Mile building sailing holidays around Greece and the Greek Islands

Sail Ionian are now offer milebuilding cruises around Greece giving you the opportunity to gain further valuable sailing experience and log more miles. They are extending outside of the Ionian in order that you can experience different wind conditions, offshore sailing and more challenging navigation.

Our trips are ideal for anyone wishing to work towards further RYA sailing qualifications or simply gain more confidence offshore. You will be living on a yacht for extended overnight passages and sailing in a more challenging environment.

All crew signing up for these trips will have the opportunity to plan and organise passages if they want this experience. We also have time toward the end of the full trip for anyone wanting to develop and practice other skills such as MOBs with the instructor.

Many of the destinations on route are weather/crew dependent but there will be no shortage of time at sea!!

The following trips are available for 2012

> April 26th - IONIAN - ATHENS (via Peloponese)

> 4th May - ATHENS - IONIAN (via Corinth Canal)

> October: 7- 21st - IONIAN - ATHENS - IONIAN

Night passages will be divided into watches of 2,3 or 4 hours, depending on passage duration, sea conditions, crew numbers and experience. All crew are actively involved in helming, sail trim, navigation, catering and generally running a professional yacht. An experienced skipper is on board to assist and provide instruction where required, but the crew will be responsible for sailing a decision making on board.

You will be expected to take part in all aspects of running the yacht with opportunities to learn, ask questions, while building confidence and knowledge.

Athens - Corinth
Depart Athens, through the Saronic for a shake out sail and explore. Moor for the evening in one of the ports (to be confirmed depending on weather) in the Saronic, before continuing through the Canal to Corinth Harbour.

Corinth - Galaxidhi - Trizonia
A fantastic opportunity to explore the harbours between the Corinth Canal and the Ionian Sea. Shorter trips with plenty of time at sea and also time to explore on land.

Trizonia - Zackinthos
A second slightly longer and also potentially challenging trip for those looking to log miles and improve knowledge and confidence in different sailing conditions.

Zackinthos - Poros - Astakos
A chance to do shorter overnight passages of 20 nm and have a chance to do overynight pilotage and develop skills locally within the stunning Ionian Sea.

Astakos - Vonitza
Some more challenging navigation exercises at night before returning to Vlikho. These last days of the trip will be catered to crew on board and what the crew would like to learn/practice/do.

When on board basic galley items, tins and soft drinks are supplied but as crew you are expected to take part in provisioning of your yacht and the preparation of meals. You will be responsible for your own food and drinks when ashore and any fresh items bought on route as well as any luxury foods you would like on board. We may also be lucky and providing someone on board is happy to clean fish you may have fresh fish as a supplement to our ships stores.

INCLUDED:
All boat expenses - yacht fuel, sheets and pillows/cases, mooring fees, basic provisions, snacks and meals on board, water. All yachts are fitted with more than the necessary safety gear.

EXCLUDED:
Flights and airport transfers, any additional food or drink requirements will be split between the crew. Food when in harbour is not provided. Sleeping bags and waterproofs

For the duration of your milebuilder sailing holiday cruise you'll be sleeping on board the yacht which will probably be one of our new Bavaria's. You can either opt for a cabin on one of our Bavaria 38 - 40 foot training yachts with up to 4 other people sharing the same yacht (and the instructor) or you can charter a yacht to yourselves and the instructor will join you on board for the duration of your training. After your training you can sail yourselves.