So, how practical is it to have your yacht in the Med?

[seanfoster]

I really would love to have a yacht in the med, I'm thinking Ionian for starters. (My current boat would be too small at 26ft, and am thinking about 2-3 yrs time when I can upgrade to something 36-38ft).

I've been looking around and on the face of it, it looks like a good idea and mooring costs are comparable with a south coast marina. Obviously there is the significant cost of getting there, but to me, I would prefer 3-4 weeks over the year (plus a few weekends here and there) in glorious sun and warm blue seas than the rain driven 'Summer' we have here!

So what are the real costs, and what are peoples experiences of owning a boat abroad?
I live in the East Midlands, so Birmingham and Manchester airports are an hour away, with Gatwick possible about 2 1/2 hours away.

What I was thinking was mooring my boat in Gouvia during the times I wanted to use it (April to say End of June then Sepember to October) and moving to a cheaper alternative such as Messolongi for the other periods, to try and keep costs down.

Is this a fair idea or too much trouble? I like to economise as much as possible and really need to look at this practically - although if I really thought that I'd never own a boat in the first place!

Any insights and advice would be appreciated!

Just one more thing, there are rumours circulating that the Greek season may be extended by a month either end to boost the economy, the barrier being flight availability, any comments on this?

 

[Tranona]

At 3-4 weeks a year, not worth it. Charter a boat when you need it. Cheapest way to get "weeks" is to buy a boat under a charter management deal. About 3 weeks usage pays for it. You do have a problem what to do with the boat at the end and possibly raising the money in the first place. Next best way is to join a syndicate of 3 or 4. There are always shares in boats of various types and ages available - try www.yachfractions.co.uk

There are many "hidden" costs. Marina charges have rocketed in the last few years - my last year in Gouvia was 4500 euros for 11m. You will also want somebody to look after the boat at 50 euros a month and insurance is about 40% higher than UK. All boat costs, material and labour are at least the same or higher than UK. The climate is harsh on boats so you need on going maintenance and you could end up spending much of your holiday fixing your boat rather than using it. You can run a boat on the cheap by anchoring all the time and using small yards for winter haul out, but that is not compatible with holiday type usage.

As to extending the season, I have been in April and November. The weather is cool and unpredictable before May, but better the tail end of the season. There is good access to Corfu direct except November to March and Preveza/Levkas all year round through Athens and bus, so transport is not the real barrier to longer season - the weather is.

 

[Victoria Sponge]

I was thinking bareboat charter would be a good idea. You might have already tried it, but if not, you could.

Might I suggest Turkey as a great sailing area, cheaper than Greece and better IMHO.

We have a boat in the UK for hols and weekends, but for some sun we charter in Turkey.

 

[vyv_cox]

There are plenty of boats of around 26 ft in the Ionian, so I would not have you believe that 38 ft is essential. Keeping a bigger boat afloat in a marina for the sake of a few weeks of sailing would be, as Tanona suggests, a poor use of your money. But keeping a 26 ft boat ashore in one of the many yards and launching when you arrive is a very different matter. The big yards such as those at Preveza will cost you amounts similar to those in UK for both storage and launch/recovery but there are many far cheaper places where you could be very happy.

Alternatively there are many places where you could leave the boat on a mooring or a big anchor with gardiennage for a few euros a week. Many boats are left in the mud at Tranquil Bay all season, at no cost at all. You wouldn't want to do that with a pristine 38 footer but you might consider it with something a lot cheaper and older.

Once launched you will find Greece incredibly cheap. My total fuel and berthing costs for each season, April to October, 2007 - 2009, were about €750 p.a.

Edit: you might also like to consider shared ownership. There are many in the Ionian, for instance, where the old ex-Sunsail Sadler 32s are widely used by four or five owners. Buying into partnerships of this type of boat will not be too expensive, berthing costs are shared and provided you don't insist on school holidays you could almost take your cruise whenever you like.

 

[seanfoster]

Thanks for the replies, I think looking at it, it wouldn't be practical unless I could spend months at a time on board, so maybe something to think about in the future.

However, I still like the idea of having a floating holiday home that I could go to at the drop of a hat! So I'm now thinking that my current boat would be not so bad if I kept it in a yard and launch when required. (I have a very good trailer and could easily tow it to Greece, I've looked into this previously).

I've emailed Govia marina to ask for a quote for the above, so where can I find other yards that can offer a similar (good) service? I'm looking at preveza too, but easy access to an airport which offers cheap regular flights is important. Any idea how much i'd pay for a years storage ashore plus launching recover costs?

 

[nimbusgb]

Preveza. 1 Mile from the airport ( summer only ) yes there are occasional offers on tickets but 'drop of the hat' not really so work on £250 return. preveza is also within a reasonable reach from Corfu. Its an hour and a half ferry rid to the mainaland and an 80 km bus or car ride to Preveza. ( rentals in Igo but work on several hundred euro for the week )

Dad's been there about 18 years and I've been there about 6 now. 38' is a great size for the Ionian and 2 sailors with visitors / friends over for drinks / dinner but anything from 30' is fine.

I pay €1700 for one haul and launch and 1 years storage. Dry sailing. €250 per additional launch and haul sequence. If your boat is on its own trailer I'm sure you could probably 1/2 that if not more.

Stored in the water there's always that nagging worry about leaks above and below the waterline, the hassle of antifouling etc . Dry sailing just makes so much sense.

Even with the best will in the world it takes about 4 days off any sailing holiday. 2 days at each end to pitch up, rig and make ready the boat and reverse everything at the other end of the holiday. One could store ashore in winter and afloat on a marina finger in summer ( Gouvia or Kleopatra, Preveza both ideal for this ) so then you need to antifoul for the season so add another couple of days once a year.

Getting the family out to the boat for a holiday in season costs about 1k. Getting anything larger than a new set of oilies to the boat is a mission, either drive down ( 1k again - petrol, ferries etc ) of ship goods in white van services ( 120 to 220 for 0.5 cu m and 1 cu metre respectively )

So minimum trip to actually do some sailing is 2 weeks at a time ( or a week to 10 days if afloat). Reckon on a week per annum 'just working on the boat' holiday.

If you go more than twice a year with a family or 3 times as a couple you may as well be paying South Coast rates for a mooring.

All that having been said sailing Greece is great. The weather, the people, the food, the sailing, wildlife, history, all magic.

I'm bringing our boat home this year. We may charter there for a week or two in the intervening years. Then again a week or two in Belize or elsewhere in the Caribbean is appealing, with a boat in Greece well....it's always in Greece.

If you are a sailor you will miss having the boat at home.