| Many people like the idea of chartering a yacht and | | | | you require a sailing yacht, a motor yacht or a |
| sailing around the idyllic Greek islands, but there are a | | | | motorsailer? What level of comfort do you want |
| number of important points you should consider | | | | aboard? Will you require a skipper? If you require a |
| before you start organising it, to ensure a successful | | | | bareboat (i.e. you intend to do the sailing yourself, |
| holiday. | | | | without skipper or other professional crew aboard), |
| When to Go | | | | what size of yacht are you experienced in handling? |
| The sailing season in Greece lasts from March to | | | | Remember that European regulations, require that |
| early November. During the Spring months, the | | | | two qualified people be aboard. Another option is to |
| weather during the day varies from cool to warm | | | | sail in a group or flotilla of other boats. These can be |
| and is usually cool at night. The sea temperature is | | | | a combination of bareboat and skippered yachts, and |
| not usually suitable for swimming until the middle of | | | | can provide you with the right balance of educational |
| May and then you can swim right through to the | | | | support and local knowledge. |
| middle of October. The months of May, June, | | | | Length of Trip |
| September and October usually have warm to hot | | | | In order to get the most out of a yacht charter, the |
| daytime temperatures and pleasant temperatures at | | | | minimum length of trip should be about 7 days. As |
| night. There are good winds at this time, but they | | | | for the maximum amount of time, that is up to you. |
| are often variable. In July and August there are | | | | Many companies will offer discounts for longer |
| stronger winds, particularly in the Cyclades islands. | | | | charters. Good charter companies will have lots of |
| Spring and Autumn are the most popular seasons for | | | | local knowledge on the best routes and places to |
| yacht chartering in Greece because this is when the | | | | visit, and will work with you to agree an itinerary, |
| climate is most suitable and there are far fewer | | | | which suits your needs. Remember that you do not |
| tourists on the mainland and on the islands, than | | | | have to spend all of your time aboard the boat. You |
| there are in high Summer. | | | | could arrange a couple of days at the beginning at |
| Deciding on the Type of Charter | | | | the end of your charter to explore the mainland. It is |
| There are many options to choose from and when | | | | well worth spending at least two or three days in |
| planning your trip you should consider the following | | | | Athens, which unfortunately is often side-stepped by |
| questions. How many people will be in your party and | | | | people who visit Greece and head straight for the |
| will they require single or double berths aboard? Do | | | | islands. |