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). Cars take up to 4 people and we will advise of prices for larger groups over 8 people requiring a mini coach. The transfer takes around 15 minutes.
ARRIVALS
For bareboat charters, upon arrival just the Skipper and First Mate should make their way to the White Sails office (please see map below). Other crew members can sit and enjoy a cool drink or bite to eat at one of the neighbouring cafes.
For skippered charters your skipper will meet you at the White Sails office or, for late arrivals on your yacht.
If you will be arriving at the marina after 20.00 please inform us in advance so we can let you know the details for boarding your yacht.
If we are not ordering transfers for you please let us know the approximate time of your arrival to Preveza. If you are going to be significantly earlier or later than expected please call Island Sailing (see contact information below).
If you would like to arrange a transfer back to the airport at the end of your charter please speak with the base office at Preveza marina when you arrive and they can organise this for you.
CONTACT INFORMATION - LOCAL BASE - WHITE SAILS
The local base office is White Sails in Preveza marina located in the office buildings close to the entrance.
White Sails
Preveza Marina
New Port
Preveza
48100
Greece
GPS position: 38°57'37.2"N 20°45'27.4"E
Base Support Team: JOHN AGOROS Tel: +30 6951 083495 & MARILENA VETTA Tel: +30 6941 497 820
Island Sailing Support Team Tel: (0044) 7535 301444
Island Sailing UK Head Office Tel: (0044) 020 7139 8644
If you need any help, information or advice that cannot be provided by the base team please contact the Island Sailing Support Team
MANDATORY THINGS TO BRING
Unless you have booked a skipper you must bring the original copy(s) of your sailing qualifications/skipper's licence.
A VISA or MASTERCARD Credit Card for your yacht security deposit (Debit Cards and American Express are NOT accepted). Please 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.
At least one mobile phone set up for roaming in Greece and charger – it is very important that you can keep in contact.
WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
Travel light is our advice. Don’t forget your passport(s)/ID.
Please bring your luggage in a soft bag that will fold down without wheels or hard edges. Space on a yacht is limited and cases with hard edges and wheels will often damage the woodwork on the boat. There is a limited amount of space available for luggage storage on the check-in and check-out day only.
Bedding and yacht towels are provided on your 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.
All yachts are equipped with sufficient numbers of life jackets, usually of a standard size. If you are not a standard size, or especially for small children it is wise to bring your own life jackets . If you would like to check about this before you come to Greece please get in touch.
WHAT SHOULD I BRING? - CHECK LIST
Passport (s) / ID
Flight Tickets
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 with light soles &/or deck shoes
Light jumper or jacket
Waterproof jacket (especially in early and late summer in case of a shower)
Any essential medication
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)
HOW MUCH IS THE YACHT SECURITY DEPOSIT?
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 by VISA or Mastercard credit card (Debit cards and American Express are NOT accepted) . The amount of the security deposit and any applicable or optional Yacht Damage Waiver information will be noted on your Booking Statement. 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.Yacht Damage Waiver (YDW) and Reduced Security Deposit: Mandatory for skippered charters.
Details for the security deposit amounts and non-refundable Yacht Damage Waivers for your yacht charter will be listed on your Booking Statement. Please ask us if you need to check.
WHEN WILL I BE ABLE BOARD MY YACHT?
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.
WILL I GET A YACHT HANDOVER BRIEFING?
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.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY FLIGHTS ARRIVE OR DEPART LATE? If you have booked a bareboat charter and arrive after 20.00 we will let you know where your yacht is berthed and it will be open and ready for you to board. Please go to the local base office after 09.00 the following morning to complete the paperwork and to get your yacht brief and handover.
If you have booked a skipper they will meet you at your yacht and, depending on the time, you can chat about your plans with them when you arrive or the following morning. We will let you know where your yacht will be berthed on the quayside before you travel.
If you arrive to Preveza town early before your yacht is ready there are a good choice of places to have a drink or some food whilst you wait.
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 Preveza before or after you disembark please don't hesitate to ask us.
WHEN DOES MY CHARTER END & RETURNING BACK TO BASE
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.
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 require transfers at the end of your charter please ask the base office when you arrive for your charter so they can make the arrangements.
Please disembark by 09:00 on the last the next morning.
PLACES TO EAT AND DRINK IN PREVEZA TOWN There are so many great places to eat and drink in Preveza town, all a short stroll from the marina. There are lots of lovely café bars in and around the central streets but there’s also some great little ones dotted around the little side streets too.
Some of the places we and other customers like are;
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
HOW TO GET LOCAL WEATHER FORECASTS? You may well have your own favourite websites and Apps to check the weather.
We use Poseidon www.poseidon.hcmr.gr From the home page choose ‘Services’ from the menu then ‘Weather Forecast’
We also check on Meteo www.meteo.gr and choose Ionian then your closest island.
You can choose ‘English’ for both of these websites
Remember the Ionian sailing area has extremely localised conditions which are affected by numerous factors which cannot be foreseen by the forecasters such as land breeze, sea breeze, sea swell, the local landscape, fetch, ferry wash and so on.
You can also find weather information at marinas and yacht clubs. If you join an Island Sailing Flotilla the lead crew will also keep you updated about the weather.
DO YOU PROVIDE LINEN AND TOWELS?
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.
WHAT PLUG SOCKETS DOES THE BOAT HAVE?
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.
ARE THERE MASKS AND SNORKELS ON THE YACHT?
Masks, snorkels or flippers are not generally provided. You may wish to bring your own or they are readily available and reasonably priced in Preveza and at many places around the islands where you will visit.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO FUEL UP MY YACHT?
Most of our customers spend €150 - €500 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.
HOW MUCH ARE THE MOORING FEES?
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.
WHAT ABOUT SHOPPING & PROVISIONING?
There is a small supermarket at the marina and a larger, well-stocked supermarket, 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.
WILL I BE ABLE TO USE MY DEBIT OR CREDIT CARD?
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.
WILL THERE BE CASH MACHINES IN THE IONIAN?
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.
DO I NEED TO WEAR SPECIAL SHOES OR CLOTHES?
It would be advisable to bring a pair of lightweight shoes with non-marking soles for wearing on the boat. 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.
WHERE CAN I GET INTERNET ACCESS?
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.
WHAT IS THE MOBILE PHONE SIGNAL LIKE?
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.
DO SKIPPERED CHARTERS HAVE FIXED ITINERARIES?
For skippered charters we don’t have fixed itineraries, we prefer to make recommendations and suggestions and obviously your skipper will make the final calls depending on weather, distance, mooring viability etc.
We will generally discuss with you what kind of places you would like to visit and tailor things to meet your wishes, you don’t have to set an itinerary before you arrive, although you may have some ideas, usually you can chat with your skipper when you get to the yacht base and take each day at a time.
The beauty of the Ionian islands is that they are close together so, you can quite often alter plans and visit different places.
WILL THE SKIPPER SPEAK ENGLISH?
The skippers are of mixed nationalities, either Greek, Italian and there are also skippers from across Europe but all of them speak excellent English.
HOW DO WE FEED OUR SKIPPER?
That’s up to you and your skipper. When you provision for food remember to get enough for your skipper, 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 evening meal if you prefer to dine alone (25-30 euro per day is recommended). 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 often works best to agree and pay an amount at the start for your skipper to cover their food for the duration of the charter. 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 charter something really extra special as they become welcome additions on the yachts they sail.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I TIP MY SKIPPER?
It is customary that you tip your skipper. A guideline amount would be around 5-10% 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.
FACILITIES AT PREVEZA MARINA
Preveza marina is a modern full service marina a short stroll from Preveza town and has all the usual facilities available including:
Power supplies 220-380V, 125 Amps and fresh water, WC, Showers, hygiene facilities, accessible WC and Showers, Wi-Fi, Restaurant, café and bar, Mini Market, Washing machines and dryers, Fuel Station, Playground, Car Rental, Chandlery, 24/7 CCTV and Security, ATM, Car, moto and accessible parking spaces. In Preveza there are a great choice of café bars, restaurants, mini markets, laundry and shops and pharmacies nearby. Power and water is available without charge at the yacht berths.
There are a number of ATMs in Preveza town. Please be aware that ATMs are not always available in the sailing area so please make sure you have enough cash to cover your expenses. Please ask us if you would like information about which islands/ports have ATM’s.
CAN I STORE LUGGAGE AT THE YACHT BASE? Limited space is available on your check-in and check-out days to store luggage.
IS THERE ANY PARKING AT PREVEZA? Yes, there is free parking available just outside the marina.
LAND BASED ACCOMMODATION IDEAS If you decide to stay on land for a night or two or a week or more we have lots of information that may help. Most villas are available for a minimum one week stay, sometimes less out of the main summer season. Lefkas (Lefkada) island is just 20 minutes' drive away and the popular sea front town of Parga is only an hours drive away from Preveza town.
For more information about Ionian Villa companies or information for accommodation options on nearby Ionian islands like Paxos or Corfu please ask.
In Preveza town there are a couple of choices of hotels including The captain's House boutique hotel and Hotel Dioni
For a night or two before or after your charter the new SESA boutique hotel is right on the beach at Kanali, around 15 minutes' drive away from Preveza town and has an exciting new restaurant thats more fine dining than most in Greece
Just 2.5 km from Preveza Town you can also find Daluz boutique hotel
