Jetsettersblog

SAILING IN GREECE WITH SUNVIL

Learn-to-Sail, Flotilla, Bareboat, Villa-Flotilla

Sunvil Sailing run yachting holidays off Lefkas island in the Greek Ionian Sea with a choice of accommodation either on board the boat or shore-based in a hotel, villa or apartment. They specialise in learn-to-sail weeks with certification but also offer flotilla, bareboat charter, individually tailored villa-flotilla packages and day boat hire.

The Greek sailing holidays run from early May to end October; holidaymakers can charter their own yacht with or without tuition, while singles, couples and parties too small to skipper their own boat can take advantage of Sunvil’s share-a-yacht weeks. New this year will be tuition yachts for single parents plus their children.

Learn-to-Sail Weeks

Sunvil’s learn-to-sail holidays in the Greek Ionian Sea are suitable for the complete novice as well as those with a little sailing experience or whose knowledge has lapsed; courses cater for singles, couples, groups of friends and families with youngsters from nine years upwards (under 16s need to be accompanied by an adult).

Accommodation is either live-aboard or shore-based while the superb coastal scenery, warm sheltered waters and favourable wind conditions provide a safe and pleasant location in which to learn new boating skills.

Tuition follows an internationally recognised syllabus; novices will aim for the Crew Certificate (for 12 years and over), while the more advanced can work towards a Skipper Certificate qualifying them for non-tidal coastal waters (for 16 years and over). Youngsters between 9 and 12 years can gain an Introduction to Yachting Certificate.

Live-Aboard Packages: For those choosing to live-aboard, the tuition yachts form the lead boats in a small flotilla, which departs from Sunvil’s base at Nidri.

Holidaymakers share their yacht with the instructor as it cruises around the stunning coastal islands; itineraries vary taking in islands such as Ithaca, Kephalonia, Kastos, Kalomos and Meganissi. Days are spent literally learning the ropes along with boating and navigational skills, while the flotilla moors up at a different harbour every evening for a relaxing and social dinner ashore in a local restaurant.

Six and eight berth yachts are used for the learn-to-sail programmes with between four and six students to one instructor.

Prices start from £717 per person per week based on two sharing a cabin to include return flights from London Gatwick to Prevesa, transfers, live-aboard accommodation and tuition.

There is a single cabin supplement from £100pppw and a £70 on-site contribution towards the on-board kitty to cover a welcome starter pack with some light refreshments and expenses such as yacht damage waiver, fuel, mooring fees, certification, etc. This rises to £110 for a two-week cruise.

Shore-Based Yacht Training Courses: First time sailors, families and groups where not everybody wishes to learn-to-sail or those who simply prefer the extra comforts of hotel, villa or apartment, can take the shore-based accommodation option.

They can then book as many two-day sailing modules as they wish with instruction. On non-sailing days guests can simply relax by the pool, try some watersports, go horse riding or hire a car and drive along the coast or explore inland.

One week’s stay at the Hotel Armonia in Nidri, B&B for two sharing a sea view room is priced from £549pp to include flights from London Gatwick and transfers in Greece. The learn-to-sail is additional – guests can buy the two-day course modules at £110 each based on a minimum of two people per yacht, plus £20pp on-site to cover certification, log-books and yacht fuel.

Other Options

In addition, Sunvil Sailing offer flotilla holidays in Greece for those with relevant qualifications to charter their own yacht. By trying to keep to around eight boats, the flotilla can moor overnight at some of the smaller, more attractive ports and form a sociable group for dinner at a local taverna or hotel. Prices start from £559pppw dependent on the size of yacht, number in the party and time of year plus an on-site contribution to cover yacht damage waiver, port documentation, etc.

They also have a limited number of yachts from 27 to 46ft available for bareboat charter for qualified/experienced sailors to sail independently outside the normal flotilla area.

Other options include skippered charter for holidaymakers wishing to relax just occasionally lending a hand when necessary, and day boat hire for shore-based holidaymakers.

Sunvil Sailing can also put together custom made packages with variations for individuals, couples or small groups to provide the perfect combination of live-aboard sailing, tuition and shore-based accommodation to suit all levels from experienced skippers to complete novices.

Sample Packages: A fortnight’s holiday for two with the first week on a shared tuition yacht and the second aboard their own 30ft boat as part of a flotilla would start from £950pp.

And a family or party of four with the first week on their own tuition yacht and the second in a two-bedroom self-catering apartment at the Hotel Armonia, Nidri would be from £790pp.

Malta, Turkey and Croatia Bareboat and Skippered Charter

This year Sunvil Sailing is offering bareboat and skippered charter in Turkey, Croatia and Malta from April to November. A vast selection of monohull and multihull craft are available to suit and can be packaged with flights and transfers; individual quotations on request.

The Maltese programme will operate from the Manoel Island Marina at Gzira while in Turkey the yachts are based at the modern marina at Yalikavak on the scenic coast around 10 miles from Bodrum and just 23 miles from the airport. Holidaymakers chartering a yacht in Turkey will also be able to cruise the long chain of picturesque Greek Dodecanese islands which hug the coastline. In Croatia they sail from the village of Kastela, which is about 15 minutes transfer from Split airport on the Central Dalmatian Coast. There is also the option of a second week in a hotel at all three destinations.

For further details contact Sunvil Sailing on Telephone: 0208 758 4780, email sailing@sunvil.co.uk  or visit www.sunvilsailing.co.uk