Mykonos is one of the trendiest hotspots on the Mediterranean due to its super chic clubs, excellent restaurants, great sandy beaches and a vibrant nightlife – it has deservedly become a real playground for jet-setters.
Author Archives: Lambros Tsolakis
The new trend in catamaran design
The Cannes Yachting Festival is around the corner and all the big European catamaran producers will be presenting their new models. Catamaran design has greatly evolved over the past years and now the new trends are bigger, more voluminous vessels. This translates to broader hulls, bigger main decks and a predominance of large fly bridges.
The ever-evolving catamaran design
The new generation of catamarans is certainly much more comfortable than previous designs, albeit at a cost in regards to sailing performance. Such is the demand for bigger, roomier catamarans, that even traditional performance-oriented brands, are branching out towards wide-bodied designs who offer space at the expense of sailing prowess.
The best example being BABALU, the new Bali 5.4 model which has been voted best multihull for 2019 and represents a great innovation upon the usual performance-oriented design pattern of the Catana Group (Catana being the mother company of Bali Catamarans).
The wider hulls are allowing manufacturers to equip the new catamarans with up to 6 cabins, something unheard of previously, particularly so as all cabins have their own private bathrooms. The 6 cabin design is ideal for charter, enabling large groups to enjoy the unique crewed catamaran charter experience! A great 6 cabin catamaran being LUCKY CLOVER, the Lagoon 52.
Feel free to contact now our expert broker team and start planning your next crewed catamaran charter.
Perfectly picturesque Poros.
Broker Lambros explains his favourite area in the Saronic and why.
I have sailed the Greek islands all my life and they are all beautiful – each in its own special way!
The Cyclades are rough and have a special sparkle under the sun – particularly their whitewashed square houses and the blue church domes.
The Ionian Islands are tranquil and remind me of the South Italian Coast – I especially like the trees which hug the coastline.
The Sporades Islands have a unique and untouched sea life.
The Dodecanese Islands are a gateway to Asia Minor and combine many of the characteristics of the rest of the islands – most of all, summer never seems to end in the Dodecanese.
I currently have a very busy working life and time is of the essence, so whenever I find some time to take my boat to sea, I head to Poros island. In just 2 hours cruising from Athens, Poros offers a protected port, excellent anchorages and a selection of wonderful restaurants.
FRESH FISH
My absolute favorite fish restaurant is MAISTRALI, on the very edge of the Poros canal. This is actually an “ouzeri” serving a plethora of traditional “mezes”, Greek delicacies which are meant to go with ouzo: grilled octopus, fresh fried calamari, sea-urchin salad, small fried fish and many more surprises that Antonis, the joyful owner prepares on a daily basis. But of course, this is always depending on the fresh catches of the local fishermen that day! If you contact Antonis in advance, he can source big fresh fish (caught the same day) and grill it for you.
MEAT LOVERS
For meat, I always go to Dimitris Family Bucher Shop Taverna. It is a bit hard to find, as it is situated within the maze of small narrow roads on the upper neighborhood of Poros – it takes a brisk 5 minutes’ walk to get there. The food, however, will reward every meat-lovers’ appetite. Excellent, fresh and aged cuts from locally grazed beef, pork, and lamb, grilled by one of the owners’ sons! They also have a decent selection of Greek wines.
SWEET TOOTH
For dessert, I recommend going to Bessalas – right next to Maistrali, at the Eastern edge of the Poros Port. This is where all the locals get their sweets and this is always a great guarantee for high quality.
Contact now our expert broker team and start planning your Greek motor yacht , sailing yacht or catamaran charter.
Summer is here and the Greek islands are sunnier than ever!
Top Kitesurfing spots in Greece
The Greek islands can be windy in July and August. This, however, is an advantage for our action seeking clients! Kitesurf is the new fad with an increasing number of devotees.
Kitesurfing requires a basic level of lessons from an instructor, but after some lessons, you can find yourself skimming on top of the waves –and if you are bold enough jumping above them!!! Some Greek luxury charter yachts have their own kitesurf instructors onboard, but there are several spots in the Greek islands where you can get your lessons. Here’s a selection of the best kite surfing spots in Greece:
Naxos Island is the most known kitesurfing spot in the Cyclades. When the meltemi is blowing, Mikri Vigla bay is the ideal playground for kitesurfers. A steady wind of 20-25 knots and relatively high waves combine to create the ideal conditions for spectacular jumps. When you are not wrestling with the wind and waves, take some time to explore the island of Naxos, particularly the Northern inland villages, which are unspoiled by mass tourism.
In the Ionian Islands, you can kitesurf in Lefkada island. The beach in Agios Ioannis is conveniently close to the marina and has some of the best waves in the area. In general, the Ionians boasts very calm seas on the Eastern shores (which represent the favorite yacht cruising ground in the area), but are exposed to the long stretch of open sea on their Western shores (which can be windy and abundant with waves).
Contact now our expert broker team and start planning your Greek motor yacht, sailing yacht or catamaran charter. Your captain will make sure you can go to one of many kitesurf paradises in the Greek islands and organize your adrenalin-filled lessons!
Visiting Greek Wineries
Greece is one of the oldest vinicultural countries in the world, with a plethora of local grapes. The quality of Greek wines has tremendously improved over the past decades as new, highly educated and inspired sommeliers have applied themselves to the task of creating new labels. Many of the wineries have opened their gates to guests who can walk along the vineyards and then taste the wines in the cellars. Given this boom in the wine industry, an increasing number of yachties want to include a visit in wineries during their charters. Driven my own personal interest in wine, I am always happy to guide my clients and propose vineyard visits.
Santorini wines
The volcanic soil of Santorini island in the Cyclades offers the best terroirs for the Assyrtiko grapes. Assyrtiko wines are undoubtedly the flagship of Greek whites and a visit at the Hatzidakis winery in Sanotini offers a unique chance to view a unique and interesting wine in the making. Make sure to taste the award-winning Nukteri label. The thing, however, is that Santorini is way too far for a weekly itinerary starting and finishing in Athens, so I always advise my clients to fly to the island before or after their charter and combine this with a stay in one of the caldera hotels, enjoying the magnificent views.
Skouras Domaine
Much closer to Athens I recommend clients to leave their yacht in Nafplion port and take a 30-minute drive to Skouras Domaine – one of the most modern and spectacular visitor-friendly wineries in Peloponnese. The prevailing force here is the Aghiorghitiko grape, which grows in the rocky terroirs nearby and is used in the much acclaimed Megas Oinos and Labyrinth labels. My personal favorite, however, is the fruity Viogner Eclectique, which grows in a small terroir called “spilitsa – little cave”.
The tempting Greek islands sun and the surrounding sea, together with the hospitality of your crew may keep you onboard your yacht through your charter. Do try to taste Greek wines during your visit – your chef will surely recommend the best pairings to their culinary creations. Contact now our expert broker team and start planning your next Greek motor yacht, sailing yacht or catamaran charter!