Greece back to UK

[Long John Silver]

Hello All,

I am looking for some advice please. I am thinking of buying a yacht in Greece! The plan being to spend a few weeks sailing around the islands this summer, and then getting the yacht brought back to the UK.

Two main questions:

1) Which part of Greece is best for a few weeks cruising, and which time of year (I have limited holiday time).

2) How do I go about arranging for the boat to be brought back, and what is the best way to go about it?

Many Thanks

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

This is a common route for us, and we'd be glad to help.

There are so many nice places in Greece. I'd recommend The Ionian Islands...

Best of luck,

 

[Mr Cassandra]

Hello All,

I am looking for some advice please. I am thinking of buying a yacht in Greece! The plan being to spend a few weeks sailing around the islands this summer, and then getting the yacht brought back to the UK.

Two main questions:

1) Which part of Greece is best for a few weeks cruising, and which time of year (I have limited holiday time).

2) How do I go about arranging for the boat to be brought back, and what is the best way to go about it?

Many Thanks

Hi
It will depend on where you are going to purchase your yacht regarding the areas sailed. Alimos. Kalamaki .will have the better choice .Which will allow you to sail the Saronics islands .

Ionian will have ex-pat boats which will be reflected in the higher price.


Beware of a Mr Vassos!!! in Alimos

 

[jhr]

The Sporades

(Apologies: I know I've posted this link before, but it's a superb cruising ground)

 

[Tranona]

Hello All,

I am looking for some advice please. I am thinking of buying a yacht in Greece! The plan being to spend a few weeks sailing around the islands this summer, and then getting the yacht brought back to the UK.

Two main questions:

1) Which part of Greece is best for a few weeks cruising, and which time of year (I have limited holiday time).

2) How do I go about arranging for the boat to be brought back, and what is the best way to go about it?

Many Thanks

Welcome to the forum

Appropriate question as I am just about to leave for Corfu to sail my boat back to UK. Corfu, where I have been for last 9 years is probably the "best" base - all services, plenty of places to cruise to, mostly going south and easy access from UK. Also good place to buy a boat as generally the charter boats (if that is what you are looking at) have an easy life compared with other cruising areas.

Routes back are either round the outside - will tell you how good this is in 6 weeks time - or through the canals if your draft is under 1.8m (1.45 in Canal du Midi). Not so easy coming back as going as you are going against the current in the main N/S routes. Allow 5 weeks for sea passage or 8-10 weks for canals. Professional delivery likely to be around £4k with expenses. Road from SofF or Slovenia to Channel ports about the same for a 38footer - plus of course sea passages either end. Shipping £12k+ from Piraeus.

Unless part of a "project" like ours probably not worth it financially as the difference in price between boats in Greece and UK once you have paid everything is not that great and spec of equipment different. An ex charter Bavaria like mine would cost with VAT round 60000 Euros - about the same as asking prices in UK.

Hope this helps

 

[Mark-1]

I'm new to the med and my sole knowledge of Greece is the Southern and Northern Ionian.

For what it's worth, I preferred the Southern Ionian due to a seemingly limitless supply of remote anchorages wheras Corfu/Paxos seemed to have more limited choices for a night totally alone.

Here's some images that might give you some ideas.

South Ionian:
http://fattie.freehostia.com/Ionian2009/
http://fattie.freehostia.com/IonianImages2008/
http://fattie.freehostia.com/ionian/

North Ionian:
http://s463.photobucket.com/albums/qq354/fattiefattie/Ionian 2009/?albumview=slideshow


If you scroll down to Greece there may be some places of interest on this Google map:

http://tinyurl.com/ylfdut6

Maybe that'll help, maybe it won't but it was a nice excuse for me to look at some of my old pics, so thanks!

 

[Bob]

Have a look through the Med section of the World Cruising Wiki:

http://www.cruiserlog.com/wiki/index.php?title=Mediterranean_Sea_Cruising_Guide

More than enough to give you some ideas.

Enjoy the cruise.

 

[Abraxas33]

Buying in Greece

When the exchange rate was 1.5 Euro/1 GBP it was worth buying in Greece (and for those of us with boats in Greece it was better for us to get them back to the UK if we wanted to sell them). Now at 1.1 Euro/1 GBP you don't get much for your pound outside of the UK (but for brits in Greece wanting to sell we are getting good prices when converted back to GBP).

I'm not trying to put a dampner on your plans just suggesting you tread carefully to get best value. How about reversing your scheme and buy in the UK then sail to the Ionian!

Good luck whatever you do.

 

[Long John Silver]

Thanks for all the advice... I just have to decide which yacht to buy now!

 

[Appleyard]

Hello All,

I am looking for some advice please. I am thinking of buying a yacht in Greece! The plan being to spend a few weeks sailing around the islands this summer, and then getting the yacht brought back to the UK.

Two main questions:

1) Which part of Greece is best for a few weeks cruising, and which time of year (I have limited holiday time).

2) How do I go about arranging for the boat to be brought back, and what is the best way to go about it?

Many Thanks

Again,not wishing to put a damper on your plans,if, as you say you have limited holiday time,you could find that you were spending a lot of money for very little sailing time.
Having said that,the Ionian is certainly the place to get the most bangs for your bucks,as it is compact,lots of nice places to visit,reasonably easy to get to and there seems to be plenty boats for sale in this area.
The best times to visit are spring & autumn,as the summer is generally very hot,windless and overcrowded.
As others have pointed out,with the present value of Sterling you won't get many bargains . If I were you I would consider chartering first to get the feel of the place...ask around when you are in the area and take it from there.
Good luck whatever you do.

 

[jimbaerselman]

I agree with all those who recommend the Inland Ionian - the area enclosed by Levkas and Cephallinia. Lots of places to visit all within a short day sail, and always possible to find a quiet spot. Good local yacht services available.

Lots more detail on my web site . . .

The Sporades are really a bit far away if you're planning to return to UK. Wrong side of Greece!

 

[Highland Bear]

Try a Sunsail boat??

Firstly, I really like the Ionian, great day sails and plenty of anchorages.

Why not look at what boats Sunsail ar selling in Greece from their fleet. OK they will be pretty/very tired and need some work but they will be cheap and being Bens or Jens with Volvo engines, spares should be available.

I was chatting to a guy from Scarborough in the harbour at Vassiliki a couple of years back. He'd bought a Ben 35 from Sunsail, had it sorted out in Lefkas by, I think, a Dutch engineer and then left it ashore in a yard at Lefkas for the winter, sailing every spring and autumn round the Ionian. Summer too hot and busy so he went back to Yorkshire for the high summer.....not by yacht!!

 

[jhr]

The Sporades are really a bit far away if you're planning to return to UK. Wrong side of Greece!

Where's your sense of adventure?

A quick nip through the Corinth Canal and you can have a look at the Ionian on your way home

 

[jimbaerselman]

Ah. For a sense of adventure you'd do 6 weeks around the Cyclades. Fabulous variety, and easy to escape the crowds. Plenty of wind. Not for the faint-hearted . . .