Catamaran Charter Athens

Catamaran Charter Athens

On an Athens catamaran charter with Borrow a Boat you can explore much of the Saronic Gulf and Cyclades Islands within an easy sail. Whatever you want from a Greek yacht charter, from its beautiful beaches and excellent food to its vibrant culture, an Athens sailing holiday is going to be an unforgettable experience.

Once capital of the greatest maritime empire of the world, and still looking to sea to this day, Athens is now a buzzing cosmopolitan capital with lots to offer on a yacht charter holiday. Ancient ruins sit side by side modern attractions such as the national maritime museum and a host of tavernas and excellent restaurants to suit every taste.

Even while Athens itself is a destination worthy of a couple of days' stay, on your luxury boat charter you will want to explore further afield. Less than a day's cruise will take you to the Cyclades Islands to the southeast. You could spend a week exploring Mykonos, Ios and Antiparos as far as Santorini and still not scratch the surface. To the SW, the Saronic Gulf on mainland Greece and its nearby islands are a major draw too - another group of Greek islands that have a lot to offer, from beaches to ancient ruins, wine, food and ouzo soaked Mezes!

Greek waters hold many pleasant surprises for those on a sailing trip. This part of the Aegean can have feisty and hot weather in the sailing season and a crewed charter can take some of the stress from this, though thousands of people do enjoy a bareboat sailing trip without incident. You will be able to moor your charter yacht in quiet anchorages without a care in the world, perhaps with a sandy beach all to yourself.

So what else is there to consider where it comes to your Athens catamaran charter holiday? Read on to find out!

Crewed Catamaran Charters from Athens

You don't need to worry about qualifications or even sailing the boat out of Athens with Borrow a Boat! An Athens crewed catamaran charter on a motor yacht or sailing catamaran can mean you do as much or as little physically sailingthe yacht as you like on your yacht charter holiday.

A skippered yacht charter or will mean that the skipper will be aboard with their own cabin to attend to all your needs. A crewed yacht charter or gulet charter will involve one or two crew on the gulet charter who will cook, sail and make suggestions as to your best destinations on your sailing itinerary. With their local knowledge, even if you're an experienced sailor you can enjoy a perfect yacht charter holiday.

One of the advantages of a crewed yacht charter vacation is that you can go longer distances from the yacht charterbase. The Saronic Islands are within reach, as are the Cyclades and indeed Crete.

As to you? You can just enjoy the breezes and views on your luxury yacht charter, or if you fancy learning a bit about sailing, help the skipper or crew to get the boat from A-B.

An Athens crewed yacht charter will cost a little more (typically €150 a day for a skipper and €100 per crew member) and it's the done thing to thank them with a tip at the end of the week.

Bareboat Catamaran Charter From Athens

A bareboat yacht charter vacation will mean that you can take the charter yacht out on your own. Generally for vessels up to 20 metres LOA on a sailing license such as an RYA Day Skipper or ASA 104 Bareboat certificate, you will have total responsibility for the yacht.

You will need to think about your itinerary, victualling, possible secondary ports should a marina be full, as well as issues like weather and mooring fees.

On a bareboat catamaran charter you will be asked to pay for insurance in the form of a security deposit to the chartercompany on departure or through buying charter insurance before you leave the yacht charter base.

Types of Catamarans Available For Rent Or Charter In Athens:

When searching a geographical area on Borrow A Boat you can filter by the below charter yacht types. There is also the option to further filter your searches by price, the number of guests, cabins or bathrooms, what year the catamaran was launched, the boat length and the boat manufacturer.

Types of Catamarans Available:

Sailing Catamarans: Luxury catamarans are stable and spacious type of sailing boat, with quick sailing performance, and and have been gaining in popularity in recent years. Better for larger groups, they have lots of room for water toys, and are big enough for a little privacy. A catamaran charter luxury yacht is easy and comfortable for novices not used to heeling and are loved by families due to their extra space when compared to a monohull sailing yacht. Typically far more luxurious than a sailboat, the larger catamarans have en suite toilets and showers in the cabin as well as ample entertaining space in the saloon and on deck.

Power Catamarans: These motor yacht catamarans are relatively new but have also been gaining in popularity as the two hulls keep the boat more stable when compared to a monohull. The wider beam of these motor boats also mean more deck space and as they don't have sails or a mast, they have a lot more space on deck than a sailing catamaranrental or monohull. For a luxury catamaran charter, consider taking a crewed catamaran charter sailing vacation with an experienced skipper.

Catamaran Sailing Itineraries From Athens

On your Athens crewed catamaran boat rental or bareboat charter sailing vacation you can explore the Cyclades Islandsto your heart's content. Here we suggest a 7 day sailing holiday and a 14 day yacht charter holiday on your charter boat:

7 days - Athens - Southern Cyclades: The first island, Kea is just a short hop after you set sail from Athens and can be done the evening you board the boat. Ermopoli will be your next sailing destination and then on to Mykonos. Mykonosis one of the best known Greek islands - do visit Little Venice where the sea goes right up to the buildings' walls. The next evening will be in the gastronomic destination of Antiparos - have an empty belly before you go ashore. Loutra in Kynthos has hot medicinal springs and great coves for sea swimming. Aegina Town on the Saronic island of the same name will be your final port of call before returning for handover at your Athens marina.

14 days - Cyclades Islands to Santorini: Perhaps better on a gulet or crewed yacht charter, this is a longer trip through the Cyclades Islands as far as Santorini. The volcanic island of Santorini is one of the most famous sights in Greece short of the Acropolis. Heading out through the southern Cyclades islands including Paros, Antiparos, Mykonos and the Aegean jewel of Ios, you will arrive in Santorini - perhaps for a couple of days here, before turning west towards Folegandros, Serifos and Kynthos before returning to port. If you fancy, perhaps head over to the Saronic islands and appreciate the difference between them and the Cyclades? Aegina is less than half a day's sail from Athens and could well be a great destination for a final night afloat.

Do You Need A Licence To Charter A Catamaran In Athens?

If you are on a skippered catamaran charter you do not need a license to sail out of Athens, you can just turn up at the marina and go.

You do need a license if you are on a bareboat catamaran charter and in some countries such as Greece a day skipper or ICC may not be enough for boats over 45 feet in length, you will need to check with the charter agent but here are some examples of typical sailing qualifications that will allow you to charter in most countries:

International Certificate of Competence: This is issued on request by your European sailing authority and you should automatically qualify with certain national sailing qualifications.

RYA Qualifications: If you have the following qualifications you will typically be able to take a bareboat charter out of Rhodes (but it is worth checking as per above), these include Day Skipper (sail or motor endorsement), Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster.

American Sailing Association (ASA): The ASA 104 Bareboat certificate is commonly accepted but also check as per above

US Sailing: The International Proficiency Certificate is widely accepted and The Bareboat Cruising Certificate is also accepted in many cases.

Popular Destinations For Hiring A Catamaran

Below we've picked some of our favourite destinations worldwide for hiring catamarans with something to suit every type of sailor.

Catamaran Charter in Greece: Enjoy the amazing culture and cuisine while island hopping in Greece.

Catamaran Charter in Croatia: Take in the delights of the Adriatic sea along with the rich history of Croatia.

Catamaran Charter in BVI: Excellent sailing conditions along with unspoilt natural beauty make this a must sailplace.

Catamaran Charter in Spain: With just under 5,000km of coastline and 60 islands on the Atlantic ocean and Mediterranean there's a lot to get excited about.

Catamaran Charter in St.Lucia: Enjoy beautiful sandy beaches on this luscious green island in the hear of the Caribbean.

Catamaran Charter in France: From the stunning coastlines of the Cote d'Azur and French Riviera in the south of France to the island of Corsica or feisty Atlantic coast, this is a diverse and beautiful country for a sailing holiday.

Catamaran Charter in Grenada: Enjoy a fantastic Caribbean sailing experience on the 'Island of Spice' in windward islands

Catamaran Charter in Italy: A catamaran charter in Italy has got to be close to the top of every sailor's bucket list, enjoy the stunning cuisine and culture

Catamaran Charter in Turkey: A catamaran charter in Turkey is more of an adventure and a chance to explore a unique culture where East meets West on the cultural and geological border between Europe and Asia.

Catamaran Charter in Martinique: Charter around wonderful Martinique and enjoy stunning the Caribbean landscapes

Catamaran Charter in The Bahamas: The ideal location for a luxury catamaran charter in crystal clear waters

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I consider when hiring a Catamaran?

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.

Do you have to pay a deposit when hiring a Catamaran in Athens?

You will typically pay 50% up front on booking the catamaran 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.