AlexL
Well-Known Member
Fancy a beach / sailing holiday with teh kids and Sunsail club vounaki near Preveza in greece seems to keep cropping up in my research. Anyone been? got any comments?
Sunsail club Vounaki - anyone been there? any comments?
- Thread starter AlexL
- Start date
flipper
Well-Known Member
AlexL
Well-Known Member
Thanks for that, but I was thinking more of the beach club holiday and dinghy sailing rather than the flottila.
Have heard mixed things about sunsail in this country, but I must say I have seen nothing but good reviews for The vounaki club.
Have heard mixed things about sunsail in this country, but I must say I have seen nothing but good reviews for The vounaki club.
DannyB
Well-Known Member
I went with my family about ten years ago, and it was great, well organised, good accomodation, only drawback was the fairly steep hill from the base down to the beach. At that time I thought it was excellent, and I was an RYA dinghy instructor myself. Since then they have had a fatal accident where a young girl was tragically drowned after being trapped under a capsized catamaran. Sunsail representatives were prosecuted by the Greek authorities because the rescue boat did not have a knife on board. I would imagine that they would have tightened up their safety procedures as a result. You need to assess your own abilities, because the sailing area is on the sea, craft can get very spread out very quickly when the wind gets up. That said, the quality of the instructors was very high (ten years ago) probably still is, and the range of dinghies and day boats was amazing.
FullCircle
Well-Known Member
Alex,
Lynn and I did the Neilson Stay and Sail in Nidri for 1 week, then off on a boat for the second week in flotilla.
Hotel all in except for 2 meals, very good accommodation and facilities. Food was excellent and very varied.
Plenty of equipment, use it when you like, even just turn up and waterski/wakeboard.
They had a good selection of dinghies for most levels from aPico to Hobie 16 cats.
Lynn did here RYA Dinghy 1&2 and I did Open Water Diver.
Also had good swimming pools, excellent Kids club and minders, Tennis and Volleyball, Bowls area.
They even had a few yachts, like Jeanneau 292 and Moody S31s available in the first week.
In all highly recommended.
Lynn and I did the Neilson Stay and Sail in Nidri for 1 week, then off on a boat for the second week in flotilla.
Hotel all in except for 2 meals, very good accommodation and facilities. Food was excellent and very varied.
Plenty of equipment, use it when you like, even just turn up and waterski/wakeboard.
They had a good selection of dinghies for most levels from aPico to Hobie 16 cats.
Lynn did here RYA Dinghy 1&2 and I did Open Water Diver.
Also had good swimming pools, excellent Kids club and minders, Tennis and Volleyball, Bowls area.
They even had a few yachts, like Jeanneau 292 and Moody S31s available in the first week.
In all highly recommended.
NBDS
New Member
We had a week there a couple of years ago with family prior to joining a flotilla and it was very good. Understand that the club has been refurbished since then so should be even better !
wotayottie
Well-Known Member
oue experience is a few years old, but we had a cracking time. Ideal for kids. Lots of dinhies, waterskiing, big boat sailing, windsurfing - and the whole show run by youngsters rather than stuffy adults. Recommended.
P.S. I reckon that a lot of what you hear about Sunsail in the UK is snobbery anyway.
P.S. I reckon that a lot of what you hear about Sunsail in the UK is snobbery anyway.
jimi
Well-Known Member
We were at Galini for a fortnight a few years ago (used to be a Sunsail Beach Club on Levkas) and sailed across to Vounaki, looked good .. although I think I preferred the Sunsail Beach Clubs before they repositioned themselves further upmarket
explores
Well-Known Member
Been on Sunsail shore based and flotilla 10 times, all very good and you are well looked after. Did a delivery trip from kos to Lavrion---very hairy at times Go for it you will have a good time.
Jobs_a_ good_ un
Well-Known Member
Just another opinion
We had a couple of days there last year and I enjoyed the dinghy sailing
The winds were v light
But the beach is a bit small and grubby
Full of youngsters running the place who s attention you could never quite get
Saying that I enjoyed it a week is about top wack
We had a couple of days there last year and I enjoyed the dinghy sailing
The winds were v light
But the beach is a bit small and grubby
Full of youngsters running the place who s attention you could never quite get
Saying that I enjoyed it a week is about top wack
Relax
Well-Known Member
Hi,
I've passed through Vounaki a couple of times on my way to charters and did spend a day there (and did some dinghy sailing) the first time. The club is fine the wind is very light and the sailing area limited.
I also spent a week at Colonna in Antigua - which I hugely preferred. Its about the same price (I think) but the hassle of getting there is much greater and for anyone who has not sailed before it may not be ideal - the wind is strong - and the boats go very quickly /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Also the snorkeling and other activities are better. Antigua as a whole though is fairly expensive (can be very expensive depending where you eat out)
Last time we did go to Levkas town which was interesting.
I've passed through Vounaki a couple of times on my way to charters and did spend a day there (and did some dinghy sailing) the first time. The club is fine the wind is very light and the sailing area limited.
I also spent a week at Colonna in Antigua - which I hugely preferred. Its about the same price (I think) but the hassle of getting there is much greater and for anyone who has not sailed before it may not be ideal - the wind is strong - and the boats go very quickly /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Also the snorkeling and other activities are better. Antigua as a whole though is fairly expensive (can be very expensive depending where you eat out)
Last time we did go to Levkas town which was interesting.
jimi
Well-Known Member
OTOH when I was there we had a few days with serious wind in the afternoon
ERICH
Member
Re: Just another opinion
Hi Alex
We had a very enjoyable two week family holiday in Sunsail Vounaki in 2004 and on that basis would recommend it .
As stated by others the crew are young and enthusiastic with plenty of good equipment , there are also yachts available to use for cruising the area on a day basis and racing organised for different classes . Winds generally light though we did get a Force 8 one day !
Nb we did become aware of the tragic accident the year before and this came to court in 2006 , very sad , but difficult to make activities like sailing totally safe.
Enjoy your holiday !
Hi Alex
We had a very enjoyable two week family holiday in Sunsail Vounaki in 2004 and on that basis would recommend it .
As stated by others the crew are young and enthusiastic with plenty of good equipment , there are also yachts available to use for cruising the area on a day basis and racing organised for different classes . Winds generally light though we did get a Force 8 one day !
Nb we did become aware of the tragic accident the year before and this came to court in 2006 , very sad , but difficult to make activities like sailing totally safe.
Enjoy your holiday !
Richard Shead
Slipped Anchor
It's not to much hassle to get to Antigua, hop and a skip from Gatwick and 10 min transfer the other end, you will be sinking a rum punch before 3 p.m the same day.....
Richard Shead
Slipped Anchor
To add its not open again till late October, sorry forgot to mention that bit!
homa
Well-Known Member
Have done a few sunsail clubs over the years.
Of the remaining clubs now open I would say it is second only to Colonna in Antigua.
Go for it - great fun.
Also an easy walk into town.
Of the remaining clubs now open I would say it is second only to Colonna in Antigua.
Go for it - great fun.
Also an easy walk into town.
Relax
Well-Known Member
Maybe my view is coloured...
I did a Kuwait - Dubai - Gatwick - Antigua hop and skip .... its still about 8 hours on the plane.
I do remember it was just getting dark tho when we got there - was July.
Cheap tho' - about £600 each if I remember - I suppose July is off-season in the Carribean?
I did a Kuwait - Dubai - Gatwick - Antigua hop and skip .... its still about 8 hours on the plane.
I do remember it was just getting dark tho when we got there - was July.
Cheap tho' - about £600 each if I remember - I suppose July is off-season in the Carribean?
jimbaerselman
Well-Known Member
Where to go depends how much wind you want . . . and whether you want to be in touch with local life.
Vounaki usually manages a good afternoon breeze for 2 to 4 hours four or five days a week. The Sunsail (and Neilson) Turkish resorts will have more consistent winds - mornings as well as afternoons - but often too strong for comfortable dinghy sailing, especially around Bodrum area. Good for windsurfing though!
Neilson Port Heli and Sivota offer more consistent winds for dinghy sailors, but Porto Heli is a long transfer . . . not so good if you have young kids . . . and a rather colourless local town.
Would you prefer to be close to an attractive village to enjoy the local atmosphere? Or are you happy to be relatively isolated from the country itself? Check the distance from the local town/village, and its character. Neilson Finikounda usually has good winds, and a small local village of great character (I have to say that, since I spend most of my summers there!) whereas many other resorts from both companies are isolated from all local colour.
No easy answers . . .
Vounaki usually manages a good afternoon breeze for 2 to 4 hours four or five days a week. The Sunsail (and Neilson) Turkish resorts will have more consistent winds - mornings as well as afternoons - but often too strong for comfortable dinghy sailing, especially around Bodrum area. Good for windsurfing though!
Neilson Port Heli and Sivota offer more consistent winds for dinghy sailors, but Porto Heli is a long transfer . . . not so good if you have young kids . . . and a rather colourless local town.
Would you prefer to be close to an attractive village to enjoy the local atmosphere? Or are you happy to be relatively isolated from the country itself? Check the distance from the local town/village, and its character. Neilson Finikounda usually has good winds, and a small local village of great character (I have to say that, since I spend most of my summers there!) whereas many other resorts from both companies are isolated from all local colour.
No easy answers . . .
bryantee
Well-Known Member
i live part of the year in lefkas.vounaki is fairly isolated but good facilities,depends on the age of the children. the younger ones will enjoy better.the tavernas for the elders don,t vary much. but a fair walk.f you have teens then nidri on lefkas has more(If you like cleethorpes on ionian) If they are 18 teens then Lefkas for kite boarding or vassiliki for wind surfing. they fall asleep at ten o clock less worries.better than corfu or the agean islands. kefalonia is for the sailing/saga brigade.zante is brighton on sea.the other island is special .
AlexL
Well-Known Member
Thanks for all the replies, most helpful indeed.
The kids are 3 and 1, so short flight and short transfer are high on the agenda.
have decided to plump for vounaki in september, seems to tick all the boxes.
Plus my wife and I, although we have done a fair bit of cruising (and our first RTIR recently!) have never sailed a dinghy so Vounaki seems good for virgins like us!
The kids are 3 and 1, so short flight and short transfer are high on the agenda.
have decided to plump for vounaki in september, seems to tick all the boxes.
Plus my wife and I, although we have done a fair bit of cruising (and our first RTIR recently!) have never sailed a dinghy so Vounaki seems good for virgins like us!
