Joining Instructions Corfu Skippered

• Passport (s)
• Flight Tickets (Check names shown on the flight ticket match those shown on the individual passports)
• Travel insurance documents (make sure you have coverage for sailing)
• The skipper must bring original copies of sailing certificates/licences
• Credit Cards/Debit Cards and local currency. You must bring a VISA or MASTERCARD credit card with you for the yacht security deposit
• Mobile phone set up for roaming in Greece and charger – it is very important that we can keep in contact in case of emergency as VHF signal is only line of sight
• Beach towel (yacht towels are provided for use on the yacht). If you have a late flight home we recommend bringing another towel if you wish as yacht towels cannot be kept after you disembark on the last day
• Snorkels, mask and flippers if you have them, or you can buy them when you arrive in Greece. For hygiene reasons we do not supply them on the boats
• Soft soled shoes &/or deck shoes
• Swimwear
• Light jumper or light fleece
• Waterproof jacket (especially in early and late summer in case of a shower)
• Hat & sunglasses (with cord)
• T-shirt/tops and long sleeve casual shirts/tops
• Shorts and casual long trousers
• Toilet bag with toiletries
• Suntan cream (protection)
• Sea sickness pills
• Insect Repellent - gel, spray or cream
• Anti-histamine ointment and tablets (for insect bites/stings) & any essential medication
• Camera, batteries & spare memory cards
• Your choice of MP3, Ipod or CD’s to play on board - lead with a 3.5mm jack plug at each end and a USB connection lead
• Books/magazines/Kindle
• Two-pin European travel adapter for charging phones etc. (at marinas or even in restaurants)
• 12 volt adapter / car charger for charging phones, etc. on-board (onboard with a car type cigarette lighter socket)

Before your charter begins a security pre-authorisation 'hold' deposit is taken from the Party Leader (please see amounts below) by VISA or Mastercard credit card (Debit cards and American Express are NOT accepted). Make sure you have a large enough limit to cover the deposit for the yacht you have booked. If you do not possess a VISA or MASTERCARD credit card you must inform us BEFORE you travel to Greece as your charter can't commence without the completed credit card security deposit. On successful completion of post charter inspection the pre-authorisation 'hold' deposit charge will not be completed and the 'hold' will elapse. The time it takes for the ‘hold’ to elapse depends on your card provider.

You can get specialist yacht insurance which includes some coverage for yacht security deposits from a number of companies including Topsail - for more details visit http://www.topsailinsurance.com/island-sailing

Yacht Damage Waiver (YDW) and Reduced Security Deposit: Mandatory for skippered charters

The YDW is a non-refundable fee, the amount is dependent on length overall of yacht which reduces your liability per incident to the amounts below which will be taken as a pre-authorisation 'hold' deposit (Security Deposit) as follows:

Yacht Size	Reduced Security Deposit	YDW
Monohulls from 50-55 feet	€600	€40 per night.  Min €280 per charter
Monohulls from 37-49 feet	€500	€30 per night. Min €210 per charter
Monohulls up to 36 feet	€500	€20 per night. Min €140 per charter
Catamarans 42 feet +	€650	€50 per night. Min €350 per charter
Catamarans up to 41 feet	€650	€40 per night. Min €280 per charter

 

Your yacht will be ready to board by 17:00 on the first day of your charter. If your flight gets you to Corfu earlier than this you will be able to enjoy the cafe bars and restaurants in the marina. If the yacht is ready earlier we will get you on board sooner.

When you are on board you will be given a full safety brief and a chart brief by one of the skippers or base team with extensive knowledge of the sailing area.

Yes, you will receive a thorough handover of your yacht upon boarding as well as a chart/sailing area briefing and you can familiarise yourself with the yacht and its equipment before setting sail. The base staff and dock managers will be on hand to answer any questions you may have as well as offering any advice you may need about the sailing area.

For those on a Skippered yacht charter you will meet your skipper, they will show you around your yacht and chat about where you would like to sail.

 

You will need to return to Gouvia marina by 17:00 on the penultimate day of your charter. You will be able to stay on the yacht that night and disembark by 09:00 the next morning.

Yes, bed sheets, linen and pillows are provided on the boat. If you are chartering for two weeks we can provide a change of linen for the second week. Towels are provided for use on the yacht but we recommend bringing your own beach towel. If you have a late flight home we recommend bringing another towel if you wish as yacht towels cannot be kept after you disembark on the last day.

All the boats have car stereo style music systems with speakers below deck and in the cockpit. They will either have a 3.5mm jack or a USB connection.

All plug sockets on the boats are the European 2 pin type however these are only usable when the yacht is plugged in to mains power (230V) which will probably only be at Lefkas marina. If your devices or equipment do not have 2 pin European plugs you'll need to bring a travel adaptor with you. During the week there is a 12v socket, similar to a car cigarette lighter, which can be used to charge phones and other electronic devices if you bring a car charger with you.

We don’t provide masks, snorkels or flippers for hygiene reasons. You are obviously welcome to bring your own or they are readily available and reasonably priced in Gouvia marina and at many places around the islands.

Most of our customers spend 50€ - 120€ per week on fuel for the yacht depending on the size of the yacht and the amount of motoring they do and to top up the fuel for the outboard engine if they have one.

If you have chartered one of the largest yachts or catamarans with generators and air-conditioning, you will use more fuel depending on how much you use the air con!

Mooring fees at Gouvia marina for your first and last day are FREE. Most harbours are run by the local municipalities/Greek coastguard and are free to moor in. There are a small number of harbours and small marinas who will charge you a mooring fee of around 10-70 euros per night depending on yacht size. If there is bad weather forecast it may occasionally be necessary to use a protected harbour with laid moorings which will charge around 30-70 euros per night depending on the size of your boat and more for catamarans.

Some quays where there is water and power available a small fee will be charged if you wish to use it.

Almost all the harbours have shower and toilet facilities, usually attached to a taverna or convenience store. Even when there is a charge it is usually a few euros. Water for the yacht is usually available in most of the popular ports. We advise you to fill your boat with water towards, or at the end of your charter where it is available before arriving back at Gouvia marina as the cost outside of the marina will be cheaper for you.

An outboard engine for your dinghy/tender can be very useful, with no mooring fees in most harbours some of them can be busy so it is likely that, particularly in peak season, you will be occasionally anchored away from the quay. They are also great for exploring caves and some of the quieter snorkelling spots. However, some people prefer to row!

Every yacht has its own dinghy/tender and the optional outboard engine is £85 per week plus fuel and we will ask you before your arrival if you wish to have one or not.

There is a well-stocked supermarket on the marina and further mini markets offering a wide choice of provisions within 5-10 minutes’ walk from the marina open 7 days a week. There will be many opportunities to provision and shop at many of the ports and harbours you visit around the Ionian islands so you do not have to purchase too much when you arrive. 

Obviously it varies from restaurant to restaurant but in general a starter will be between 4€ and 8€, and a main course will be between 8€ and 15€ although weighed seafood can be a bit more expensive. A large beer will cost around 4€ and half a litre of local wine around 6€.

Most restaurants, café bars and shops around the islands only take cash (euros). There is a cash machine at Gouvia marina. However, over the course of the week, you will probably only visit one or two towns with cash machines so it is advisable to stock up before you leave.

The marina fuel station accepts major credit cards when you re-fuel at the end of the week and you will need to bring a VISA or MASTERCARD with you for your yacht security deposit. Please make sure you have a large enough limit to cover the deposit for the yacht you have booked.

There are a number of cash/ATM machines on the larger Ionian islands but not on the smaller ones. We would recommend bringing a reasonable amount of local currency (Euros) with you as quite a few traditional Greek tavernas, cafe and small shops on the islands usually only accept euros.

It would be advisable to bring a pair of lightweight shoes with non-marking soles for wearing on the boat. You can wear whatever clothes you feel comfortable in but it is a good idea to bring a lightweight waterproof jacket. We do get the odd day of rain, especially at the start and end of the season.

The yachts are not equipped with Wi-Fi, however virtually every café, bar and restaurant in the marina, in Corfu town and around the islands has free Wi-Fi for their customers.

Mobile phone reception is usually very good throughout the Ionian. You must bring a mobile phone and charger with you for use around the islands and keep your phone available and charged at all times. Whilst VHF is used, you will not always be in range. For those on bareboat charter we also send an SMS each day with weather updates. We also monitor an emergency phone 24 hours a day, should you need to contact us as VHF signal only works in line of sight.

The skippers are of mixed nationalities, most are Greek, some are half Greek, half English and there are also skippers from across Europe but all of them speak excellent English.

That’s up to you. When you provision for food remember to get enough for your skipper. We can let you know if there is anything particular that they can or can’t eat, but, generally they are happy to have whatever you are having. In the evening you can choose to invite them out with you or cover their inexpensive meal if you prefer to dine alone. All the skippers are extremely professional and personable and provide discreet and unobtrusive assistance throughout your yacht charter.  Our customers find that their skipper makes their holiday something really extra special as they become welcome additions on the yachts they sail.

Again, that’s entirely up to you as every group is different and interacts with people in different ways. Our skippers are extremely professional and personable and provide discreet and unobtrusive assistance throughout your yacht charter and always become welcome additions on the yachts they sail. If you invite your skipper to join you in the evening they may accept or choose to meet up with fellow skippers or stay on the yacht and wait for your return.

 

It is customary that you tip your skipper. A guideline amount would be 5-10% of your yacht charter price, though as this could encompass quite a range we leave it at your discretion and ask that you offer gratuity you think your skipper deserves. We’re sure they’ll add immense value to your charter experience.

If you have a late flight home you can relax at the marina, relax by the marina pool or head to Corfu old town which is en-ruote back to the airport. Hire cars, bikes and mopeds are all available in Corfu if you wanted to explore. You are welcome to use all of the facilities at Gouvia marina before or at the end of your yacht charter which include showers, bathroom facilities, a laundry, supermarkets and cafes.