Yacht Charter Skopelos

Yacht Charter Skopelos

On a Skopelos yacht charter with Borrow a Boat you can explore much of the Sporades island archipelago on your sailing trip. Whatever you want from a Sporades yacht charter, from its beautiful pine forests to its fantastic beaches, a Skopelos sailing holiday is going to be an unforgettable experience.

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Yacht Charter Skopelos

Yacht Charter Skopelos

On a Skopelos yacht charter with Borrow a Boat you can explore much of the Sporades island archipelago on your sailing trip. Whatever you want from a Sporades yacht charter, from its beautiful pine forests to its fantastic beaches, a Skopelos sailing holiday is going to be an unforgettable experience.

The biggest Sporades island, Skopelos is still a relatively remote and beautiful Greek island that is a step removed from the busy tourist trail. It can get busy in the peak summer months but nothing like that of the Cyclades nearby.

Many will know Skopelos island as the setting for the Hollywood chick flick Mamma Mia. It was well chosen for that setting as it is a very traditional Greek island with none of the full throttle nightclubs and tourist bedlam you will find elsewhere.

Pine forest is all over the island, a welcome way to hide from the fierce summer heat as you wander tracks and roads to see the ancient churches, monasteries, picturesque villages and remains of civilsations passed. For those seeking a sandy beach to relax on and forget the world, the island has not a few that are among the best on the Aegean Sea if not the Mediterranean. Shallow, turquoise waters make for another way to hide from the heat as you absorb yourself in this relaxed, idyllic escape. There is many a taverna to enjoy an afternoon of ouzo and meze too!

As a whole, though Skopelos island is harder to get to than many yachting destinations in Greece but is every bit worth the effort. Book your Sporades yacht charter with Borrow a Boat today!

Explore Skiathos By Renting A Yacht

Just to the west of Skopelos island, nearby Skiathos Island is a great place to explore on your Skopelos sailing holiday. If flying in from Europe you will likely fly to this island and take a ferry on to your charter base. Like Skopelos it is a pine forested idyll with beautiful beaches. Unlike Skopelos, thanks to its accessibility it has more of a buzz to it with a mix of high octane nightlife and a highly developed tourist economy.

A Sporades yacht charter is great for exploring the Northern Sporades by sailing yacht or motor yacht. To the NE is Alonnisos, a forested and hilly island with beautiful winding dirt roads that is so laid back it makes Skopelos look like Kos! Jason and the Argonauts are meant to have sailed from here to get the Golden Fleece having built his fleet in what is now Volos on the Pagasetic Gulf.

The strait between Alonnisos and nearby Kira Panagia is a national marine park where you will see a wide range of marine flora and fauna including the Mediterranean monk seal and different turtle species.

Do consider a trip on a yacht charter Skiathos to Pagasetic Gulf with Volos either the end point or part way of a longer-legged 7 day trip. You will get a mix of pace of life on this trip from the frenetic Volos Port to fishing villages where you wonder if time has touched them at all.

How To Get To Skopelos

You must get a ferry to Skopelos island as there is no airport. Skiathos has direct ferries to Loutraki on Skopelos, unlike Athens - if not taking a flight to Skiathos you can take a bus to Agios Konstantinos from Athens and a ferry on that way.

Skiathos Airport

This is a holiday airport that only operates international flights between early May and October.

Athens Airport

With considerably more airlines flying into the country's capital city you can catch a bus for €21 to Agios Konstantinos and then catch a ferry to Skiathos Port. This takes a few hours from end to end but given the quality of theluxury yacht charter holiday you're likely to have, could well be worth your time.

Marinas In Skopelos

There are two marinas on Skopelos, neither of which are high end luxury.

Skopelos Marina:

In Skopelos Town, this is the main yacht hire marina for the Skopelos island. A number of yacht charter companies have fleets there that include crewed yacht charter, skippered and bareboat charter of catamaran, monohull sailboat, motor yacht and luxury yachts.

Berth Characteristics:

60 berths

Max Length 40m (131 Feet)

Max Draught 5m (16 Feet)

List of additional services: Water, shore power, WiFi, laundry, waste water collection, garbage and recycling, bar, restaurant, market

Limin Skopelou Marina:

On the north coast of the island, this marina is notable for its exposure to the NE Meltemi winds that make coming into port difficult in a bigger blow. You can arrange skippered and bareboat yacht charter of catamaran, monohull sailboat, motor yacht and luxury yachts.

Berth Characteristics:

20 berths

Max Length 60m (197 Feet)

Max Draught 10m (32 Feet)

List of additional services: Water, shore power, access to supermarkets, restaurants and town facilities.

Suggested Sailing Itinerary From Skopelos

On your skippered or bareboat yacht charter out of Skopelos, on your motor yacht or sailing yacht you can explore the Northern Sporades with its marine park, pine forests and quiet villages.

7 days - Sporades archipelago: Your first day's sailing will be across to Patitiri on Alonnisos to explore this quiet, mountainous island. The next day, mooring at the island of Peristera to the east, you can take in the marine park and see the Mediterranean monk seal colony. Skiros to the east will be your destination, mooring off the sheltered and beautiful beach of Peralia Pefkos. North-west and to the mainland Greece village of Oreoi before a sail across the Pagasetic Gulf to Volos. Skiathos Town will be your next port of call before sailing back to Skopelos Island for handover.

Best Times To Hire A Yacht In Skopelos

The sailing season runs from mid May to mid 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 an Athens yacht charter.

Come September and October the seas are still like a warm bath. However there are often water shortages on the islands and everything looks parched.

Sailing Weather In Skopelos

In the Northern Aegean the climate has a fairly short, hot summer by comparison to more southerly areas of Greece.

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, thoough 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 sailas the temperatures are often in the comfortable low to mid 20s. In mid-October the tourist season ends.

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 Skopelos?

There are two marinas on Skopelos - Skopelos Harbour is more developed and sheltered, and the smaller and less sheltered Limin Skopelou Marina.

When are the best times to hire a boat in Skopelos?

May to June are the best times of year to go on a sailing vacation out of Skopelos thanks to the comfortable heat and gentler sailing conditions. Most islands have water supplies too. July and August are fiercely hot and the Meltemi winds can be fierce, but even so are the most popular months for a boat rental in Greece.

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

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 Skopelos?

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.