Flotilla Holidays for beginners

   Hi, we sailed on a flotilla of Lefkada in the Southern Ionian with Sunny sailing (a very friendly dutch run company) however I heard they're winding up. We more recently sailed in the same area with Sunsail and bumped into their flotilla a couple of times, again, a friendly and helpful bunch. There's some information on sailsecrets.com that may be of use for weather distances etc.

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Brendan01 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 03 Jan 18 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1	Post Options Post Reply Quote Brendan01 Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Flotilla Holidays for beginners Posted: 03 Jan 18 at 2:14pm
	Hi, we sailed on a flotilla of Lefkada in the Southern Ionian with Sunny sailing (a very friendly dutch run company) however I heard they're winding up. We more recently sailed in the same area with Sunsail and bumped into their flotilla a couple of times, again, a friendly and helpful bunch. There's some information on sailsecrets.com that may be of use for weather distances etc.

jim Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 25 Aug 17 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote jim Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Sep 17 at 10:06pm
	We went with Ocean Elements last July for two weeks on one of their stay and sail holidays and it was really good. The first week we were aboard an oceanis 37 and for the second week we went to the beach club in Vasiliki where I got to try Laser sailing again for the first time in many, many years and the kids learned to sail also. Blast reaching in a laser certainly brought back memories! whether beginner or intermediate Vassiliki is really good for sailing For the yacht part of the holiday I cannot recommend them enough - the skipper George was calm and confident helping us all getting onto our moorings each night and giving good guidance through out the day . He evidently loves his job and like many of the staff, he has done a few years with the company. It certainly shows in their passion for the business and added extras like the evening events were lots of fun, especially the paddleboard jousting and beach barbecue which the kids loved. See them at www.oceanelements.com

Halcyon Yachts Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Newbie Joined: 17 Jan 14 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote Halcyon Yachts Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Dec 14 at 10:37pm
	I recommend the Ionian. You should talk to Neilson - they have a great set up with various options of flotilla holidays, resorts, tuition etc... I am slightly biased as we deliver all of their new yachts! Pete
	International Yacht Delivery http://www.halcyonyachts.com

vscott Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 11 Apr 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 181	Post Options Post Reply Quote vscott Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Oct 12 at 10:09am
	We did a Day Skipper course in the Canaries to get us qualified for chartering a boat - thoroughly recommend it as a venue for both. Just loved walking bare foot in the sun at the beginning of February before a day of sailing in reasonable winds, glittering sunshine, dolphins, whales...
	Mk IV Osprey 1314 Think Again Kielder Water Sailing Club

yachtfrenzy Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 03 Oct 12 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote yachtfrenzy Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Oct 12 at 12:51am
	Kos, Greece and Bodrum, Turkey are two places that I'd recommend. Bodrum has lots of ashore activities. Kos is more low key but still a beautiful place to vist and good sailing too.

shadeux Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 06 Feb 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 77	Post Options Post Reply Quote shadeux Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 17 Aug 12 at 12:34pm
	Hi, we've just got back from a Sunsail holiday and it was absolutely brilliant. We went for the Ionian flotilla as I had no yacht experience. The first week in the resort was the perfect start for the family and I was able to do the 3 day flotilla course which was ample time. I sail in the UK and so, for me, it was more about boat handling. However, I understand that from next season the minimum qualification will be a day skipper ticket as it is elsewhere. The second week of flotilla sailing was just right. The distances are pretty much 'line of sight' and the wind tended to be light in the mornings but picking up to a healthy f4 in the afternoons before quietening down in the evenings. So we got some good sailing in. Berthing was never an issue in that although some harbours were busy, there was always somewhere to moor up - our flotilla rafted up on several evenings which worked fine. I could go on!!! suffice to say it's a great way to explore, eat in some georgeous places and meet mostly really friendly, helpful people (apart from a truly obnoxious English couple in Kioni for whom flotillas appeared to be vermin). That aside, can not recommend this kind of sailing holiday highly enough.
	Bruce Shadow002

gfere40 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Newbie Joined: 04 May 12 Location: Ioannina Online Status: Offline Posts: 1	Post Options Post Reply Quote gfere40 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 May 12 at 3:59pm
	Hi there, I am from Greece, Ioannina. Last year 2011 I went to Paxos and had fantastic time. its a paradise over there with quite good prices, affordable from anybody. By the way if you are going to be there get a small boat for a day and visit Antipaxos(speechless). Grigoris
	http://www.fougarostravel.com

marky Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 12 Sep 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 52	Post Options Post Reply Quote marky Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 08 Oct 11 at 6:14pm
	If you can afford the time (and money!) go for a villa (1st week) / flotilla (2nd week) holiday. Both Neilsons and Sunsail do these and if you go out of school holidays you can get a good deal. First week would be learning the ropes and getting confidence + lot's of time to do other stuff (relaxing by the pool, sailing, windsurfing etc) whilst the second week would be on a flotilla.....

iainh Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 07 Oct 11 Location: UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote iainh Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 08 Oct 11 at 3:40pm
	I did my initial Comp Crew through Seafarer, but have always booked direct since. Has worked very well. We only need to buy our flights which are cheap when booked early and all the rest gets done for us if we ask. As to distances, well, Poros to Perdika or Vathi if you want to 'do' the Saronic are only a couple of hours. You can cross the Saronic to Corinth in about 4 hours! Ermioni if you 'go south' is further, maybe 4 hours, but then 4 hours isn't much of the day and we prefer to sail away from the crouds. We've also always done bareboat so as to keep away from as many other boats as possible. It also allows us to go places the flotillas don't go...Yerakas, Sambitiki and other little spots of quietness So despite starting with only my DS and my wife with a CC, we never had any issues sailing 'alone' on bareboat, but then it's a case of personal preference. You could also do a Stay & Sail as mentioned or even do a 4 or 6 day course followed by a week bareboat or flotilla. It's very much a personal choice. As I said, I'm biased, but having gone to the same place, same charter company 5 years in a row, I think that says something must be working well

Contender443 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 01 Oct 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1211	Post Options Post Reply Quote Contender443 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 08 Oct 11 at 2:36pm
	We have also done the Greek Sails holiday booked through Seafarer. We had a great fortnight. Perhaps it was a bit quieter than the Ionian but the sailing distances were much longer so less time for a long lunchtime swim. Don't worry about being in port buy 3pm on a flotilla. We were always one of the last in as on flotilla the lead boat skipper has the job of finding(keeping) you somewhere to berth.
	Bonnie Lass Contender 1764