Semi Liveaboards in Greece

[christoph]

We keep a boat in Greece in the Ionian Islands and live on it for about 6 months of the year returning to the UK of the summer. This for us is the best compromise. I sailed the boat down to Greece in 2000 with the idea of possibly living aboard for some years but soon realized a Greek winter living on a boat is not something to relish. If anyone is thinking of selling up and sailing my advice is DONT sell up - but do sail. Always keep property in the UK or somewhere, if something goes wrong (health etc) or you want to return breaking all ties with home is not good idea.

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[pragmatist]

What's Greece like in winter ?

<hr width=100% size=1>a pragmatist is a sailor who now believes it will _always_ rain

 

[mikewilkes]

Would agree with your thoughts.
We sold our two houses last year and my wife bought a smaller one. She is 12 years younger than I am so statistically I am going to snuff it before her. This way she is not left with just a boat.
When I eventually stop going to work every other month then we will cruise for the greater majority of the year and probably rent out the wee house - until the body no longer allows such pleasures.



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Ceum ur

 

[piscosour]

I came back from Aegina, just off Athens last week. Had to wear a tee shirt one day and close the hatch in the forepeak one night. Apart from that it was gorgeous. All the anchorages were empty and I even moored "brit style" along-side on Poros while I went up the mast. It is very quiet in the off-season but don't tell anybody or they will all turn up and I'll have to find somewhere else to hide from the hoards.

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[christoph]

Hi The weather in Greece, like anywhere else can be excellent, however, In the Ionian it gets very wet in the winter months. Thats why it is so green and water is so readily available. I've been there in Oct and when it rains it doesn't stop - usually for a week at a time. Last year was the worst with one rainy week after another at the end of the season. We held out for a month but gave up in the end of Oct an went home. Of course the day we left the sun came out and it was fine for a good while.

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[White_Lady]

Hi Chris

could you fill in some details on your personal details, no i am not the tax man, but would like to know what boat and type you are in so as to evaluate your comfort!

Thanks

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[christoph]

Hi White Lady, not quite sure what you want to know but. The boat is a 30ft Jeanneu Sunlight it is just about big enough for two on a long time liveaboard basis. It is very well set up, calorifier, good shower etc. We have most of the home comforts. We manage to finance this life style by careful forward planning and a little luck. A few years ago an old with profits endowment policy came to fruition, that paid for most of the boat. A little while later I inherited my late parents old house in Norfolk. I sold it and bought a flat in Huntingdon which I let out for Income. Just then I was made redundant and given a modest pension and a lump sum which paid off the mortgage. SO no mortgage and an income - off we went. We took the boat across to France and went down the French canal system from Calais to Martigue at the end of the Rhone. The following year we took the boat all the way to Greece and to Preveza where it is now. There is,of course, a whole lot more to this story. I realize everyones situation is different but a lot of people do get away to the sun on there own boat every year, we meet lots. We have many tales from sailors we meet and of all those we meet and sold everything to sail I think I can safely say all of them regret selling up at home. Except possibly Bill & Laural Cooper who wrote Sell Up And Sail, but they live on a barge bigger than my house. So there you have it, in a nut shell. All the best Chris.

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[boatmike]

Hi Chris!
Interesting post. Next year PEREGRINE (Prout Snowgoose Elite catamaran) will take us through the French canals down to Preveza where we intend to overwinter and come back to the UK as you do. The only thing I would add to your thoughts is that your house does not have to be in the UK. When we are more sure (and we intend to spend a winter there on the boat to be so) we intend selling up in the UK and buying a property in Cyprus. The benefits are obviously weather, property prices, rental returns (you can rent out through an agent and still get far higher returns than the UK) And tax advantages (Cyprus is cheaper) Apart from this the cost of living is better and there are less hooligans.... I would be interested in your thoughts regarding the trip down as you have seemingly done an identical passage. Also your experience with regards to cost of flights between Preveza and UK.
Cheers
Mike

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[christoph]

Hi Mike, you will enjoy the trip down through the French canals. It was one of the best times I've had on a boat, so much so that we plan to buy a river boat and cruise the European canal systems when I can't cut the mustard sailing. We know two other Prout Cats in the Med one is 'Fritha' a Snowgoose owned by Gill & Dougie Stormont and the other 'Bright Star' a bigger boat not sure what model, owned by Stuart & Anne, not sure of the surname. Having a second home in Cyprus is definitely a good idea I haven't been to cyprus yet but would love to go. I Believe Dougie & Gill took their boat through the canals some time ago and at this time they keep it in Gouvia Marina on Corfu. Bright Star is in the Marina next to ours in Preveza. Preveza is a good place to keep a boat one reason is the proximity of the airport - only about a mile from the marinas. There are only charter flights in to Preveza from the UK. The flights start in May and the last one is around mid October. The full fare is about £240 return but we always book up last minute ie a max of 2 weeks up front. We only ever want one ways which we book either through a bucket shop (Satelite travel) or from one of the Flottila operators (Sun Sail - Sailing Holidays etc) As for price in the marinas in Preveza; there are 3 marinas side by side, they have set up a nice little cartel so prices are identical wherever you go. The marinas are Cleopatra - Preveza Marine - Actio. For our boat a 30ft,er we pay in Preveza Marine approx £700.00 a year, Cats, of course, attract a 50% premium. For us we like the marina we are in, they are meticulous with the care of the boats when lifting and launching, and we have a sturdy cradle. there are good showers and toilets, and water and electricity is available near all the boats. Hope this is some of the info you can use. If there is anything else I can tel you please drop me another line. All the best Chris Howe

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[boatmike]

Thanks for that Chris,
May see you in Preveza then.
Take care
Mike

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[Shakey]

"and there are less hooligans.... "

Hmmm, you obviously haven't spent a few days in Nidri yet then!

<hr width=100% size=1>It could have been worse - it could have been me.

 

[boatmike]

Er... Since when was Nidri in Cyprus then?
In any case there are many locations which are invaded by European hooligans on holiday and on a boat one can, with ease, avoid these places. Even in the UK if one is fortunate enough to afford it one can live in an area with low crime and reasonable behaviour still but it's getting more difficult each year to do so. In Cyprus (which I know reasonably well) if the places of tourist terrorism such as Larnaca, Aya Napa and Limassol are avoided, particularly at night the rest of the island is considerably better than the UK. Hence my statement, "there are less hooligans" also in the areas of disruption the "hooligans" are usually (but not exclusively) British and stay in the high rise hotels much of the day recovering from the excesses of the previous evening.
Meanwhile, back in the Trudos mountains life continues unaffected by it all.....

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