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At Sailing Holidays we have people with a total mixture of experience levels on the holidays, from those who have sailed around the world to those just starting out. Most start off having had some dinghy sailing, windsurfing, canoeing or other on water experience.
A flotilla is a group of 10-12 yachts guided by one of our fully equipped lead yachts. The flotilla usually consists of around 30-50 people depending on the size of boats and time of year. When you arrive you are given an initial briefing on the boat.
In the morning you will receive a comprehensive briefing that will cover all the working parts of the boat. This will cover elements from pulling the sails in and out (on our easy furling systems) to how to operate the all-important engine (which fortuitously keeps the beer in the fridge cold!). They will also explain about the anchor windlass.
From then on the lead crew will provide a daily briefing on the place you are heading to that day and the anticipated weather.
You then have the day to yourselves, to enjoy some sailing, a lazy lunch, and a swim before you head in to explore the new village harbour.
On the Bareboat desk of Sailing Holidays we are able to offer you independent and skippered charter in some of the best sailing destinations in the Mediterranean. Fancy a trip to Split and a week sailing around the Dalmatian Islands? Or fancy exploring the nooks and crannies of the Lycian coast, eating meze in the one and only restaurant, in a secluded bay? No worries, we’ve got it covered!
Sail from bay to bay, island to island, harbour to harbour…
With us you can sail by yourself (if qualified to do so) or with the guidance of one of our experienced skippers. Skippered Charter offers the options of learning as you go or simply lying back and relaxing whilst they show you some of the finest charms and delights the Mediterranean has to offer.
With Bareboat Sailing Holidays you can choose to sail in Turkey, Spain, Croatia, Italy and Greece and you can choose between bareboat and skippered charter in all destinations.
For those of you who have started out on flotillas and are looking to spread your wings a bareboat holiday could be the perfect option. We work with our trusted partners all over the Mediterranean to offer quality Bareboat Sailing Holidays in Greece, Croatia, Italy, Turkey and Spain.
Within the five countries and between our 24 bases, we have 14 different sailing areas, each with their own unique ability to create a memorable sailing holiday. Picture yourself sailing from harbour to harbour, bay to bay, island to island surrounded by beautiful blue skies and the warm Mediterranean sun.
Glad you asked… The basis of a bareboat charter is where you hire and sail the yacht yourself with no crew. Don’t worry if you’re not ready to explore on your own, we do also offer skippered sailing holidays where you are accompanied on board by one of our friendly and knowledgeable skippers.
An essential piece of information to remember is that a bareboat is different from a flotilla sailing holiday; on a flotilla you are part of a flotilla with the handy, unobtrusive assistance and guidance of our friendly flotilla lead crew.
For more information on bareboat sailing holidays it is best to visit our Bareboat Sailing Holidays site:
www.BareboatSailingHolidays.com
We can offer skippered charters in all destinations. This option is where we provide a friendly skipper to sail the yacht for you. This offers you the chance to learn as much (or as little) as you like about sailing by either getting involved or simply sitting back and relaxing and taking in the (often rather stunning) scenery!
This is a great way for those who have not sailed before to experience the way of the seas; something us sailors have been waxing lyrical about for a long time. We dare you not to catch the sailing bug…
Learn to sail in a relaxed and friendly environment with British RYA Instructors based in the sunny Greek Islands. Whether you are new to sailing or looking to improve, there isn’t a better place to learn to sail, with beautiful weather, warm seas and gentle winds.
We provide a range of seven day RYA sailing courses for those looking to learn to sail and skipper their own yacht.
Our RYA Competent Crew runs over seven days and teaches you how to sail a modern yacht. We also provide learning material for you to study at home that will ease you in to the practical course.
Our RYA Day Skipper is taught over seven days, and this allows us to take a relaxed approach to training. We provide you with the theory to study at home, so you will arrive in Greece fully prepared for the practical course.
RYA COMBINED COMPETENT CREW AND DAY SKIPPER COURSE
The RYA Competent Crew and Day Skipper Combined Course is taught over fourteen days. You will learn the basics of sailing, all the way to taking control of your own yacht. The course comes complete with all the theory you’ll need, and by the end of the fortnight you’ll be confident to sail your own yacht.
Coastal Skipper & Yachtmaster Offshore
These courses are for advanced sailors and we offer them on request. Please contact our partner sailing school at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information and to apply.
Our training yachts
Our courses are taught on our dedicated training boats, the Dufour 36’s. These are spacious modern cruising yachts set up exclusively for teaching, and are equipped with all the essentials. We use proper ‘slab reefing’ main sails, so you can learn how to hoist, set and handle a conventional sail. The yachts are furnished with new modern instruments, such as GPS, chart-plotter, Navtex and wireless wind, speed, and depth transducers. They have modern galleys which include a double sink, large fridge, and oven. Each boat is fitted with clean, modern heads and a holding tank.
About Us
Our RYA sail training is provided in conjunction with Corfu Sea School. We run our courses out of Plataria in the north Ionian. Corfu Sea School has been teaching in Greece since 2001, and is a well respected RYA training centre. We first teamed up with them in 2010 to provide certified RYA tuition to meet the growing demand for professional training, to gain valuable qualifications…while sailing in the sun!
Why choose a course with Sailing Holidays?
Sailing Holidays is a family owned business. We use our own yachts and take full advantage of our huge support team to make sure the yachts are in the best condition for your course. All our instructors work as flotilla skippers before training to be an instructor, so they know and love the area in which they teach. Our instructors are chosen for their passion, experience and patience, as well as their ability to make your time in the Greek islands thoroughly enjoyable.
Luxury skippered
Share a yacht
A combination of a one or two week flotilla sailing holiday with another relaxing week or two ashore...
These holidays will appeal to those who enjoy sailing but have family or friends who are not quite so enthusiastic - a compromise can now be made!
Most people opt for a week of sailing followed by a week of winding down on shore. However it is entirely up to you to do what you want to do (and when!)
Stylish comfort for your shore based week
Choose from studios or apartments beside the sea at the Iris Hotel near Nidri, or you can really pamper yourself at the Salvator Spa Hotel in Parga, which also has a selection of two-bedroom villas with private pools.
Your shore based week
During your week ashore there are plenty to keep you entertained, depending on which location you choose. If you are looking to get back out on the water you can rent motor boats, take a dive course, or even take one of our yachts out for a day sail. Hiring a car is popular and gives you the opportunity to explore all around Lefkas and the Greek Mainland.
If it is relaxation you are after, you will be pleased to know that all of our accommodation options have a swimming pool. The Salvator Spa Hotel and Villas also have an in-house spa – a truly luxurious way to unwind!
Your Sailing Week
Your sailing week will start with a comprehensive briefing on all aspects of your yacht, followed by a short first day sail. This will be about 10 miles in relatively sheltered waters. Most days thereafter will be a similar distance of no more than 15 miles.
Take your time meandering from port to port, stopping for lunch and swims in beautiful bays along the way, before making the most of the afternoon breeze and sailing to your evening destination.
Been on a holiday recently? We hope you had a great holiday and the post-holiday blues are not hitting too hard… So that we can make your next holiday even better we would love it if you could spend 30 seconds letting us know the bits you loved and any bits that you feel could be improved. It is quick, easy and simply requires you to cast your mind back to the turquoise blue waters of the sunny Greek Islands!
Take don't it from us - read what our customers have to say! Want an unbiased account from all our sailors over the last couple of years? Check out our reviews on the independent review site Feefo below! Or if you are in the mood for something a little more fun, scroll down to watch videos made by our sailors...
October Half Term Corfu & Paxos Flotilla - The Stafford Family - October 2016
The Stafford's sailed on our Beneteau 38 on the last flotilla of the season. Rosie put together this amazing video of all their flotilla antics!
Kefalonia Flotilla - Warren & Lorraine - September 2016
"Thanks all for a great time last week, especially our flotilla team on Christine. We had a great time sailing Andromeda. Here is our little video."
Kefalonia Flotilla - Timmy Bell - August 2016
Timmy, Minnie, Nathan and Lisa sailed on our Bavaria 46 "Mythos" with Lead Boat Christine.
Kefalonia Flotilla - Ashleigh & Family - August 2016
I just got back from a Sailing Holidays Ltd trip and you're duly invited to witness one of the best holidays of my life! 7 days sailing for the first time in the Ionian sea...
Kefalonia Flotilla - Dan Bullock & Family - July 2016
"From relaxing on the deck with the sea breeze blowing to cliff jumping of a cave into turquoise blue tropical water, no two days were ever the same on our holiday. Moving from harbour to harbour and different restaurants with different unique foods every night. Sailing became simple to the end of the week as we learned a lot from the skipper on the first day. This is probably one of my favourite holidays I have ever been on."
May Half Term Saronics - Suzanne Harrold - Lefkas Flotilla - May 2016
"Some highlights from last weeks sailing in half term - dolphins, diving competition, kids being dragged behind a speedboat, snorkling, and some sailing too!" Suzanne Harrold
GoPro Summer Holiday - Wardinos do Greece - Lefkas Flotilla - May 2016
"Hi Barrie and team just wanted to say thank you for a great holiday. Have a great season. Hope to be back again soon. Here's a short film my son put together to remind us what a great time we had..." Debbie Collino
Sailing Holidays Flotilla - 16th - 30th August 2015. Team Melissa.
The Sheldon's Sailing Holidays in 2015...
The Scanlons & Nicols go sailing in Greece - 5th-12th July 2015
"This summer (2015), myself and 8 family members got two of your wonderful 40 ft yachts for a week around the Ionian Islands and had a blast!" Rebecca
A video filmed by first time sailor Callum on our One Week Paxos Flotilla in June 2014...
"We have just returned from out annual sailing holiday, this time in the Sporades with the lead crew on Kirki i.e. Charlie, Kat and Lockie. We just had to say what an amazing team they are..."
Nigel & Joann Marsh, October 2014
"Just wanted to let you know, how very much we all enjoyed our first sailing holiday. Your care of us, in all aspects, was absolutely fantastic. You all made us feel so very welcome and your relaxed nature was a delight."
Karen Tatam - August 2014
"Just back from the delivery to sivota with the kefalos flotilla, great lead crew as always. Weather has been great with nice breezes each afternoon. Looking forward to another one at the end of the season where I will be introducing my daughter to flotilla sailing. Thank you Sailing Holidays!!!"
David Kember, May 2014
"Fantastic. The holiday starts in the airport as old friendships are renewed and continues on the water and off in the various night time stops. No other holiday company are as good at what they do as sailing holidays. If in doubt go ahead and find out for yourselves! I am sure you will soon become a repeat customer like so many others have become."
Alan Kaye, May 2013
"I just can't believe it took me 51 years to have the best holiday of my life."
Rick, September 2013
"My wife, kids and I have just returned from our all too short holiday with you. I'm writing to thank you for a really fantastic week, and in particular to heap praise on your lead crew of Patrick, Emma and Andy. We are novice sailors, this was our first flotilla holiday. Your company did precisely what it says on the tin - introduced us to sailing in a very relaxed, and informal way. It was the support of the Kefalos crew, however, which made the week such a great success. They do a fantastic job for you, and genuinely couldn't have done more for to help us and the other boats, afloat and ashore. Thanks again. We will certainly be back."
Richard and Sarah , July 2013
"I've been addicted to sailing with your company in the Greek Islands for many years now, often when able returning for a second holiday at the end of the season as I miss it so much. People have tried to tempt me away from your flotillas but I do so love the 'can do' inclusive philosophy of Sailing Holidays with the eclectic mix of fellow sailors I have had the pleasure of spending time with, so I'm afraid your stuck with me..."
Sally, May 2013
Two Week South Ionian flotilla - David Kent - 2012
"These holidays should come with a warning "can be addictive"..."
Cathy, July 2012
"My whole family are big fans of your company. My Dad first sailed in the Jags back in the late 70s and early 80s. When my own family were young we could only afford to sail dinghies but we always dreamed of flotilla sailing holidays. When we had the money to try it a few years ago we were nervous about our lack of experience in yachts but a friend recommended you and our first attempt got us well and truly hooked! Thank you for all your encouragement and enthusiasm. You are a great team."
Angela, July 2010
What we're up to? does this need to be a blog?
Every year we take thousands of people to the Greek Islands…some are sailors; some have never set foot on a yacht before in their lives. Many have since gone on to buy their own yachts and sail all over the world.
Our laid back approach to flotilla sailing provides the ideal first step to sailing a yacht as well as the perfect way to introduce friends and family. The majority of sailors who sail with us will return the following year, many times together with friends they have made on their previous holiday.
It is difficult to describe in words the feeling of exhilaration when the breeze fills the sails and the tranquil silence as you turn off the engine. Not to mention the feeling of freedom that comes from jumping off the yacht into crystal clear water and the ambience that comes when relaxing with fellow sailors in a Greek taverna in the evening. The difference with us comes with our unrivalled assistance and back up offered by our friendly flotilla lead crew and shore-based teams.
Lead crews are chosen for their sailing and maintenance abilities, along with their gregarious natures. Our flotilla skipper has the responsibility of guiding you throughout and will conduct daily briefings covering information about the route, weather and lunchtime anchorages.
Your ‘hostie’ is your link with local people and advises on what facilities are available at the next village. The engineer ensures that jobs are dealt with quickly and the yachts remain in good working order.
They carry a comprehensive selection of tools and spare parts. Our shore based team work closely with our lead crews to ensure things run smoothly and modern internet weather forecasting means that our flotillas are seldom caught out by Mother Nature.
We believe everyone should have the chance to sail in sheltered waters, with gentle winds, beautiful scenery, unobtrusive assistance and guidance. For 38 years the Ionian Islands have offered an unbeatable training ground.
The Ionian Islands are one of the safest sailing environments in the world. There are no significant tides, compass variation or cold temperatures to worry about, so you will be sailing in a swimsuit rather than a wetsuit!
Sailing Holidays has been running flotillas in the Greek Islands for over 40 years and the welcomes still haven’t waned...the locals are familiar with our team and are more welcoming than ever. Barrie & Heidi who own the company began as Skipper and Hostess in the 1980's and so know first-hand what goes into making a fantastic holiday. 40 years later the Sailing Holidays team and fleet have grown a little. What is important to us is ensuring we still provide the same personal touch to everyone who comes sailing with us. Be that on an independent yacht charter, flotilla holiday or luxury skippered catamaran! If you are keen to read more, meet our team or see what our customers have to say...
With hundreds of glitzy websites, bustling for space on search result pages, it really is difficult to sort the trustworthy from the undependable. After all, it is easy to build a flashy website (or print a glossy brochure...) quite a lot tougher to deliver an amazing sailing holiday.We are the largest independent sailing holiday company in the UK. We love sailing and so know exactly what goes into an outstanding holiday. We own and run our own yachts, which we believe makes a huge difference to your holiday experience.
Every year we take thousands of people to the Greek Islands...some are sailors; some have never set foot on a yacht before in their lives. Many have since gone on to buy their own yachts and sail all over the world. Our laid back approach to flotilla sailing provides the ideal first step to sailing a yacht as well as the perfect way to introduce friends and family. The majority of sailors who sail with us will return the following year, many times together with friends they have made on their previous holiday.
It is difficult to describe in words the feeling of exhilaration when the breeze fills the sails and the tranquil silence as you turn off the engine. Not to mention the feeling of freedom that comes from jumping off the yacht into crystal clear water and the ambience that comes when relaxing with fellow sailors in a Greek taverna in the evening. The difference with us comes with our unrivalled assistance and back up offered by our friendly flotilla lead crew and shore-based teams.
Sure the other stuff is important – great boats, in awesome locations, with great sailing – but we believe our superiority lies in our crew. From the moment you speak to someone on the telephone or via email you are talking to someone who has worked and been on our sailing holidays. They know first-hand what the boats are like, which areas will suit you best and even what the weather might be like! Ask Becky about the best spots in the north Ionian Islands or Charlie about the most ideal anchorages in the Sporades...take your pick! Out on holiday the supporting staff have unrivalled knowledge of the areas and their yachts so you are in safe hands.
Being part of Sailing Holidays comes with great responsibility in assuring that our yachts and people are some of the best. All the yachts on our flotillas are owned and run by us and maintained in house. They are also set up to be super easily handled by beginners or those taking less experienced friends and family sailing. We head out to Greece numerous times a year to touch base with our teams both on shore and out on the water. Our programme of maintenance and back up is unrivalled and so sailing with us you have confidence knowing that the yacht and people are of the best standard around.
Sailing Holidays Ltd is a fully bonded tour operator. When you buy an ATOL protected air holiday package from SailingHolidays.com you will receive a confirmation invoice from us confirming your arrangements and your protection under our Air Travel Organiser's License number 2580. In the unlikely event of our insolvency, the CAA will ensure that you are not stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any money you have paid to us for an advance booking. For further information please visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk.
Know what you want? Or just looking for find out some more information? Simple Click below to explore any of our flotilla sailing holidays. Choose by your crews level of sailing experience, your preferred area of Greece or the duration of holiday you are after. If you have any questions at all just give us a call...
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Beginner Sailors |
Previous Flotilla Sailors |
Keen Sailors |
Choose from the tranquil Ionian Islands, the slightly windier Saronic Islands or the livelier Sporades Islands of Greece. Each area has it's own unique charm and ability to delivery a cracking sailing holiday.
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Ionian Islands
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Saronic Islands |
Sporades Islands |
Grab a quick week or escape for two, the choice is yours! For those with a little more time on their hands the three week deliveries are a brilliant way to see as much as you can of the Greek Islands.
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One Week Holidays |
Two Week Holidays |
Three Week Holidays |
If you are unsure about two weeks sailing but still want to make the most of your summer holiday, why not combine a week of sailing with a week in one of our chosen hotels or villas? Simply click below to explore the Iris and Salvator Hotels or have a browse through Ionian and Aegean Island Holidays' villa collection to see which option might suit.
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Iris Hotel & Apartments |
Salvator Spa Hotel & Villas |
Ionian Island Holiday Villas |
Looking for something a little more official than a flotilla sailing holidays? Whether you’ve never set foot on a boat before, or you already have some experience and dream of skippering your own yacht, we can help you take the next step.
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RYA Competent Crew |
RYA Day Skipper |
Two Week Combined Course |
Know what you want? If you know what you want simply search our flotillas...
For those of you who have sailed around the Ionian numerous times we are trying to keep things fresh, so here is what is new this year.
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At Sailing Holidays we have people with a total mixture of experience levels on the holidays, from those who have sailed around the world to those just starting out. Most start off having had some dinghy sailing, windsurfing, canoeing or other on water experience but we also take a number of people who have never set foot on board a boat.
"We were sailing as, more or less, complete beginners. We have been on many holidays in our lives and we can both honestly say that it was the best holiday we have had - ever! We would also like to thank Sailing Holidays for giving us the opportunity to experience, first hand, a true experience of sailing, knowing that support was there should it be needed"
Martin Kilick & Frances Scott, August 2014
A flotilla is a group of 10-12 yachts guided by one of our fully equipped lead yachts. The flotilla usually consists of around 30-50 people depending on the size of boats and time of year. When you arrive you are given an initial briefing on the boat.
On the first morning you will receive a comprehensive briefing that will cover all the working parts of the boat. This will cover elements from pulling the sails in and out (on our easy furling systems) to how to operate the all-important engine (which fortuitously keeps the beer in the fridge cold!).
After the initial briefings on Day 1 the lead crew will provide you with a daily briefing on the place you are heading to that day and the anticipated weather. You then have the day to yourselves, to enjoy some sailing, a lazy lunch, and a swim before you head in to explore the new village harbour that evening
Absolutely none at all...honestly. Our team in Greece are used to this and have a wealth of knowledge and experience to subtly assist and guide you through a fabulous week or fortnight of sailing.
Check out our beginners guide to sailing below to give you an idea of just how easy it can be...
Affordable Sail Training
If you are still feeling a little daunted following this initial briefing we are able to offer an ‘extra pair of hands’ for the first day, or two, or however long you need! This is just £80/€90 per day (plus his or her food & drink all payable locally). Many people enjoy the skippers company for a few days or the whole week, and others feel more than capable after just one day of training.
Our sailors
Throughout early (May and June) and late (September & October) season there tends to be plenty of couples and groups of friends whilst during school holidays and half term weeks there are families on nearly every boat (apart from the odd teacher!).
Not at all. Ours are some of the most laid back flotilla holidays around. Throughout the week or fortnight the hostess will organise a few social events for you to meet your fellow sailors, such as group meals, punch parties or picnics. These are of course optional but can be a highlight for some!
