RHODES FLOTILLA
From APRIL to OCTOBER 2014
Join us On Board!
The Event • • •
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Dates: One week from April to October 2014. Place: Dodecanese Purpose: To discover the Greek islands by combining lot’s of sailing & fun with a unique atmosphere. Participants: Minimum 4 sailing yachts. Yachts: Sailing yachts from 42 to 50 feet.
Rhodes Mandraki harbor at sunrise
One week itinerary departure/ return Rhodes Mandraki Marina (DODECANESE ISLANDS)
Distances
1st Day: Rhodes Mandraki Marina Check-in at 17:00 2nd Day: Rhodes (Mandraki) - Symi island (Panormitis)
23 NM
3rd Day: Symi (Panormitis) - Nisyros island (Mandraki)
32 NM
4th Day: Nisyros (Mandraki) - Kos island (Marina)
21 NM
5th Day: Kos (Marina) - Tilos island (Livadia)
35 NM
6th Day: Tilos (Livadia) - Chalki island (Port)
14 NM
7th Day: Chalki (Port) - Rhodes Mandraki Marina
36 NM
8th Day: Check-out at 9:00
Rhodes Island to Symi Island (Port) - 23 nm. 1st Day : Arrival at the Mandraki Marina, Acceptance of boats. Skippers briefing, free evening. 2nd Day : Sail to the island of Symi. Your Rhodes sailing itinerary takes you northwest from Rhodes to the incredibly scenic island of Symi, long a favorite vacation destination in the Aegean. Indented with numerous secluded coves and bays with superb beaches, Symi is a sailor's paradise. To the south of Symi bay is a narrow, fjord-like inlet at Pehti. Heading north to the end of the island brings you to the picturesque port of town of Gialos, with its lively harbor, opulent mansions, sundry boutiques, and a wonderful selection of excellent waterfront restaurants and cafĂŠs. There are two museums to explore. Just waking through the town is delightful. Things to do: Symi is a popular tourist destination. It has beautiful beaches, a thriving downtown district in Gialos and Chorio (the upper section of town), and a host of events and festivals. The restaurants, tavernas, cafĂŠs, nightclubs, boutiques, and markets are among the attractions. The Museum of Symi has a fascinating collection featuring artifacts from important archaeological digs as well as folklore exhibits that highlight the rich cultural history of the island. Churches and monasteries pepper the Greek isles and Symi is no exception. Of particular interest is the monastery of Moni Taxiarhou Mihail Panormiti at Panormitis Bay. It also houses a Byzantine and folklore museum. Overnight at Symi.
Sailboat against the Nisyros Volcano
Symi Island to Nisyros Island (Mandraki) - 32 nm. 3rd Day : Sail to Nisyros Your second stop is the impressive volcanic island of Nisyros. Nisyros is a wonderful place. Small villages perch at the edge of the volcanic craters, hot springs bubble and are said to contain healing properties, and the beaches on the island and surrounding islets are pleasant day anchorages. There are also castles and other historic sites to explore. Things to do: The port of Mandraki has many interesting historic sites, including the imposing Castle of Spiliani, built by the Knights of St. John during the crusades in 1315. The fortress also houses a medieval monastery. On the way up the hill to the castle, a visit to the Folklore Museum is intriguing. You'll see artifacts ranging from the everyday to the unusual, reflecting life on the island back through time. Just outside of Mandraki are all that remains of the castle of Palaiokastro and the ancient acropolis, which dates back to the 4th century B.C. Bus tours to the volcanic craters and the villages of Nikia and Emborios run regularly from Mandraki. There are many hot springs and thermal baths. There is a selection of tavernas, cafĂŠs, and bars in Mandraki and Palon. Overnight at Nisyros.
Nysiros Island to Kos Island (Kos Marina) - 21 nm. 4th Day : Sail to Kos The next day of your Rhodes itinerary takes you northwest, leaving beautiful Symi behind as you trim the sails for a windward crossing. The scene inspires the imagination as you consider all the history of this part of the Mediterranean. Arriving back at the base in Kos by 5:00 P.M., you'll have plenty of time to enjoy a sumptuous dinner at one of the restaurants near the marina, a fitting end to a leisurely foray into one of the best cruising grounds on Earth.
Things to do: Kos Town is famous as the home of Hippocrates, commonly known as the Father of Medicine. A majestic tall plane tree (a kin of the sycamore) in town is said to be more than 2,500 years old. Hippocrates supposedly taught students the healing arts beneath its expansive leaves, and whether true or not, the specimen is well worth admiring. About 2.4 miles from Kos is the Asklepieion, the first medical institute that Hippocrates founded. Taking a tour of the harbor's castle, built between 1391 and 1395 by the Knights of St. John, is fascinating. Overnight at Kos.
Kos Island to Tilos Island (Livadia) – 35 nm. 5th Day : Sail to Tilos. From Kos plot a course is taking you farther down the chain of the Dodecanese Islands to remote Tilos. Off the beaten tourist track, this island is a splendid stop. There are good anchorages, picturesque villages, an abundance of historic sites including fortresses and monasteries, beautiful beaches, and several excellent restaurants. Things to do: Tilos is full of historic sites to explore, including the usual surplus of Byzantine churches and monasteries found on nearly every Greek island in the Aegean Sea. A bus service runs from Livadia to Megalo Horia, the capital of Tilos, with 160 yearround residents. Taking a ride to Megalo Horia to amble down the narrow lanes of this mediaeval town and to visit the Fortress of Misaria built in 1366 by the Knights of St. John is a fun way to spend an afternoon. The fortress perches on a hill above a plain that stretches all the way to the ancient harbor at Eristos Bay. Below the fortress is the famous Kharkadio Cave. People have lived in the area for at least six millennia. It's a remarkably beautiful part of Tilos, with citrus groves irrigated with fresh water from springs. A gorgeous sandy beach extends along the shores of Eristos Bay. Overnight at Tilos.
Tilos Island to Chalkis Island (Port) - 14 nm. 6th Day : Sail to Chalkis. Your Rhodes Itinerary takes you farther to the southeast, giving you yet more relaxing off the wind sailing between the islands. The small isle of Khalkis lies just a few miles west of the big island of Rhodes, which dominates the horizon from a great distance. Quiet, serene, and breathtakingly beautiful, rural Khalkis is a jewel of the Dodecanese Islands. Sailing into the tiny port of Emborios, once a major sponge fishing center, is like stepping back in time. On a ridge are a series of old windmills, and beyond Horio, now abandoned, is a fortified castle dating back to the Middle Ages. Several tavernas are in the village of Emborios. Going ashore to explore is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon and early evening. Things to do: Chalkis has an area of 23 square miles and is one of the smallest of the Dodecanese Islands, but it has an astounding 360 churches, chapels, and monasteries, many dating back to medieval times. Like many other Greek islands, it has an ancient capital settled thousands of years ago by the Carians, Dorians, and Phoenicians, to name a few, that was subsequently built on in the 1200s when the Venetians and Genoese arrived. Many of the historic sites are close to the main port of Emborios. St. Nicholas Overnight at Chalkis.
Church is particularly impressive.
Chalkis Island to Rhodes Island (Mandraki Marina) - 36 nm. 7th Day : Sail to Rhodes. Sailing along the west coast of Rhodes gives you a feel for the grand scale of this mountainous island, the largest in the Dodecanese. The tallest peak, Mt. Ataviros, rises 3,953 feet, and is forested in pine trees. Groves of olive, orange, fig, and lemon trees occupy the lower slopes. Butterflies abound, drawn by the proliferation of jasmine, hibiscus, and bougainvillea, giving Rhodes the nickname Island of the Butterflies. As you reach the northwest end of the coast, you'll be treated with the sight of picturesque and ancient Rhodes Town, parts of which date back to 400 B.C. Docking in the harbor of Mandraki at Rhodes is ideal because it puts you in a great place to fully explore the island, to sample the excellent cuisine, and to enjoy the lively nightlife of the city. Things to do: The attractions of Rhodes Town are many. The beaches are exquisite, the cuisine is superb, the nightlife is lively, and the shopping is second to none within the Dodecanese Islands. All manner of sports activities are available, including golf. There's also a casino for sailors interested in trying their hand with Lady Luck. A visit to Rhodes Town wouldn't be complete without a foray into the Rhodes Acropolis (circa 3rd century B.C.), with its temples, public buildings, and underground vaults. Archaeological excavations began in 1912 and continue today. Many of the extraordinary artifacts and artworks unearthed at the acropolis and elsewhere are on display in the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes, housed in the Hospital of the Knights (of St. John) completed in 1489. On the east coast is the acropolis of Lindos, with an excellent harbor and picturesque beaches. Inland is the Valley of the Butterflies. Rhodes is rich in trees, flowers, and shrubs, which attract tremendous numbers of butterflies. Overnight at Rhodes. 8th Day : Check out at 09:00 at the Mandraki Marina
EXCURSIONS & ACTIVITIES EXCURSIONS: Symi island: Visit the Panormitis Monastery. Rhodes island: Visit the Palace of Grand Master of Knights and the Archaeological Museum in Rhodes town. In Lindos visit the Valley of Butterflies and the Acropolis of Lindos. Nisyros island: Walk into the biggest hydrothermic crater on earth on one of the most active volcanoes. Kos island: Visit the medieval Nerantzia Castle. Sit under the plane tree of Hippocrates which must be over 2,500 years old as well as the Asclipion institution. ACTIVITIES: Watersports & diving in Kos and Rhodes (extra cost). Fishing (extra cost). Barbecue party in an isolated bay (complimentary). Regatta from Nissyros to Kos 21 nautical miles or from Tilos to Chalki 14 nautical miles (complimentary).
Regatta •
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The participants will have the chance to sail in the Dodecanese, giving them the opportunity to gain valuable experience in navigation, boat handling and racing rules of sailing. Distances will be small enough so that participants do not get tired and have fun… You will get the regatta instructions from the organizing committee together with all the necessary information at the skippers briefing. Certificates for all participants and Copper, Silver, Gold medals for the first three teams of the regatta.
Benefits of Participation You will: •
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Experience a fun sailing event and enhance networking. Distances will be small enough so that participants do not get tired and have enough time to explore the islands and have fun. Experience Greece with it’s traditions! Enjoy the Greek islands and explore their ancient history. Combine sailing holidays with a taste of competition. Experience Greece at it’s best season. Start your summer with lot’s of Sailing!
Accommodation
On board of the Yachts. In case that you arrive earlier or you wish to stay longer in Rhodes we can arrange Hotel accommodation.
YACHT TYPES •Sailing Yachts with 4 cabins + 2 WC & Shower •We could use the following models and similar yachts: •Beneteau Oceanis 43 (built 2010) •Beneteau Cyclades 43.4 (built 2006) •Bavaria 44 (built 2002) •Bavaria 46 Cruiser (built 2006-2007) •Beneteau Oceanis 46 (built 2008) •Beneteau Oceanis 473 (built 2003) •Bavaria 49 (built 2004)
Cost of Participation
In every boat there will be Wine & Fruits for the welcome
Above price includes: •Charter of 40 Sailing Yachts for one week •VAT 6,5% (as of today) • Yacht equipment & insurance •One professional Skipper on each yacht •Bed linen & towels •Cooking gas •End cleaning •First & last night at the marina/port •Autopilot, dinghy & outboard engine •One barbecue on a remote beach •Regatta, trophies and certificates The above price do not included: •Food & drinks •Water •Fuel about Euro 300 per yacht per week depending on the use of the sails & the weather. •Marina & port fees •Land excursions & activities Extras: •Refundable security deposit.
RHODES FLOTILLA
From APRIL to OCTOBER 2014
Join us On Board!