Flotilla hols in Greece

[xxyyzz]

I've been with both Neilson and Sunsail, and to be honest both were good.

If you're concerned about the condition of the boats then go early in the season as the boats get all the proper maintenance over winter and the high usage leaves them a bit battered by the end of the year.

 

[andymcp]

In the meantime, if you want to torture yourself with views of the weather, air temp and water temp from just south of the Ionian area the flotillas work in, bookmark this one:

http://www.zakynthos.at/First-webcam-zakynthos-greece.htm

 

[robyonfrome]

If you don’t want a lifetime of craving after the Ionian don’t go because once you go, youl never want another type of holiday. I have been with Sailing Holidays a few times done Paxos, Lafkas and Kafalonia its fantastic we where well looked after, Id never sailed a biggish sailing boat, they show you everything, first time we had a Jag which is a bit cramped even for two, next time we had a Beny 331 which was great, liked it so much I am selling my Sealine 290 for a sailing boat and going back to the Ionian next year with Sailing Holidays.

 

[Alfie168]

Anyone remember YCA..I did a flotilla with them in 87 in the Ionian. We had brand new Sunlight 30s, and I had never really sailed anything bigger than a Fireball, apart from a couple of outings on a Westerly, but quite frankly it turned out to be a doddle once you have the mooring mastered, and in the end we were praying for more wind so we could have a good 'play' with the yacht.

If you are sensible and know how to reef..or get the sails down and motor if its really too windy, then you will be absolutely fine and have the time of your life. In fact I'm scratching my head and wondering why I have never done another..non sailing family I fear

We did once leave port (Astakos) too late in the afternoon, and hit the wind on the nose...it got a bit bumpy and we started feeling sick..no sweat.. we turned round went back to port and spent an extra night at Astakos (it was General Election night 1987 ). Just let the lead boat know you are OK, and arrange a new rendez-vous.

You'l love it

Tim

 

[Adrian]

If you are sensible and know how to reef..or get the sails down

(i think) all of SH's boats have furling head and main sails, so reefing, getting the sails in is fairly easy

 

[CharlesSwallow]

Anyone remember YCA..I did a flotilla with them in 87 in the Ionian. We had brand new Sunlight 30s, and I had never really sailed anything bigger than a Fireball, apart from a couple of outings on a Westerly, but quite frankly it turned out to be a doddle once you have the mooring mastered, and in the end we were praying for more wind so we could have a good 'play' with the yacht.

If you are sensible and know how to reef..or get the sails down and motor if its really too windy, then you will be absolutely fine and have the time of your life. In fact I'm scratching my head and wondering why I have never done another..non sailing family I fear

We did once leave port (Astakos) too late in the afternoon, and hit the wind on the nose...it got a bit bumpy and we started feeling sick..no sweat.. we turned round went back to port and spent an extra night at Astakos (it was General Election night 1987 ). Just let the lead boat know you are OK, and arrange a new rendez-vous.

You'l love it

Tim

YCA are still going. Their office is in Gouvia Marina about 150m from our boat.

Chas

P.S. It is ALWAYS windy aroud Astakos!

 

[Alfie168]

YCA are still going. Their office is in Gouvia Marina about 150m from our boat.

Chas

P.S. It is ALWAYS windy aroud Astakos!

Different YCA. The one in Gouvia is Yacht Cruising Austria. Ours was the Yacht Cruising Association, which I think disappeared when it was bought by Sunsail....I could be wrong there, but somebody bought them. YCA was a British outfit with Greek flagged yachts IIRC.

At the time a few nay sayers warned us off YCA saying stuff like "They insist on everybody staying together and sailing line astern" . In the event nothing could have been further from the truth. Once the lead boat established that you could sail the order was "Stay in Pairs minimum, meet up every three days, call us if you have problems". I think having an Australian crewed lead boat may have contributed to the laid back attitude, but they were excellent when they were needed.

Tim

 

[samwise]

Different YCA. The one in Gouvia is Yacht Cruising Austria. Ours was the Yacht Cruising Association, which I think disappeared when it was bought by Sunsail....I could be wrong there, but somebody bought them. YCA was a British outfit with Greek flagged yachts IIRC.

At the time a few nay sayers warned us off YCA saying stuff like "They insist on everybody staying together and sailing line astern" . In the event nothing could have been further from the truth. Once the lead boat established that you could sail the order was "Stay in Pairs minimum, meet up every three days, call us if you have problems". I think having an Australian crewed lead boat may have contributed to the laid back attitude, but they were excellent when they were needed.

Tim

Remember them well. It was our first flotilla experience and it took us to Turkey, around the Seven Capes. I think they were the first to have the distinctive red UV strip on the foresail, although Sunsail may have had it too.
An exciting first experience, we were locked in to harbour ( In Kas I think) for four days when we were hit by a storm. Unravelling the resulting anchor knitting when we were able to leave gave the lead crews a real headache.

 

[Long John Silver]

I used Neilson last summer. They were very good, we had an almost new Dufour which was great! The staff were all very friendly and helpful - I'd definitely use them again.