Sailing The Ionian Islands

[gafferduck40]

Hi

Thinking of Sailing The Ionian Islands on charter next year 2012
The south route looks the best for beaches /anchorages?
has anyone been there lately
I just want to chill with some friends new! to sailing
which route would you recomend? and or a charter company?

MANY THXS

 

[SAWDOC]

look up charter company nautilus - they have much info on destinations etc and are a good charter company to boot.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

I don't know about chartering but a few years ago we had a flotilla holiday with Sailing Holidays in that part of the world. If your friends are new to sailing it may be worth considering. Sailing Holidays were quite relaxed about letting us go off on our own when we wanted but, in the end, we spent most of the time with the flotilla; it was good fun.

 

[jimbaerselman]

has anyone been there lately

Yes, last September. See http://www.jimbsail.info/drupal/mediterranean/greece/inland-ionian for up to date information on the area, weather, when to go, what to see etc.

With an inexperienced crew on board you're probably best off with a flotilla company; Neilson, Sailing Holidays Ltd, Sunsail. There are many other charter companies, with very little to choose between them. It's a very competitive business down there!

 

[KellysEye]

If you want flotilla or bareboat and the best price www.latesail.com. They have name your price and a guarantee to beat any price.

 

[lufc71]

I went with sailing holidays (www.sailingholidays.com) in late September to the Lefkas area. It was that good I've already booked for next year!

Check out their facebook page for loads of pics and feedback.

 

[Flying Penguin]

Sailing Holidays would make a good choice for newbie friendly charter/flotilla. Very chilled, some nice (and big) boats if there are a few of you and unlike the other big operators, they fit nearly everything with roller reefing, so no need to send anyone to the mast (especially useful if you need to keep an eye on non sailing friends!)

 

[lurob]

We're living aboard in the Ionian and we've met several people chartering with www.ionianyachtcharters.co.uk. The feedback from all of them has been incredibly positive and the boats are immaculate, way better than alot of other boats around. The owners are British and really go out of their way to make sure that customers have a good holiday.

As for North or South (i.e. Preveza to Zakynthos) I would recommend south, although Corfu, Paxos and mainland are also lovely but distances between places tend to be longer.

 

[MissFitz]

Did our first holiday there a couple of years ago (southern bit) - great place but would REALLY recommend going outside high season if you can - mid-July was wall-to-wall in every anchorage.

 

[robinwr]

Nisos Yacht Charter.http://www.nisosyachtcharter.com/

Privately owned yachts - couldn't fault them in any way.

 

[gafferduck40]

Thanks guys

Big thanks for all the info, cant wait now south islands it is, the bad news one of my friends is a teacher so it will have to be high season
oh well worse things have happened at sea.

 

[gafferduck40]

Thanks for all the info GR8

Hi

Thinking of Sailing The Ionian Islands on charter next year 2012
The south route looks the best for beaches /anchorages?
has anyone been there lately
I just want to chill with some friends new! to sailing
which route would you recomend? and or a charter company?

MANY THXS

 

[Whiskey Bravo]

look up charter company nautilus - they have much info on destinations etc and are a good charter company to boot.

+ 1. Just don't use Sunsail, many of their yachts have no sails under the pretty blue sailcovers [allegedly], they just motor everywhere. And they're v expensive, must be to pay for all the fuel

 

[jimbaerselman]

Just don't use *********, many of their yachts have no sails under the pretty blue sailcovers [allegedly], they just motor everywhere. And they're v expensive, must be to pay for all the fuel

What a scurrilous, unwarranted accusation. Yes, some companies are more expensive than others. The rest of your post, libel, or an incredibly poor attempt at humour.

And, no, I have no connection with *****. What are your connections?

 

[sighmoon]

We went with Sail Ionian, many years ago. Very professional and friendly, and always remember us at the boat show and give us a glass of wine.

 

[aBod]

www.onestopsailing.com is a good one. Family run agency.

 

[RJD393]

We chartered with www.ionianyachtcharters.co.uk in Sept 2010 - very good holiday. Would highly recommend them.

 

[robyonfrome]

Don’t start flotilla sailing in Greece because you wont be able to think of anything else. We have been 3 times with sailing holidays and sunsail I think I preferred sailing holidays but not by much. In September we went with sunsail starting Vounaki, Sivota, Fiscardo (favourite) Spartochori, Varko Bay, stoping at lots of little bays with just 2/3 boats anchored. We were very lucky with the weather, wall to wall sunshine, sea like bathwater, my only gripe was we had to leave glorious anchorages fairly early to get in the harbours, cut the day short I felt but no real hardship. Cant stop thinking about going again, see what I mean!!

 

[sighmoon]

Don’t start flotilla sailing in Greece because you wont be able to think of anything else...stoping at lots of little bays with just 2/3 boats anchored...

Yep, 2 or 3 boats anchored peacefully, how perfect. And then the flotilla arrives. [eek]

 

[blueglass]

Yep, 2 or 3 boats anchored peacefully, how perfect. And then the flotilla arrives. [eek]

Absolutely. I wasn't going to say anything but that is something of a bugbear down here. No problem myself with flotillas per say but the flotilla leaders seem to think that loud boisterous party games in secluded and hitherto peaceful anchorages, is a good idea. Neilson in particular spring to mind. I doubt if most sailing types I know would actually like this, but nobody seems to tell leaders to leave it alone.