Yacht Charter Porto Koufo

Yacht Charter Porto Koufo

On a Porto Koufo yacht charter with Borrow a Boat you can explore the Chalkidiki Peninsula and nearby Greek islands within an easy sail. Whatever you want from a northern Greece yacht charter, from its cuisine, to beaches, culture and deep human history, a Porto Koufo sailing holiday is something you will never forget

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Yacht Charter Porto Koufo

Yacht Charter Porto Koufo

On a Porto Koufo yacht charter with Borrow a Boat you can explore the Chalkidiki Peninsula and nearby Greek islands within an easy sail. Whatever you want from a northern Greece yacht charter, from its cuisine, to beaches, culture and deep human history, a Porto Koufo sailing holiday is something you will never forget

On the mountainous southern tip of Sithonia, Porto Koufo was once described as the safest harbor in Ancient Greece. This is because the port is surrounded by mountains and is effectively a lake with a narrow entrance. Turkish pirates and even German U-boats used to hide inside, and even today yellowfin tuna make the fateful mistake of trying to hide here in September and October - if you're into game fishing then get ready for some serious fun!

Unlike most of the west coast of Sithonia, Porto Koufo isn't the best spot for sunsets thanks to the mountains 'spoiling' the view. Mirror calm and reflections of boats and mountainsides are something you will want to get your camera out for. Another pleasure is the seafood, with a large number of dockside restaurants serving fish so fresh it has barely stopped wriggling!

Stunning beaches surround the area which many say are the best in Northern Greece. So, what else is there to do on a Porto Koufo yacht charter? Read on to explore with us!

Explore Porto Koufo By Renting A Yacht

Sithonia sits on the middle finger of the Chalkidiki Peninsula. This is widely held as being less developed as a tourist destination than the next finger to the west - Kassandra. A short sail across the gulf can take you to explore the nightspots and tourist resorts there.

Between Sithonia and Kassandra is the small, uninhabited Kelyfos Island. For those who enjoy diving and snorkelling, or just a swim in the crystal water to see it all from above, this is a tiny paradise worth a stop. There are a number of reefs and a wide array of marine life that live around them.

On your bareboat yacht charter or skippered yacht charter may wish to explore further northeast. Thassos is the nearest Greek island. Very like Halkidiki it is laid back and a great spot to chill out on a sandy beach. Only accessible by yachtor ferry, the island is certainly worth a visit on your sailing trip.

Within a week or two's boat rental cruise from Sithonia you will be able to reach the Greek islands of the Sporades, Cyclades and Dodecanese as well as the Macedonian island of Thasos. Your Chalkidiki yacht rental puts these and mainland Greece within range.

How To Get To Porto Koufo

Thessaloniki Airport

The third largest airport in Greece, this has flights serving it from much of Europe, and for those from farther afield, via Athens. It is a two hour bus ride from Porto Koufo or a one hour taxi ride (though far more expensive).

Marinas In Porto Koufo

There is one mid-sized marina in Porto Koufo that can take 400 vessels as well as among the largest luxury yacht afloat. Nearby Porto Carras Marina has just over 300 berths. Yacht charter company have charter fleets that offer bareboat charter and skippered boat charter of luxury yacht, catamarans,motorboats, fishing boat and monohull sailing yacht to suit a range of budgets from the very small to extremely large.

Porto Koufo Marina:

Berth Characteristics:

400 berths

Max Length 180m (590 Feet)

Max Draught 5m (17 Feet)

List of additional services: Water, Shore Power, Fuel, Laundry, Waste water collection, Garbage/recycling, Bar, Restaurant, Weather forecasting and Shipyard

Porto Carras Marina:

Berth Characteristics:

315 berths

Max Length 55m (180 Feet)

Max Draught 5.5m (18 Feet)

List of additional services: Water, Shore Power, Fuel, Laundry, Waste water collection, Garbage/recycling, Bar, Restaurant, Weather forecasting and Shipyard

Suggested Sailing Routes From Porto Koufo

On your Porto Koufo sailing trip you can explore northern Greece, the Chalkidiki Peninsula and Kavala as well as Thassos or Northern Sporades on a shorter Aegean Sea holiday. On a longer sailing trip on your charter yacht you can head south to the Cyclades on your crewed yacht charter or luxury yachts.

7 days - Sporades Islands: Heading SW your first port on your motorboat or sailing boat would be the Sporades island of Skiathos where you can enjoy the sandy beaches and quaint Skiathos Town. The next day can be spent exploring the south coast in the lee of the Meltemi before heading on to Skopelos (where the Mamma Mia movie was filmed) and then to Alonnisos. After enjoying the east coast of the island and the marine nature reserve you can island hop back to Sithonia with a stopover at Kelyfos Island between Kassandra and Sithonia before returning to Porto Koufo or Porto Carras Marina.

14 days - the northern Cyclades: This is a nice journey of island hopping, firstly through the Northern Sporades Islands and then to the southern Sporades island of Skyros, before on the island of Euboea at Karystos with its medieval castles and beautiful beaches. From there you can easily access the northern Cyclades - the islands of Andros, Tinos and Siros are just offshore.

Best Times To Hire A Yacht In Porto Koufo

The sailing season runs from late April to October with July and August being the busiest months for yacht charter. This is ironic as July and August can be the worst times to sail! Both extremely hot air temperatures and often hazardous Meltemi winds can make for big winds sailing when you honestly just want to hide from the heat.

The sea is cooler - often quite chilly - at the beginning of the sailing season but there is rainfall in Spring. As the days lengthen you will still see green fields and flowers in May and the winds can be quite benign too. Combined with the crowds being smaller, this suggests that May to early June are the sweet spot for a Chalkidiki Peninsula yacht charter.

Come September and October the seas are still like a warm bath. With yellowfin tuna migrating into the harbor this could be an excuse for a sport fishing holiday to remember!

Sailing Weather In Porto Koufo

April to mid June: There is rainfall and the temperatures build steadily from the mid-teens to the mid 20 degree C range. There are sometimes gentle southerly winds, though these are replaced by ever stronger N-NW Meltemi winds that are rarely hazardous but make for exciting sailing at times.

Late June-August: You'll be unlucky if you see any rain, though it could be welcome in the summer heat! Temperatures are from 30s with recent hot days exceeding 40. The northerly Meltemi winds can be fierce and can hit F7 for a solid few days.

September-October: The seas remain warm and the Meltemi eases. These months can be the best time of year to sail as the temperatures are often in the comfortable low to mid 20s.

FAQs:

What should I consider when hiring a Yacht or Boat?

The main points to consider are what is your budget, have you got the necessary sailing experience and qualifications to manage the boat if it's not going to have a skipper, whom you are taking sailing, where exactly you wish to go and what will the weather be like on the proposed dates of your trip.

What are the Marinas in Porto Koufo?

Porto Koufo Marina can take the largest mega yachts afloat of 180m LOA, and 400 or so smaller vessels. The nearby resort of Porto Carras has a marina that takes 315 yachts of up to 55m LOA.

When are the best times to hire a boat in Porto Koufo?

The sailing season is quite short in Northern Greece - it being the Northern Aegean Sea you will find that the season starts in mid May and ends in mid October. July and August are the busiest months but the NE Meltemi can be fierce at this time of year. Essentially the best time is in June when the weather isn't so hot and windy and the marinas not so crowded.

Do you have to pay a deposit when hiring a Yacht in Porto Koufo?

You will typically pay 50% up front on booking the yacht hire and the balance on arrival. You will either pay a security deposit with your credit card on departure or can get insurance covering damage in advance. In some cases (such as the recent Covid situation) charter companies may be more flexible but this depends on the individual charter companies themselves.

What happens if my Yacht breaks down?

If you are at sea and in danger, call MAYDAY on VHF Ch16 or ring the coast guard on your phone if you have reception. If you have a mechanical fault and can make it to or are on a mooring you will be able to phone a help line number given by the boat charter company.

What should I think of before I hire a Yacht or Boat in Porto Koufo?

You should consider do you have the experience to handle the yacht charter or boat hire before you book and where do you want to go along with what the weather will be like. Bring warm weather and cool weather clothing if it looks like the weather can be cool as well as warm and remember at sea it can be cool on most evenings.

What Qualifications Do I need to hire a boat or yacht?

If you want to sail without a skipper then you will need relevant qualifications like RYA Day Skipper/International Certificate of Competence (ICC)/ASA 104 Bareboat certificate or the US Sailing Certificate. For small 'day boats' or if you choose to have a skippered on board your yacht charter you typically don't require licences.

Frequently asked questions
What should I consider when hiring a Yacht or Boat?

The main points to consider are what is your budget, have you got the necessary sailing experience and qualifications to manage the boat if it's not going to have a skipper, whom you are taking sailing, where exactly you wish to go and what will the weather be like on the proposed dates of your trip.