Greece 2001 Flotilla

The adventure begins in Athens where you can be met at the airport and brought directly on board the yachts, or if you decide to arrive early, accommodations can be arranged near the Acropolis in the Plaka, a charming and safe tourist district in the heart of Athens. The Plaka is a pedestrian area full of tavernas (Greek restaurants), souvenir & clothing shops and friendly Athenians. It is generally worth staying a few days in the city to see the sites - the Acropolis, Agora (ancient marketplace) and the National Archæological Museum among other attractions. Two good restaurants in the Plaka are the Garden of Eden (Vegetarian) and the central Byzantino Taverna.

1-week Flotilla Itinerary

DAY 1:

On Saturday afternoon we sail from Athens, on the first leg of the cruise, to the island of Aegina (3 hrs) where dinner is served at The Fish Market Taverna, a local restaurant at one end of the actual fish market. On the menu are the freshest shrimps, kalamari, swordfish, and delicious local fish soups and stews. Crew mates can then wander the streets of this, the old capital of modern Greece, and see the tower where the first government held office. Aegina was the source of the first minted Greek coins and the island still boasts the best pistachio nuts in the world!

DAY 2:

The next morning awake to priests chanting and the carillons of church bells. Attend mass or visit the famous Temple of Aphaia (by bus) dedicated to the goddess Aphaia, daughter of Leto. The temple built in the Doric order dates from the early 5th century B.C. and is the best preserved in the Greek islands! In the afternoon we sail to Poros (3hrs) where you can swim in a shallow bay and spend the afternoon exploring this picturesque port town which was sacred to the god of the sea, Poseidon. In the evening try some local Retsina, a Greek wine with a hint of pine flavour (pine resin was originally used for preserving and sealing the tops of ceramic amphoras used for transporting wine) and then enjoy a splendid meal under a roof of grape vines at the Garden Taverna. After dinner the Sailor's Bar awaits the real sea salts for a nightcap!

DAY 3:

The yacht gets underway early as we motor through the narrow channel between Poros and the majestic Peloponnese coast for a breakfast rendezvous at Bourtzi Island (20 minutes away). Bourtzi offers a nice morning swim or snorkel and an abandoned Venetian fort - great for a morning hike! After breakfast we sail on to the tranquil splendour of Spathi island (1.5 hrs) for lunch - excellent snorkeling over a sandy bottom! After lunch set sail for the famous island of Hydra (2hrs).One of the most picturesque harbour towns in Greece, Hydra, offers visitors art expositions, fabulous local handicrafts and exquisite clothing and jewellery (stop by local Greek designer Paris Kotsavasiliadis' store Stigma, for a chat over some Greek coffee!). Hydra is known as a refuge for artists including part-time resident Leonard Cohen. In the last century Hydra figured prominently in the Greek War of Independence and provided a powerful fleet of naval vessels.

DAY 4:

We can spend two nights at Hydra allowing lots of time to explore but usually on the second day we visit the uninhabited island of Dokos for a picnic. Little known, deserted, Dokos harbours Early Helenistic II ruins and the resting place of the oldest known shipwreck (1500 B.C.) in an enchanting bay -great snorkeling! The option is to stay overnight under the stars at Dokos and swim in the phosphoresance.

DAY 5 OF 7 NIGHT FLOTILLA:

On the return to Athens stop in at Ermioni (2.5 hours sail) and hike through the magical forested peninsula. Spend the evening eating a fine dinner and feeding the fish in the illuminated waters off the taverna balcony.

DAY 6 OF 7 NIGHT FLOTILLA:

DAY 7 OF 7 NIGHT FLOTILLA:

Listen to a pin drop from any seat in the 14,000 seat amphitheatre, Epidauros. This is only a short taxi ride from the harbour. After spending the morning at the theatre we have an early lunch then head for the refreshing waters of Aghistri Bay and our last swim. We make our way back to Kalamaki Marina and tie up around 18:00 before showering and meeting up for a wonderful farewell dinner at Vassili's Taverna.

The Peloponnese coast offers sweeping forested mountain ranges, quaint coastal villages and towns with traditional Greek life. The one week cruise covers roughly 150 miles round trip.

2-week Flotilla Intinerary

DAY 5:

On the two week flotilla the yacht departs Hydra at 6:00 AM for the long haul out into the Cycladic (circular) islands (9-12hrs) and arrives before sunset at the volcanic island of Milos. The yacht is moored at Adamas port and we can take a taxi to visit a Roman amphitheatre, some early Christian catacombs and the site of the discovery of the Venus of Milos, before enjoying a magical evening meal at Ergina's mountain top taverna overlooking a huge volcanic crater. Ergina's is the best taverna on the tour featuring over thirty local Milos delicacies.

DAY 6:

After a late breakfast and exploration of the port of Adamas we sail for the southwest tip of Milos (3.5 hrs) and the fantastic cliffs of Kleftiko -a set of bays surrounded by 150-foot cliffs riddled with swim-through sea caves. Spend a night at anchor eating a dinner cooked on board while counting shooting stars in the bright Aegean night sky.

DAY 7 - 9:

From Kleftiko the yacht sails east to the resting place of Homer at Ios (7hrs) where we are berthed for two nights. Ios offers the nicest beach in the central Aegean - Milopotas, great scuba diving with the Ios Diving Centre (Ios' crystal clear water provided the location for the award winning underwater film The Big Blue), exquisite dinning and live entertainment at Frogs Restaurant and Club at the harbour and notorious night-life at a multitude of discos and clubs up on the chora (hilltop town). On day 8 crew members can take an early morning hydrofoil or ferry to the volcanic island of Santorini, rumoured to be the lost land of Atlantis! Santorini is one of the most beautiful of all the Greek islands and offers fantastic archaeological treasures, such as the entombed town of Akrotiri, incredible black sands at Perissa Beach, excellent wine tasting at some of Greece's best vineyards and great shopping at Thira, for jewellery and Greek art. Those who jump-ship and visit Santorini can stay overnight in one of Santorini's warm guest houses or hotels returning to the yacht the following day. This has become a nice break halfway on the two week circuit and allows two days to explore the most beautiful of the Greek isles.

DAY 10:

From Ios we tack north for a lunch stop and swim at Andiparos. After lunch we head for Parikia town on the island of Paros (6hrs). On Paros there are archaeological sites within walking distance of the harbour, as well as the best bargain shopping in the Cyclades. A variety of restaurants offer Greek, Vietnamese, Lebanese and Italian cuisine. We suggest the Barca Rosa for great thin-crust pizza and a spectacular view of the sunset.

DAY 11 & 12:

Sailing north we visit the best-known and cosmopolitan of the Greek islands - Mykonos (4hrs). The yacht drops anchor meters off the gorgeous beach of Ornos Bay . Ornos was one of the shooting locations of the acclaimed film Shirley Valentine. Here we have two nights, allowing a day for exploring the labyrinth of streets in the town of Mykonos where you can find great shopping, dining and nightlife, as well as great photo opportunities. Mykonos also boasts the world-famous beaches of Paradise and Super Paradise. Snorkeling and scuba diving are available with Lucky Scuba Divers (the best scuba diving in Greek waters). Guided by veteran Greek navy seal, Chrisanthos Politopoulos you can dive at Prasonisi on reefs south of the ancient port of Delos. This area is the resting place of many ancient shipwrecks and the sea bed is covered with amphora and pottery! If you're not a diver, spend a morning walking through the streets of a city that was thriving 2500 years ago. At the centre of the Cycladic islands is Delos island which is a thirty minute ferry ride from Ornos. Delos was the most important and sacred place of ancient Greece - birth place of Artemis, goddess of the hunt and fertility, and Apollo the god of light and truth. Delos was also the commercial and religious centre of the Aegean and it has remained in an excellent state of preservation. Walk the Street of the Lions to the Agora (ancient marketplace) or pass from room to room in palaces once owned by powerful maritime traders. Discover temples and statues which date back to 500 B.C. as well as Roman amphitheatres and baths. End the afternoon by climbing sacred Mount Kynthos, for a divine panoramic view of the Cycladic islands. The yacht is moored at Ornos Bay, which is the safest anchorage on windy Mykonos. All activities, including diving, visiting the beaches and going to Delos are done from Ornos Bay by small ferry boats which collect you directly from the yacht. Porto Ornos Taverna offers one of the finest menus found on the two-week trip and is two minutes away by dinghy.



DAY 13:

From Mykonos we sail west to Kea (7 hrs) keeping a watch for dolphins on the way! Little-known Kea is surprisingly one of the most interesting ports of call on the cruise. Around the bay of Agios Nikolaous one can find the deserted ruins of a Bronze age Minoan temple site, c.2000 B.C. and over the rolling hills, at Kefala, a Neolithic site c.3000 B.C., awaits interested hikers. Watch the sun set over the Aegean from the enchanting hilltop town Ioulis, built on a summit where the inhabitants were safe from pirate raids. On Kea the chora little has changed, there are no tourist signs and minimal English is spoken by the locals. An enchanting walk through Ioulis and the valley beyond brings you to a special feature - the Petrified Lion. Carved out of a solid rock and 21 feet long the sculpture is one of the best examples of ancient Greek carving and is dated c.600 B.C. There are other items of historical interest within the chora including a small museum, Venetian, Byzantine, Turkish and Hellenistic architecture and a night club set in a Medieval building with frescoes painted on the walls! Excellent food is available at Nikos' Taverna, steps from the gang plank in the harbour town Vourkari.

DAY 14:

On the last day we sail the waters of the Kea channel to Cape Sounion (3hrs) on mainland Greece, where we anchor in the shadow of the famous Temple of Poseidon (444 B.C.). A short trek up the hill to the temple and the whole Aegean is at your feet. Back on board we follow the coastline to arrive at our berth on Friday afternoon. We can celebrate the end of the trip at Vassili's Taverna and sleep aboard Friday night. Disembarkation and farewell is at 9:00 o'clock Saturday morning. The two-week cruise covers between 400 and 600 kilometres round trip and is a challenging sailing adventure!

These are the proposed itineraries which include some gorgeous beaches, quaint harbour towns and many of the most important archaeological sites of the Saronic Gulf and central Aegean.

The Yachts

The flotillas will feature newer model Beneteau Oceanis yachts. The two week flotilla will feature the Oceanis 461 and the one week trips will feature the Oceanis 331. The Oceanis 461 has four double cabins (forward cabins have convertable bunk beds for singles) with two washroom facilities and three showers. The Oceanis 331 features a three double berth cabin layout with one head and two showers. Both yachts feature GPS, CD stereo, bimini, dodger, auto pilot and motorized inflatable. Both the main and forward sails on these yachts are self-furling making cruising easy. All yachts meet the safety standards required by Greek maritime law. Emergency life rafts, life jackets, first-aid kits and the standard safety equipment for sailboats are all part of the inventory.

The Wind and Sea

Charter sailing can be affected by the weather. The seas in the Saronic and Aegean are generally calm in May, June and July. In August and September the god Zephyr (god of wind) is responsible for the famous Meltemi wind. This is typically a northeasterly which can develop into 6-8 Beaufort. The Aegean can be flat like a mirror, but a short chop of 1 metre is common. When Poseidon (the god of the sea) gets restless 3 to 4 metre swells can develop. This is a challenge but not a problem for the larger yachts used for the Archaeological Cruises. One spare day may be kept on all cruises in case of a delay due to bad weather. As in all sailing holidays rough weather conditions may alter the proposed itinerary.

Life Aboard

This type of adventure holiday is both relaxing and demanding. Bad weather combined with longer crossings can make for fatigue. Long crossings are broken up by several day stops to rest but this is not a cruise ship holiday it is a hands on adventure where guest are invited to take part in all aspects of life aboard ship from helping serve the two light meals each day to raising sail. Group dynamics are generally very good but it is necessary to develop respect for fellow crew mates and captain.

Marine Life

Porpoises and dolphins will often swim at the bow while we sail. Hawksbill and Loggerhead turtles still swim and sun themselves in Greek waters. Sardines, tuna, swordfish and mackerel are also often seen on the surface. Scuba diving is available at Athens, Milos, Ios and Mykonos and divers can see moray eels, eagle and sand rays, octopus, kalamari, crayfish, rock lobster, crabs, triton and nautilus shells, Nudibranchs, jellyfish, scorpion fish and many other colorful fish. The only danger is stepping on a sea urchin! Sea sponges and incredibly colorful coral encrustations cover rocks and caves. Fantastic archaeological treasures can be seen on many dives. Wreck diving is offered at many locations in Greece.
*** N.B. artifacts must not be touched or taken.

Meals

The two healthy meals eaten aboard each day consist of the following: Breakfast: coffee / tea, freshly baked bread or pastries, cereal and fresh tropical fruit. Eggs can also be prepared. Breakfast is usually served while moored or anchored prior to departing for the next destination. Lunch: consists of vegetable and pasta salads, cheeses and cold cuts, fresh bread and fruit. Lunches are usually served under the boom tarp while anchored in secluded bays. Stops are often made for lunch and a swim & snorkel. Liquids such as juices, soft drinks, ice tea and water are included and stowed on board. Alcohol can be purchased at reasonable prices on all inhabited islands. The galley is always well stocked in the event that we decide to eat dinner on board under the stars.

Liability Waiver and Insurance

As a result of the adventurous nature of this type of holiday all guests participating in our flotilla will be required to sign a liability waiver prior to departure on the cruise. Guests are advised to get medical, cancellation and property insurance for peace of mind while cruising. The yachts are all fully insured for damage but guests are not covered under these policies.