Skippered sailing charters in Greece

Written by Gediminas Vengrauskas, licensed Coastal Skipper · ICC · VHF · Updated August 2026

No license, no experience, no problem - that is the whole point of a skippered charter. You and your group get a private yacht or catamaran; I handle the sailing, the navigation, the weather calls and the paperwork with the charter base. You handle the swimming and the sunsets. Boats come from established, licensed Greek charter fleets (Athens’ Alimos marina is our usual starting point), so every vessel is insured, maintained and surveyed - and your week is skippered personally by me, Gediminas Vengrauskas.

Routes that work

The Saronic Gulf - the perfect first sailing week (7 days)

Short, comfortable hops of two to four hours a day, protected water, and a different harbour every evening. My honest recommendation for families and first-timers.

Every itinerary flexes with the weather and your mood - that is a feature, not a disclaimer.

The Cyclades - for crews who want real sailing (7-10 days)

Kea, Kythnos, Serifos, Sifnos, Paros, Syros... whitewashed villages, honest wind and the famous Meltemi. More open water, livelier sailing, bigger rewards. Best in June or September - and I will tell you straight if your dates and crew fit this route.

The Ionian - Greece’s gentlest sailing (7 days, Lefkada base)

Green islands, short hops, flat morning seas and a reliable afternoon breeze that switches off for dinner. The perfect first week with small kids or nervous sailors - and outrageously pretty.

Day sails from Athens

A single day on the water - Aegina or the Athenian Riviera, swimming included. See Day Sails & Celebrations.

What does a skippered week in Greece actually cost?

Straight numbers, because you should not have to email anyone just to learn a price. Example for six guests, mid-season, on a 3-4 cabin sailing yacht:

Catamarans run higher; July-August is peak pricing; spring and autumn are excellent value. By custom, the crew covers the skipper’s meals aboard or ashore.

What does the skipper cost, and what is included?

Included in my skipper service: route planning around your wishes and the forecast; full safety briefing; all sailing and manoeuvring; berthing and harbour formalities; local tips for tavernas and quiet bays; sailing lessons along the way if you would like them.

Arranged separately (transparent, at cost): the boat itself via a licensed charter fleet - contract in your name, my help throughout; optional extras from the fleet (SUP, snorkeling gear, outboard, early check-in).

Questions about kids, seasickness or weather? Read the FAQ - honest answers to everything guests ask.

Do I need a sailing licence to charter in Greece?

Not for a skippered charter. That is the entire point of one. I hold the licence, I sign the paperwork with the charter base, and you step aboard as a guest. You need no certificate, no logged miles and no experience whatsoever.

You only need a licence if you want to take the boat out yourself - a bareboat charter - and Greece is stricter about this than most people expect. I have written the full breakdown in do you need a licence to charter a boat in Greece, including which certificates are accepted and why a second crew member has to sign on.

Which Greek sailing area should I choose?

Three areas, and the honest answer is that they suit genuinely different crews.

The Saronic Gulf is where I take most first-timers. Two-to-four-hour hops, protected water, a different harbour every evening, and Athens airport an hour from the boat. If your crew includes anyone nervous about sailing, this is the answer.

The Cyclades are for people who want to actually sail. Longer open-water legs, real wind, whitewashed villages that earn the photographs. Best in June or September. I will tell you straight if your dates and your crew do not fit this route - it is not the week for a first-timer in August.

The Ionian, based out of Lefkada, is the gentlest sailing in Greece: flat morning seas, a reliable afternoon breeze that switches off in time for dinner. It is my recommendation for families with small children. One practical note - Ionian weeks start in Lefkada rather than Athens, so you would fly into Preveza (Aktion) instead.

When is the best time to sail in Greece?

April to early June and September to October are the best value and, in my opinion, the better sailing. Water is warm enough from late May. July and August are peak - hottest, busiest, most expensive, and windiest in the Cyclades.

If you have school-age children and no choice about August, take the Saronic or the Ionian rather than the Cyclades. That single decision matters more than anything else on your booking form.

What is the Meltemi, and should I worry about it?

The Meltemi is a dry northerly that blows across the Aegean mainly in July and August. It can hold for days at a stretch and it is the reason the Cyclades have a reputation for serious sailing.

You should not worry about it, but you should plan around it - which is my job. It is a strong, predictable wind rather than a dangerous one, and the practical effect is that we sail earlier in the day, choose our anchorages for shelter, and occasionally change the plan. The Saronic and the Ionian are largely out of its reach.

How big a boat do I need, and how many people can come?

My licence covers up to twelve people, so in practice almost any group that fits on a charter yacht fits on my certificate. Most groups I take are four to eight on a three or four cabin yacht - the boat behind the worked example in the cost table above.

Couples sharing cabins is the normal arrangement, and the saloon converts if you are one over. Tell me your numbers and your dates and I will match you to a boat rather than the other way round.

Sailing yacht or catamaran?

A catamaran gives you more deck space, more privacy, shallower draft and almost no heel - the easy choice for families, for anyone anxious about the boat leaning, or for two couples who want genuine separation.

It costs roughly double. A typical four-cabin catamaran for six to eight guests runs about €5,500 - €12,000 per week depending on model and season, against €2,500 - €4,500 for a comparable sailing yacht. End cleaning is higher too, usually €350 - €450 rather than €150 - €250. Those are typical market ranges from licensed Greek fleets, not my quote - your real number depends on the boat and the dates.

A monohull sails better upwind, gets into tighter berths, and is what I would take myself. Neither is wrong. If nobody in your crew is worried about heeling, the monohull is better value.

Is a skippered charter a good idea with children?

Yes, with two caveats: pick a gentle area, and be honest with me about ages before we plan. The Ionian and the Saronic are made for this - short hops, swimming stops whenever the crew mutinies, and a harbour with a taverna every night.

What genuinely helps is planning the day around the children rather than the mileage. That is a conversation, not a package, so tell me who is coming.

What happens if the weather turns?

We change the plan, and you will barely notice. Every itinerary I publish is indicative - the drawn legs are sailing lines, not commitments. I check the forecast each morning and pick the destination that gives the crew the best day.

In six years of skippering, the honest reality is that bad weather costs you a change of island, not a change of holiday. Safety calls are mine and I do not negotiate them, which is the thing you are actually paying for.

How do I book, and what happens next?

Tell me your dates, your numbers and roughly what kind of week you want. I check availability with the fleets and come back with one written, line-by-line quote - no drip-feed, no "from" prices.

I reply within 24 hours. SailCurrent is one person, which is the trade-off: you always get the captain rather than a call centre, and you never get an instant automated reply at three in the morning.

Hire me as a captain elsewhere or see sailing in Croatia instead.

FAQ

Do I need a licence for a skippered charter in Greece?
No. I hold the licence and handle the paperwork with the charter base. You need no certificate and no sailing experience for a skippered charter - a licence is only required if you want to take the boat out yourself.

How much does a skippered week in Greece cost?
The yacht is €2,500 - €4,500 per week from a licensed partner fleet, my skipper service is €180 - €220 per day, fuel, water and harbour fees run €200 - €400 per week, and end cleaning is €150 - €250. Food and drink are your own style and budget.

How much more does a catamaran cost?
Roughly double. A typical four-cabin catamaran for six to eight guests runs about €5,500 - €12,000 per week depending on model and season, and end cleaning is usually €350 - €450 rather than €150 - €250. Those are typical market ranges from licensed Greek fleets.

How many people can come?
Up to twelve - that is what my licence covers. Most groups are four to eight on a three or four cabin yacht, with couples sharing cabins.

What is the best month to sail in Greece?
April to early June and September to October give the best value and the most comfortable sailing. July and August are hottest, busiest and windiest, especially in the Cyclades.

Which Greek area is best for a first sailing holiday?
The Saronic Gulf. The hops are two to four hours, the water is protected, there is a different harbour every evening, and it is about an hour from Athens airport.

Is a skippered sailing holiday suitable for children?
Yes, in the Ionian or the Saronic. Both have short hops, sheltered water and frequent swimming stops. Tell me the children's ages before we plan the route.

How quickly will you reply to my enquiry?
Within 24 hours. SailCurrent is a one-man company, so you always speak to the captain who will be on your boat.