Setsail Flotilla Holidays, and the Sporades

[jhr]

I've done a search on here for Setsail, which revealed a post indicating that no one had used them, but just in case someone's been out with them this summer, does anyone have any experience of flotilla sailing with this company? We're thinking about doing the Sporades next summer (any views on the area would also be welcome) and I'd like to know any feedback, good or bad.

Oo-er; I've already been corrupted by StugeronSteve and Magna Carter. Is this the next step to raggiedom? Time will tell. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[r_h]

The Sporades are great - less crowded than the Ionian and with beautiful scenery that stays green throughout the year. There's more breeze too - F5/6 is not uncommon in the afternoons in summer. Also a good number of really excellent tavernas.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Done the Sporades a coupla times. Nice!

Beware the Meltemi though, which has spilt many a bottle of wine.

 

[Yardarm]

I've used Setsail twice in Turkey and think they're excellent. I've been flotilla sailing six times in the last few years and they were by far the best.

The Sporades are gorgeous.

 

[duncan]

spooky - OK I will come out of the closet too........

I have, this week, booked on the Sporades Flot with Setsail 10/08 for 2 weeks and will be leaving Poole and my boat for the delights of the Aegean!

This is all the fault of Provenjohn from here who did it last year and completely sold SWMBO on the idea with his pictures and information.

 

[H4B]

I went on a set sail flotilla in Turkey about five years ago .Everything was well organised. I think they charter the boats in from another company. No complaints. Would use again.

cheers

 

[Emjaytoo]

We did the Sporades last September for a week. Bareboated a Bav 34 with Sapphire Yachting. It was the second year running with the same boat/charterer.

On both occaisions we had first hand experience of being neighbours to Setsail. The first year the people we met were really friendly, but the flotilla skipper was a hitler! We watched him board boats at the end of their two week flotilla, wrestle the wheel from the skipper and "show them how to do it properly"!! If we tried to chat to him about the weather forecast, which we were getting by internet, so not scrounging, he was most aloof.

This year we had to ask the Setsail flotilla skipper to turn the noise down at 3.00 am in Loutraki. He was personally setting an example of how to do Karioki.

Overall we were not impressed with Setsail. And we'd heard Sunsail Flotillas were the roudy ones!

 

[duncan]

useful comment - thanks (I think!)

 

[Emjaytoo]

I guess there is a lot of luck as to who else is on the flotilla and who the skipper is.

The islands are fantastic and we fell in love with Steni Valla

 

[jhr]

Sounds like someone may need to be kept in their place! Though I suspect 3.00am karaoke will be less common during school holidays.....

 

[tyce]

setsail are very good, would not hesitate to use again

 

[jhr]

Thanks everyone; very useful. Currently chiselling open the kids' piggy banks... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Signed Out]

I worked as engineer one summer with them and wouldn't rush back... Would rather go with Sailing Holidays I think.

Mind you, not sure I set a great example myself. Hehehe.

 

[SimbaDog]

I was in Loutraki that night on the Setsail flotilla !!!
Yes it was noisy that night (but that was the only time in the 2 weeks I was with them) I know that the person concerned got shall we say led astray by others. Not me, I was asleep not far away.
Have booked with them to Turkey for next year.

 

[Emjaytoo]

Provenjohn

There was some good wind that week. Our Bav 34 went atreat!

 

[BlueSkyNick]

The Setsail MD came to our club to do a presentation prior to a block booking of 10 boats - seemed like a good company, and the peeps who went on the trip spoke well of them.

 

[Emjaytoo]

Were the "others" American, by chance?

 

[SimbaDog]

[ QUOTE ]
Were the "others" American, by chance?

[/ QUOTE ]
Hi Kim
No, they were from the South East though! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Steni Vala piccie is nice, pretty little inlet, but it certainly
paid to get there early, had a very enjoyable hour in the bar watching people aguing over mooring spots !

 

[duncan]

[ QUOTE ]
had a very enjoyable hour in the bar watching people aguing over mooring spots !



[/ QUOTE ]

this sounds like the flotilla equivilent of Sunday evening in the marina / lock etc - carefully noted!

ps can you reserve spots??????????

 

[SimbaDog]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
had a very enjoyable hour in the bar watching people aguing over mooring spots !



[/ QUOTE ]

this sounds like the flotilla equivilent of Sunday evening in the marina / lock etc - carefully noted!

ps can you reserve spots??????????

[/ QUOTE ]

No you can't reserve, first come first served !
The Sporades flotilla will visit there, suggest if mooring time is given as 16.00 to 17.00 you aim to arrive there at 15.45 otherwise you may end up being stuck outside others & be messing about for ages mrroing up. It's a very shallow creek which entails mooring bows to the quay except for a couple of spaces, worth the effort though. Especially when it's only 15 feet back to the boat from the Taverna /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif