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BAREBOAT YACHT CHARTER: Sail your yacht in any one of our glorious holiday destinations and explore at your own pace.
MOTORYACHT CHARTER: Do you prefer power to sail?
CREWED YACHTS: Relax, let the crew do the work.
SAIL AND STAY HOLIDAYS: Why not add a few days ashore in a hotel?
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Saronic Flotilla in Greece
Our Saronic flotilla starts from Kalamaki Marina in the heart of Athens and sails among the beautiful islands of the Saronic Gulf.
Choose from a huge range of yachts in the Kiriacoulis fleet and explore the Saronic Gulf led by an experienced flotilla skipper and hostess. This flotilla sailing holiday is ideal for couples and families who have sailed in the Ionian and want a similar flotilla holiday in a different Greek location.
The Saronic flotilla starts from Kalamaki marina in Athens, just 40 minutes from the airport. Add a few days before or after the flotilla for a city break to Athens. Once you leave the marina, it's easy sailing among the picturesque islands of Aegina, Poros, Hydra and Spetses with plenty of bays for lunchtime stops and traditional Greek harbours for overnight mooring.
This sailing area has ideal conditions with steady day breezes. The islands are each very different and allow a good day's sail between them. On this route there are many attractive harbours for overnight mooring. The skipper and hostess are on hand to give you help and advice.
Saronic flotilla itineraries
The Saronic flotilla starts and finishes on Saturday at Kalamaki Marina in Athens. We have 2 different flotilla sailing itineraries on subsequent weeks so you can combine the itineraries for a 2-week flotilla and explore more of the Saronic and Argolic Gulfs. The flotilla returns to Kalamaki Marina at the end of each week, while the 2-weekers enjoy a couple of days free sailing before meeting up for the welcome drinks party.
One week the flotilla follows the Saronic Route. Visit the beautiful island of Aegina and Epidavros on the mainland, the health resort of Ancient Athenians. The well-preserved amphitheatre is definitely worth a visit. Poros is a busy town quay, very popular for a typical Greek night out.
The following week the flotilla follows the Argolic Route and sails south of Poros. Hydra is often too crowded to stay overnight so a lunch visit can be arranged on the way to Ermioni. The yachts raft up in a beautiful anchorage, before returning to Athens via Aegina.
2013 dates: 11, 25 May | 8, 22 Jun | 6, 20 Jul | 3, 17, 31 Aug | 14 Sep
In this cruising area there are many picturesque harbours and peaceful anchorages. The flotilla crew will set the itinerary each week depending on the prevailing wind conditions and other factors but here is an example of a typical itinerary:
SAT : Embark at Kalamaki Marina, Athens. Transfer to the marina for embarkation. Enjoy dinner in the famous Plaka area of Athens, with a view of the Acropolis, or in a restaurant near the marina.
SUN : Aegina (21nm). After the flotilla skipper’s welcome briefing, sail across to an anchorage on Aegina for some of the best sunsets in Greece.
MON : Poros (12nm). The name Poros means a narrow strip of sea, and at its narrowest point the island is only 200m from Galatas on the mainland. The old harbour of Poros has a busy town quay with plenty of restaurants and bars. A popular night out!
TUE : Epidavros (19nm). The health resort of Ancient Athenians. Take a trip to the famous theatre, where the acoustics enable you to hear a pin drop even in the outer seats (74ft from the orchestra).
WED : Nea Epidavros (4nm). Afternoon sail to this quiet bay where we raft up for a swim and beach party.
THU : Angistri (11nm). Small harbour where we moor up for dinner with great views across to Aegina Island.
FRI : Kalamai Marina (20nm). Lunch stop at the beach resort of Ayia Marina on Aegina for a last swim before returning to Kalamaki Marina for a farewell evening with your fellow crews. 2-week flotilla clients have free sailing until Sunday evening.
SAT : Disembark at Athens.
Routes and places may vary during the season due to weather conditions & other factors.
2013 dates: 18 May | 1, 15, 29 Jun | 13, 27 Jul | 10, 24 Aug | 7 Sep
In this cruising area there are many picturesque harbours and peaceful anchorages. The flotilla crew will set the itinerary each week depending on the prevailing wind conditions and other factors but here is an example of a typical itinerary:
SAT : Embark at Kalamaki Marina, Athens. Transfer to the marina for embarkation. Enjoy dinner in the famous Plaka area of Athens, with a view of the Acropolis, or in a restaurant near the marina.
SUN : Poros (29nm). After the flotilla skipper’s welcome briefing, sail across to Poros. This busy town quay with plenty of restaurants and bars is a popular night out.
MON : Rocky Cove (18nm). Tonight we raft in this quiet bay for a swim and beach party.
TUE : Ermioni (5nm). After a sail to Dhokos we moor at this typical Greek harbour with bars and restaurants around the town square.
Hydra (10nm).
Hydra harbour can get very crowded so we often raft up in peaceful Mandraki Bay and walk round the scenic cliff top into town.
THU : Aegina (21nm). Sail across to an anchorage on the island of Aegina for some of the best sunsets in Greece.
FRI : Kalamaki Marina, Athens (27nm). Independent sailing for two-week flotilla. One-week flotilla returns to marina for a farewell dinner in a local restaurant.
SAT : Disembark at Athens.
Routes and places may vary during the season due to weather conditions & other factors.
Saronic flotilla yachts
Any of the Kiriacoulis yachts and catamarans based in Athens can join the flotilla giving you a wide choice of yachts from the 2-cabin Bavaria 34 right up to the 5-cabin Bavaria 55. All flotilla yachts are well-specified with CD player, hot water, deck showers, cockpit cushions, bimini suntops and sprayhoods and toilet waste holding tanks - thoughtful extras for your cruising comfort. Yachts built 2007 or newer have electric WC pumps.
Flotilla prices are shown PER YACHT. Just divide by the number of people onboard for a per person price. This flotilla has been priced WITHOUT flights but including transfers from Athens airport. With a choice of flights every day from British Airways, Olympic, Aegean Air and easyJet you can take advantage of their special on-line rates from Heathrow and Gatwick. Add a few days before or after the flotilla for a city break in Athens. If you prefer to book a flight-inclusive flotilla sailing holiday we will be happy to arrange your flights to suit your holiday plans.
Whether you book flights through us or not, the flotilla holiday package starts at Athens airport and you will be met and taken to your yacht, a 40 minute taxi ride straight to the marina (one return transfer per yacht). An excellent supermarket is within easy walking distance. Your fridge will be chilling and there's a welcome pack on every yacht.
Click on the yacht names below to view yacht layout & specification
2 cabin
3 cabin
4+ cabin
Catamarans
Yacht charter rates are shown WITHOUT flights giving you the flexibility to book your own flights. Airport transfers from/to Athens airport included in flotilla rate (one transfer per yacht).
If you want a flight-inclusive holiday Nautilus Yachting is a fully bonded ATOL tour operator and can book flights from the UK to fit your sailing holiday All flight-inclusive holidays are fully bonded for your financial protection under our ATOL 3016.
FLIGHTS TO ATHENS:
British Airways, Aegean Airlines & Olympic Airlines operate flights from Heathrow to Athens. easyJet operate flights from Gatwick to Athens. Transfer time to Athens Kalamaki Marina 1 hour.
With daily flights you can add on a few days for a city break in Athens before or after your charter.
To charter a yacht bareboat or on flotilla you should be Day Skipper standard and be assisted by at least one competent crew.
At present you need an RYA Day Skipper qualification or RYA International Certificate of Competence (ICC) for charters in Croatia, Montenegro, Mallorca, Tenerife and Malta.
The RYA ICC will be ever more required by overseas port authorities but if you have skipper experience it is easily obtained in a day from RYA sailing schools in the UK such as Hamilton Sailing or Brixham Sea School
Whether you are an experienced sailor or setting foot on a yacht for the first time, we can offer you a holiday afloat to suit you. We have given all the sailing areas a level with 'Experience Level 1' suitable for less experienced crews and 'Experience Level 3' for the experts.
This takes into account the wind strength, tidal range and currents, distances between stops and ease of mooring. Of course even experts may choose to sail in Level 1 areas as they still offer stunning scenery and great sailing.
Experience Level 1: Ionian
Generally light winds Force 2-4, line of sight navigation, shorter sailing distances under 20nm. You will be Day Skipper standard having sailed at least 1 week or 100nm as skipper
Experience Level 2: Saronic Gulf & Sporades
Stronger winds up to Force 3-5 with some longer passages up to 30nm. You will be Day Skipper standard having sailed at least 2 weeks or 200nm as skipper
Experience Level 3: Aegean & Dodecanese
Stronger winds up to Force 4-7 which can lead to bigger seas on long passages between the islands. You will be Coastal Skipper standard with experience to a higher level having sailed at least 4 weeks or 400nm as skipper
The February 2010 issue of Practical Boat Owner has a Holiday Special featuring several of Nautilus Yachting sailing holidays. Lead article is by Caroline Stevens who went on our Saronic flotilla from Athens. Despite having their own yacht and having bareboated for 15 years in the Med, they thoroughly enjoyed the flotilla. "Hedging our bets we only booked for 7 days. How wrong could we have been! We virtually had to be dragged kicking and screaming off our boat at the end of the week." Click here to read the article >>
The Ancient Theatre of Epidavros, one of the best preserved in Greece, was constructed in the 4th century BC. Even in ancient times, the theatre was considered to have great acoustics. The actors can be heard perfectly by all 15,000 spectators without the sound having to be amplified. The limestone rows filter the low-frequency sounds –such as the murmur of the crowd – but amplify the sounds from the stage. It is well worth the short taxi ride from the harbour.
Hydra is one of the most picturesque harbours in Greece with its chic waterfront cafes. No vehicles re permitted so donkey is the only form of transport. Visit the Sunset bar for stunning views across to Spetses. The tiny harbour gets very crowded so raft up if necessary but put a tripping line on your anchor - the harbour is renown for fouled anchors! Alternatively anchor in Mandraki bay less than a mile north of the main harbour and walk round the headland into town.
"I really appreciated the help and advice you gave, both at booking and after. On arrival, the local team all provided just what we required."
Antigua 2010 - C.T.
