Joining Instructions Athens

• 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 (euros). 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 you 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. 
• 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 if required
• Insect Repellent 
• Anti-histamine ointment and tablets (for insect bites/stings) & any essential medication
• Camera, batteries & spare memory cards
• Your choice of device for playing music 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)

Alimos marina has all the essential services you will need such as power and water together with bathroom and shower facilities. Electricity is available (220V) on the pier as well as fresh water. Wireless internet is available in the marina as well in numerous cafes and bars. Fuel is delivered at the pier by a fuel wagon/car at the end of every charter and you are responsible for the payment for the tank to be filled at the end of your charter.

There are several café-bars and restaurants in the Marina, however many people enjoy the traditional Greek food and reasonable prices at ‘Vassilis’ taverna situated very close to the marina (ask staff for directions). There is car parking in several places around the Marina but it is unguarded.

Before your charter begins a security pre-authorisation 'hold' deposit is taken from the Party Leader which will be processed by the owner/operator at base (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 will more than likely already have travel insurance set up but if not you can get specialist yacht travel insurance which includes some coverage for yacht security deposits from a number of companies including Topsail.  As a customer of Island Sailing if you use discount code ISLAND you will receive a 10% discount. For more details visit http://www.topsailinsurance.com/island-sailing

Security Deposit

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

When you are on board you will be given a full safety brief and a chart brief if requested with one of the 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 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 Alimos marina at 18:00 at the latest 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, all bed sheets, linen and pillows are provided on the boat. Extra bed linen/towels and large towels are available upon request at base for a small fee (€10-€12).  Towels are provided for use on the yacht but 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. We advise you to bring a jack lead as sometimes there may be compatibility issues in connecting your device.

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 shops around Athens and at many places around the islands.

Fuel is delivered at the pier by a fuel wagon/car at the end of every charter – please pay the fuel personnel directly in euros.

Fuel with vary dpending on the size of yacht you charter and how far you sail on your holiday. Most of our customers spend between €100 - €200 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 Alimos 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.

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!

You will need to pre-book an outboard in advance. Every yacht has its own dinghy/tender and the optional outboard engine is €80 per week plus fuel and we will ask you before your arrival if you wish to have one or not. You will need to pay for your pre-booked outboard in euros (cash) at base.

There is no supermarket in the marina, therefore you may either do your shopping on your own at the supermarket on the main street opposite the marina entrance (Poseidonos Avenue) or you can ask the base staff for the free of charge transfer provided by a local supermarket. The super market is open all day long including on Sundays. There will be many opportunities to purchase anything you need at each port and harbour you visit around the islands so you do not have to purchase too much when you arrive.
The Euro is the currency in Greece. We would recommend bringing a reasonable amount of local currency with you as quite a few tavernas and small shops in Greece usually only accept euros. There is an ATM machine in the marina as well as ATMs and banks 10 minutes’ walk outside of the marina and in central Athens.

Obviously it varies from restaurant to restaurant but in general a starter will be between €7 and €12, and a main course will be between €10 and €20 although weighed seafood can be a bit more expensive. A large beer will cost around 4€ and half a litre of local wine around 10€.

Most restaurants, café bars and shops around the islands only take cash (euros). There is a cash machine at the marina and more close by. 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 fuel wagon 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 cash/ATM machines in Athens and on the larger islands including at Alimos marina. 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 Athens and around the islands has free Wi-Fi for their customers.

Mobile phone reception is usually very good. 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.

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. The 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.

Again, that’s entirely up to you as every group is different and interacts with people in different ways. The 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 choose to stay on the yacht and wait for your return.

 It is customary that you tip your skipper. A guideline amount would be around 5-7% of your yacht 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.