When considering power yachts and sailing yachts it is realized that there are so many different models and designs of charter yachts. Consequently there will be so many different layouts of the cabins and living quarters on yachts along with the feel and ambiance that different designs generate. It is not possible to cover every option here so it will be better to state the basics that every yacht will have and to familiarize you with the terms that you need to know when booking your vacation to make sure you explain what you want.

What ever the yacht the following terms are the same. The largest and nicest cabin on board is the master cabin, and in most cases has an attached en suite bathroom and will have the largest bed and fittings such as closets and drawers. On larger yachts that might well be a VIP cabin which would be the next nicest cabin. The next level of cabins would be the guest cabins, with double or twin beds. The twin beds might in fact be bunk beds so you must clarify this point when booking to save any disappointments later on. Bunk beds are ideal for kids but may not appeal to adults.

The beds will typically be arranged ‘fore and aft’ in the yacht. It might mean that you will roll around in your bed as the yacht moves in the sea but this is the best arrangement. If the sailing yacht is heeled over under sail then you will gravitate to one side of the bed. This is not uncomfortable, just different to what you are used to. The alternative arrangement is athwartships which is not so comfortable because as the ship rolls your head is one moment above the level of your feet and the next moment below them. Please keep this in mind when looking at the bed arrangement on any yacht you are thinking of chartering.

Smaller yachts mean smaller cabins and smaller cabins mean smaller beds. The size of yacht that you will charter as a bareboat charter will be at the smaller end of the market and so will have less space and features than a larger crewed charter yacht. The master cabin on a bareboat yacht will often have a three quarter size double bed with two or three sides open to access. The bed could be of a step up island design where it is raised a step up from the cabin floor. This is due to the design of the yacht as the space under the bed is used for other functions of the yacht. The island bed looks grand but can be difficult for taller people who may need to bend more to avoid touching the ceiling when stepping up to get into bed.

The master cabin should have a full length closet, but possibly a half closet and adequate drawers for your clothes and possessions. In the guest cabins with bunk beds be aware the height above each bed may be restricted and more suitable for children than tall adults. The bunks will be quite narrow but you will soon get used to them and in fact they will be quite comfortable if the yacht is rolling as it is easy to brace yourself. In some twin cabins such as the ‘vee’ cabin in the bow of the yacht the length of the bed might be restricted and a tall person will be unable to stretch out completely. This might also be the case with the bunk beds. This will not be a problem with the master bed as the bottom of the bed will be open.

The closet and draws in guest cabins will be limited in size so do not pack too many possessions. However there will be enough space if the space is managed sensibly. Some yachts have the facility to convert the dining table and couches into a bunk but it is not a good idea to hire a charter yacht with a view to this bed being used by members of the party. This is inconvenient and can cause tension with late risers or untidy guests. It might seem a good idea in the first instance to save money on your sailing vacation but you really should have a fixed bed for every guest.

Turkey, which approximately has 71,000,000 inhabitants, is located both in Asia and Europe. The country is bordered by Bulgaria and Greece in the northwest region, Iraq in the southeast, Iran and Armenia in the east, and Syria in the south. Its capital city is Ankara but the largest is Istanbul. You can enjoy the best sailing charter Turkey in the south and west of the country’s 80 provinces.

The country is very rich in culture and tradition. Its history is very colorful and dynamic, but full of rage, conflict, and wars. It was managed by many empires. During the ancient times, particularly in 1800 BC, most of the country was inhabited by the Hittites. In 8th century BC, the Greeks occupied the country. After two centuries (6th century BC), Turkey became part of the Persian Empire. However, the Persians did not last long. Soon after, it was invaded by Rome in 395 AD and was administered as a province. Still, the country was invaded by the Ottoman Turks in the 13th century AD.

Cruising a sailing yacht in Turkey means sailing along the many gulfs and bays of the much indented Turkish coast. It is also a journey back in time, with a plethora of archaeological sites, castles and temples that reflects its importance in ancient and medieval times.

The Turkish waters is usually separated into three different cruising areas:

-The Lycian Coast: a wild and rugged landscape with an grandiose display of mountains, cliffs and ravines.

-The Carian Coast: this is the most popular sailing area and includes the two largest yacht charter bases; Bodrum and Marmaris.

-The Ionian Coast: a coastline starting in Izmir in the north and streches all the way to Bodrum in the south. Here you will find the best climate in the whole of Turkey and a lot of culture.

The coast of Lycia is an ideal place for sailing. This place has many ports and harbors. The waters of Lycia can reach as far as Gocek. The portion of the so-called “East Lycian Coast” covers Antalya, Kas, and Fethiye. These places are ideal for cruising because of its several attractions such as its coves, beaches, cliffs, and mountains. However, these areas are sometimes regarded by many ancient sailors as a dangerous sailing ground because of its tempered waters. Nevertheless, all its harbors are safe and protected.

One of the country’s most renowned tourist activities is sailing along its calm, relaxing, and stunning sea waters. In particular, most tourist yachties go to the coasts of the Mediterranean and the Aegean. Aside from yachting, Turkey can also offer its historical and archaeological sites. You can find a handful of the country’s ancient architectures in Istanbul (the largest and the former capital city). You can visit the world-famous Hagia Sophia, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Pera Palas, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, and the Dolmabahce Palace. If you are not into old buildings, you can have a stopover to Istanbul’s modern shopping malls, which are among the largest shopping centers in the world.

If you’re planning a sailing vacation, you should consider chartering in Greece. This Mediterranean country offers thousands of islands, amazing ruins and history, beautiful anchorages and numerous tavernas along the way, and is one of the world’s greatest yacht charter regions. If you love sailing, natural beauty, western history and hospitable timeless port towns, then we highly recommend a sailing holiday or yacht charter in Greece.

About Greece Yacht Charter and Sailing Holidays: Greece is a mountainous country that is comprised of a peninsula in the southern Balkans that projects into the Aegean and Ionian Seas of the Mediterranean. The craggy peninsula is surrounded by over 1400 islands. Sailing the waters of the Greek Islands offer endless possibilities to discover deserted beaches, quaint seaside towns, gorgeous scenery and the local food and wines of the region. Each island has its own character – you will fall in love with them all.

Greece Yacht Charter Destinations

Sailing the Cyclades Islands. The Cyclades islands are the most visited Greek Islands, including Ios, Folegandros, Milos, Mykonos, Paros, Santorini, and Tinos. In total, they are composed of 39 islands, many of which are uninhabited. They are excellent for sailing because they are close to each other, allowing excellent and varied itineraries and anchorages.

We recommend that you visit the Cyclades Islands between June and mid July in the summer, or also in September. During August, the Meltemi wind is often a factor, although it varies in intensity from year to year.

Sailing the Saronic Islands. The Saronic islands are near Athens but despite, that remain relatively undeveloped. The most visited ones are Aegina, Poros, and Hydra. These islands are charming and offer great dining, shopping and sailing, and are more sheltered than many of the other Greek islands due to their proximity to the mainland.

Sailing the Sporades Islands. If you want to experience the beauty of Greece as you saw it on Mamma Mia, you should look into sailing the Spordes Islands. The main islands are Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonnisos and Skyros. These islands are on the Eastern coast of Greece and are said to have the clearest waters in Greece.

Sailing the Ionian Islands. The Ionian Islands are located in the Ionian Sea in western Greece. The main islands are Corfu, Lefkada, Kefalonia, and Ithaca, and are known for their stunning beaches, dramatic green landscapes, and quaint port towns.

As you can see, there are unlimited sailing opportunities in Greece.

Chartering a luxury yacht can be the most ideal way to have fun during your summer holidays, particularly if you are thinking of visiting any superb place in Mediterranean. If you are very seriously thinking of chartering a luxury yacht then it is very essential that you get well acquainted with all the crucial guidelines and select the perfect charter company which can offer the most premium services and also make sure that you only experience a very pleasant and fun-filled holiday but that you are also safe. You may also think of taking help from a dependable yacht broker in order to get the most suitable charter for you.

One can take pleasure from the soothing and enthralling aspects of sailing experiences with the help of luxury yacht charter. If you have always dreamt of getting the feeling and experience of the famous and rich people, then you should chose to go for a luxury sailing in a luxury yacht charter. Here are few things, which you should consider if you are planning to sail the Mediterranean in style and luxury:

Proceed only with a reputable and accredited yacht charter broker. He must be experienced enough to provide you all the accurate and relevant data and information which can be very helpful in making a choice for an appropriate luxury yacht charter for your forthcoming holiday. The yacht broker should also be proficient enough to give the necessary maintenance services whenever required.

Sailing on yacht, which is filled with all facilities and amenities that you can think of, may not necessarily be the mere pluses in order to make a holiday great. You may even choose the offer where you are offered a luxury yacht charter that is manned by a greatly trained and expert crew. Nothing else can beat the fun and experience of having a great assortment of wine cellar and on-board chef on whom you can depend completely if you are planning of hosting a party on a yacht.

An expert yacht broker should be capable to carry out all his responsibilities and duties with the utmost reliability and confidence. He should also be able to explain all the details of proposals in terms of facilities, amenities and services and how all these relate to your specific requirements and needs.

In almost all instances, the payments and reservations for the luxury yacht charter should be made a few months before your trip. Your broker should be competent to explain you clearly about all the terms and conditions which is required for a yacht charter arrangement.

It is essential to consider the total number of people whom you expect to come along with you on your sailing trip. If you are planning and looking for some exciting sports like fishing, then it is very crucial that you speak and discuss about your ideas with your charter company so that all the facilities and amenities are installed previously for a complete entertainment and memorable experience.

During recent years the concept of larger catamarans has become heavily focused on, not only in Europe but in the U.S. as well. Their popularity for sailing vacations has dramatically increased, especially in the Caribbean. They are built in a range of sizes and designs and where by use of modern materials and building methods it has been further developed.
The stability of a catamaran is a blessing for those with a genuine interest in sailing but have yet to develop their sea legs.

Large catamarans are incredibly safe, probably the safest type of vessel afloat. This is due to hull stability which increases much more rapidly with size than does the power of the wind to overturn the boat.

The fact that multihulls don’t heel as much when sailing allows better use of both leeward and windward sides, increasing the capacity of comfortable cruising with more people on board – as shown by the many large catamarans used for day-excursions and the crewed charter industry in general.

More Speed and Less Heeling

As wind and boat speed increase, wave resistance becomes of increasing importance. Wave resistance is proportionally made lower by additional hull length and even greater by additional cross-sectional hull area on the water line. In sum, the larger the catamaran (48ft. plus), the more wind pressure is required for a wave-induced capsize. Larger catamarans are far superior in this respect to the conventional monohull power or sailing yacht of similar length. The concept of little or no angle of heel becomes a great advantage, particularly if you have children on board. They can play around on the boat, unconcerned if for instance you are in the middle of a tacking maneuver.

Vastly More Space Onboard

Compared to monohulls of equal length, these larger catamarans have far more space above deck. This allows your crew to be comfortably spread out in good weather; your guests aboard can find an excellent spot to recline either in the sun or under the shade of the sails. The net trampolines (esp. found on the faster designs) make excellent hammocks in good weather and while docked.

Larger catamarans feature a vast amount of interior living space which is great for privacy, with their roomy berths and galleys with separate bath and toilet facilities. Some of you might be saying to yourselves “if I purchase a boat that is 48ft. or above, it had -better- feature excellent interior volume!”, but the trick has been to design a spacious boat that will not weigh too much (since extra weight will reduce windward performance and speed under sail).