Last minute places on May courses at up to 40% off! Price 595 EUR/ 530 GBP per person single occupancy or 510 EUR / 455 GBP for two sharing a cabin.

Join one of our 5-day RYA recognised courses, starting 18:30 on Sunday and finishing by 17:30 on Friday. (You can stay on board on Friday night) Depending on your previous experience and knowledge you can take a Competent Crew course (for beginners) or a Day Skipper course (you’ll need practical and theoretical knowledge to do this one)

The price includes everything except getting to us and evening meals, which you will take ashore at local tavernas. You’ll visit different ports during the five days so it is an opportunity to have a holiday in this attractive area of Greece as well as to learn to sail.

• May 6: two places available.

• May 20: three places available.

You should fly to Athens airport and we’ll send you complete directions on how to get to Aegina, the island where we are based, from there. Aegina is one of the nearest islands to Athens and it is easy to reach from the aiport by either airport bus or taxi followed by a ferry or hydrofoil.

Our last minute offers go quickly  so email Melody as soon as possible if you want more details or to book a place.

PPR stands for ‘Professional Practices & Responsibilities‘. It is a new online course for those working professionally in the yachting industry.

Whatever your job on board, you have a duty of care to crew, passengers & other water users.  You will be held to account if things on board go wrong, whether you are a charter skipper, driving a workboat or running a superyacht.  This course will help make you aware of the various regulations under which you must operate.

The PPR course explains the legal framework that you fit into as a commercial operator, whatever  size and type of vessel you work on, it will help you nderstand and execute your duty of care and give you the principles, guidance and techniques to make the right choices and decisions.

What you can expect to Learn

• Ensuring your vessel is suitable & legal for the work you are doing
• Creating & implementing risk control & operating procedures
• Compulsory carriage & maintenance of safety equipment
• Your obligations in protecting the environment
• The importance of correct manning levels
• Your obligations to crew & passengers
• Planning & situational awareness
• The safe management of commercial vessels

Who has to do it?

PPR is mainly aimed at those using an RYA Certificate of Competence to gain a commercial endorsement (CE) in order to work professionally as skipper or crew. It is useful to everyone working commercially, even if it is not required for your particular job.

The PPR course will become a requirement for commercial endorsement (CE) holders from 2 April 2012 & anyone renewing their CE from this date. Although the course will go live on 2 April you don’t need to complete it until your CE is due for renewal.

Once you have taken the course there is no requirement to take the full course again, however you will require to take a shorter course which will update you on recent changes as well as checking your current knowledge when your CE is up for renewal.

Who will run it?

The course is run by RYA recognised training centres, including Aegean Sailing School, through the RYA’s e-learning website.  There will be an instructor on hand during the course and as you near the end of it there will be an online assessment.

The price is set by the RYA and payment goes directly to them. The cost is £37.20 including VAT (£31 plus VAT). Payment will be taken online the first time you access the course. You can pay for the course using any of the cards shown below, and payment will be taken in sterling.

The fee includes VAT, which will be chargeable at the UK’s standard rate. If you are outside the UK but within the EU and are VAT registered, please enter your VAT registration number when requested prior to your payment so that VAT can be accounted for under the EC Sales List process.

This course has been designed as a result of demand from within the industry for a better understanding of the regulations and guideline, and on completion you will be better positioned to operate safety, confidently and within the law.

We encourage everyone who is pursuing a career in the yachting industry to take the course. You can learn more about the course on the RYA Interactive website. Just click on Professional Practices and Responsibilities or click here to see a taste of the course.

” Perfect for those wanting to hone their skills and to move their sailing on to the next level ”

14 to 21 July | 45 ft yacht | Maximum 3 students | 1494 EUR  / 1245 GBP

Our July Masterclass includes seven days sailing on a 45 foot yacht in a lovely area of Greece. With just three students on board you’ll get plenty of  hands on experience and individual tuition from your Yachtmaster Instructor and the course will include using a cruising chute, extended night sailing, and lots of practice in Med mooring and manoeuvring in small harbours.

You’ll have your own private double cabin to ensure you get a good night’s sleep and the yacht is even equipped with air-conditioning* to cool down the boat before you go to bed.

With fewer people on board than for a normal course each student will receive more attention and the instructor can really focus on those areas that you want to improve.

You can either take an RYA course or simply come to build miles and gain experience without taking a formal course. The week will include, but go beyond, the RYA Coastal Skipper Non-Tidal Practical Course syllabus, covering:

• Yacht handling under power and sail
• Manouvring in small harbours & tight conditions
• Safety aspects
• Emergency situations and towing
• Use of spinnaker / cruising chute
• Anchoring and Med-mooring techniques
• Planning and executing longer coastal passages
• Night sailing and night entry to ports
• Electronic navigation
• Advanced pilotage by day and night
• Preparing for and dealing with adverse weather conditions

It may also be possible to take the one-day RYA Marine Radio Course either before or after the trip. (Some countries, such as Croatia, now require charterers to have a radio licence in addition to a skipper’s licence.) Please let us know if you are interested in this.

The route for the trip will be weather dependent but you’ll start with a long sail to either the Argolic or the Cyclades and will visit pretty ports and Greek islands while you receive advanced sailing tuition and mature as a skipper.

The price for the Masterclass is 1494€  / £1245 and this includes everything except getting to/from the yacht and about six meals ashore during your week’s sailing.

We provide instruction, accommodation on board in a private cabin, bedding and freshly laundered linen & towels (please bring your own swim towel). All yacht expenses such as fuel, mooring etc. are included, as is food for meals taken on board.

To book a place or find out more, email Melody today!

*aircon only operates when connected to shore-power which is not available in every port.

Although we run some courses over the winter our main sailing season starts on 8 April this year. The spring sunshine has arrived and we are looking forward to a wonderful sailing season. The Greek islands are as beautiful and as peaceful as ever, far removed from any protests you may see on TV outside the parliament building.

We still have a few places remaining on some April courses and we can now offer these with last minute discounts of up to 40%!

8 ‘- 13 April / 15 ‘- 20 April

We have 2 places left on both these weeks for either RYA Competent Crew (suitable for complete beginners or those with a little experience) or RYA Day Skipper Practical (for those with more experience and sufficient theory knowledge).

These are 5-day live aboard courses and you will cruise to different places while learning to sail and enjoying yourself in the Greek islands.

Courses start at 18:30 on Sunday and finish by 17:30 on Friday. You are welcome to stay on board the yacht on the final night. The courses are run on one of our main teaching yachts – either a Sun Odyssey 45.2 or a Bavaria 44 and we take a maximum of 5 students on each yacht.

The price  includes tuition, RYA course books & certificates, accommodation on board, all yacht expenses, linen & towels, use of waterproofs if needed, and breakfasts and lunches – everything except getting to us and evening meals!

Special Price: 595 EUR / 532 GBP per person for single occupancy; 510 EUR / 456 GBP for two people sharing a cabin.

15 ‘- 27 April  *** 12 day Competent Crew & Day Skipper package ***

We have two places left on our popular 12-day package. This includes RYA Competent Crew, RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship and RYA Day Skipper Practical.

The practical courses are each taught over 5 days while sailing on our comfortable Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 45.2 yacht. During the weekend between the practical parts of the course you stay in a nice hotel overlooking the sea on Aegina island and study theory for two days.

With a maximum of 5 students on each part of the course there is plenty of room on board the yacht and you’ll get lots of individual attention from your instructor.

This course is ideal for those who want to learn as much as possible in the shortest time. You can even tag on a marine radio course at the end if you wish!

The price includes 12 days tuition, RYA course books & certificates, accommodation on board for 10 days and in a hotel for 2 days, all yacht expenses, linen & towels, use of waterproofs if needed, breakfasts and lunches on board and breakfast in the hotel. All you have to pay for is getting to us, lunch at the weekend and your evening meals ashore!

Special Price: 1450 EUR / 1294 GBP per person for single occupancy; 1210 EUR / 1080 GBP for two people sharing a cabin and hotel room.

For more details please email Melody. Our special offers usually sell out quickly so don’t delay if you want some Spring sailing in Greece at a bargain price!

Last year our 12-day combined theory and practical sailing packages were a big hit.

They gave students the opportunity to learn all the basics and gain the certificates required to skipper their own yacht on flotilla or charter in a two-week sailing holiday.

Here is some more information and the dates for this year’s courses.

Which Courses does the Package Include?

The package includes:

• RYA Competent Crew Practical course
• RYA Essential Navigation & Seamanship course
• RYA Day Skipper Practical courses

plus you can take an RYA Marine Radio Operator’s course at the end to give you all the certificates you need to charter anywhere in the Mediterranean.

How does it Work?

You join your yacht on Sunday evening and spend Monday to Friday sailing in the Saronic Gulf, near Athens, following the RYA Competent Crew syllabus.

On Friday afternoon you return to our base and spend the weekend studying theory while staying in a hotel with a swimming pool on our pretty Greek island of Aegina. We can arrange sight-seeing trips during the weekend as well. It’s easier to study theory when you have plenty of room to spread out the charts and most people enjoy a break from the yacht for a couple of days.

You re-join the yacht on Sunday and complete the RYA Day Skipper Practical syllabus, putting into practice the theory you have learned while continuing to sail in this pleasant and picturesque area.

Returning to base on Friday you can stay on board the yacht on Friday night.

There’s an option to take an RYA Marine Radio Operator’s course on the Saturday giving you the chance to gain 4 RYA certificates in a single two-week holiday!

This Year’s Dates & Prices

15 – 27 April :    1890€ / £1688 per person  *NOW FULL*
3 – 15 June:         2100€ / £1876 per person  – 2 places available
8 – 20 July:         2100€ / £1876 per person
12 -24 August:  2100€ / £1876 per person
9 – 21 Sept:         2100€ / £1876 per person
7 – 19 Oct:          1890€ / £1688 per person

(15% discount for two people sharing)

What’s Included in the Price?

The price includes 12 days tuition, accommodation on board the yacht during the practical courses and in a hotel for 2 nights during the theory course. You’ll have a cabin to yourself; we don’t expect you to share with someone you don’t know.

It includes all yacht expenses, such as fuel, mooring dues, water & electricity, VAT and all taxes, use of waterproof clothing if required, RYA course materials and RYA Log Book, linen and towels, and food for breakfasts & lunches.

It doesn’t include travel to us, personal travel insurance, or evening meals ashore.

Who Is This For?

This course is most suitable for those who already have a little dinghy or yachting experience but it can be taken by complete beginners.

The more practical experience you have before taking the combined package the better your chance of passing all the courses, although it is possible to pass all three courses with no previous experience whatsoever. As with any sport people’s natural aptitude and speed of learning varies enormously.

How Do I Book?

To reserve a place on one of the courses please contact me with the date you require and the number of places. I will send you a course registration form and hold your places while you complete and return the form and make your travel arrangements.

We require a 50% deposit to confirm the booking and the balance will be due 4 weeks before the start of the course.

As soon as we receive your deposit you’ll be sent details to log in to the RYA Interactive website and can begin to study some of the material that you’ll cover in the course.

I’m about to pre-order this book from Amazon. It’s due to be published any day now. 

After a fire destroyed their house, Justin Ruthven-Tyers and his wife Linda decided to build a 15-ton classic yacht, as complete amateurs – starting with the trees. Working under the watchful eye of local sheep farmers who gave freely of their advice, how could they possibly fail? Once built, they set off for seven years aboard the prettiest boat you’ve ever seen to search out the hidden paradises and wildernesses in Scotland, France, Cornwall and Ireland, meeting the quirky, sometimes odd, but always entertaining characters who inhabit the shoreline. Told through his beautiful narrative and exquisite illustrations, Justin Ruthven-Tyers’ story is unexpected and extraordinary.

Those of you who are coming on our Highland Adventure milebuilder may find this especially interesting as Justin & Linda live on the pretty island of Islay, one of the places we’ll visit in June. For more details about the trip (we still have a few places left) please contact me at melody@aegeansailingschool.com

~ a non-swimmer’s guide to adventures that are scary as heck, fun like crazy, & living to tell the tale!

Princess Cox sailed with us in November 2011. Formally a self-confessed workaholic she was bitten by the sailing bug in the Netherlands, encouraged by us, and is now taking much overdue holidays on a quest to complete her RYA Yachtmaster course by December of this year. Read about her adventures as she sails all over the world (and battles with her fears in the process) in her blog Sailing Princess.

The wonderful thing about sailing is that there is something for everyone! At one extreme you have the thrill of racing or dinghy sailing (both of which involve a certain amount of discomfort and getting wet!) while at the other end of the spectrum you can sail on a luxury cruising yacht and be looked after by a skipper and hostess.

For those who want to try something a little more up-market than the normal charter yacht I’d like to introduce you to ‘Lion King’, a Beneteau 57. She is available for skippered charter in Greece over the summer season 2012.

About Lion King

The luxurious master cabin on 'Lion King'

This beautiful yacht offers stylish accommodation for up to six guests in three cabins each with en suite bathroom. She is ideal for a private charter for a special occasion vacation – perhaps an anniversary or birthday.

There is a large master cabin aft of the saloon and galley. Forward of the saloon are two identical cabins, port and starboard, each with a double bed that is able to be separated to accommodate four singles. The crew is accommodated in a fourth en suite cabin opposite the galley.

Among the luxuries you will find on board are:

•  TV/DVD

•  IPod dock and Sound System

•  Fully Air Conditioned

Your skipper will be Geoff Evans, an RYA Yachtmaster Instructor and extremely experienced skipper. Geoff has been sailing for thirty five years and has crossed every ocean, apart from the Pacific, in a variety of boats that include ocean racing yachts, cruising yachts and aircraft carriers!

Your hostess is Nathalie Brading, who will be pleased to help make your stay on board enjoyable with tasty snacks and cocktails. Nathalie has spent the winter in the UK attending courses to improve the range of delicious meals she can offer you. Nathalie is also an experienced sailor and acts as crew on board your luxury yacht.

Although Lion King is perfect for those who simply want to relax and to let others take care of the sailing you are welcome to join in as much of the sailing as you want. The fact that Geoff is an RYA instructor (and used to run an RYA school in the UK) means that you can continue to improve your sailing in expert hands should you wish to do so.

You can see more photographs and read all about ‘Lion King’ and Geoff by clicking here

Where She Will Sail

Lion King is spending the winter here in Aegina and will set sail in the spring for cruises in the Saronic and Argolic Gulfs. She’ll head south in May and her cruising area for the summer will be the Dodecanese islands.

2012 Rates

Here are the standard rates for charter for this summer. Prices include skipper and mate / hostess but do not include harbour, mooring, berthing, fuel, water or shore power or food / drink.

Apr / May / June / Sept – 6,500 Euros per week

July / August - 8,500 Euros per week

Please not that Aegean Sailing School Crew Club members may be entitled to a 5% discount on certain weeks, including the delivery trip to the Dodecanese. Please contact me for more details.

About Athens Airport

Athens International airport is called after Eleftherios Venizelos, who was an eminent Greek revolutionary, a prominent statesman, and a charismatic leader in the early 20th century. Venizelos is often called “the maker of modern Greece” and he was an influential figure both within Greece and in European politics in general.

The new airport was built in preparation for the 2004 Olympics and is bright and modern with attractive waiting areas and plenty of facilities. It is about 45 minutes by taxi / 60 minutes by airport bus to either Athens city centre or the port of Piraeus, where you can catch a ferry or hydrofoil to Aegina.

There is a museum and exhibition at the airport and frequently you’ll find art and cultural exhibitions taking place which can be pleasant to visit while you are waiting for your return flight.

The airport website at http://www.athensairport-2001.gr has a facility for checking real-time arrivals and departures and you can also find out about shopping and catering facilities.

There are separate boarding areas for flights to Schengen countries and those outside the Schengen area, including the UK and USA. If you fly directly from or transfer in a Schengen country you will not need to go through passport control when arriving in Athens.

Airlines Operating Flights to Athens

I’ve put the logos of some the airlines most commonly used by our students below. Clicking on the logo will take you to their web page where you’ll find up to date flight details and prices. These are not all the airlines available – to see a full list of every airline with flights into Athens, listed under A – Z, go to the airport website http://www.athensairport-2001.gr and click on Our Airlines.

Flight Comparisons

When we fly we use the edreams flight comparison website to easily check alternative flights. To obtain the most useful information, make sure you eliminate flights you are not interested in, and select:

• language and currency to display
• range of departure and/or arrival times
• to include or exclude low cost airlines
• direct flights only or flights with transfer
• maximum transfer times

You’ll find edreams here – www.edreams.com           

Your Comments?

To make this post really useful for the future, please add your comments on which airlines you have used to/from Athens. If you know of any other good flight comparison websites please post their URL here as well.

Whoever you choose to fly with we hope you enjoy your flight.

Our clients often ask me what weather they can expect during a particular month. Recent times have seen changes in the weather in Greece, like everywhere on the planet. It’s not as predictable as it was 20 years ago. As sailors you’ll be interested in both temperature and wind but in this post I’ve only covered temperatures. I’ll talk about wind speeds and direction at a later date.

I collected information from various weather sites and made some graphs. They are in both metric (°C) and imperial (°F) units for our American clients.

First, here’s what you can expect the temperatures to be like for each month – I’ve shown maximum daytime and minimum night-time temperatures for the area where you will be sailing. The islands are a little cooler than Athens so add a degree or two on if you plan to visit the city before or after your sailing trip with us. Swimming is going to be an important part of the experience in summer, so I’ve included the sea temperatures for each month.

Here are the average number of hours of sunshine each day and the average number of days with some rainfall. When looking at the rainfall figures, bear in mind that rain in Greece is not like that in northern Europe – you are more likely to get a strong downpour for an hour followed by sunshine than to have light rain or drizzle all day.

In June, July, August, and early September the weather is normally fairly stable and you are pretty well guaranteed sun every day. Outside that period the weather becomes more unsettled and unpredictable but you are still likely to get several days of nice weather, although not hot sun, whenever you come sailing in Greece.