{"id":6585,"date":"2025-07-25T11:58:49","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T11:58:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/?p=6585"},"modified":"2025-07-25T11:58:49","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T11:58:49","slug":"review-informal-flotilla-holiday-with-sail-ionian-lefkada-greece","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/?p=6585","title":{"rendered":"Review: Informal flotilla holiday with Sail Ionian, Lefkada, Greece"},"content":{"rendered":"
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For one week this Summer, we were the captains of our own Greek adventure. With none of the usual household chores and without so much as opening my laptop, we simply enjoyed quality time together \u2014 and a generous stretch of Ionian blue. Welcome to the charming pleasures of a flotilla sailing holiday \u2014 courtesy of Sail Ionian, an independent family-run company operating out of Vliho Bay, Lefkada.<\/p>\n

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Without being complacent, we were looking forward to some hopefully easy sailing in friendly winds, short hops between islands, and a sun that rarely clocks off. Most of our training had been in somewhat less inviting conditions off the west coast of Scotland, but this would hopefully have put us in good stead for anything unexpected.<\/p>\n

The idea of sailing in a group \u2014 in convoy, but with the freedom to roam and support on hand \u2014 offered the perfect blend of independence and reassurance.<\/p>\n

What is a flotilla holiday?<\/h2>\n

A flotilla is a small fleet of boats \u2014 usually no more than ten \u2014 loosely travelling the same route. Each evening, everyone gathers at the same port or anchorage, but by day, you\u2019re free to sail, explore, meander, race, or pause as you wish. Some companies offer a social programme each evening, whilst others \u2014 like Sail Ionian \u2014 do not, allowing you to mix with others as much or as little as you like.<\/p>\n

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Support comes in the form of a lead crew who guide, advise, and occasionally step in when you\u2019re struggling to moor. It\u2019s camaraderie with a light touch. Guidance without intrusion. And our expert flotilla support team included skipper Maria (who went by the radio name of Rodney for some reason!), Ervin, and Nick \u2014 all calm under pressure, and always appearing precisely when needed, like nautical genies.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s required to sail a yacht?<\/h2>\n

In Greece, at least one person on board needs an ICC (International Certificate of Competence) or an RYA Day Skipper qualification. A second adult must be at least at the level of \u2018Competent Crew\u2019 \u2014 essentially someone who knows their port from their starboard and won\u2019t tie themselves to the boom during a gybe.<\/p>\n

To become an RYA Day Skipper, there\u2019s a theory and practical component \u2014 with at least 40 hours of study recommended for the theory, whilst the practical element is a 5-day course (but assumes a degree of prior experience, such as the 5-day RYA Competent Crew course). Once you have the RYA Day Skipper qualification, you can get ICC certification but this is not currently required for Greece \u2013 just the Day Skipper will suffice. <\/p>\n

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We were a mixed party of ten adults across two families \u2014 four qualified Day Skippers of differing expertise in our family and six enthusiastic novices in the other. We had initially looked at chartering two yachts but regulations would not have allowed us to regularly chop and change the personnel on each both, so we instead opted for one boat to accommodate us all.<\/p>\n

This made for an ideal balance of experience and fresh-eyed wonder, with enough skill to sail independently but no shortage of awe for what we were about to experience.<\/p>\n

Our yacht<\/h2>\n

Our floating home for the week was Te Anau, a Bavaria 46 Style yacht, which Sail Ionian keeps in immaculate condition. <\/p>\n

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She boasts in-mast furling, a self-tacking genoa, bow thruster, generator, and that rare Aegean luxury \u2014 air conditioning. The cockpit was spacious, shaded by a bimini, and the saloon was equally generous.<\/p>\n

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Te Anau sleeps ten people \u2013 up to four with an en suite in the bow, two en suite rooms either side of the aft, and a saloon that can accommodate another two or three. Of course, with ten of us on board, it was cosy \u2013 but we knew that would be the case and were prepared for it\u2026 it\u2019s a good job we get along well. As the week progressed, several of us preferred to sleep under the stars on deck as that tended to be lovely and cool.<\/p>\n

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There was a lovely welcome basket that greeted us on arrival, too.<\/p>\n

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Everything you need to plan your trip in 2025<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Our route<\/h2>\n

Our route was to take us around the South Ionian, calling at a variety of different islands, with the exact itinerary evovling as the week went on, depending on the weather conditions. Here\u2019s where our journey took us:<\/p>\n

Day 1: Vliho Bay, Lefkada to Vathy, Meganisi<\/h3>\n

Sail Ionian doesn\u2019t dilly-dally. After a welcome briefing and yacht handover by Chris, we were off the dock and motoring through the Vliho strait by late afternoon. The sea was gentle, our spirits high, and we were looking forward to the adventure that lay ahead.<\/p>\n

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We cut east between Skorpios and Sparti \u2014 Skorpios once owned by the Onassis family, now shrouded in billionaire mystery. Our destination: Vathy on Meganisi, where a table awaited us at Karnagio, a beachside taverna draped in bougainvillaea and charm. A few of us paddleboarded after dinner, because\u2026 why not? When in Greece\u2026<\/p>\n

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Day 2: Vathy, Meganisi to Sivota, Lefkada<\/h3>\n

The morning involved the moving of fenders and a little parking practice before setting off again. Between Meganisi and Lefkada, we caught a fleeting glimpse of dolphins \u2014 too quick for the camera, but enough to put big smiles on our faces. <\/p>\n

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We dropped anchor at Mikros Gialos for a swim and snorkel, before continuing to Sivota, where we moored outside Taverna Ionion. Our waiter there was quite a character and even posed for a selfie with our group, told us a tale or two, and served us the catch of the day \u2014 red snapper and dorada, simply grilled, perfectly flaky.<\/p>\n

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Day 3: Sivota, Lefkada to Fiskardo, Kefalonia<\/h3>\n

The wind was in our favour. We sailed \u2014 actually sailed<\/em> \u2014 most of the passage at around 4-5 knots, a kind of unhurried pace that makes you realise time on the water flows differently. <\/p>\n

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Fiskardo is no secret \u2014 a pastel-painted harbour where superyachts jostle with charter boats and the scent of jasmine competes with espresso. We made landfall early to secure a space and took the tender to Foki Beach, where we explored a once-mined limestone cave with tunnels that extend over 100 metres deep.<\/p>\n

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Dinner that night was a curveball, recommended by our support crew: Lord Falcon, a lovely Thai restaurant tucked away in one of Fiskardo\u2019s back streets. <\/p>\n

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Day 4: Fiskardo, Kefalonia to Vathy, Ithaca<\/h3>\n

There are many Vathys in Greece, and today we visited another: the one on Ithaca, fabled home of Odysseus and proud bearer of one of the deepest natural harbours in the Ionian. (The name \u2018Vathy\u2019 comes from the Greek word \u201c\u03b2\u03b1\u03b8\u03cd\u03c2\u201d (vath\u00fds), meaning \u201cdeep\u201d \u2014 an apt description for the sheltering harbours that bear its name.)<\/p>\n

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We stopped first at Filiatro Beach \u2014 turquoise, crystalline, postcard-perfect \u2014 and spent an hour swimming, lounging, and paddleboarding. That night, securely anchored, we skipped the taverna and cooked aboard Te Anau<\/em> . A dinner with the stars as our ceiling.<\/p>\n

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Day 5: Vathy, Ithaca to Kalamos, Kalamos Island<\/h3>\n

After a morning stroll, we sailed ownard toward Atokos Island, a dramatic hunk of rock with aquamarine waters \u2014 and pigs. <\/p>\n

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Yes, pigs. With different theories abounding as to why they\u2019re there, from shipwrecks to a source of food, they\u2019ve become unlikely icons. But if you should visit, please remember these are feral animals and don\u2019t pick them up as we saw one child attempt\u2026 the piglet\u2019s mother did not seem so happy!<\/p>\n

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Later, we reached Kalamos, where we wandered to Alogobor\u00f3s beach, the most wonderful secluded cove which we enjoyed to ourselves. <\/p>\n

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Dinner was at George\u2019s taverna, a local favourite with the most delicious chicken souvlaki.<\/p>\n

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Day 6: Kalamos, Kalamos Island to Palairos, mainland Greece<\/h3>\n

A number of us \u2014 myself included \u2014 had been running each day. This morning\u2019s challenge: a 180m climb to the church of Agios Georgios before breakfast at George\u2019s. Built in 1886, this lone basilica offered sweeping views and, perhaps, a little cardio-induced clarity.<\/p>\n

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After a day on the boat, having stopped for a swim in a lovely bay just east of Mytikas, we anchored off Palairos, took the tender ashore, and found a bar with cold refreshments and a pool table. We enjoyed dinner on board at sunset.<\/p>\n

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Day 7: Palairos, mainland Greece to Vathy, Meganisi<\/h3>\n

With storms in the forecast and our flotilla return imminent, we decided to head back to Vathy, Meganisi, returning to a familiar bay where we knew the taverna. But before that, we anchored at Pachara Bay, cooled off with a swim and messed around on the paddleboards either side of an on-board lunch.<\/p>\n

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Day 8: Vathy, Meganisi to Vliho Bay, Lefkada<\/h3>\n

A short, quiet morning motor brought us full circle. The Ionian sun had shone all week and we were now a little more tanned, a little saltier, and entirely smitten.<\/p>\n

We packed our things, disembarked Te Anau and had a late breakfast at Vliho Yacht Club, before our respective families said our farewells, but not without promising to do a similar adventure together next year. Our holidays were not as we each had a few days left \u2013 us in Greece still, and the other family returning to the United States via Italy.<\/p>\n

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The final verdict<\/h2>\n

Often when people think of luxury yachting holidays, they might think of silver trays and white gloves. This wasn\u2019t like that all \u2013 it was something better. It was informal, magical, mildly chaotic (there were ten of us on board after all), and utterly joyful. And the luxury came in the form of time together, endless laughter and a truly memorable experience.<\/p>\n

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We took selfies with pigs. We ate red snapper that was caught just hours earlier. We somehow managed to cram eight days of being on the boat into a seven-day florilla. And the flotilla set-up gave us freedom with a safety net. Adventure with guidance. Independence without isolation.<\/p>\n

Would we do it again? Absolutely. Though next time, we might keep a tally of how many times we said, \u201cThis is the life\u201d.<\/p>\n

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Sail Ionian. Our trip was sponsored by AEGEAN Airlines.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

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Paul Johnson<\/h3>\n

Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel \u2018Best Travel Influencer\u2019 Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted \u201cone of the world\u2019s best travel blogs\u201d and \u201cbest for luxury\u201d by The Telegraph.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Source: https:\/\/www.aluxurytravelblog.com\/2025\/07\/25\/review-sail-ionian-flotilla-holiday\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For one week this Summer, we were the captains of our own Greek adventure. With none of the usual household chores and without so much as opening my laptop, we simply enjoyed quality time together \u2014 and a generous stretch of Ionian blue. Welcome to the charming pleasures of a flotilla sailing holiday \u2014 courtesy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6586,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[134],"class_list":["post-6585","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel","tag-greece2025"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6585","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6585"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6585\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6586"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6585"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6585"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6585"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}