Ionian Yachting 2017

[JOhnGw]

If you have been following my posts, you will know that this year's trip was based on individual skippers organising boats in Sailing Holiday's Southern Ionian flotilla.  In fact two boats went, and you may have seen my blog on the forum on how it went.  Photos of this year's flotilla can be seen here and a short video here.

Our boat found the flotilla format a bit limiting, so next year there will be two suggested options.  Our 'crew' will be chartering a Dufour 375 from Seamaster, from Levkas on 24 Sept for 2 weeks, and our boat is already booked.  Anyone is welcome to charter a boat at the same time and join us for all or part of the 2 weeks.  Chartering requires a qualified skipper  (ICC or RYA Day skipper) and one other competent person in the crew.   As there is no lead crew to guide and help, this is for a reasonably confident skipper.   Jim, the skipper with whom I sailed, knows the Ionian quite well, and is happy to guide and advise, but certainly not to act as lead skipper.

The alternative option is to do the same as this year - get together a crew to join a flotilla.  This still requires a certain amount of sailing experience, but the lead crew is there 24/7 to guide and support. The chosen flotilla (Sailing Holiday's Southern Ionian) is regarded as the easiest for inexperienced sailors.   Have a look at their website for details.  If you fancy skippering but have never done so, this is for you.  Jim's first ever trip as skipper was their South Ionian flotilla, and they certainly made it easy for him.   And if you have never sailed before, this flotilla is a good place to start as I can testify.
This year we already have ladies booked up and the boats are amongst the most spacious and comfortable of their class so the holiday is highly suitable for both singles and couples.

Jim's position as British Naturism's Sailing Special Interest Group leader is to help in any way he can, by publicising the plan, providing advice & help, and acting as a clearing house to bring skippers & crews together.   So if you are interested, send me a PM and I will put you in touch, or email Jim at hutton.jim@gmail.com

I understand that there may be four boats including both chartered and flotilla options so there should be enough berths for you to join us but boats, flotilla places and flights get booked up early, so don't wait too long.

[JOhnGw]

This year's sailing holiday now has four boats booked - one bareboat charter and three in the flotilla for the fortnight from Sunday 24th September 2017 to Sunday 8th October 2017.
Owing to reluctant cancellations because of medical problems there are now several berths available for both singles and couples.
In particular the best bow cabin on one of their most spacious yachts is vacant for any couple who fancies it.
The cost for the fortnight including flights and transfers but excluding food and drink is between £900 and £1,000 per person depending on how many are on each yacht.

If you are interested please contact me via personal message or Jim Hutton of the BN sailing special interest group at who is the main organiser at hutton.jim@gmail.com.

Note that although this holiday is organised by BN members it is open to all actual or budding naturists.

[jbeegoode]

My mouth is watering. This will be a tight year, but those prices are very surprising to me. From where are the flights and transfers from?

Fresh seafood and the common fruit and veggies are easily found at the ports in their markets?
Jbee

[JOhnGw]

My mouth is watering. This will be a tight year, but those prices are very surprising to me. From where are the flights and transfers from?

Fresh seafood and the common fruit and veggies are easily found at the ports in their markets?
Jbee

The booked flight is from London Gatwick Airport (LGW) taking off at about 6 a.m. - other UK airports are available but that would probably be your best bet.
Most of the small ports that we visited didn't have a market that I saw so most of the supplies needed to be bought at the small local shops with a limited range of fresh produce.
I failed to find the seafood I wanted to make my signature seafood risotto for the night we spent out of port in a sheltered bay.

[Greenbare Woods]

My mouth is watering. This will be a tight year, but those prices are very surprising to me. From where are the flights and transfers from?

Fresh seafood and the common fruit and veggies are easily found at the ports in their markets?
Jbee

The booked flight is from London Gatwick Airport (LGW) taking off at about 6 a.m. - other UK airports are available but that would probably be your best bet.
Most of the small ports that we visited didn't have a market that I saw so most of the supplies needed to be bought at the small local shops with a limited range of fresh produce.
I failed to find the seafood I wanted to make my signature seafood risotto for the night we spent out of port in a sheltered bay.

If I lived on your side of the pond, John, I would be booking my space.

Bob

[eyesup]

My wife isn't drawn to nudity, naturism. Yet. Even if she didn't participate, I don't think would be an issue as long as there were other things to do.

But! She refuses to get on a boat. This isn't a fear of water or drowning. She's a good swimmer and won trophies on the swim team in High School. Her refusal to get on a boat is based on her observational evidence of a confluence of Murphy's Law, maritime incident actuarials and her proximity to water craft of any configuration.

She did get onto the aircraft carrier when we were in Norfolk. We toured the ship my son was assigned to in the navy, but it was securely tied to a pier and even had it sank, we would have still been above water. Her curiosity and mother's pride in our son won out.

Otherwise, JOhn, I would be right there for it, except of course that the destination is thousands of miles away.

Duane

[jbeegoode]

Not this year, but perhaps the next!
Jbee