Welcome back to this new blog of MOVETOEARTH! If you’ve always wanted to sail in the Mediterranean but don’t know where to start, then don’t click away just yet, because the answer is Greece! My name is AbdulRaheem, and I am here to show you the 8 Reasons to Choose a Sailing Charter to the Greek Islands.
Right now, I realise even more how incredible Greece was. I would like to share with you why Greece is the place to be for sailors. Let’s dive right into the eight reasons why we love Greece.
Here are the 8 Reasons to Choose a Sailing Charter to the Greek Islands:
8. Other Sailors
If you’re chartering a boat for just one or two weeks with friends and family, this might not be a very important reason to you. But we think that the people you meet make or break the place. Having a friendly sailor lend you a helping hand when you moor up, wave at you when you arrive at an anchorage, or just have a nice chat with your neighbours really adds to the good atmosphere and general feeling of a country.
I also found that there are heaps more liveaboards in Greece than anywhere else in the Med. So, if you are looking to stay somewhere longer, the liveaboard community in Greece is very big and active. When you like meeting new and friendly faces, then Greece is the place to go. We definitely made some friends for life here.
7. History
Even if you don’t care about history, Greece just has such an amazing and rich history, and even though we are both not really into this kind of stuff, we cannot deny that we were blown away by it anyway. Of course, Greece has its famous historic sites, like the Oracle of Delphi and the Acropolis.
But next to that, every town either has an impressive fortress, an old town center, some ruins and everything I have seen was nothing but impressive. The great thing is that there are so many small and big towns that you can reach by sailboat that there is just no end to it.
The most remarkable town we have seen is Monemvasia. The whole town is basically carved out of a giant rock and surrounded by a big stone wall. But on top of that rock is a massive and pretty well-preserved old town, and the view when you reach the top is just magnificent.
6. Affordable
Many people think that you have to be rich to be wealthy. It depends on what you expect from sailing. If you want to sail a fifty-foot catamaran with air conditioning, then sure, you probably need to be loaded. But if you want to go sailing for a week with a bunch of friends and you’re happy with a 36-foot boat or you live like we do, the good news is that there is no need to be rich. And if you then decide to go to Greece, you could even be spending less money than you might spend renting a house with a pool.
That is why we love Greece. For us liveaboards that need to get by on less money than a two-week tourist, price is what makes Greece so attractive. You can basically anchor anywhere for free as long as the depths allow it, of course. And if you don’t want to anchor, there is the option of using town keys.
Almost every town has one, and they are very inexpensive. I have paid as little as five euros up to a maximum of 20 euros, which is already a lot for Greece but won’t get you anywhere in Spain or Italy. To give you a little perspective, we have a 36-foot monohull, and we sailed with our friends.
5. Good Infrastructure for Boats in Greece
Greece is known for its stunning islands and crystal-clear waters, making it a haven for boat enthusiasts. With over 6,000 islands, boats are a common mode of transportation and even a way of life. Here are some reasons why Greece has an excellent infrastructure for boats.
Every town has a port
No matter how small a town may be, there is always a town key or small port where you can dock your boat for free or pay a small fee. Most of these ports also provide water and electricity, and sometimes these are even free of charge or included in the price of an overnight stay. This makes it easy for boat owners to access essential amenities without having to worry about running out of water or electricity.
Convenient laundry and shower services
In Greece, restaurants often offer shower and laundry services to boat owners, and even if they don’t, someone nearby usually provides these services for a reasonable fee. You can even have your laundry picked up, washed, dried, and neatly folded within 24 hours. Additionally, there are self-service launderettes all over Greece, which make doing your laundry a breeze.
Good Infrastructure for Boats
Greece is a country with around 6,000 islands, which means that boats are a common mode of transportation in coastal areas and on the islands. Owning a boat is not seen as a luxury, but rather as a way of life. In fact, boats play such an important role in daily life that it becomes noticeable when you sail. Here are several reasons why Greece has good infrastructure for boats:
4. Keys and Small Ports
Every town, no matter how small, has a town key or a small port where you can come up for free or pay a small fee. Also, at these town keys, you can always get water and often electricity too. Sometimes the water is even free or already included in the price of an overnight stay.
Even if water is not free, it will only cost you about five or ten euros. The awesome part is not the price; it is actually that water and electricity are really easy to find. You never really have to worry about an empty tank or where to get your next shot of energy. You definitely don’t need a water maker here.
Even if you want to stay in a small anchorage for months in a row, there’s always a town around the corner where you can just stock up in the morning and be back again in your anchorage by the end of the day.
3. Showers and laundry services
Restaurants often provide showers and/or laundry services, and if the restaurant doesn’t offer them, you will find someone else who has made this their side business next to renting scooters or selling groceries. You can get your laundry picked up, washed, dried, and folded neatly in less than 24 hours.
You can also use the self-service laundromats, which are everywhere and mostly reasonably priced (about four euros for a washing load and three euros for drying). There is just not a single country in the Mediterranean where doing your laundry has been this easy.
2. Marine Stores
In case you need to get something fixed on your boat, you will find a marine store in almost every town. This is something we thought was normal since we started off in Greece; we just didn’t know any better.
And in case you can’t fix it yourself, the guy that owns the marine store knows a guy who knows a guy that can come by later and fix it for you without charging you an outrageous amount of money. Thank you, Greece!
Clear and Blue Water
A picture says more than a thousand words, which is extremely true in this case. The water in Greece is just mind-blowing; it is crystal clear and crazy blue. There are many bays and towns to choose from when the wind suddenly changes direction by 180 degrees. That is not uncommon to go Greek Islands Sailing Charter in the summer.
You can change your plans at the last minute and still find a safe and beautiful spot for tonight. Your options are limitless.
1. Perfect for Beginners
Greece is a big sailing playground, perfect for beginners. No matter if you are a sailing newbie or an experienced sea dog, Greece has something to offer everyone. The Ionian Sea, which sometimes feels like a big pot, is the perfect sailing playground for inexperienced sailors.
You can sail small distances in relatively protected areas because of the islands that surround you; there is no open ocean. Always have the islands in sight, and they keep the big swell and waves at bay, giving you a feeling of safety. You can find many bays or town keys to hide from the wind or throw an anchor for the night.
There are loads of other, more experienced sailors that are happy to show you the ropes and help you out when you need it.
Conclusion
Greece is an ideal destination for sailing enthusiasts, and in this blog post, we explored eight reasons to choose a sailing charter to the Greek Islands. The post discussed the friendly community of sailors in Greece, the country’s rich history, affordability, and good infrastructure for boats, including the availability of town keys and small ports, as well as laundry and shower services. Overall, Greece offers an excellent sailing experience for those looking to explore the stunning islands and crystal-clear waters.