New Equipment at Nikiana Beach Club
Dinghies, Catamarans, SUPs and Windsurf Gear
Giles and the beach club team have been hard at work preparing for the new season and we thought it was the right time to reveal what they have been up to. The news is very exciting with a whole host of new boats, windsurf equipment, and SUPs on their way to the club over the next two months, all ready to head out onto the crystal clear waters of Nikiana bay. Carry on reading for more details of what you could be sailing this season.
Nikiana Beach Club will be opening on the 29th of April this year with weekly prices from £495pp including flights, transfers, and use of equipment. Click here for more details on the club.
4 Brand New Lasers
We’ve been watching the feedback coming in through Feefo last season and we have been feeling its about time to seriously upgrade the laser fleet. We have four brand new ice blue lasers on their way to Greece from Laser Performance that can be fitted with full, radial and 4.7 rigs, making them suitable for all sizes of sailors. These four will join four more boats already at the club for some fantastic laser sailing.
RS Fevas Joining the fleet
One boat that’s been on our list for a few years now is the RS Feva, a smaller dinghy that some see as a successor to the super versatile Mirror. In classic form, the Feva has a main, jib, and asymmetric spinnaker and is best suited to two children who want to sail together and enjoy all the toys and excitement you can get from a larger craft. It’s also great for a parent and child sailing together or you can take away the jib to make a surprisingly fun adult single-hander. At least one Feva will be joining the Nikiana Beach Club fleet this season.
3rd 2000
We know how popular the intermediate doublehanded dinghies are at the beach club so we’ve decided to add another 2000 to the fleet for the 2023 season. These two or three person boats have a manageable sail plan of main, jib and a small spinnaker to make them great for Level 2 & 3 courses along with those wanting to improve their sailing. This will bring the 2000 fleet to three for the 2023 season.
Another Hobie 15
With one Dart 16 sadly ending its sailing career last season we’ve upgraded it to a Hobie 15 for 2023. These catamarans are not only fast but also really easy to sail, even for those with very little sailing experience. Look out for weekly cat clinics in our two Hobie 15s and Dart 16.
Windsurf Equipment
During the 2022 season we started upgrading our windsurf equipment with new beginner boards and new training sails. Over the winter we’ve added a variety of new rigs and other equipment to this to give us a very comprehensive setup for all levels.
New JP SUP Boards
The mirror glass water we get first thing in the morning at Nikiana is perfect for stand-up paddleboarding and this year will see 4 new boards by JP Australia. These all round boards have a fast, smooth feel and are perfect for those wanting a fast and nimble paddle.
Fleet overhauls and new gear
For the rest of the fleet at Nikiana Beach Club, we have been working all winter to refit boats and get everything ready for the new season. Quite a lot of new fittings are being added to the fleet including new masts, foils, and loads of new sails. We’re not going to list them all here but you can be assured that our large and varied fleet will be ready for the beginning of the season.
Over the next month, we will be filming a short video to showcase exactly how these overhauls will work and the processes we will be going through to prepare the equipment for the coming season. Watch this space for more details.
Check out Nikiana Beach Club
For more information on Nikiana Beach Club, including what boats and windsurf gear are available, head to our website at the link below.
Join our mailing list
Get our latest news and special offers
We send around 3-4 emails a month
Don't worry it's easy to unsubscribe
Winners of the 2022 Photo Competition
And the winner is...
It was a great photo competition in 2022 and we would like to thank everyone who entered and showed off some amazing creativity. In this blog, we thought we would highlight both those that were featured in our 2023 online brochure and are highly commended but didn’t quite fit in the brochure. We still have our social media competition running on Facebook & Instagram with more details at the bottom of this page.
We are pleased to announce that the winner of the £300 voucher for the brochure front cover is Ric who gave us this lovely shot of Okuklje on the Isle of Mljet, Croatia. Ric wasn’t the only winner though with over £2000 of holiday vouchers given out, see these photos below.
Full Page Use in the brochure
£100 holiday voucher
Views from a ruins window in the Dodecanese by David
Sunset in Kefalonia by Kate
A tiny anchorage in the Croatian islands by Nick
A shameless website promotion on the Kefalonia Flotilla by Simon
The Lefkas explorer flotilla anchored in Port Leone, Kalamos by Pete
The village of Vathi on Methana in the Saronic Gulf by Deborah
A seaside church on the Saronic Island of Hydra by Ellie
Moni island near Perdika (Aegina) in the Saronic Gulf by Ian
The best type of sunset in the Saronic Gulf by Julie
The Saronic Gulf flotilla goes to sleep under a purple sky by Richard
A calm anchorage in the Sporades by Clive
Come and see us at the RYA Dinghy Show
Meet us at Stand M14
25th/26th Feb, Farnborough International
We had a great time at Farnborough last year and it was amazing to see so many familiar faces at the stand. We’re back this year with a number of recognisable faces manning the stand, competitions to enter, and some tasty show offers to get you sailing this summer. Don’t forget as each day winds down we’ll have free drinks on the stand, a great time to chat in more depth about our amazing sailing holidays and courses.
In the wider show, there is loads going on with dinghy sailing, windsurfing, foiling, and paddleboarding. There are huge amounts of boats and equipment to see along with live demos, and expert talks from some big names. See the RYA Dinghy Show website for more details.
Seafarer will be on Stand M14 with quite a few recognisable faces to talk about all things sailing & windsurfing.
If you would like 10% off tickets for the show click here and use the code RYAEX23121.
Show Timetable
Pre Show
1st February – Show Competition Opens
Saturday 25th February
10.00 – Show Opens
16.00 – Free Greek Drinks on the Stand
18.00 – Show Closes
Sunday 26th February
10.00 – Show Opens
15.30 – Free Greek Drinks on the Stand
17.00 – Show Closes
2024 Seafarer Sailing Brochure
Exciting Sailing Holidays in 2023 and beyond
Our first digital brochure premiered at last year’s RYA Dinghy Show and we can’t believe it’s almost been a year already. Below you can view or download our 2023 brochure on your device of choice and start planning a wonderful holiday or course for 2023. Due to being digital, you can also click on various links in the brochure to get more information, enjoy!
Looking Forward to 2023 – New Yachts and Major Upgrades
New Yachts and Fleet Upgrades for 2023
After a period of consolidation during the Pandemic and a record year in 2022, Seafarer is planning significant new additions to flotilla fleets in 2023 as well as major upgrades to some of the older yachts in the fleet.
Bavaria C42 - 2023 Model
Popular new additions include the award-winning Bavaria C42, with the first of these joining the Saronic Gulf flotilla in May. The spacious interior with 3 double cabins and two heads, one en-suite, boasts advanced hull design plus enhanced styling and build quality, whilst sailing performance has received great reviews from the sailing press.
Beneteau Oceanis 40.1 - 2023
An equally innovative design comes from Beneteau with their stylish Oceanis 40.1. The versatile layout on this yacht is great for families with 3 double cabins, plus an extra bunk bedded cabin, ideal for those that don’t want to share a double bed. All of this is achieved whilst retaining a feel of space and comfort. Again sailing performance has received praise and we are delighted to have this yacht joining our flotillas in the Dodecanese in Greece and the Dalmatian islands flotilla operating from Split in Croatia.
Bavaria 46 - 2023
Another welcome addition is the well proven Bavaria 46, with a great 4 cabin, three heads configuration. With the sailing performance you would expect from a modern yacht of this size, the bright spacious interior and huge cockpit give ample space and comfort for up to eight guests. The first new 46 will join exisiting yachts of the same model on our Ionian flotillas with another to be delivered at a later stage for the Saronic Gulf fleet
Fleet Upgrades
Recognising the very significant price hikes on smaller new yachts up to 37 feet which makes the charter rate prohibitively expensive for couples, we have undertaken a major refurbishment programme on some of our older yachts dating back to 2006-8. Popular models such as the Bavaria 33 and Bavaria 37, which have been recognised for their excellent build quality and performance have been extensively refurbished to ensure reliable performance as well as a cosmetic upgrade and these upgraded yachts will offer exceptional value for money. Works undertaken over the current and previous winter include new floors and upholstery, renewals to wiring and new electrical panels, new instruments and VHF radios, reconditioned engines, new bimini & spray hood and new sails. Finally, the domestic inventory has also received attention, and it is noted that these yachts have already had solar panels fitted.
Some of our more modern yachts dating back to 2014 such as the Sun Odyssey 33i and Bavaria 37 are also receiving upgrades with new sails and engine rebuilds. All of this will ensure that these popular yachts will continue to provide reliable service and comfort, whilst continuing to offer great value for money on our Ionian and Saronic flotillas in Greece.
Fleet Upgrades - Ocean Star Yachts
Last but not least, a yacht we have always rated very highly for build quality and heavy weather performance is the Ocean Star 51. We have two of these yachts with 4 guest cabins, each with en-suite, plus a crew cabin. These yachts are dedicated to our cabin charter programme in the Cyclades as well as skippered private charter. Whilst items such as the flooring, upholstery, plumbing and electrics are being renewed, the most significant upgrade to the accommodation will be the addition of a generator and air conditioning. Of course, we are not neglecting reliability and performance, with engines being re-conditioned as well as new sails and rigging for the 2023 season.
New for 2023 – Split Flotilla
New base, New Fleet, New Destinations!
Okay, so it’s not completely new….We’ve taken the decision to freshen things up a bit in this fantastic cruising area by moving back to our original home in the ACI Marina in Split, where we started our first flotilla in Croatia.
Our New Base
There are many advantages to us moving back to the ACI marina in Split – transfers are shorter (and cheaper!) than they were to our base further north, the more central location means we can explore further into the islands and we have a UNESCO World Heritage Site on our doorstep. Take a 15 minute stroll around the harbour to the spectacular town of Split, with it’s chic cosmopolitan esplanade fusing perfectly with Diocletian’s palace, which has formed the beating heart of the city since the 4th century AD. Yo can lose yourself in the cobbled backstreets, filled with an eclectic mix of bars, shops and restaurants, both traditional and modern.
Our New Routes
We’ve got two cracking new routes for you to try, with a mixture of the best we have found over our 15 years running flotillas along this beautiful coast.
The Hvar Route – It’s all about the islands on this route – we head to Brac, Hvar, the Pakleni Islands and Vis, with options to stop on Maslinica on your free sailing days. The stops are a fantastic mix of culture, nightlife, sleepy villages and peaceful anchorages, something for everyone.
The Skradin Route – Every destination on our route north-west along the coast is postcard perfect – Trogir, Primosten, Skradin all with cobbled streets and alleyways oozing with history. Optional excursions to the Krka waterfalls and plenty of island destinations to choose from for lunches and free sailing, you’ll be hard-pressed to choose your favourite.
Our New Fleet
Our new primary fleet in Split are Beneteau Oceanis yachts, ranging from 35 feet up to 48 feet, with 3 to 5 cabins depending on your needs. These are all late model yachts, the majority are 2018 and newer. The whole fleet is fully equipped, with most yachts benefiting from a bow thruster, solar panels and all yachts have cockpit mounted chart plotters. Most yachts have fully battened mainsails for the purists out there, but in-mast is an option on the 41 and the 40.1.
Below you can find a link to the page with full information on prices and specifications of the fleet – we will be running the flotilla from the 6th May through to our last departure on the 30th September. Don’t forget that as always, we can access a much larger fleet than you can see on our website, so if you are looking for a Catamaran or something a little sportier, give us a call!
With prices from £2,164 (excluding repeat client discount) for a week on our flotilla, including fuel, welcome pack, service of the lead crew, punch and beach parties, there is a yacht to suit everyone’s budget.
Crew wanted! – Now Recruiting for summer 2023
Yacht Crew Wanted! – Seafarer expands to operate flotillas in Croatia, Greece and Thailand, as well as cabin charter in Greece and our RYA training centres in Greece and Croatia, so we are now recruiting for a wide range of positions across all our products.
At Seafarer we pride ourselves in the quality of our crew, and our repeat clients often request them by name, which is a testament to both the quality of our crew, and of the importance of them to
our clients’ holidays. As an independent company, our crew make the difference – our role is to ensure that all our clients receive an individual and personal service, something that is often hard to achieve in a larger company. From a crew point of view, this means that you aren’t just another “small cog in a large machine” but an essential part of our “family”. Like our clients, you will be treated as an individual, and have the ability to make your mark – we encourage you to think of new ideas, which can be easily heard by the small management team – good ideas will always be yours, and when practical, can be implemented quickly.
We look for crew of all ages, great for those starting in the industry after a fast track program, and also for those embarking on a new career – it’s all about people, so personable, enthusiastic and confident individuals can thrive with us, whatever their age. If you are new to the industry, then a flotilla first mate or skipper position is a fantastic place to start, whether your long term goal is to remain in the flotilla sector, or broaden your horizons into Skippered charter, instruction, superyachts or management. Like your driving license, your Yachtmaster Offshore means you are ready to learn and gain experience, and looking after a fleet of yachts on flotilla is a fast track in itself. For those looking to try something new after experiencing the fun of flotilla, then our cabin charter program might be for you – a larger yacht, more sailing and guests on board provide another set of challenges and skills to master. Click here for more information on flotilla crew vacancies – crew vacancies
If you are a RYA Cruising Instructor or Yachtmaster Instructor and the thrill of sitting in a damp yacht saloon in Osborne Bay teaching secondary port calculations is wearing a bit thin, then we have full season and freelance instructing opportunities in both Greece and Croatia. This is a chance to teach in warmer waters, and to experience a different side to RYA instruction. Our courses are run over a longer duration, so your students (and you!) get the opportunity to enjoy the social side of Mediterranean yachting, particularly as our tuition yachts generally follow the flotilla, giving students and instructors alike the chance to join in with the fun. Click here for more information – instructor vacancies
For all vacancies, we have our minimum requirements, with a commercially endorsed RYA Yachtmaster being the minimum for skippers, and RYA instructor qualifications for both Sail Cruising and Watersports positions. You can find out all the details on all the positions available here
We are now conducting interviews in London & via video call, so if you are keen on joining the team for the summer, drop an email, with your CV attached, to me – [email protected]
I look forward to hearing from you, and if it works out for us both, welcoming you to the team for 2023 and beyond.
John Connolly
Product Manager Seafarer Cruising & Sailing Holidays
Click here for more information on all our current vacancies, job descriptions and how to apply
2023 Preview Brochure
Exciting Sailing Holidays in 2023 and beyond
It might be a bit earlier than we normally publish our brochure but our new digital brochure allows us to have a lot more flexibility. We’ve decided to bring out a 2023 preview brochure in time for the Southampton Brochure while not necessarily finalised will give you a great idea of what’s going on Seafarer wise in 2023.
The digital format not only better for the environment (fewer trees cut down) but it also allows a deeper reading experience with links and bookmarks to go into more detail on all of our wonderful holidays and courses. You can view it online or download it with the links below and enjoy some of the photography so far from the 2022 season, with the photo competition entries being centre stage in the final brochure to be published in December.
Brochure Download Options
Join our mailing list
Get our latest news and special offers
We send around 3-4 emails a month
Don't worry it's easy to unsubscribe
Train this winter in Greece
Courses in Athens in November, February & March
With the stunning popularity of our training courses in Lefkas, Greece, and Sibenik, Croatia this summer we’ve decided to extend our training season over the winter with courses running from the Greek capital of Athens. The city enjoys year-round popularity and has regular flights from all over Europe. The Saronic Gulf, to the south of Athens, offers a wide range of conditions and training opportunities making it a great place to prepare for any of the seas you would want to sail.
Of course, Greece is mainly known as a summer destination but with mild winters and a wonderful culture to explore during the quieter months, these courses offer a great opportunity. Read on for more information about our courses over the winter of 22/23.
Courses
RYA COMPETENT CREW
RYA Competent Crew
Designed to teach you how to take charge of a yacht safely and confidently, can be used worldwide to charter a yacht.
RYA DAY SKIPPER
RYA Day Skipper Practical
Designed to teach you how to take charge of a yacht safely and confidently, can be used worldwide to charter a yacht.
RYA COASTAL SKIPPER
RYA Coastal Skipper Practical
This course prepares those with previous skippering experience to undertake longer voyages, perfect next step from Day Skipper.
All courses will take place over 6 days with a maximum of 5 students studying with one of our experienced RYA Instructors. Other courses are available on request including ICC assessments, pre-flotilla training, and mile builders.
Dates & Prices
Whats Included
- 6 full days of tuition (Arrival & departure on Saturday)
- Operating costs of the yacht (fuel, water, gas, mooring fees)
- Provisioning for breakfasts, light lunches and snacks
- Instruction from qualified Cruising Instructors and Yachtmaster Instructors
- Bed linen and towels
Optional Extras
- +£50 per person for en-suite cabin, all other cabins have a shared shower/WC
- 10% multiple course discount applies when 2 or more courses are booked for an individual at the same time.
- ICC Assessment (3-4 hours) £100 per person
- £50 discount when you buy an online Navathome Theory Course
Training Boat
Our Bavaria 46, ‘Conti’ hosts our winter training programme and is perfect for the task. Its large and spacious interior coupled with onboard heating and a full-size shower brings home comforts to those training while also featuring a battened sailplan and loads of outdoor space. See the floor plan above for a view of the cabin layout while training and see the video below for the interior of the yacht.
Flights, Transfers & Sail + Stay
Athens Airport is a busy international hub with regular flights from all over the world. From the UK there are Saturday flights from Stanstead, Gatwick, Heathrow & Luton along with Manchester. With so many airlines prices are incredibly reasonable and these can be included in the package to give the course ATOL protection.
Alimos training base is 35 minutes from Athens airport with both public transport and taxis available. We can organise private transfers with prices from £45pp return.
With such an interesting & vibrant city on your doorstep extending your stay at either end is a great option and we can build a wide range of options into your package. There is regular public transport to the whole Athens area where you can get trains and buses to the rest of Greece.
Sailing Area
The core of the sailing area is the Saronic Gulf, a large bay to the south of Athens dotted with islands that show off the history that was made here. During the winter months, not all villages will have life but the towns of Epidavros (famous for amphitheaters), Poros, and Aegina all stand out as fascinating places to visit with tremendous maritime history. Further afield the Argolic Gulf hosts the famous artist’s colony of Hydra and Nafplion, modern Greece’s first capital.
For those doing coastal skipper courses or mile builders the islands of Kea, Kithnos and Serifos are just some of the fascinating gems in the western Cyclades that are full of fascinating sites, all at a time of year with no crowds!
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I bring?
We recommend bringing the following items for any winter course:
- Waterproofs including trousers
- Hat
- Gloves
- Layers for cold days
- Suncream
- Foldable bag
- Warm practical footwear that can get wet
- Ski/hiking socks
- Any adapters needed
What will be open?
During the winter some of the smaller villages will shut down to a certain extent but the larger villages and towns will have a reasonable amount of restaurants, shops and cafes open all winter. Depending on the route for the week we may cook dinner onboard and the boat is fully equipped for this.
What will the weather be like
Generally, the weather will be significantly better than most other parts of Europe at this time but there but it won’t be as reliably sunny as Greece is in the summer months. Temperatures will vary between 8 & 19 degrees with some rain. Winds will be either strong from the south or lighter from the North.
Can I swim?
Water temperatures in November are lovely for swimming with the previous sun still warming the water. On the other hand February and March will be on the chilly side.
Is there any recommended reading material?
Cruising Scheme Logbook G158 – Whilst we try to have these available for purchase in resort, we recommend that you purchase these prior to your course. You can purchase these from the RYA online shop.
Competent Crew Skills CCPCN – For those taking the Competent Crew Course
Day Skipper Practical Course Notes – For those taking the Day Skipper Practical Course
Southampton Boat Show 2022
JOIN US AT THE SOUTHAMPTON BOAT SHOW
Seafarer will once again be exhibiting at the Southampton Boat Show between the 16th and 25th of September with plenty of familiar faces manning our stand, J128 in the Ocean Hall. The wider show is great for all ages with huge amounts of activities both on and off the water including watersports, shows, new gear along with seeing the latest boats of all sizes and descriptions. The exhibits and activities are located both inside and outside so suits any weather with lots of on the water exhibits.
The absolute highlight of course is the hospitable and friendly Seafarer stand, where in addition to the opportunity to say high to the team, you can see what we have going on and get a great late-season bargain. For those visiting the show at the end of each day you can also grab a Mythos or a glass of wine & Greek nibbles on our stand to get you in that holiday mood.
Come and talk to us about the following sailing opportunities this year and beyond or enter our competition to win a Beach Club holiday or RYA course below.
LAST MINUTE OFFERS
Some fantastic September & October offers in our favourite sailing destinations.
LOW SEASON TRAINING
Training in Greece and the UK during November, February & March.
2023 @ 2022 PRICES
Available on selected products until the 30th September.
Visiting the Show
You can buy tickets for the Southampton Boat Show with a 30% discount using the link below. Opening times are as follows:
10 AM – 6:00 PM Friday 16 September
10 AM – 6:00 PM Saturday 17 September
10 AM – 6:00 PM Sunday 18 September
Monday 19 September – Closed for Queen Elizabeth 2nd Funeral
10 AM – 6:00 PM Tuesday 20 September
10 AM – 6:00 PM Wednesday 21 September
10 AM – 6:00 PM Thursday 22 September
10 AM – 6:00 PM Friday 23 September
10 AM – 6:00 PM Saturday 24 September
10 AM – 5:00 PM Sunday 25 September
If you can’t come to the boat show in person you can still enter the competition below and/or book an appointment with one of our consultants here.
Taster Sessions on Southampton Water
Added to all thats going on at the show our UK training boat ‘Pandora’ will be running half-day taster sessions from nearby Shamrock quay over the two weekends of the show. These will be £95pp and we have departures at 9.00 & 14.00 on Saturdays & Sundays. Get in touch to book.
