Greece and its islands are known throughout the world as a classic yacht charter destination. Sailing the crystal blue seas among mountainous islands with white buildings shining in the sun is an experience you will never forget.

You’ll return with magical memories and captivating photographs of your voyage.

For many people sailing in Greece is the fulfilment of a dream. It’s certainly one of the best ways to explore the country.

Unfortunately every year there are a few people whose holiday is unforgettable for the wrong reason – the reality did not match up to their dream and they were disappointed. In the majority of these cases you’ll find the problem was that they had unrealistic expectations of the sailing area, type of yacht, or time of year that they chose to visit.

There are many different ways to sail in Greece. It’s important to choose carefully to ensure that you pick the best yacht charter for your needs. This is especially true if you are not an experienced sailor.

You should research the various island groups and typical weather and sea conditions in the month you plan to sail. You also need to consider what type of yacht will suit you and your budget, and whether you would prefer to simply be a guest on board or if you are looking for a more ‘hands on’ experience.

The Yacht Charter Greece website has lots of ideas for diverse types of yacht charter in Greece and we welcome comments and advice from all.

Greece has hundreds of islands and several main sailing areas, each full of history and with a distinctive culture. The best known Greek sailing areas are the Ionian, Saronic, Sporades, Dodecanese, and of course the famous Cyclades. These differ in appearance, accessibility, and weather.

It’s essential to make an informed choice if you want to have the experience you desire, especially as for many people this may be a once in a lifetime adventure.

Using the links and articles on Yacht Charter Greece will help you to find absolutely the best yacht charter holiday for you.  

Enjoy your sailing!

Technorati Tags: sailing in Greece, yacht charter greece

The Ionian is one of the best known destinations for yacht charter in Greece. The Ionian Islands are a group of islands located to the northwest of mainland Greece – the side facing Italy. The northermost of the Ionian islands are opposite Albania and the most southerly islands is off the southern tip of the Pelopponese.

The islands are traditionally called the Seven Islands, or Eptanisia in Greek. The seven main islands, from north to south, are Corfu (Kerkyra), Paxos, Lefkada, Ithika, Kefallonia, Zakinthos, and Kythira. There are many smaller islands as well as the seven principal ones, including some that are uninhabited. 

Off the south-east coast of Lefkas, for instance, is the beautiful island of Meganisi. This has unspoilt sandy beaches and famous sea-caves. It is a delightful area for relaxed family sailing.

You’ll find a variety of spellings for the names of the islands as they acquired Itailian names during the time of Venetian rule, and like all  Greek names, they can be wriiten slightly differently when translated into English characters.

The Ionian is a particularly popular sailing area for families and less experienced skippers and crew. More flotilla companies operate there than in any other area of Greece. They are attracted by the calm seas and gentle winds for which the area is best known. However, do not be fooled into thinking that it is always calm. Although the winds are typically less strong than elsewhere in Greece it is still subject to storms from time to time.

One of the features of sailing in this area is that there are many harbours and anchorages to choose from and plenty of sheltered sailing areas. The Ionian tends to get very busy in mid summer, especially August, and it can be difficult to find a berth in the more popular harbours if you arrive late. However there are often delightful places to anchor nearby. In Spring and Autumn sailing in the Ionian is a paradise.

The Ionian is slightly cooler and much greener than most of Greece. It has more rainfall over the winter. 

Often the area is sub-divided into the North and South Ionian with Lefkas and the Lefkas canal as the ‘dividing line’. Most people would sail in one or other area if on a week’s sailing holiday. In a fortnight it is possible to take in both south and northern islands.

The best bases for sailing holidays in the northern Ionian are Corfu and Gouvia with Preveza, Nidri and Lefkas being the main bases for yacht charters in the southern Ionian. You will find numerous yacht charter and flotilla companies to choose from. 

Among the companies offering sailing holidays in the Ionian are Sailing Holidays. They have both flotillas and bareboat yacht charter available.

It is possible to take skippered sailing holidays in the Ionian on either a yacht or luxury catamaran such as that run by Cata Sailing.

There are also several sailing schools in the area for those who want to ‘learn the ropes’. These include Corfu Sea School and Sail Ionian, both of which are RYA recognised training centres.

The Sailing Issues website has four suggested itineraries for a sailing holiday in the Ionian islands together with masses of useful information on the area – click here to see their suggestions.

If you haven’t sailed in Greece before the Ionian is a good place to start. I’d recommend taking a look at an interesting article Sailing the Ionian Sea, for a personal view of a sailing holiday in this lovely part of the world.

Technorati Tags: ionian bareboat, ionian flotilla, ionian islands, ionian sailing, ionian sailing holidays, ionian yacht charter, sailing greece, sailing greek islands, sailing ionian sea, yacht charter greece