Sailing in the Ionians - any advice for a first-timer?

Just for the record, this mobo "driver" has just finished sorting out the insurance claim for the 4,000 euro damage to my boat, caused by a badly behaving yachtie off Sivota Mourtos

Fairer advice would be "beware of other boats behaving badly". Most of the anti social behaviour in the Ionian is created by charter and flotilla yacht crews. I could could give endless examples.

Gosh! How did that happen?

You'll be aware of the shallow channel between Agio Nicholas and Sivota Islands, where mobos drive through "on the plane" despite the people swimming there .. that's the sort of mobo behaviour I mean, not yours!
 
Gosh! How did that happen?
charter crew of big catamaran anchored inappropriately close in Monastery Bay on a windy night and promptly went ashore leaving it unattended. Their anchor dragged and the cat bounced off us ripping out guard rails and gouging out large portions of GRP. Not happy.
Not that this was anti social - just careless and ill planned.
The anti social behaviour comes out of the on board parties fuelled up by some flotilla leaders.
e.g On our own one evening in two rock bay we were joined by a niellson flotilla of about 8 boats who rafted up together and played silly loud butlins style drunken party games well into the night, destroying the peace and ambience of a lovely little cove. No consideration whatsoever for anybody else.
 
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charter crew of big catamaran anchored inappropriately close in Monastery Bay on a windy night and promptly went ashore leaving it unattended. Their anchor dragged and the cat bounced off us ripping out guard rails and gouging out large portions of GRP. Not happy.
Not that this was anti social - just careless and ill planned.
The anti social behaviour comes out of the on board parties fuelled up by some flotilla leaders.
e.g On our own one evening in two rock bay we were joined by a niellson flotilla of about 8 boats who rafted up together and played silly loud butlins style drunken party games well into the night, destroying the peace and ambience of a lovely little cove. No consideration whatsoever for anybody else.


No, that's not happened to me yet! We've had a chap in a villa on the hillside playing extremely loud music, possibly with the intention of scaring the anchoring yachts away, but they were quite nice songs he was playing and he stopped after a while and we all had a peaceful evening (with the exception of a late arriving oversized mobo with a very optimistic skipper who chose to anchor within striking radius, we moved).

Sorry to hear about your damage, it's never nice.

When will you joining your boat next?
 
I've done four flots in the Ionian with Sailing Holidays and never encountered, or been party to, the sort of alcohol-fuelled bad behaviour I see described on this thread. I don't doubt it exists, but I would be sad to think that it is the norm. All the flots I've been on have been normal families having a fun, but fairly sedate, time and by and large managing their boats with reasonable competence.
 
Looking to buy 33-36 ft yacht Ionian Area (Corfu-Kalamata)

Hi,
I am thinking to buy a first-experience yacht in this area,
best case lying somewhere between Corfu & Kalamata.
Only motor boating experience yet, but would try sailing as long as it isn't too late (59 years young).
I believe I would need a 33-36 ft boat, but not sure.
No typical motor sailor, but similar to the Jeanneau Espace 990/1000/11000.
Generally it would be for my wife & me, but would need to sleep 6-8 for shorter trips with the extended family.
Live aboard is generally not much important, we have a house there & would not spend several weeks on the boat.
Let say, two trips of 1-2 weeks each, every season.

I am not sure what budget strategy to go - buy cheap with no resale chance later,
or buy higher and sell later, hoping it will keep the value.

So budget would be 20-40K GB Pound or Euro's I guess.
Mustn’t be perfect but solid & sound.

Drop me a PN & Thanks for your attention,
Plamen
 
Hi,
I am thinking to buy a first-experience yacht in this area,
best case lying somewhere between Corfu & Kalamata.
Only motor boating experience yet, but would try sailing as long as it isn't too late (59 years young).
I believe I would need a 33-36 ft boat, but not sure.
No typical motor sailor, but similar to the Jeanneau Espace 990/1000/11000.
Generally it would be for my wife & me, but would need to sleep 6-8 for shorter trips with the extended family.
Live aboard is generally not much important, we have a house there & would not spend several weeks on the boat.
Let say, two trips of 1-2 weeks each, every season.

I am not sure what budget strategy to go - buy cheap with no resale chance later,
or buy higher and sell later, hoping it will keep the value.

So budget would be 20-40K GB Pound or Euro's I guess.
Mustn’t be perfect but solid & sound.

Drop me a PN & Thanks for your attention,
Plamen

I would try looking at the local charter company websites at the 'for sale' sections - many ex-charter yachts are coming up for sail, especially at the beginning of the season to make room for new stock.

Hope you find something you like

Andy
 
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