Top 5 bareboat itineraries to escape the crowds and get back in touch with nature. Feel the wind in your hair, and breath in that healing sea breeze onboard your bareboat charter!
Greece – Ionian
One house bay – Ionian
You want to sail in Greece, but you down want the crowds – where should you go? Simple answer – the Ionian! Secluded anchorages, fair winds, and fantastic tavernas makes the Ionian one of the best places to sail in Greece!
Caribbean – BVI’s
BVI’s
Thinking about celebrating Christmas a little bit differently this year? Have your summer holiday plans been canceled and you’re looking for the next celebration? Then a BVI bareboat charter should be for you! With Scuba itineraries, and island hopping adventures – could this be the next tick on your to-do list?
French Polynesia – New Caledonia
New Caledonia
Thinking about a sailing trip in the southern hemisphere far away from any local continent? How about New Caledonia?! A few hundred miles of the coast of mainland Australia lays the New Caledonian archipelago! Enjoy the peace and quiet of what these islands have to offer. An incredible mix of French and Polynesian cultures!
Portuguese Atlantic – The Azores
The Azores
Do you have an Atlantic crossing on your bucket list? Do you need an area to test your sailing skills? Do you need a mile builder itinerary? Then the Azores is for you! An incredible mix of Atlantic and Portuguese culture with the backdrop like something from Jurassic Park. Explore the Volcanos and lava fields on your bareboat charter.
There’s a special place in my heart for the Ionian. I have lived, sailed, swam, and grew as a person there. From Lefkas to Kefalonia, these islands are what I called home onboard a 2015, 37ft Bavaria called PARIS.
She may not look like much, but this girl got us through some bad weather, sticky situations, and above all, our refuge.
Like many sailors who have sailed in one particular area, you tend to have your favourite anchorages – your ‘go-to’ place which is versatile and enjoyed by many a ‘crowd-pleaser’ if you will! Below I talk about my top three anchorages and why you should incorporate them in your itinerary.
Number 1. KIONI – Ithaki Island.
The pretty bay and harbour of Kioni on the small island of Ithaki.
Check out our 7-day bareboat sailing itinerary here!
Why?
Kioni, in my opinion, has the cleanest water due to how quiet it is. In the evenings you MUST go swimming! It’s absolutely teeming with phosphorescent algae which sparkle when disturbed.
You can, more often than not, find a place to drop anchor and tie off to a rock, and if there’s space, on the town quay.
The town is quaint, with a few stunning restaurants located along the harbour wall and up in the foothills overlooking the bay.
Fantastic holding, and normally fairly quiet.
Where?
Kioni pin drop.
Kioni is located on the northeastern tip, protected from the northwesterly prevailing winds. Many sailors tend to hot-foot it down to (big) Vathy located further south which subsequently means that Kioni is fairly quiet, even during high season.
In this lovely town, the time has stopped in the previous century
When?
This anchorage is best enjoyed overnight. It provides protection from the prevailing NW winds and is best viewed early morning!
Anything to watch out for?
A common phenomenon happens pretty much everywhere in the Ionian and that is the Katabatic winds. Most of the tiny anchorages in the Ionian are hidden and tucked away between hills. As the air cools, and the land is warm, it pushed air and funnels between the hills. From around 5:30 PM onwards it can get pretty breezy. It normally settles by about 7:30/8 pm so make sure your anchor is well dug before heading off for your fresh greek dinner!
Number 2. Foki Bay – Kephalonia.
Yes, before you ask it really is called that – and it is truly stunning.
White yacht moored in the bay of Foki beach with cypress trees in background, Fiskardo, Cefalonia, Ionian, Greece.
Why?
The Trees. I nicknamed this bay ‘Little Canada’ because of the Cypress trees that almost fall into the water.
The caves. Accessable by tender or simply swim in! Turn your outboard off just as you enter the caves as people swim in and out of them. The Caves were used for mining in the ’50s and still remain now. Don’t worry if you’re scared of small spaces as these caves are absolutely massive. They are so big you could easily fit a two-story house in them! Take a torch and enclosed shoes (don’t wear flipflops as some bits are quite steep).
The beach. Sometimes while sailing around you just need some time on a beach! Well, this bay has one. In the top right-hand corner is an adorable beach with a quaint taverna serving the best drinks!
You can walk into Fiskardo for some shopping, it’s around 1.5-2km walk.
The water is CRYSTAL clear!
Where?
Foki bay is based on the northeastern tip of Kephelonia, a stone’s throw (or 10-minute tender ride) into the famous Fiskardo, boasting up-market restaurants and beautiful jewellery shops.
When?
This is a perfect lunch spot, or evening stopover (if the winds are favourable). Great holding for lunchtime with the most stunning scenery to enjoy your freshly prepared lunch!
Foki Fiskardo with crystal clear and transparent water, Kefalonia, Ionian Islands, Greece.
Anything to watch out for?
In the high season time, the beach is buoyed off to protect the swimmers, make sure you don’t get caught up in there. Try and head as far in towards the beach as possible as most of the superyachts take the entrance area as its deeper. This will also protect you from the swell that is created from the passing ferries.
Number 3. One house bay – Atokos
Beautiful bay in Ionian sea, called One house bay.
Why?
The pictures speak for its self. One House Bay, characterised by the one house which sits by its self in the foothills.
The crystal blue water and picturesque beach are just some of the reasons you should stop over here!
Gorgeous scenery.
Deep blue water.
Excellent walking.
Where?
One House Bay is on the Southeastern corner of Atoko Island, East of Ithica island. The island is only home to goats, which the shepherd attends to every 4th day.
When?
A perfect lunch spot when travelling from the eastern islands to the western islands. If the winds are favourable, you can possibly stay here overnight, please bear in mind it offers little to no protection.
Getting first-hand knowledge about the area is key to creating a memorable charter. I have traveled extensively throughout Greece and the Meditterenian to visit destinations to provide you with the best recommendations and advice. Looking to explore the Southern Ionian? Speak with Alice today at an@boatbookings.com!
2 top Crewed Catamarans in the Exumas/Nassau/area in the Bahamas that have not been affected by Dorian.
We all witnessed with grief the unimaginable destruction brought upon Great Abaco and Grand Bahama Islands by hurricane Dorian and we pray for the fast and smooth recovery of the stricken areas.
Regardless, the Bahamas remains one of our most popular year-long yachting destinations: Dorian only affected the above-mentioned islands but the rest of the islands is as beautiful as always.
In any case, the majority of charter vessels have always been based in the Nassau cruising area. The Exumas combine a protected sailing area with magic sandy beaches, turquoise waters and high temperatures all year long. Some of the most popular charter vessels in Nassau and the Exumas are crewed catamarans
AMURA II
AMURA II is a lovely Lagoon 560, with a professional crew of 2 (captain and hostess/chef). Based all year long in Nassau, AMURA II will also consider one-way charters starting Nassau and finishing in the Exumas; this will allow you more time in order to explore the islands!
SEA SENOR
Available out of Nassau for both day charters as well as for longer period cruises is SEA SENOR! Excellent catamaran with a very experienced crew, ideal for short escapes out of Nassau! Feel free to contact now our expert broker team and start planning your next crewed catamaran charter in the Bahamas.
With the terrible misfortune, it seems fitting that we have a yacht called SILVER LINING. Berthed in the Exumas, she is an excellent alternative to chartering in the Abacos.
The stunning SILVER LINING is still available for Thanksgiving in Nassau to cruise the Exumas. Although Hurricane Dorian caused devastation in the Northern Islands of the Bahamas, there are still hundreds of untouched islands in the Cays. The Exumas is a 100 mile stretch of stunning coastline and turquoise waters where you can enjoy beautiful anchorages and wonderful fresh food.
Must see
The Tropic of Cancer beach, also known as Pelican beach is a must-see on Little Exuma. The sand is blindingly white, not just lightly coloured as many ‘white beaches’ are described. The sand itself radiates the sunlight that bathes it to create a blaze of light unique to this beach. If ever there was a picture postcard, then this beach truly is it:
Swimming Pigs!
Big Major’s Cay is home to the mystifying swimming pigs! It is widely believed that the reason the pigs swim in this area is down to their intelligence. Pigs are extremely intelligent, and they know tourists will come and feed them, hence why they will always swim out to you!
Stocking Island amongst other islands in the Exumas is home to Stromatolites, the oldest known macro-fossils on earth. They hold the biological activity of thousands of years.
Wildlife and nature
If you are a lover of marine life and nesting sea birds, then Moria Harbour Cay National Park is a must-see. Sand dunes, beaches, mangroves and seagrass all located between Great and Little Exuma. This area covers 13,440 acres!
The Yacht!
SILVER LINING is the perfect yacht to take you around the Bahamian paradise with a great crew on board, Captain Peter and chef/stewardess Ginny are a highly proactive team who are keen to ensure a memorable experience for their clients.
She offers 3 ensuite cabins, perfect for a family or group of friends. A well presented enclosed flybridge with a large dining table. The cockpit has easy access to the sea for fishing and swimming. Huge sunbathing area on the bow.
BBQ grill to cook the catch of the day! A great selection of water toys including wave runner, wakeboard, skis, SUP, airhead inflatable tube, 2 floating islands, snorkelling gear, fishing gear and beach set up with chairs. For an additional cost, clients can hire the 36ft Aquila power cat which also comes with a crew member giving a higher level of service on board.
Get on contact with us today to see how you can enjoy SILVER LINING on your Thanksgiving holiday.
The Seychelles are an archipelago of the Indian Ocean. There are over 100 islands, some volcanic, but most of them coralline. The largest island, where the capital rises, is Mahé.
In The Seychelles there are two sites declared a World Heritage from UNESCO: Aldabra, the largest coral atoll in the world and the Vallee de Mai on Praslin, a very ancient forest believed to be the Garden of Eden.
The Seychelles are famous all over the world for the amazing coral reef, the incomparable landscapes, the crystalline blue water, the white soft sand, and the incredible nature.
This paradise on earth is inhabited by rare and unique wildlife, that every year bring tourists from all over the world. The sea and land turtles are one of the biggest attractions.
The Aldabrachelys is a giant turtle that you will be able to see on The Aldabra Island. These incredible animals survived the evolutionary changes, thanks to the geographical isolation that protected them for millennia from modern predators.
Males can be up to 120 centimeters and weigh around 250 kg. Females can reach a little over 90 centimeters in length and weigh around 160 kilos. They are among the most long-lived animals on the planet.
Besides these incredible land creatures, you will also be able to see sea turtles if you go diving or snorkeling.
There are five different species of marine turtles living in the sea around the Seychelles islands. Alphonse Island, Astove Atoll, Cosmoledo Atoll, and Poivre Atoll are the main destinations where is possible to see these ancient animals in their natural habitat.
These unique animals are used to getting used to seeing humans, for this reason, if you are lucky you will not only be able to see them but also swim with them.
This is only one of the many incredible experiences that this place can offer. The people, the food and the magical atmosphere of this island will make you experience an incredible journey. Seychelle is definitely a place to visit once in a lifetime.
