Greece - Sailing in the wake of Odysseus
With over 2000 inhabited and uninhabited islands,sailing is held in very high regard in Greece and the local infrastructure is a testament to that. The number of possible itineraries that can be transformed into sailing holidays make yacht charter Greece the perfect destination for those with a love for boats and the open seas. The Mediterranean seems to be at its best among the Greek islands where the intrepid adventurer can visit the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, the Sporades or the Peloponnese, all beautiful places with a lot of history, hospitable people and a wholesome cuisine.
General Info
Second only to Norway when it comes to the overall length of its shoreline from all European countries, Greece is also on the top 20 most popular destinations in the world when it comes to tourism, welcoming millions of visitors each year. The country is located at the southern tip of the Balkan Peninsula but also stretches out to sea on numerous islands in the Ionian, Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, thus becoming a sailing paradise for Yacht Charter devotees.
Greece is widely regarded as the birthplace of Western civilization, with numerous aspects from sport, politics, philosophy, mathematics, drama and it’s also a very nice place to visit due to its landscape why consists of mountainous regions in the mainland and hilly islands with sandy beaches all around where all members of Yacht Charter crews can sunbathe they’re troubles away.
Some of the most attractive regions to Yacht Charter holidaymakers are the country’s capital city of Athens (lots of historical artifacts from back in antiquity), Corfu Island, Crete Island, the Meteora region (famous for its hilltop monasteries), Ithaca, Mount Athos, Rhodos, Santorini and Skianthos (also called the pearl of the Aeagean).
When it comes to the Yacht Charter industry, the locals take pride in the quality of their services and wide variety they come in. Anything from old romantic fishing boats to luxurious modern yachts are available for hire at prices for any pocket. With such an offer it’s easy to understand why most tourists coming here choose to experience Greece by water, sailing during the day and stopping in different ports at night.
Law & Order
You’ll never be too far from the water or a boat while in Greece, be it a ferry, a cruise ship, a fishing boat or a sailing yacht. In that case, you better make sure that you have the proper qualification to operate the boat out at sea. A skipper’s license for coastal sailing will suffice for any vessel you can charter, but the law in Greece states that two crewmembers should be capable of handling the boat. If you’re license was issued by a country outside the EU, you should have a Greek and English translation with you at all times.
The co skipper should is not obliged provide proof of his prior sailing experience but he will have to sign a self-declaration with the port authority. Some Yacht Charter companies might also impose a you take one of their skippers along if they feel you don’t have the adequate experience, especially if you want to charter a motor yacht.
Since Greece is a member of the EU and the EEA, all members of fellow countries don’t need a visa to enter past Greek borders, an ID card will suffice. A few of non-EU or EEA countries are also exempt from visa but the Yacht Charter traveler must have a valid passport upon entry in the country.
Also, since Greece is part of the Schengen agreement, it will not perform passport checks for people coming from other countries in the same agreement, thus significantly reducing the check in time at the border which means more time for you and your Yacht Charter crew to spend on the water.