OCR Text |
Show On the road with Shirley Smith Cruising sounds delightful, you say, but surely there must be an alternative to luxury liner or sailing ship with hundreds of other passengers, never ending gourmet meals and constant activity. We found the perfect answer last summer with the Yacht Cruising Assoc. of England's Cruising in Company program. Close your eyes for a moment and dream. Picture yourself with perhaps 3 good friends, your own 28. 29 or 33 foot sailboat. 10 or 11 similar boats with people from all parts of the world. MERLIN, your pilot boat with Skipper. Engineer and Hostess aboard to help with any problems - and an itinerary that takes you to some of the most beautiful sailing waters of the world. FlotiHa sailing is a unique concept pioneered 9 years ago by YCA in the Greek Isles and is the perfect answer for the sailor - or would be sailor - who would like the freedom of his or her own boat and the security and camaraderie of other like minded adventurers. This year YCA is offering 3 Greek Isles itineraries, one new program along the Lvcian coast of Turkey, the Caribbean Grenadines and Dinghy sailing at YCA's clubhouse Hotel at Nidri village on the Greek island of Levkas. You "cruise in company" only while travelling between anchorages - the average sail is about 4 - 5 hours and once at your des:ination your yacht is entirely your own for exploring and sailing. Every two week cruise also offers 6 - 8 days for independent sailing. You board your yacht, after your charter flight from England and coach transportation to your point of departure, to find a sparkling clean boat specially fitted to hold 6 people (we found 4 to be the ideal number, though), lmaps of your area, 2 sets of masks, fins and snorkels, all safety gear, a completely furnished kitchen and even a starter pack of food essentials. Each fleet also carries 3 windsurfers and every imaginable tool and spare part. You're set. Now all you need think about for the next 2 weeks is the thrill of hoisting sails and skimming across crystal clear waters to anchorages ranging from bustling seaside villages with tavernas and shops to hidden bays surrounded by pine covered mountains. Sailing experience is necessary for at least one member of the crew in the Sporades Islands, the Lycian Coast and the Grenadines, but even novices are welcome on the Ionia and Saronic .slands trips. On our cruise we had conditions ranging from near gale force winds to dead calm, but generally the winds were perfect, the sun was always shining, the water was warm and our days went something as follows: Up early for coffee and a light breakfast lunging on the cockpit, underway by perhaps 9 or 10 a.m. for 4 or 5 hours of sailing, almost always within sight of a coastline, perhaps a lunch stop long enough for a swim and a short hike and in our anchorage in time for gin and tonics at 5. A little windsurfing, perhaps, and then, if in a village, dinner in a quayside taverna with a few ouzos or a light repast of oregano seasoned lamb cooked aboard and washed down with some fine Turkish wine. This all sounds delightful, but you don't know a jib from a mainsail. There is an answer for you too. Turkish boats are some of the most beautiful in the world and there are many available for charter in the Mediterrean. Marmaris is a good place to start because of its proximity to Rhodes and prices here are a half to two thirds what you might expect to pay in most Greek ports. Gather together 8-10-12 friends and let yourself be pampered by a three man crew while visiting the incredibly beautiful Turkish coast. Prices for Yacht Cruising Association independent charters range from less than 200 English pounds to over 400 pounds per person for the 2 week GreeK and turkish adventures (about $400 - $800), including flight to and from London. Price depends upon area, size of boat and number of people. Yacht chartering in Marmaris ranges from about $300 to ' - $500 per day for boats sleeping 8 - 14. . . . . . ' |