Friday, March 16, 2012 at 03:49PM CharterSavvy is now on Facebook. To get the latest bareboat steals, deals and news, just go to our home page and click the little checkmark in the lower right corner that says Like.
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Monday, March 12, 2012 at 08:56AM 
Sail Greece Yachts has just added a Bavaria 46 to their fleet of yachts that has been operating out of Alimos Marina in Athens since 1987. Owned by two passionate sailors, Giannis Makridakis and Vassilis Patiniotis, the company has a fleet of ten sailing yachts comprised of Beneteaus and Bavarias, all owned and maintained by the company and not private owners.
The Bavaria 46 is a popular charter yacht in Europe, not just because it sails well but because it is quite spacious for its size. With six and a half feet of headroom and a large galley, it has three double staterooms, two heads, and a fourth cabin with two bunks. This particular Bavaria, named Vasia, also has a bow thruster to simplify Med mooring.
The company website has a very thorough discussion of suggested sailing routes in Greece through the Saronic Gulf, Eastern Peloponnese, and the Cyclades.
Info at www.sailgreeceyachts.com
Thursday, March 8, 2012 at 02:13PM 
The Croatian coast is increasingly popular for bareboat charters, and the city of Split is the new “hot” destination, according to Kiriacoulis Charters, which has opened a base there for the 2012 season.
The company already has other three bases along the Croatian coast, allowing flexibility for starting and ending one-way charters.
From Split, charterers can sail the pretty islands of Vis, Brac, Hvar, Solta and Korcula, as well as explore Makarska (shown here) on the mainland. All of these islands have ancient ports and UNESCO Heritage villages that are unbelievably beautiful.
Kiriacoulis has also opened two other new bases this season on the Med, with one in Gocek, Turkey, and the other in Grado, Italy. The Gocek base opens up one-way charters from their bases at either Bodrum or Marmaris, while the Grado base is close to Venice and Trieste.
For info, email Kiriacoulis@mindspring.com or call the U.S. office at (800) 714-3411.
Share Article → | in Croatia, Italy, Turkey, kiriacoulis Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at 06:23PM 
Most of us plan our bareboat charters far in advance but, if you’ve got a little flexibility, there are some great deals to be had and LateSail is where you go. Like the airline consolidators that bargain with the airlines to offer unsold seats, LateSail offers inexpensive, last minute, deeply discounted bareboat charters worldwide.
One that caught our eye (well, full disclosure, they sent us a note) is a Lagoon 380 sailing catamaran in the Abacos. This is a four-stateroom, two-head, two-shower boat, and fun to sail.
It would normally charter for $5,526 a week (7 days), but LateSail is offering it from today through April 14 for just $3,395, which is a 30% savings. Divide that between four couples and you've got a great vacation for about $850 per couple.
Or how about a Leopard 44 in Belize during the same period. Normally $8,222, you pay just $5,755. A Leopard 44 in Tortola is available until April 21, discounted from $10,726 to $7,507.
If your duffel bag is packed by the door, and the boss doesn’t mind a “won’t be in for a week” call, this is for you.
Info at www.latesail.com
Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 12:11PM 
There are several things we love about chartering with Southwest Florida Yachts, which also has the Florida Sailing & Cruising School as part of their program.
They have an eclectic collection of well-maintained power and sailboats at two good charter bases. The cruising area (including Sanibel and Captiva Islands) is great fun, whether you want solitude or nightlife. Access via air (or car) is fast and easy from anywhere in the U.S.
And don’t forget: the natives speak English (well, sort of), and the U.S. dollar is accepted everywhere, as are credit cards.
Now for the news. The American Sailing Association (ASA) has named their Florida Sailing & Cruising School to its honor roll of Outstanding Schools as one of the 20 Best Sailing Programs in North America.
FS&CS offers live-aboard sailing courses for up to four students at a time, with two and three-day sessions for everything from Basic Sailing to Advanced Coastal Cruising. “It’s real world, real time, hands-on learning,” says Barb Hansen, co-owner of SWFYC, noting that the students spend the day steering, plotting, casting off and tying up. At night, they read textbooks and prepare for the testing. She adds, “Students eat, breathe and sleep” their way to the diploma. Tuition includes onboard accommodations, instruction, fuel and course materials. Students provide their own meals and personal expenses.
Not only did their sailing school earn ASA recognition, but FC&CS Chief Captain Christopher Day (above with Barb Hansen) was picked as one of ASA’s 30 Top Instructors of the Year, a prized award considering the thousands of instructors nationwide.
To celebrate their 30 years in business (1984-2014), SWF Yachts is staging a three-year anniversary celebration with some great deals on their full bareboat fleet. In the winter (Dec-April) they are offering a free day with any charter of three days or longer. In the summer (May-Dec), you get two free days. And they’ve just added some new yachts, including a Krogen 42 trawler and a 50’ power catamaran.
For details on charters, go to www.swfyachts. For the school, check out www.flsailandcruiseschool.com.