5 Ways To Sail Greece
Published: Friday, September 28, 2018
Greece has always been one of the world’s top sailing destinations. Sailing the Greek islands by yacht is the best way to explore some of the 4500 islands, but there is a confusing number of sailing choices dependent on budget, level of skill, and personal preference, of course!
1. Bareboat Charter – Sail where and when you want.
If you have the necessary qualifications - ASA104 or the International Certificate of Competence (ICC) - then you can choose to do a bareboat charter in Greece. This means you are responsible for everything on the boat and will sail yourself.
Pros: Charter a monohull or catamaran and create your own idyllic itinerary.
Cons: Requires a sailing certificate to charter a boat in Greece and can be more costly as a small group. You will also be lacking the local knowledge of this vast area, which is essential to truly experience the location.
2. 
Skippered Bareboat Charter – Hassle-free sailing.
If you don’t sail, don’t have a license, or if you want a more relaxing sailing vacation, then charter a boat and hire a local skipper. You’ll enjoy hassle-free sailing and benefit from the professional skipper’s local knowledge.
Pros: No need to worry about weather forecasts, docking, finding the best anchorage, restaurant, or historical sites.
Cons: Additional cost for the skipper is approx. Euro 186 per day, plus meals and a cabin.
3. Flotilla - The social way to sail.
If you want to sail yourself and have the required sailing certificate but are unsure of the sailing area, then join a flotilla in Greece. A flotilla sailing holiday is a great choice for those who want to sail with a group of boats, plus they offer a perfect balance of safe sailing, cultural highlights, and social activities.
Pros: Assistance from the flotilla staff boat and great camaraderie with other flotilla sailors.
Cons: The flotilla itinerary is fixed.
4. Luxury Crewed Yacht – A floating five-star hotel.
If budget allows, then a crewed yacht in Greece offers the highest level of luxury and standard of service. The crew on privately-crewed yachts are professionally trained and will provide whatever you desire. The choices range from a 45ft sailing catamaran, to a 180ft power vessel.
Pros: The vessel and crew offer a one of kind, lavish boating vacation.
Cons: Expect to pay anything from Euro 15,000 up to Euro 900,000, plus extras.
5. Cabin Charter – A shared sailing adventure.
Book a cabin and share the boat with guests from all over the world. An experienced Captain and first mate allow you to do as much or as little as you want. Higher priced cabin charters are on larger, more stable boats offering comfortable accommodations with private washrooms plus two meals are included each day.
Pros: An affordable way to experience sailing in Greece, aboard a larger yacht, and you can make new friends.
Cons: The itinerary is fixed and if you are uncomfortable meeting new people, it might not be for you.
Poseidon Charters has been sailing Greece for over 25 years and is the leading operator of cabin charter, bareboat, luxury charter, and flotilla sailing holidays in Greece. To start your Greece sailing adventure, visit www.poseidoncharters.com today!
This article first appeared in the Fall Issue (Sept/Oct) 2018 of Great Lakes Scuttlebutt magazine.
tags: Beyond the Lakes, Charter, Travel
