Greece Flotilla
September 28 - October 05, 2024
Sailing from Corfu to explore the beautiful Ionian islands
flotilla /flə(ʊ)ˈtɪlə/
noun
a small fleet of ships or boats.
"a flotilla of sailing yachts"
Back where it all began.
We're taking you to Greece where Riley and Elayna first met and the story of ‘Sailing La Vagabonde’ was born.
To join the flotilla you have 3 great options:
Book a 2 person cabin on a shared boat and sail with our expert Vagabonde Adventures Crew
Book an entire boat with your friends or family and sail with one of our expert Captains + optional Chef
Book an entire boat and sail it yourself under our guidance
CLICK ON YACHT PICTURES BELOW
FOR DETAILS AND BOOKING
Full boat/bareboat bookings
Interested in booking a full yacht, skippering for yourself, or something different to what we have already? Just get in touch and our team will put together a personalized offer for you.
IONIAN ISLANDS ITINERARY
CORFU
Before starting your charter, and only 15 minutes from the marina, make sure to explore Corfu Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its Venetian buildings along the waterline and Old Town are breathtaking. Top tip, visit the lighthouse at the fortress for the best views of the town. If you have time why not arrive a few days early to soak up the atmosphere before setting sail.
SYVOTA
Sailing to mainland to reach the town of Syvota, northeast of Paxos. There you will find many restaurants and bars to enjoy traditional Greek food and drink. It’s a relaxing stop with beaches, including the natural Pisina Beach (meaning “pool”) located in Agios Nikolaos, awarded for its crystal clear and light blue waters, ideal for snorkeling.
PARGA
Here you can explore the hill to for great views, walk around colorful streets with little shops, and relax on beautiful beaches like Valtos or Lichnos. You can also try fun activities like swimming, snorkeling, or hiking nearby.
GAIOS
A charming port town along the waterfront. Its colorful houses and cafes along the promenade bring its own spirit and atmosphere that you won’t want to miss. Explore and get lost in the narrow streets of the village lined with an assortment of little shops, tavernas and bars.
ANTIPAXOS
Located south of Corfu, Antipaxos is a serene haven celebrated for its pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters. With quiet streets and a sparse population, you’ll find yourself in a relaxing setting and natural beauty.
MANDRAKI MARINA
This is the perfect base to take a walk to explore the old fortress of Corfu town next to the medieval Venetian harbour of Mandraki. Built in Byzantine times, revel in the history with a great view overlooking the yachts.
BASE MARINA
Enjoy a day relaxing and swimming in quiet bays, soaking up the sunshine and reminiscing on your trip. In the afternoon you will head back to the base marina, and tonight is the night we will share a farewell dinner together. Don’t forget to make plans to see your new friends at the next flotilla!
This itinerary is weather dependant and may change slightly.
JOURNEY DETAILS
DATES September 28 - October 05, 2024
LOCATION Gouvia Marina, Corfu
CRUISING GROUND Ionian Islands
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
TRAVEL TO AND FROM THE MARINA
Uber is not available in Corfu but taxis are everywhere and easy to catch. A ride from the airport to Gouvia Marina is approximately 30€.
IN THE MARINA
Meeting time with your Captain and Chef is at 1 pm Saturday at ‘Skippers Cafe’ in Gouvia Marina, Corfu.
Boarding: The yachts are usually ready to board at 5 pm. In the meantime you can head to a nearby supermarket to do the food shop for the week. We recommend stocking up at the start of the week as the small stores on the islands have limited stock and are more expensive. If you have a Chef onboard, they will take care of the shopping for you.
Disembarking: We arrive back at the marina on Friday evening by 6 pm and will spend the final night with a farewell dinner nearby. Guests must disembark the yachts by 10 am on Saturday.
LOCAL INFORMATION
The Currency in Greece is the EURO.
You are strongly advised to have travel insurance while travelling.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in most hotels, shops and larger restaurants; American Express is not accepted in some establishments. However, you are strongly recommended to carry cash needed for the week before leaving your marina for meals, fuel, mooring fees and water taxis.
The dress code on the islands is casual (shorts & t-shirts) and only the most exclusive restaurants require elegant clothing.
The Time zone is Eastern European Summer Time.
Grocery stores are generally open 08:00- 21:00.
The majority of islanders are religious (Christian Orthodox) and this should be respected.
WEATHER
The average daily temperature in Corfu during September ranges between 21°C (70°F) and 27°C (81°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 16°C (61°F) and low monthly rainfall. With average water temperatures of 24°C (75°F), going in the water (and staying there!) feels great.
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CAPTAIN
All above listed boats have expert Vagabonde Adventures Captains onboard. They will sail you around the islands in safety, manage the important systems onboard and show you a fantastic time onboard. If you are interested in chartering a boat yourself and joining the flotilla please fill out the form on the bottom of this page or email us for details.CHEF
Expert Vagabonde Adventures Chefs are included with some yacht bookings. They’ll cook 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 2 dinners for you and your crew onboard your yacht.YACHT ACCOMMODATION (7 nights) You'll be staying on a beautiful yacht and sail alongside a new adventurous group of friends as part of the Vagabonde Adventures flotilla.
DINGHY
Every Yacht comes equipped with a dinghy and outboard anytime you need to get to shore or go explore.BED LINENS
Towels and bed linens provided. A quick dry towel isn’t a bad idea to bring for beach trips. -
FOOD AND DRINKS 200€ per person
If you have a Chef on your yacht they will do the food shop for you on the first day, working from their personal menu, you and the crew will pay for the food. If you don't have a host you will be in charge of doing the food shop and cooking for the week.
ALCOHOL & EATING OUT 300€ per person
Your Chef (if your yacht has one) cooks you breakfast and lunch every day and two dinners during the week. You’re free to eat out or cook for yourself for the rest. Treat yourself to drinks and meals throughout the week in local bars and restaurants.
MEALS FOR CAPTAIN & CHEF 100€ per person
The VA crew are an important part of the adventure and guests are responsible for providing their crew 3 meals a day. This includes onboard food and meals when ashore, a small amount when split between the group.
PORT FEES 50€ per person
Port fees are payable on arrival at each island you visit. These vary depending on yacht size, location and dates. Around 100-200 is the average cost for the whole week total.
YACHT FUEL, WATER, SHORE POWER 150€ per person
You’ll need to keep your yacht topped up with water and power throughout the week to ensure it is running in top shape! The yacht must be topped up with diesel on returning to the base marina. These costs vary depending on the size of the boat.
TRANSFERS TO & FROM AIRPORT
You’ll need to make your own way to the marina from the airport - if you are taking a taxi, make sure to take out cash first!
STAFF GRATUITY at your discretion
Tipping is customary in the marine industry. If your Captain and Chef have given you an amazing week, please consider tipping them for their services. 15-20% of the total trip cost is standard.
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Pack in a soft duffel-type bag, please avoid using hard suitcases as we are unable to store them onboard.
You will likely spend most of your week in your bathing suit and flip flops. Don’t forget a good hat (preferably wide brim with a chin strap for the windy days), reef safe sunscreen, light long sleeve sun shirt and polarized sunglasses to help with the glare of the water.
Evenings are pretty relaxed even when ashore at restaurants, smart casual is as dressy as it gets. Pack a pair of long pants and a light jacket for the off chance of a cooler evening.
APPAREL
Lightweight clothes; dresses, tank tops, shorts, t-shirts, sarongs. Remember you’ll be in your swimwear most of the time! Good quality polarized sunglasses, wide brim hat and a sun protective shirt are a must! Light raincoat/wind jacket and a pair of long pants in case of summer storms. Flip-flops or sandals, deck shoes such as sneakers or tennis shoes. Make sure the soles are non-marking!TOILETRIES
Reef friendly high factor sunscreen and aftersun, lip balm (with SPF), mosquito repellent spray and anti-itch cream for mosquito bites and seasickness medication if you think you’ll need it (better to be safe than sorry).EXERAS/NICE TO HAVE
Beach towel or Turkish towel (1 bath towel is provided by the charter company), waterproof bag, adapter for electrical plugs, phone charger and battery pack, your own water bottle to minimize plastic use, disposable underwater camera or GoPro, a book/e-reader for down time, cards, chess or your favorite board gameDOCUMENTS
Valid passport, visa, travel insurance, printouts of important info such as meeting details and travel documents, local currency.
Why join a flotilla?
Flotillas are the most social way to sail. You will make new friends from all around the world, all bonding over this shared experience. Wake up early and explore an ancient village, grabbing a morning coffee with your new friend you met while snorkeling the day before. Enjoy a sundowner on the next boat over, learning more about the country that they are from. Talk sailing with the crew you were racing to be the first to the anchorage… there is nothing more fulfilling than making new friends.
Also, quite simply, joining a flotilla can be the most economical way to go sailing. It can be hard to organise a big group of friends to charter a full boat. Why not just grab your best friend and go for it - book a cabin and join a shared boat, and get out there to explore the world.
Want to bareboat one of the yachts and join the flotilla?
First time chartering for yourself? Never sailed in Greece and could use some guidance? Or simply want to join in the fun of sailing in a flotilla? Join us as we sail the beautiful Ionian Islands for a week of sunshine and good times. Sail under the guidance of the expert Vagabonde Adventures crew and build your confidence.
Fill out the form and tell us about your previous sailing experience, number of people in your group and we will find the perfect boat for you!
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• Daily skipper meetings, build your confidence and experience as you discuss weather and sailing plans for the day with our expert crew
• Sail with the back-up of other skippers nearby
• Assistance with any docking should you need it
• 24/7 assistance during the week
• Opportunity to check out many different types of yacht during the week
• The social aspect! There is nothing more fun than sailing as a group
• Group activities, hiking mountains at sunset, snorkeling a sunken city, beach games, long table group dinners. All these things are more fun with friends!
• Make life long friends with sailors from around the world
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The following are accepted in Europe for recreational bareboat yacht charter sailing:
• The International Certificate of Competence (ICC)
• The International Proficiency Certificate (IPC)
• The International Sailing License and Credentials (SLC)
Click here to read more about the topic.
BAREBOAT APPLICATION FORM
