SAIL AWAY

on your dream holiday this year with the latest news and off ers

Image: Kite_rin / Shutterstock

Sail From Athens

Planning a sailing holiday to the classic cruising grounds of Greece later this year? With an incredible history, it is no surprise that it is one of the world’s oldest sailing destinations.

PlainSailing.com can help you fi nd the perfect yacht or catamaran to sail from Athens, which is an ideal place to charter from if you want to explore the Saronic islands. There is so much to explore from the pistachio-growing island of Aegina, the ancient ruins at Poros and the almost mythical Hydra, which is an amphitheatre of a marina that is genuinely a wonder to behold.

Ideal for beginners, with easy line-of-sight navigation, clear waters and light winds, peak season is July and August, but you can sail here from March to October.

PlainSailing.com has a range of yachts and catamarans available for charter, all available bareboat or skippered. They can also arrange a hostess, personal chef and other crew. PlainSailing.com

Peaceful getaways

Avoid the crowds this summer by enjoying a fl exible mid-week start to your bareboat charter in Greece or Croatia. Nautilus Yachting tell us that your long-awaited 2021 holiday can still be stress-free from the beginning till the end.

A mid-week start will allow you to take advantage of cheaper fl ights, less crowded airports, speedy embarkation with fewer guests in the marina and a full weekend (free of other charter yachts!) at sea.

With daily fl ights into Greece’s capital, Athens, you can pick any day of the week to start your holiday. You could even choose a mini-break with a fi ve-night minimum charter duration. Or explore your own Greek island paradise with weekday embarkation available for your bareboat charter out of Corfu, Lefkas, Paros, Rhodes and Kos.

If Croatia is top of your list this year, you could sail out of Split on a Wednesday and wind-down in the Dalmatian islands. This popular destination can get busy, but you will be able to escape the manic marinas, avoid the top town attractions and fi nd your own secluded sailing spots. www.nautilusyachting.com

New Mexican Base

Dream Yacht Charter has opened a new base in Marina Las Velas, Isla Mujeres, to serve the Maya Riviera and Cancun on the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

The Maya Riviera coastline faces the Caribbean Sea and has a warm, tropical climate. The sailing area includes the Mesoamerican Reef, the world’s second largest, known for its vibrant marine life and migrating whale sharks. The region also boasts important archaeological treasures, such as the Mayan city at Chichen Itza.

Maya Riviera, Cancun, is the fourth new base the company has launched by Dream Yacht Charter in recent months alongside St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, Key West in Florida and La Spezia in northern Italy.

The new year also saw the relaunch of the company’s Bahamas base in Marsh Harbour, Abacos, at Conch Inn Yacht Club & Marina.

Loïc Bonnet, founder and president of Dream Yacht Charter, said: “Now more than ever, people are looking for something new and easily accessible. Maya Riviera is the perfect addition to our offering - a destination providing the potential to get away from the crowds to enjoy solitude and easy to get to from well-connected Cancun.” www.dreamyachtcharter.co.uk

Chartering with kids

Children are brilliant to travel with. They are naturally inquisitive, and so travelling with them will open your eyes to things you might not otherwise have noticed. Another bonus of travelling with children is that they are natural ambassadors; you will fi nd they open doors for you that might not have otherwise opened. The best part, however, is spending quality time together while showing them a world different than their own.

Here is some great advice from MarineMax for a charter holiday with children: Location choices: Choosing where to sail is even more important when children are on board. You will want to choose places known for calmer waters and also a route offering shorter passages between anchorages. Flexibility: Even if you have the ‘perfect’ itinerary in your head, when children are involved you have to expect things to change along the way, be it fi nding the dream beach to hang out at for a few days or meeting another family you decide to spend time with. So long as everyone is enjoying themselves, that is all you need.

Image: FamVeld / Shutterstock

Safety afl oat: While your charter company might provide you with lifejackets (check with them), you might want to bring your own anyway. It is also important to explain the safety rules on board to the children before setting sail. Essential packing: We all know about over packing for holiday, but with some careful planning this can be avoided. You are on, hopefully, a sunshine holiday and so do not need huge suitcases full of clothes. Children, especially, are not bothered about having a new ‘outfi t’ everyday! Depending on their age, be sure to pack a small selection of toys and activities you know they love and will enjoy on board. Do not forget the water toys and gear, such as their goggles. Share the experience: It is easy to forget that although we know what the destination has to offer, our children do not. So, engage them before you go by showing them photos and explaining what fun things they will be doing. Depending on the age of your child, a scrap book of your sailing holiday where they can keep drawings, collected items and other memorabilia can be fun too. www.marinemax.com

S

For holidaymakers seeking the ultimate Croatian adventure, Sunsail has launched a Dalmatian Island Brac fl otilla departing from 20 July.

With premier sailing and stunning scenery on offer, a Dalmatian Island fl otilla holiday provides the perfect balance of independence and sociability, with support and guidance available whenever you need it.

As the highest and largest of all the Croatian islands, Brac offers unforgettable views, with plenty of vineyards to be seen on its shores. Guests will experience Croatia as it once was, visiting old fortresses, sailing through turquoise waters and enjoying the best cuisine and culture of the Dalmatian Coast.

Great for families, groups, couples and solo sailors, fl otillas offer an informal, hassle-free and incredibly unique experience. Sail in the company of other yachts, and be guided by an expert lead boat, which has a mechanic, skipper and hostess on board for support. Non-sailors can hire a skipper.

Prices for the Brac fl otilla start from £1,052 per person (based on a group of four) for a week-long fl otilla, on a Sunsail 34 two-cabin monohull, including fl ights from London Heathrow, transfers, YDW and fl otilla fee, tourist tax and Wi-Fi, departing on 11 September 2021.

Optional skipper hire is £182 per day. Other optional extras include stand up paddleboards available for hire per week for £126 and kayaks from £119.

Kate Staniforth, UK senior marketing manager for Sunsail, said: “We have made sure that we are able to adhere to all social distancing guidelines and have implemented stringent new health and safety procedures across all of our bases to protect our guests and staff.” 0330 332 1182 / www.sunsail.co.uk

IMPORTANT - The outbreak of COVID-19 continues to evolve. Please check FCO travel advice pages for the latest travel information: www. gov.uk/foreigntravel-advice. FURTHER INFORMATION ■ Nautilus Yachting: www.nautilusyachting.com ■ Nisos Yacht Charter: www.nisosyachtcharter.com ■ Seafarer: www.seafarersailing.co.uk ■ BVI Charters: www.bviyachtcharters.com ■ Ocean Elements: www.ocean-elements.co.uk ■ The Moorings: www.moorings.co.uk ■ Mauri Pro: www.mauripro.com ■ Dream Yacht Charter: www.dreamyachtcharter.co.uk ■ Sunsail: www.sunsail.co.uk ■ Mallorca Yacht Charter: www.mallorcayachtcharter.eu ■ Tall Ships Adventures: tallships.org ■ Naleia Yachting:www.naleiayachting.com