kiriacoulis Charter Co. in Med

[DavidBolger]

Hi guys,
we are looking to charter a 4 cabin yacht in south of France this June and are looking at the options. We have Sunsail and Moorings, both of whom have reputations which precede them. We also came accros kiriacoulis, who are Greek based but have 30 boats in South of France. Their price for a Bavaria 44 is very competitive. Does anyone have any experience of this company and the service? All advice or other charter co's in that area would be greatly appreciated.
regards

David

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[TonyD]

We chartered from Kiriacoulis twice last year - once in Sardinia and later in Greece. In Sardinia, the boat (Bav 40) was immaculate, the handover was very professionally done and we had no problems throughout our two week charter. The inventory had been carefully checked before we arrived and was complete. The staff were both helpful and friendly. We looked forward eagerly to our second charter.

However, in Greece, the same age and make of boat looked years older, shabby and was dirty on our arrival. Replacement of anything we found missing or faulty they achieved by taking it from other boats, thereby ensuring that a similar problem would be visited upon other charterers. The deflated dinghy was replaced with another which later also deflated. The staff did the minimum necessary to address our complaints, and only reluctantly.

One charter was at the start of the season and the other at the end. This makes a significant difference with most charterers as both the staff and the boats are tired, but we came to the conclusion that the most important factor was the base manager and the standards he set.

So this may not give you the clear answer you would like. However, despite the problems in Greece, we enjoyed both holidays and the boats were seaworthy and safe. You are probably just as likely to have problems with Sunsail. Moorings have a better reputation, but seem much more expensive. If you can get some feedback on the base manager and the standards he sets, that will be the best indicator, IMHO.

TonyD

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[whisper]

A colleague and myself have chartered with them twice in the last 12 months and he has used them atleast 3 times before in Greece. The boats were either good or ok, the staff similar. As the previous post says, everyone seems be better early in the season rather than later, both boats and staff wise. Going with them again this year - early.

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[Amphitrite]

I chartered three times from Kiriacoulis - twice from Marciana Marina/Elba and once in Piombino. The service was fairly ok, but in Marciana Marina I noticed the habit of taking missing things and spares from other ships and once the chartered yacht was in quite poor conditions. I would say it really depends on the base manager. But you have to consider that they are considerably cheaper than Sunsail/Mooring, so decide if you are prepared to pay for the latters better service.

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[tcm]

not chartered with them, but we have a boat down that area.

Moorings, for example, in based is more expensive (but more convenient for flights) port of Nice. Bormes les Mimosas is just west of le Lavandou. You would probably fly to Marseilles or (closest) Toulon for kiriacoulis. Factor in the transfer cost - Nice the Bormes would be a massive taxi ride, £150ish in the season praps.

Prices with both sunsail and moorings are getting superstratospheric - seeems they recoup the purchase price of the boat in a year. So i wouldn't be worried about a lower price elsewhere. Good point about going early in the season, same applies to rental ski gear i suppose.

Oh, from either Nice or Bormes you will have a fine time. From Bormes you can go to all little islands of Porquerolles and up to St tropez and even Cannes. From Nice you'd go mebbe east to Menton and/or west St tropez. Your living/eating out costs will be higher from around Nice than around le Lavandou/Bormes, because the rich idiots go to the Nice/riviera end, or indeed the skinty rifraff go the le Lavandou/Bormes les Mimosas, depending on your point of view.

Beachwise no contest - Bormes is a better base - beach at Nice is stony, beach at Cannes is mostly private, altho you gotta do them one day. The long beach between bormes and le lavandou feels quite safe, loads of others in that area and probably fewer monster powerboats beling up and down the gold run from st trop to antibes area. The island of porquerolles can be explored on rental bicylces.

In the season, i would be careful to book some of the marinas ahead. Yep, sounds mad but then others do the same.

Don't miss out on the gulf of St tropez. You can't prebook in St trop, but can call them in advance and be very nice with the s'il vous plait to the nice lady on the phone and ch 9, and be hanging around immediately after lunch - or even before lunch. Alternatively, during lunch, bung it on the reception quay just before the round tower between other similar-sized boats and they sortof have to give you a space for the night. Budget types would anchor outside but it's not the same.

Port Grimaud is recommended. Again, telephone ahead. Monsieur Sauerer is the marina manager, smartest turned-out marina manager on the riviera. Ask to stay inside the port near the church and tellim when you'll arrive - yeah "pres de l'eglise, c'est possible, s'll vous plait?" and get the dinghy and o/b off the boat before mooring for a nice explore around the waterways of Port Grimaud.

Oh, the trendiest place from either base is the restaurant of Club 55. Lunch only - book this at least a week ahead for 12:30. 0033 494 55 55 55 (or 493 55 55 55) can't remeber). As always, whwn booking you say pleasantrties and make an effort in french, then fall in to english, rather than go staright in to english like rude yanks. It's almost at the centre of the the bay of Pampleonne, that flat bit of the peninsular west of st trop facing east - so obviously no good in an easterly. Loads of other restaurants on that beach, but club 55 was the the first and remains the best imho. It smartish clothes time, but shoes not needed. You anchor or (if early) take a buoy. There's a little jetty, which you might recognise as the backdrop for loads of paparzzi shots and you alight there. In the season, best to go ashore on the ferryboat else a right mess of loads of boats. on the way back, give the ferry man 10 euros is the done thing, apparently. Give adventurous kids some money so they can clear off and find burgers along the beach and return in 2 hours. Simple food, ultra chic beach restaurant, fab service. You say helo and smile to Monsiur Patrick , the patron, curly haired and now fiftyish. The place is famous for ejecting loudmouth film moguls who think they should get beter service than others, so everyone is vvery nicely behaved and treqated equally well, and expected to treat the serice staff just as pleasantly. It doesn't advertise at all. House wine about 13 quidish, perfectly acceptable, not a ripoff. Childish adults like me always have a look at the carpark to check out the ferraris.

sorry this is more info than you needed. I'd go for a cheap charter and save the rest of the budget for eating out.

Oh, finally, don't be afraid to anchor out in protected anchorages. It can be windy in the afteernoon so all the boats whoosh to the marinas asap making the sea even choppier. But the wind is simply the mother of all onshore breezes, and stops to a dead calm at 7 sharp in summer. Lunchstops for restocking water etc are free, but you can tip them 5 euros if they help you ashore a bit, but not expected. Anchoring out will be cooler, and a dip in the morning before everything starts again is rather wonderful.

oh, and also theres rather fab Go-karts about 2km inland from port grimaud on the road to Grimaud, small cab ride or longish walk. Dads and lads 11 only really cos they are mental fast, probably hopelessly illegal in the uk. If you have teenagers this will be the highlight of the hol. Oops, that's just cost you another 100 quid...



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