SAIL AWAY

on your dream holiday this year with the latest news and offers

Back to the Bahamas

Two years on from the devastation of Hurricane Dorian, the islands and cays of the Abacos, Bahamas have returned to form, and The Moorings has announced the return of its charter operations.

Now based at the Abaco Beach Resort in Marsh Harbour, The Moorings fleet will consist of three and four-cabin power catamarans, which will be available to charter beginning in December. The sailing catamaran fleet will be available from April 2022.

Touted as “a boater’s delight,” the Abacos offer an alternative to the Exumas’ cruising ground to the south. The Abacos have more manageable sailing than the Exumas chain, with line of sight cruising and a variety of islands, cays, beaches, towns, bars and restaurants accessible in very short distances, making it well-suited for charterers of all experience levels.

One day you might be anchored off an uninhabited cay to snorkel on coral reefs in crystal clear water, and the next day you could be strolling the quiet streets of towns first settled hundreds of years ago.

Josie Tucci, VP of sales and marketing, said: “The Abacos have long been one of our most popular charter destinations. Hurricane Dorian truly devastated the region, and our business and many of our employees were severely impacted. That makes this return to operations such a rewarding and exciting development, and we look forward to welcoming guests aboard in just a few short months.”

To give clients peace of mind, The Moorings has updated its booking terms and conditions to offer flexible rebooking terms. The charter company has also introduced a comprehensive set ofhealth and safety measures and protocols. www.moorings.co.uk If you are thinking of a winter get-away, then Italy could offer everything you need. To help, Acquera Yachting has put together a couple of ideas for Italian winter berthing.

Marina di Stabia, which can take boats up to 100m, has the impressive Mount Vesuvius as a backdrop and is just 30km from Naples airport. Further north, Roma Marina Yachting offers the usual marina services and is around an hour from the centre of Rome. Imagine berthing in a historical Roman port that is steeped in 2,000 years of history.

Lastly, Port Mirabello, which has recently been renovated, caters to the demands of the world’s largest superyachts. It is an impressive place to berth and gives access to Pisa, Genoa and Florence. So, you could combine your sailing holiday with visiting some of the world’s bestloved towns…

Of course, there are many more amazing places to sail in Italy, which Acquera can advise about. italy@acquera.com

Last chance to book…

The Sailing Holidays team reported a busy Southampton Boat Show as people booked the last few yachts available for this year and also booked boats for next year.

They noticed “a pent up need to escape to the wide open spaces of the Mediterranean sea and, in particular, the Greek Islands after the dark days of the pandemic.”

Clearly the very special atmosphere of the islands remains and, at the time of writing, they have a few yachts left in Octoberif you fancy getting away from it all before winter descends! If you do not make it to Greece this year, there is always the spring… Sailingholidays.com

Autumnal sailing in Greece

October is still a great time for extendedcruising in Greece, Acquera Yachting tells us. With sun-kissed beaches,perfect temperatures, balmy nights and waters still warm from the August sun, the summer crowds will be long gone giving visitors the chance to see hot spots such as Mykonos and Santorini in a more relaxed manner.

Mykonos has a reputation as a party destination, but there is so much more, with its whitewashed buildings, watersports, historic sights and great places to eat, including Michelin star restaurants.

Or discover the real Santorini, with its white cliff-top villages, beaches, geothermal springs and you can even visit a vineyard.

Milos, meanwhile, is the most south-westerly island of the Cyclades and is often overlooked by visitors.Thehorseshoe-shaped volcanic island offers beaches, crystal-clear waters and plenty of traditional Greek cuisine. greece@acquera.com

Winter Sailing

Image: Nicola De Simone/Shutterstock

FIT TO FLY

Rules regarding Covid testing for travellers arriving in the UK are changing (see restrictions up-date), but it is important to check the rules for the country you are travelling to as well. We have received news of a new and affordable Rapid Antigen Testing Service from the Private Harley Street Clinic.

Small enough to fit in a washbag, travellers can purchase a £29 kit and take it abroad, and then test and verify their results online. MY TRAVEL TEST can be performed at a convenient time and does not require a remote video consultation.

The tests can be used as ‘Fit-to-Fly’ certification for passengers travelling

Image: Basilico Studio Stock/shutterstock from the UK to destinations requiring negative rapid tests. While some travel destinations still request a negative PCR test, many countries accept a negative Rapid Antigen test; these can be checked on the UK Government Foreign Travel Advice website. privateharleystreetclinic.com

Restrictions up-date

Image: Ascannio / Shutterstock.com From 4 October, the rules for international travel to England changed from the traffic light system to a single red list of countries along with simplified travel measures for arrivals from the rest of the world. The rules for travel from places not on the red list will depend on your vaccination status.

Fully vaccinated travellers will still need to take a PCR test two days after arrival, but this will be replaced by a cheaper and simpler lateral flow test later in October. The government hopes this will be in place “for when people return from half-term breaks”.

Testing for unvaccinated passengers will include pre-departure tests, day 2 and day 8 PCR tests. They will also have to self-isolate for 10 days on arrival in the UK. Test to release will remain an option to reduce the self-isolation period.

All passengers will still need to fill in a passenger locator form.

Vaccinated passengers can prove their status using the NHS Covid Pass. You can get a digital version using the NHS app or NHS website. You can download it as a PDF or get it sent in an email. If you download your Covid Pass as a PDF, always check the expiry date before using it; the barcode on a PDF is valid for 30 days. You can get an NHS Covid Pass letter sent to you in the post by requesting it online at the NHS website or calling 119. The paper version does not have an expiry date.

Remember, though, to also check the entry requirements of the country you are visiting as they will vary and may require testing on arrival, if they are welcoming travellers at all. Passengers should continue to check gov.uk travel guidance including FCDO travel advice before, during and after travel to keep up-to-date with requirements and ensure compliance with the latest regulations for the country being visited.

If the FCDO advises against nonessential travel to a country, it could invalidate your insurance. If in doubt contact your insurance provider.

Travel guidance varies across the UK and so check the rules for your area.

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 n Nautilus Yachting: www.nautilusyachting.com n Nisos Yacht Charter: www.nisosyachtcharter.com n Seafarer: www.seafarersailing.co.uk n BVI Charters: www.bviyachtcharters.com n Ocean Elements: www.ocean-elements.co.uk n The Moorings: www.moorings.co.uk n Mauri Pro: www.mauripro.com n Dream Yacht Charter: www.dreamyachtcharter.co.uk n Sunsail: www.sunsail.co.uk n Mallorca Yacht Charter: www.mallorcayachtcharter.eu n Tall Ships Adventures: tallships.org n Naleia Yachting:www.naleiayachting.com