Joining Instructions

• 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)

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

Option One - 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

Option Two - Security Deposit Only: Available for bareboat and flotilla sailing only

Yes, you will need to complete your flight information on the Crew List/Transfer form at least 14 days prior to your arrival that we will have emailed to you. When you depart the airport terminal there will be a driver waiting holding a card bearing your name who will drive you directly to the marina.

Please pay the driver directly in euros (€25 per car) maximum 4 people per car plus luggage. We will advise of price for larger families and groups requiring a mini coach.

If you have booked transfers through us we will let you know the time of your transfer back to the airport when you arrive back at Preveza marina at the end of your charter by SMS and we will also send the the base support team this information for you.

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

When you are on board you will be given a full safety brief and a chart brief if required by one of the knowledgeable base team.

Yes, you will receive a thorough handover of your yacht upon boarding as well as a chart/sailing area briefing if requested 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.

If you have booked an Island Sailing flotilla you will chat with the lead crew on Monday morning on the telephone and meet them that afternoon at the chosen evening destination. The lead crew will chat about the plan for the day as well as explain more about how the flotilla works.

If you have a late flight home there are plenty of options to enjoy your final day. You can take a stroll around Preveza town and explore the little cobbled streets, shops and cafes. Hire cars, bikes and mopeds are all available in Preveza town if you wanted to explore the beautiful Prefecture of Preveza and stunning Epirus coastline. 

Monolithi beach is a long stretch of beach with tavernas and just 8 km from Preveza town. 15 - 20 minutes' drive away from the yacht base brings you to Kanali beach which stretches several kilometers and is never too crowded.

If you would like more information, contact details or advice on things to do in or around Prevezas before or after you disembark please don't hesitate to ask us. 

You will need to return to Preveza marina by 17:00 on the penultimate day of your charter. When you return back to Preveza marina you need to announce your arrival on VHF channel 71. The new fuel station is now open within Preveza Marina so you will be able to re-fuel there at the end of your charter. Please pay the fuel staff directly.

The base support staff make every effort to help you moor safely, therefore please call them 1 hour prior to your arrival back to Preveza marina to receive your fuelling and berth guidance.

Most of the yachts are moored on Pier C (larger yachts) or Pier D (smaller yachts). When returning, go stern to and do not use your anchor as there are laid mooring lines.  

You will be able to stay on the yacht on your final night and enjoy relaxing in the marina or exploring the amazing choice of restaurants, tavernas, cafes and shops in Preveza town.

If you have booked transfers through us we will let you know the time of your transfer back to the airport when you arrive back at Preveza marina by SMS and we will also send the the base support team this information.

Please disembark by 09:00 on the last the next morning.

Crazy shrimp ‘Treli Garida’ is a favourite

Taverna O Kaixis is a great place for almost everything!

For the best Meze and Mediterranean food with a little twist we love Saitan Bazar down one of the little side streets

For great bistro food and good drinks there’s Deli & Bar

For ice cream and tasty puddings try HB café

Yes, bed sheets, linen and pillows are provided on the boat. If you are chartering for two weeks a change of linen for the second week can be provided. 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. 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 is mainly at the yacht base. 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. You may wish to bring your own or they are readily available and reasonably priced in Lefkas marina and nearby shops in Lefkas town and at many places around the islands where you will visit.

Most of our customers spend €60 - €150 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 larger yachts or catamarans with generators and air-conditioning, you will use more fuel depending on how much you use the air con!

When returning to the base, please refuel your boat before you go to your berth. When you return back to Preveza marina you need to announce your arrival on VHF channel 71. The new fuel station is now open within Preveza Marina so you will be able to re-fuel there at the end of your charter. Please pay the fuel staff directly by cash or card.

Mooring fees at Preveza 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 Preveza 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 large, well-stocked supermarket open daily, except Sundays close by and a number of smaller mini markets open daily in the summer time. Opening hours may differ during public bank holidays.

 

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 5€ and 9€, and a main course will be between 9€ and 18€ 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). Whilst some restaurants and cafes are starting to get card machines it's still a good idea to always have cash on hand in case the machine isn't working and there are no cash machines where you are! There is a cash machine at Lefkas marina close to the main entrance (bright yellow Piraeus Bank ATM). There are also a numberof ATM's in town. However, over the course of the week, you will probably only visit one or two towns with cash machines so it is advisable to have enough cash before you leave port.

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. There are a number of cash machine in Preveza town.

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 generally not equipped with Wi-Fi as standard, however virtually every café, bar and restaurant in the marina, in Preveza 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. 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, either Greek, some are half Greek, half English, Italian 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. 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 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.