Sail a boat to Greece/Turkey and put it out to charter?

[billskip]

+1
Noticeable reduction in yachts this year and I have been in Poros /Aegina for 15 years .Aegina is holding out but in Poros there will be at least 3 tavernas closing this year due to the downturn in yachting activity as this is their main source of income. Rota and Posidonos the exception.

Jeeez Bob is it that long?...15 yrs and it seems like yesterday..

dont hear from John & Sarah at all these days..

anyways dont know if you remember I started up a charter biz "Aegean Sailing " and it
was sold to a Guy called Peter in Lyme Regis, It seems that he has stopped
chartering now,because I cant get any response from the old website.

hope you are well and regards to family

 

[Ravi]

Tavernas are suffering badly due to the lack of money in the general public rather than the lack of yachts I think.

Well, I, for one, have been trying to do my bit for the local economy by putting all my money their way!

 

[Ravi]

Neilson are closing their base in Thesoloniki. I believe that the base will be used by a Russian charter company from next year.

My limited experience of Russian tourism companies makes me think that this may not be great for the local economy. I got a great quote from a taxi driver in Goa who was bemoaning the Russian all inclusive holiday complexes that have sprung up everywhere and where the tourists never leave the gated compounds. ..... "Not only do the b***** not use the local restaurants and bars, they even bring their own prostitutes with them!" Taxi drivers, don't you just love them?

 

[Melody]

I did a quick phone round to check that I wasn't mistaken. Everyone I spoke to here had a great season compared to 2013 and they are very optimistic about 2014 with lots of bookings already. So it looks as if some sectors are thriving while others aren't. (I'm relieved we're in the thriving bit )

 

[Bertramdriver]

The difference between Greece and Turkey is simply that the Greeks have learned a little humility, have dropped their prices and are being cooperative. On the other hand the Turks haven't. That's why the Aegean boatyards are filling up with boaters bailing out of Turkey, and charter companies are focussing on Greece again.
In a dream world Turkey would be left to the Russian charters and the Aegean would return to sanity.

 

[1bobt]

Jeeez Bob is it that long?...15 yrs and it seems like yesterday..

dont hear from John & Sarah at all these days..

anyways dont know if you remember I started up a charter biz "Aegean Sailing " and it
was sold to a Guy called Peter in Lyme Regis, It seems that he has stopped
chartering now,because I cant get any response from the old website.

hope you are well and regards to family

Hi Bill
Yep its that long ago, Not heard from John /Sarah in ages.
Its so bad in Poros even Manos has been out of work all summer, I have been to Hydra about 4 times this year and have not found any difficulty parking on the low steps in the back of the port ,with no rafting at all going on.

Hope you are well

Cheers bobt

 

[maxy]

Charter business booming or bust?

Melody is exactly right, we spoke at Southampton.

Some of the very big names are suffering, but I don't believe the global downturn tells the whole truth. Poor service, badly maintained yachts and high prices are not something you can maintain forever no matter how big you are. Good companies get many enquiries from charterers dissatisfied with the household names. We enjoy a very high returners rate and bookings for 2014 are currently at 80% of last year.

I would agree that flotilla seems to be on the downslide, but that may just be more people with qualifications and the confidence to bareboat.

I don't doubt for a moment what you see and say is true, but we and many other small charter companies are doing very nicely thank you. Ironically we have a shortage of yachts not customers.

Fair winds

Kevin

 

[charles_reed]

Melody is exactly right, we spoke at Southampton.

Some of the very big names are suffering, but I don't believe the global downturn tells the whole truth. Poor service, badly maintained yachts and high prices are not something you can maintain forever no matter how big you are. Good companies get many enquiries from charterers dissatisfied with the household names. We enjoy a very high returners rate and bookings for 2014 are currently at 80% of last year.

I would agree that flotilla seems to be on the downslide, but that may just be more people with qualifications and the confidence to bareboat.

I don't doubt for a moment what you see and say is true, but we and many other small charter companies are doing very nicely thank you. Ironically we have a shortage of yachts not customers.

Fair winds

Kevin

It's good to hear that some are doing well!!

The problem appears to be geographically defined.
I understand from locals that the Greek Ionian is doing well, business up on last year. Not so good in the Aegean, where they're getting a lot more cash-strapped, Bulgars, Romanians & Russians. Supposition is that the W side is getting more of €visitors (and Brits).
The Ukrainian business probably won't help the E side vary much.

 

[akyaka]

The difference between Greece and Turkey is simply that the Greeks have learned a little humility, have dropped their prices and are being cooperative. On the other hand the Turks haven't. That's why the Aegean boatyards are filling up with boaters bailing out of Turkey, and charter companies are focussing on Greece again.
In a dream world Turkey would be left to the Russian charters and the Aegean would return to sanity.

Perhaps that has something to do with the relative state of each countries economy

 

[autarh]

Hi all,
i am thinking opening a Greek charter company, is it complicated now?
I have heard that it was very difficult ?

 

[spoff]

Hi, Greek bureaucracy is never simple. Doesn't matter whether you are Greek or foreigner. You will need an a lawyer to set up the company and you will need an accountant. I have a Greek flagged boat which I charter out through a Greek charter company (doing well with around 20 to 22 weeks each of the last 4 years). Even to do this I needed to set up a Greek company (I think it cost me around 1500 Euros). I would also be liable to pay Greek National Insurance - think around 300 Euros per month with few/little benefits - unless you can show your principal business is in another EU country and get an exemption. Designed to avoid your paying twice. VAT is very low at 9% on 50% of the charter amount, so effectively 4.5% and no other tax to pay in Greece - for the time being anyway! Probably not for the faint hearted. My wife is Greek so I think this helped a lot!

 

[Melody]

If you own a Greek flagged yacht, any EU citizen can now have a NEPA, which is a special type of company for Greek flagged professional yachts put out to charter.

It isn't complicated for a solicitor / accountant to set up but will take about 3 weeks. The Greek civil service has been cut due to the crisis so there are now only half the people handing all the paperwork. If your yacht isn't Greek flagged it can take a couple of months to get everything in order.

Setting up and running a Greek company of any type isn't something you can do without a solicitor and accountant. Once you understand the paperwork a lot of it is straight-forward but, unfortunately, they frequently make changes so you'll need someone to keep you right.

You will need someone with a Greek tax number to act as the legal representative in the country. If you don't live in Greece, you'll need to appoint someone.