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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!
