My wife is a reluctant sailor, but she absolutely loved the whole experience as did I.
Sailing Holidays were brilliant to deal with and we enjoyed their laid back low stress approach.
I would feel confident to bareboat next year, but actually enjoyed the whole flotilla thing so much that we may just do it again!
The only downside was returning to midwinter in NZ with snow down to low levels.
Cheers
John

 

[NormanB]

Good to hear John - what route/sea area did you do?

 

[John the kiwi]

Ionian Sea around Paxos.
Warm enough in Mid- May but not too crowded.

 

[MikeH99]

Sorry to hear you are depressed by the NZ weather. We've sent the Lions out to cheer you up.