Going on a flotilla tips please

[paulburton44]

We leave next Sunday 1st May..Starting in Corfu

Anyone got any tips on things to take , watch out for, eat, and anything else which might be of use...

Haven't decieded if i am taking full wet weather gear or just light waterproofs...

Thanks Paul..

 

[aidancoughlan]

I would bring a fleece jumper, or a Musto snigs-style jacket for the evenings.
I brought lightweight golf-style waterproofs to a flotilla trip in Greece (early May) and didnt miss my oilies, although that early in the season we did get several wet and windy days. If you can fit them in, bring them - although you could leave the jacket - salopettes with a fleece and windcheater will cover most eventualities.

If you intend to bring your own lifejackets, beware of airline inconcistencies about whether you can bring canisters on board - see recent threads. There doesnt seem to be a clearly safety issue, some airlines seem to have no problem with them, some do, and some change their mind on the day - If I was bringing mine again, I would pack them in check-in luggage and say nothing.

We brought a hand-held GPS with us, which depending on the location may be overkill, but we did use it once or twice to confirm our location, and as a small item I would bring it again for that reason.

Forget about cooking on board - we intended to do so to save money, but a lot of the fun is eating out & socialising with other crews on shore in the evenings.

Have fun !

 

[whisper]

Great advice Aidan. We went bare-boating from Rhodes this time last year and did exaxctly as you did. Am going to Athens next week and will do the same again both with regard to clothing, equipment and /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif hopefully eating out. It should be interesting as it will be the Greek Orthodox Easter when we arrive - shops shut - but big celebrations etc.

With regard to the "flotilla" aspect I would suggest that patience with your fellow holidaymakers would be the best bit of advice /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Appleyard]

We are just back from Greece Paul.... Take plenty factor 50,sun hats, and light fleeces/rainjackets (although we did not need the latter. Also forget about cooking on board... much cheaper to eat out. Have a ball!!

 

[l'escargot]

Nappy sacks - nothing undigested goes down the toilet, afloat or ashore!

 

[bluedragon]

I sailed from Corfu first week of May last year. The weather the first week was appalling (gales, rain, t-storms) and the evenings were cold. Maybe last year was the exception, but treat early May in the Ionian as a British summer re. clothes, oilies, etc. If you take all that stuff then it'll be beautiful, just to prove me wrong! On a flotilla you'll eat out every night, and many of the restaurants don't have much inside seating. Remember, the sea in May is cold, and that cools down the harbourside air in the evenings once the sun has gone down. Have fun...we did and went back for another 3 weeks in Sept/Oct.

 

[fastjedi]

1. If you have wheel steering take a roll of insulation tape to mark TDC!

2. A pair of sailing gloves, particularly for bows to mooring when you have to deal with the kedge anchor

3. Hand held GPS - The Ionion can be a confusing place on your first Flotilla. All the islands look the bloody same with very few landmarks

4. Head ache tablets for the Greek wine

I wish I was you . Have a great time!

 

[paulburton44]

Thanks for all your comments...

We are going with Sailing Holidays onboard a Beneteau 331.

We are taking our 5 and 6 year old !!!!

 

[Heckler]

we have done the same on a 331 with the same outfit, she was called Cordelia, i took my garmin 12, and also loads of duty free gin!! when you wake up in the morn go across the road to the "supermarket" and buy a big block of ice to go in the fridge, this will give it a head start to cool the beer and tonic, also buy some bags of ice cubes and some lemons, end of first day and you have the makings!!
my kids loved it but they are a bit older, we are going again this july, also take some jelly sandals to protect tootsies in the water, most everything is provided.
stu

 

[pelissima]

Good tips already. Judging from last year vacations in Ionian –not Corfu though- the sea bed is quite steep usually, contrary to Aegean. So letting your hook at a boat’s length-as many visitors did- only contribute to all sort of probs as soon as a breeze builds up. Perhaps not a real issue in a flotilla.
As a general rule, if I have the choice, I go for the white wines, and only expensive red ones. It also helps to experiment.
Have a nice time.
Rgds George

 

[bluedragon]

Just an added point on the topic of anchoring when going stern to the quay. I was alongside many Sailing Holidays' yachts last year over 5 weeks in the Ionian. Many of them had trouble getting the bow anchor to hold, and went in and out a number of times. It wasn't lack of scope, could have been the ground tackle (?), but I think it was speed...too fast. Didn't leave time for the anchor to settle on the way in, and then winched it up tight too quickly. I used to come in as slow as the wind allowed me to, and never had a problem with the same type of yacht (Oceanis 331). Worth bearing in mind perhaps...

 

[Sean]

Have been to N and S Ionian with Sailing Holidays a couple of times, on Jags (which I think they are slowly refitting for couples - anchor winch, in-mast furling, lovely interior, if the (first) one we saw was anything to go by). Essential accessories we took were:

Gin
Gybe preventers
fleece and longs for evenings
lightweight longs, hats, sunscreen for prolonged helming (watch the back of your tiller hand...)

Be prepared for very little wind in the morning, blowing up in the afternoon (some of our best sailing was had while everyone else was disappearing into wherever the flotilla was due to overnight).

If you can, on free sailing, get up *early* and check out Emerald Bay - a swim here before breakfast, eaten as the very first trip boats invade your private bay, is the business.
Also, if you visit Parga, have dinner at the restaurant under the castle wall - you can see it from the bay, and the views from the open terrace are fantastic.

I'd love to say more, but don't want to spoil the fun! You'll have a great time...

Sean

 

[paulburton44]

Well we have just got back....
All your tips were great....
Ice block was a great idea (kids loved pumping out the melted ice)
Emerald Bay was very green (a few jelly fish though)

We had a fantastic time. the boat (Aristi) was great. The lead boat crew could not have been better (Niko, Troy and Mara)

We had as much freedom as we wanted with all the back up we wanted.

SailingHolidays.com must be the best sailing company out there.

Already to book for next year.

 

[fireball]

If you have a HH VHF take it ... the flotilla boats are usually nicely fitted out, but do not have a mike in the cockpit - so a HH is very useful when talking to the lead crew about how to come in whilst reversing 1/2mile into a marina (ok that was croatia .... )