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Greece yacht charter with skipper

pend a week in the Aegean or the Ionian without the licence chase. You pick the boat, we put a professional skipper aboard, and you sail out of Athens, Lefkada, Corfu, Kos or Volos with someone else handling the docking and the harbour-authority forms.

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Frequently asked questions about Greece yacht charter with skipper

Do I need a sailing licence to charter a yacht in Greece with a skipper?
No. With a professional skipper on board, none of your guests need a licence. The skipper holds the ICC plus VHF (or a recognised equivalent like the RYA Day Skipper) and is the legal master of the vessel for the week. The Greek port police check the skipper's papers, not yours.
How much does a skipper cost on a Greece yacht charter?
Around EUR 200 to 280 per day, or EUR 1,400 to 1,750 for a standard Saturday-to-Saturday week. On top of that, you pay a food kitty of about EUR 35 to 50 per day locally, since the skipper shares meals with the group.
Where will the skipper take us on our Greece yacht charter?
You decide together at the Saturday briefing. From Athens, the Saronic islands (Hydra, Spetses, Poros, Aegina) are the relaxed pick; the Cyclades the dramatic one. From Lefkada or Corfu, the Ionian loop (Meganisi, Ithaca, Kefalonia). From Kos, the Dodecanese (Leros, Kalymnos, Patmos, Symi). The skipper adjusts each leg to the meltemi forecast and what you cared most about (towns, anchorages, swim time).
What is the meltemi and how does it affect a skippered charter in Greece?
The meltemi is the strong NW Etesian wind that blows across the Aegean in summer, peaking in July and August at 25 to 40 knots in the Cyclades. It is the single biggest factor in a Greek summer charter. The skipper's job is to plan the week around it: the Ionian and the Saronic are sheltered, the Cyclades are exposed, the Sporades and Dodecanese sit in between. Late spring and September are the meltemi-quiet months.
When is the best time for a skippered yacht charter in Greece?
Late April to late October. May, June and September are the months experienced charter guests tend to prefer: warm water, the meltemi is rare, prices drop noticeably outside July and August. July and August are peak: hot, busy, the highest prices, and meltemi-managed routing in the Cyclades.
Can I learn to sail from the skipper during a Greece charter?
Yes, plenty of guests treat it that way. A skippered week in Greece is a relaxed way to pick up manoeuvres, sail trim and the specifics of the Greek coast (the meltemi cycle especially), without the structure of a formal sailing course.
Where does the skipper sleep on board during our Greece charter?
In the forward or aft cabin, depending on the boat layout. On smaller yachts, sometimes in the saloon. Sleeping arrangements are agreed at the Saturday briefing so the privacy question is settled from day one.
How big a group can I bring on a Greece yacht charter with skipper?
Two to twelve guests plus the skipper, depending on the boat. Families tend to choose catamarans for the cabin layout and the deck space. Couples and small groups usually go for a sailing yacht or a smaller motor yacht. For groups above twelve looking for a fully crewed gulet (Turkey is the closest gulet hub), that is a different offering, get in touch and we will point you to the crewed catalogue.

Greece yacht charter with skipper: hand the licence and the meltemi reading to someone who lives this

Greece is one of the most rewarding places to sail in the Mediterranean, and the Greek port authority does check paperwork: bareboat charter requires an ICC plus a VHF licence (or a recognised national equivalent). A Greece yacht charter with skipper sidesteps that. You pick any sailing yacht, catamaran or motor yacht in our Greece fleet, and a professional skipper comes with it for the week. The skipper carries the certificates, reads the meltemi forecast for breakfast, and reverses into a tight quay in Hydra or Symi without raising their voice. Your job is to pick the boat, agree a route at the briefing, and bring the sun cream.

Greece yacht charter with skipper at a glance

Detail What to expect
Skipper cost EUR 200 to 280 per day, or EUR 1,400 to 1,750 per week, plus food kitty (around EUR 35 to 50 per day)
Sailing licence required? No, the skipper holds the ICC plus VHF (or recognised equivalent) for the entire group
Top base ports Athens (Alimos, Lavrio), Lefkada (Nidri, Vlicho), Corfu (Gouvia), Kos, Volos, Skiathos
Charter pattern Saturday to Saturday
Boats available Sailing yachts, catamarans, motor yachts
Best months Late April to late October. May, June and September the sweet spots; July and August are meltemi peak in the Cyclades.
Group size 2 to 12 guests plus skipper

Why book Greece with a skipper?

  • No licence to chase: Greek port police check paperwork on bareboat departures. With a professional skipper aboard, no one in your group needs an ICC, RYA Day Skipper or any other certificate.
  • The skipper picks the right area for the season: July and August in the Cyclades means meltemi: 25 to 40 knots in the afternoon. The skipper either times your routes downwind, or, more often, suggests the Ionian or the Saronic in the same week, where the meltemi barely reaches you.
  • Local know-how: which taverna in Symi serves the squid the locals queue for, where the holding really is good in Lakka, when to leave Mykonos for Tinos to beat the lunchtime build. That is the part you cannot read off a chartplotter.
  • Med-mooring is someone else's problem: Greek harbours pack boats stern-to with a few metres of lazy-line slack. The skipper does the manoeuvre. You watch from the cockpit with a drink.
  • Damage from handling falls on the skipper: if something goes wrong on a manoeuvre, it is the skipper's professional cover, not your security deposit.
Skipper's Insider Tip: "The meltemi runs the summer. It is a NW Etesian wind, almost an Aegean institution: most years it builds steadily through July, peaks in August at 25 to 40 knots, and dies off in mid-September. In the Cyclades the meltemi is the headline; in the Ionian (Lefkada, Corfu, Kefalonia) you barely see it. If you have already booked August, ask us to start the week in the Saronic or the Sporades and we will keep the meltemi off your beam. If you are flexible on dates, May, June and September are the calendar gold: water still warm, anchorages quiet, ports half-empty, and the meltemi a rumour."

The five Greek sailing areas, and which one suits your week

  • Saronic and Argo-Saronic (out of Athens): Hydra, Spetses, Poros, Aegina. Easy week, manageable distances, no meltemi exposure. The right area for first-time charters and tight schedules from the airport.
  • Ionian (out of Lefkada, Corfu): Lefkada, Meganisi, Ithaca, Kefalonia, Zakynthos. Sheltered water, gentle thermal wind in the afternoons, family-friendly distances, the densest charter-base concentration in Greece.
  • Cyclades (out of Athens or Mykonos): Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, Santorini, Milos, Ios. The dramatic option: white-and-blue villages, exposed crossings, meltemi to manage. Best in May, June or September unless you actively want the meltemi.
  • Sporades (out of Skiathos or Volos): Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos. Lush green islands, the National Marine Park of Alonissos (monk seals), quieter than the Cyclades, and meltemi-protected most weeks.
  • Dodecanese (out of Kos): Kos, Leros, Kalymnos, Patmos, Symi. Eastern Aegean, very close to the Turkish coast. A character-rich week with strong harbour towns, pebble beaches, and Knights of St John fortresses.

How to book your Greece skippered charter

  1. Pick base port, dates and group size above.
  2. We confirm a boat and a professional skipper for the week.
  3. Pay the deposit, receive the skipper's contact details.
  4. Meet at the marina on Saturday afternoon for check-in.
  5. Sail, swim, anchor, eat. Return Friday evening.

What is included in the price?

The boat, the skipper's professional fee and full third-party insurance are in the price. You pay the rest locally during the week: a food kitty for the skipper (around EUR 35 to 50 per day, since they share meals with the group), fuel, port fees outside the home port (Greek harbour fees are modest by Mediterranean standards), the optional end-of-charter clean. Looking for a different boat? Browse our full Greece fleet, sailing yachts in Greece and catamarans in Greece. If you want a small motorboat without any licence at all, our Greece licence-free page covers that.