Bareboat yacht charter

Welcome to

The Ionian bareboat charter

You’ll love the freedom that bareboat sailing gives you. Cruise around the Ionian at your own pace - drop anchor where the mood takes you and stay as long as you like. Got a bigger crew in tow? Chat with our team about our stunning new additions, the Lagoon Catamaran, Bavaria 41 and Dufour 460 - all on request only. It's just you, your crew, and the open sea, calling the shots and steering the ship. Bareboat is perfect if you’re a seasoned sailor and are comfortable handling a yacht on your own. It’s all about freedom and adventure, exploring where you want and when you want within the sailing area.

Good Energy
Bring me that horizon

Cast your eves over what's in store on a Neilson sailing holiday. From hoisting the sails and exploring hidden coves to lazy lunches afloat and golden-hour views from the deck, it's all here.

Bareboat Charter for experienced sailors

Start and finish at Vounaki Beach Club marina

Sailing around the Ionian from Parga to Poros

Cruise at your own pace

Direct flights from four UK airports

40 minutes from Preveza airport

Navigation and safety kit

Inflatable tender and oars

Yacht welcome pack

Bathroom towels, Beach towels and bed linen

Dufour 325

Dufour 375

Dufour 460 Grand Large (on request)

Lagoon 400 Catamaran (on request)

Bavaria Cruiser 41 (on request)

Return flights and coach transfers

Yacht accommodation

First tank of fuel and water

Marine insurance

Damage waiver and security deposit

Plot your own course

Sailing the Ionian

Take a peek at the map of the Ionian sailing area - you'll see the area clearly marked out. We'll also give you a chart detailing these boundaries. It's crucial to stick within these limits; no venturing beyond, please. The northernmost harbour you can hit is Parga on the mainland, while the southernmost is Poros on Kefalonia island.

Before you head out. We’ll check out the route you’ve planned, we’ll even recommend some spots to visit. Once you set off, you’re not completely alone. Every morning, you'll receive a text from us with the latest weather forecast for the area and some recommendations on which harbours to head to and which ones to steer clear of, based on the weather conditions.

New accom sailing pages
Dflo travel detail reminder
Sailing images for new accom webpage

Maps

Sailing area overview
All the places you could go

Yachts

Our Dufour 325 and Dufour 375 yachts are available for bareboat charter, offering the perfect balance of comfort, performance and easy handling. If you're looking for more space, our newer and larger yachts may also be available on request. Simply get in touch with our sailing team to check availability.

With two or three cabins, plus a convertible saloon berth for added flexibility, there's plenty of room for couples, families and groups. Designed for comfortable cruising and rewarding sailing, these well-equipped yachts provide everything you need to relax, explore and enjoy life on the water and if you fancy exploring under your own steam? Inflatable paddle boards (SUPs) are available to pre-book, subject to availability, and come complete with a paddle, pump and buoyancy aid. We recommend no more than two paddle boards per yacht due to limited storage space. 

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Sailing experience

Before you head off on your bareboat charter, we need to know you can sail. You'll need at least 2 adults aged 18+ who have previously sailed. One will need documentation to prove they can sail and the other will need enough experience to take charge of the boat and complete a man-overboard procedure.

Accepted qualifications include RYA Yachtmaster, RYA Coastal Skipper or RYA Day Skipper. Whilst not a requirement for all, we strongly recommend obtaining a UK ICC (International Certificate of Competence Sail) issued by the RYA, and carrying it with you in addition to your RYA certificate. All original certificates must be taken with you on board the yacht.

If you do not hold a valid certificate before departure, you may gain training – or indeed an assessment at a training centre in the UK – details of locations are available on the RYA website.

The handy stuff

A few handy tips and useful information to help you get the most out of your sailing holiday.

Yacht for new pages
Ionian Sea
Greece

Fancy spending the night in a particular harbour? Let us know before you head off and we may be able to help secure a pontoon space. Harbour and mooring fees are paid locally and are usually only a few Euros per night. While berths can't be guaranteed everywhere, our team at Vounaki Beach Club will be happy to help with any questions when you arrive. And if your plans change, just give us a heads-up.

Your yacht will be ready from 5pm on your arrival day. Once settled on board, the Neilson crew will give an individual boat briefing. If you arrive after 7.30pm, the crew will provide a short briefing on essentials such as lights, loos and gas with a full boat briefing the following morning. 

Boats are free to leave on Monday morning after completing sailing briefings and paperwork. 

All boats must be back at the Neilson base before 6pm on the final sailing day and vacated by 9.30am on the day of departure.

Once you're away from the Neilson yacht marina at Vounaki Beach Club, before you set sail for the day, we need to touch base. Drop us a line at the marina office each morning, letting us know your planned route for the day. Your route needs the green light from us before you cast off from the harbour. 

We've got your back 24/7. Please feel free to reach out anytime, day or night, and one of our team members will be there to help you with any maintenance issues or mechanical glitches. We supply your first full tank of fuel but any additional fuel you need during your trip is your responsibility.

Travel information

Departure airports
  • Manchester
  • Gatwick
  • Bristol
  • Edinburgh
Sailing area
Departure Days
Saturday or Sunday
Arrival airport
Preveza (Lefkas) (PVK)
Flight duration
3 hours 35 minutes
Holiday Duration
7 or 14 days
Airlines
Enter Air (ENT), Jet2 (LS)
Transfer time
40 minutes transfer
Important information:
  • In-flight meals and drinks are not included; there is a buy-onboard service.
  • All flight timings are based on the 24-hour clock system.
  • Flight timings are given for guidance, are provisional and will be submitted for approval by UK and overseas scheduling committees.
  • Luggage allowance varies by airline.
  • Your ticket will show your flight's final timings and luggage allowances.
Before you sail away

Good to know

The basic starter pack includes
A bottle of water, 2 x toilet rolls, a kitchen roll, washing up liquid, washing up cloth, small tub of coffee or sachets, sachets of sugar, small pack of teabags and Milk

All yachts have a car stereo system with a 3.5mm jackplug input – that plugs into your headphone socket – all have a 12v car cigarette lighter type power output for charging phones etc.

Get in touch with our experts

Get in touch with our experts

Contact us here

Booking your multi-activity holiday is easy. We can help you tailor your package so that you get the most out of your stay.