Nautilus Yachting > Flotilla > Greece Flotillas > Learn To Sail On Flotilla
With sheltered water and straight-forward navigation, the Corfu flotilla in Greece is ideal for beginners who wish to start sailing their own yacht on flotilla. We can offer an instructor on board your flotilla yacht for the week to build your confidence as skipper of your own flotilla yacht. This is ideal for couples and families who would like to join in a flotilla experience but need some instruction. On successful completion of the course you will be able to skipper a yacht within our flotilla under the guidance of our lead crew, practising your new sailing skills. This is not an RYA accredited course. If you would like to gain an RYA qualification then please see our RYA Courses.
These courses are great for families to learn to sail together but remember the instructor will not look after young children so one parent may only get to crew standard. This is also a good "refresher" course if you haven't skippered for a while. While parents refresh their skills, younger children can learn safety onboard and teenagers can become useful crew. You will have to allocate a cabin for the instructor.
The 6-day flotilla course is designed as an accessible and enjoyable introduction to sailing for families and friends to determine if the world of sailing is for you. The aim of the course is to take students with little or no experience to the level that they can skipper a yacht within our flotilla under the guidance of our lead crew. This course will cover ropework, basic navigation skills, safety on board, sailing techniques, mooring and anchoring.
This is not an RYA course but the experience gained should allow you to progress to the RYA Day Skipper Theory and Practical courses without further time on the water. Please speak with our sales consultants for more details.
Suggested minimum pre-course experience: None, suitable for complete novices and anyone wanting to start sailing.Price: €1200 per yacht, payable at base in cash
Prices are for an instructor on board your yacht for 6 days. This cost is in addition to the flotilla cost. Please see the Corfu flotilla page for more details. Food for the skipper is extra. (Subject to instructor availability).
The best time to take a sailing holiday in Greece is between April and October, with peak season being June, July, and August.
High Season
The Meltemi winds are strongest in July and August, making a more exhilarating sailing challenge for the more experienced sailors. These months also fall within the UK school summer holidays, the perfect time for a family holiday, with lots of opportunities for the children to make new friends. Why not try one of our family-friendly flotilla holidays?
For easier sailing aim for the end of the summer when the winds are less intense making for more relaxed sailing conditions.
Shoulder Season
April and October benefit from smaller crowds as well as cheaper flights, great yacht availability and reduced costs.
Spring
April - June are the perfect months for those looking for a quieter yacht charter. The winds are milder, the weather is warm and the islands are in full bloom. With the reduced crowds it allows you to enjoy them to the fullest!Autumn Sailing in Greece
Choose the autumn months to avoid the tourist crowds, enjoy the calmer winds and take in the natural beauty of the islands at a leisurely pace.
May & September
The weather is warm but not too hot with average temperatures around 25ºC (77ºF) and the crowds are lower than the peak summer season.
Late May & June
The crowds are still relatively low but the temperatures have started to rise (average 28ºC / 85ºF) and the waters begin to get warm enough for swimming.
July to September
This is when the waters are at their warmest and it is also the peak tourist time due to the school summer holidays. This is a great time for a sociable family holiday - why not try one of our family-friendly flotilla holidays?
October
This is the end of the main sailing season and a good opportunity to take advantage of lower prices and lighter crowds. The weather is on average 21 - 23ºC and the waters are still warm enough to enjoy a spot of swimming.
In general, the best sailing conditions are from April to October when you can enjoy warm waters, clear skies and reliable winds.
The Ionian is great for year-round sailing however the best conditions are late spring to early autumn. The Ionian has hot, dry summers with calmer winds but stronger gusts can occur in the afternoons.
The Meltemi winds provide reliable sailing in the summer months perfect for more experienced sailors looking for a more challenging charter.
Typically the rainy season is from November to March and sailing conditions are not always ideal.
The cost of your yacht charter depends on several factors:
The type and size of the yacht you book will dictate the price. A 1 week charter on a 2 - 3 cabin monohull starts around £900 in low season whereas 1 week on a luxury catamaran with a skipper in high season could be upwards of £10,000. These are the 2 extremes of the scale for a 1 week charter and we offer plenty of choices in between.
1 week is a popular choice amongst our sailors and makes the perfect getaway however, a longer charter will give you more time to explore all the Greek islands have to offer. We have a range of 1 and 2 week flotillas, as well as custom bareboat bookings which can be tailored to your timescale.
Lower-priced yacht charters are available in the off-season of April, May, September and October with prices starting to rise in June before peaking in July and August.
Don't have any sailing experience? No problem! We offer several skippered and crewed options so you can enjoy the yachting lifestyle without the stress. From a simple skippered yacht to fully crewed options, we can arrange a charter to suit your needs.
Flotilla yacht charters are more expensive than a bareboat charter, but for the extra cost, you are getting the assistance of a lead boat with an experienced crew who are ready to help if you need assistance on your voyage. The flotilla lead crew also arrange social activities and lead you on a carefully curated itinerary. Flotillas are great if you enjoy the social aspects of sailing and are perfect for families, especially during school holidays. Children enjoy making new friends, while adults can unwind and connect with like-minded sailors.
If you are experienced and prefer to discover the islands at your own pace then a bareboat charter is the perfect choice for a relaxing holiday in The Med.
For bareboat charters and flotilla holidays in Greece, you will need ICC qualification.
The port authorities in Greece are now insisting on one of the following practical certificates:
If you hold an RYA Day Skipper or ASA104 it will no longer be accepted and you need to obtain either an ICC or IPC from the corresponding issuing body (RYA or ASA).
If your RYA Coastal/Yachtmaster or ASA105/106 certificate is more than 10 years old and does not have a photo ID, then you need to apply for an ICC or IPC.
If you are a member of the RYA or ASA, you may qualify for a discount or free certificate, otherwise, you will have to pay. The approximate cost is £50. Please use these links - RYA application for the ICC or ASA application for the IPC.
A 1 - 2 week charter will give you the optimum time to explore all Greece has to offer, from the beautiful secluded beaches and coves to the rich culture of its historic towns. Fancy exploring at a more relaxed pace? Our knowledgeable team can assist you with a custom charter.
We have various 1 and 2 week sailing itineraries for both bareboat and flotilla sailing holidays in Greece that have been personally tried and tested by our team.
The mooring fees in Greece are very minimal, you will find it is one of the cheaper Mediterranean destinations in terms of mooring costs. On average, a town quay mooring in Greece (based on a 40ft monohull) would be €20/night.
There are fewer "full-service marinas" compared with somewhere like Croatia, but these would usually be between €50-70/night.
There is also the ability to free anchor in a lot of places too, which keeps the cost of your mooring fees down considerably.
Our most popular sailing destination in Greece is the South Ionian due to its easy sailing conditions and endless bays to visit; this collection of islands (Lefkas, Kefalonia, Ithaka, Meganisi, Kalamos & Kastos) is perfect for beginners and families but has a charm that keeps our guests returning year after year.
You can also set sail in the Ionian from well-connected Corfu which has great options for sail-and-stay to combine your holiday with one of the island's highly-rated resorts. When on a yacht charter from Corfu, you can also explore Corfu Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as picture-perfect Paxos.
Over 50% of Nautilus clients travel to Greece each year for their sailing holidays. Greece continues to stand strong in its position within the top sailing destinations in the world. In this article we break down the seasons in Greece, average weather conditions, sailing conditions and answer the all-important question - when is the best time to sail in Greece?
There is nothing quite like the feel of being out on the open water, the sun on your skin and the wind gently blowing through your hair. Here at Nautilus, we believe this feeling should be experienced by all and not only those in possession of a sailing license. That is why we offer a whole range of sailing holidays which are suitable for those who have little or no sailing experience!
We have been working with Sustainable Sailing Greece to spread awareness of sustainable practices in sailing. In this article we round up some of the top tips from Sustainable Sailing Greece for sailors to take positive action towards protecting the beautiful and unique coastline and sea of Greece.
Call our knowledgeable sailing specialists for the latest advice and recommendations on the sailing areas most suited to you.
Arrange a call back from one of our specialists (Mon-Fri: 0900-1730).
