| Corfu also known as Kerkyra is the second biggest | | | | case of a dispute or not fulfilling their obligation. |
| island after Crete and is considered one of the most | | | | When you charter a boat either from an agency or |
| beautiful and this due to the greenery that surrounds | | | | direct from the owner you must insist of receiving a |
| it. | | | | copy of the official charter party. This charter party |
| Luckily for Corfu when the Venetians occupied it | | | | contract between the agency or boat owner and the |
| hundreds of years ago they somehow forced the | | | | charterer will be presented to the Port Authority on |
| inhabitants by giving them some incentives to plant | | | | the day of the charter for verification and official |
| olive trees which are still alive and still giving fruit | | | | approval. This particular moment the boat's papers will |
| after so many years. | | | | be examined by the Port Authority to make sure |
| Olives and olive oil was the main income of Corfu for | | | | that all safety requirements have been met and been |
| many years until the influx of tourism which turned | | | | inspected. |
| the Corfiots into providing hotels and apartments and | | | | The charterers must have at least one (1) official |
| thus neglecting their olive trees. Nowadays they still | | | | skipper sailing certificate of competence other wise |
| produce olive oil mainly for their own use as the | | | | the Port Police will not allow the boat to leave harbor. |
| trees are very big and not commercially viable for | | | | This for some people might seem a little too much |
| production. | | | | but on the other hand it provides a security to the |
| Together with the tourism influx the yacht charter | | | | person hiring the boat that it is safe to sail and also |
| business started booming and now Corfu is a major | | | | for the boat owner that the person hiring it is |
| place in the charter map with most of the | | | | competent to handle a boat and thus eliminating |
| international charter companies having permanent | | | | accidents. |
| bases here. | | | | In the last 20 years we had accidents such as mast |
| You can now charter a yacht in Corfu with most of | | | | braking, hitting a rock or other boats but not loss of |
| the charter companies and agencies in the world as it | | | | life which is a very good and makes sailing in Greece |
| has all the facilities for Yacht charters including | | | | very safe. |
| international airport, Modern Marina which | | | | According to Greek law all boats intended for charter |
| accommodates about 1400 yachts of all sizes. | | | | have to be registered as commercial and no private |
| Due to the mild weather and few storms during the | | | | boats are allowed to do charters and be aware when |
| summer and winter season has also attracted a lot | | | | you are not given a charter party agreement signed |
| of foreign boats which are permanently moored in | | | | by the local Port Authority as the boat might not be |
| Corfu as their owners leave the boat here and fly | | | | fit for charter and possibly unsafe too. |
| back when they want to use it. | | | | Also foreign boats are not allowed to do charters in |
| By searching on the net for yacht charters you will | | | | Greece except of EEC registered boats but they |
| find hundreds of companies advertising their boats | | | | have to go through all the inspections as for a Greek |
| for charter so the choice is vast. The Greek charter | | | | commercial boat and also register a company here in |
| companies are very well organized and of course by | | | | Greece. In another article I will go through the |
| being governed by the Greek Tourist Organization | | | | regulations about foreign boats and chartering. I can |
| they have to offer the service and also there is a | | | | also answer any questions regarding yachting and |
| guarantee deposit lodged with the Organization in | | | | yacht charters in Corfu by just contacting me. |