starting a sailing business in the med

[PhilMitch]

Hi
I wonder if anyone can help me? I am thinking of setting up a skippered sailing charter business in the grease next year. The plan would be to take couples out for a week of visiting various places and mooring up over night. I would like to base my yacht in lefkas. I know I have to have third party liability insurance and have a yacht master qualification. I would like to know if any other people have done this and what are the pitfall that I might encounter on the way or indeed if it is at all possible with the red tape and customs.

Phil

 

[BoyBlue49]

I can imagine many pitfalls, least of which is your thousands of competitors but good luck, if you don't try you won't know.

 

[Ludd]

I can imagine many pitfalls, least of which is your thousands of competitors but good luck, if you don't try you won't know.

I would think it would be any easy way to make a small fortune----providing you start with a big one!

 

[Davy_S]

Spelling Greece correctly would be a start!

 

[Tranona]

Gross oversupply of charter boats of any kind in Greece. Skippered charter not very popular as bare boat sailing is easy. Many of the charter operators will provvide skippers for their larger boats.

Although in theory you can get a charter licence (essential) with a UK registered boat, it is much more practical to have a Greek partner and register the boat in Greece. Either way you need to meet Greek regs, and if the boat is UK registered, meet MCA coding as well.

 

[BoyBlue49]

I would think it would be any easy way to make a small fortune----providing you start with a big one!

That is how the Greeeek goverment works.

 

[Ludd]

That is how the Greeeek goverment works.

No it doesn't----work,I mean!

 

[ccscott49]

Cariadco is the member to talk to, he's doing it right now, setting up I mean, in Gouvia.

 

[DownWest]

Not trying to be negative, but if you have a source of income that will keep you going, then you can try a new business.
But I wonder if this question is the same as the (lots of) people who used to try running a bar where I used to live in Iberia. The ones that did well were people who already had run good ones.The others, with perhaps a good holiday or two of bar experience (as patrons) liked the lifestyle, but had little idea of the reality of running an outfit in a southern europe state with different rules. Few survived or enjoyed the experience.
In the current climate I would be very careful of entering the greek market. Established interests will look to make life difficult for new entrants, even if not directly competitive.
A

 

[Davy_S]

In the current climate I would be very careful of entering the greek market. Established interests will look to make life difficult for new entrants, even if not directly competitive

How very true! it is dog eat dog among the local Greek bars and Tavernas at the moment. Keep your cash in your pocket for a while.

 

[lenseman]

Spelling Greece correctly would be a start!

it was spelt correctly. It is just a very slippery slope!

 

[dormilon]

Hi
I wonder if anyone can help me? I am thinking of setting up a skippered sailing charter business in the grease next year. The plan would be to take couples out for a week of visiting various places and mooring up over night. I would like to base my yacht in lefkas. I know I have to have third party liability insurance and have a yacht master qualification. I would like to know if any other people have done this and what are the pitfall that I might encounter on the way or indeed if it is at all possible with the red tape and customs.

Phil

was in lefkas 2 weeks ago and saw advert in marine shop by town wall the same biz you want it said been going for years and is profitable--

 

[Cariadco]

Starting a Charter Business.

Hi
I wonder if anyone can help me? I am thinking of setting up a skippered sailing charter business in the grease next year. The plan would be to take couples out for a week of visiting various places and mooring up over night. I would like to base my yacht in lefkas. I know I have to have third party liability insurance and have a yacht master qualification. I would like to know if any other people have done this and what are the pitfall that I might encounter on the way or indeed if it is at all possible with the red tape and customs.

Phil

Firstly, you need to learn the area you intend to operate within, and know it very well. Then you'll have to establish lots of Connections/Networks/Friends. Be very very patient, as it'll take you between 3 to 5 years to get the business going, oh yes, one more thing....Immense Determination!!! Bucket loads of it.
I've been planning my business for the last 15 years or so, and studied every bit of available info that I could find...and I'm still learning!!! Being able to sail is just the first step.
So don't expect success to come easily, or quickly but if your willing to hang in there for the long run...you might, just might, make a go of it.

As previously mentioned, there's loads and loads of Charter companies in Greece, and most are having a tough time of it.

Oh, one more thing, you need to find a version of Chartering, that potential customers are after. This one is very difficult!!

Good Luck.

 

[Appleyard]

How very true! it is dog eat dog among the local Greek bars and Tavernas at the moment. .

So Moussaka is off the menu then?

 

[westernman]

The charter operator I talked to in Menorca had about 5 boats. In summer they were charted out in Menorca. In winter they were chartered in the Carribean. He even managed to find people to pay to sail them to the Carribean and back!

[ You could not do that with a British registered AWB - it would have to comply to MCA category 0 which means interior bulkheads and the ability to float with one compartment completely flooded ]

However, he still wanted out as he was making very little money. And this on a year round operation. Maintenance and running costs were making life hard for him.

In Greece I would imagine you will be doing well to get anything more than 4 months of real business in the year.