PlainSailing.com

Yacht & Catamaran Charter in Preveza, Greece

We can help you find the perfect yacht or catamaran to sail from Preveza!

Preveza yacht and catamaran charter with PlainSailing.com

Sailing from Preveza

Preveza marina is minutes from the airport and a brilliant base for exploring the North or South Ionian islands - in fact, the most difficult decision is whether to head North to Corfu, Parga and the stunning Paxi islands or South via Lefkas and classy Meganissi to Kefalonia, which some say is the most beautiful island in the Mediterranean.

The Ionian has been a sailors paradise for thousands of years and even features in Greek Mythology. Thankfully, there's no sirens to tempt you into the rocks any more, but you will find delightful sunshine, reliable winds, plenty of anchorages and marinas, friendly locals, and incredible scenery. We can help you find and book your ideal yacht or catamaran, with one of our trusted Charter Partners - just get in touch or search in the pink box with live prices and availability!
 

Must See if you're Sailing from Preveza

 SAILING RATING:  Beginner - With easy line-of-sight navigation, clear waters and light winds it's a great start point for sailors (and an easy cruising ground for experienced ones).  Peak season is July & August, but you can sail here from March to October.

 MUST-SEE:  Our full suggested itinerary is further down the page, but we'd highly recommend taking in the white cliffs and sandy beaches of Sivota, the spectacular natural marina on Ithaki, and Sami, made famous by Captain Corelli's Mandolin.

 WHAT WE CAN OFFER:  We have a great range of yachts and catamarans available for charter from our trusted Charter Partners, all available bareboat or Skippered. We can also arrange a Hostess, Personal Chef and other crew.

 GETTING THERE:  Both Marinas are only a 10-15 minutes from Preveza Airport. We can organise transfers for you - a 4 person taxi is c. €40.

 WHY BOOK WITH US?  We only work with the very best professional charter operators, who we have met, know, and trust to give you the same outstanding customer service as you'll get from PlainSailing.com.
 

 WHAT NEXT?  Use the pink box to search for yachts or catamarans with LIVE pricing & availability - if you have any other questions or requests, get in touch via Live Chat, the Contact Form, or by phone.

We're yacht and catamaran charter experts, and can find you the best boats in Greece, Croatia and anywhere else in the Med or Caribbean - yacht, catamaran or superyacht-bareboat, skippered or crewed

We're UK based, only work with the best Charter Companies, offer exceptional customer service from start to finish and will match any price!
 
5/5
Independent Service Rating based on 439 verified reviews.
Sample Prices in

6-day Sailing Itinerary from Preveza

Preveza is based in the middle of the Ionian islands, which means that there are two options when you’re sailing out of it: you can either head North to Corfu, Paxos and Antipaxos, or head South past Lefkas to visit Kefalonia and Meganissi. For this itinerary, we’re heading South, principally because Kefalonia is the most beautiful island in Greece, so if you have the chance, you should go and see it for yourself! (But if you want to read about the places in the North Ionian area, check out our Corfu guide.)

Preveza - 6 day sailing itineraryWhilst you charter a yacht for the week, this is a six-day itinerary because once you’ve sorted yourselves out, got the shopping, etc… often you won’t have time to do any meaningful sailing on the day you arrive at the marina. And you’ll need to finish back in Preveza on the Friday night so that they can inspect the boat ahead of your formal check-out on the Saturday morning.

This itinerary is 122 nM, which should mean you’ll be sailing for around 4-5 hours a day (at an average speed of 5-6 knots), leaving plenty of time to explore the start or end points, or even just dropping the anchor in any old bay you’re heading past.
 

 Day 1. Preveza to Kalamos – 29 nM Kalamos
It’s the start of another fine week. The weather is looking good and sunny, and the prevailing wind is a reasonably strong Northerly wind, which will speed us on our way down to Kefalonia. After briefing the crew, you can release the lines and we'll be ready to gently ease of the marina, past Preveza old town, and down to the Lefkas canal, which links the North and South Ionian islands.

You;ll most likely be part of a stream of charter boats as you follow the channel south, passing the busy tourist resorts for land-folk of Nikiana and Nydri before we get to break slightly away from the beaten track by bearing South-East above and round Meganissi island to head to Kalamos town on the south side of the island of Kalamos.

It’s only a small town, with a population of about 500 people, and they only got running water and electricity as late as 1996, but Kalamos used to house an important Roman fort (for controlling piracy in the Mediterranean) in ancient times, and there was a time when as many as twenty thousand women and children are estimated to have sought refuge here during the Greek revolution in 1821. The island was also once part of the British empire! Not that you can see much of this heritage, beyond a scattering of old ruins. Now it's a quiet village with beautiful beaches and crystal clear waters, and a tranquil and relaxing place to bob about in.
 

 Day 2. Kalamos to Vathi (Ithaki) – 20 nM Ithaki
From Kalamos, you’ll need to bear South-west past the island of Atokos and onwards to the Vathi on the isle of Ithaki. In the prevailing wind, it’s likely you’ll need a broad reach to run with the wind, but it is pretty much one straight line all the way. If you have the time, there is a quiet bay on the South side of Atokos which is well worth visiting, and would make an excellent place to stop for lunch.

Vathi is capital of Ithaki and is very well protected by a natural channel that you have to traverse down to meet the town. Watch out for old cannons from the Venetian empire as you go down it – they are still in situ and threaten all who arrive by boat, but thankfully they’ve been dormant for centuries now. You certainly wouldn’t fancy your chances if they were still active! The sail into the port is the best part of Vathi, because the sheer grandeur and wonder of the town takes you by surprise: there are buildings lining the hillside around the bay, making the marina seem like the centre of a giant amphitheatre. Truly marvellous.

Ithaki (or, in English, Ithaca) is probably somewhere you have heard of. It featured in Homers classic poem the Odyssey, large parts of which - the Cyclops, sirens, the battle of Troy, Achilles heel, for instance – have made it into popular culture and they even hit the cinemas every few years. Well, this is where the hero, Odysseus, lived and reigned as King. The local tourist board even claimed to have located a grand palace from 800 BC on the island, so there’s now some thought that Odysseus was actually a real person, and not just a fictional character.
 

 Day 3. Vathi to Sami (Kefalonia) – 17 nM Sami
From an island made famous by literature from 800 BC, to an island made famous by something a lot more recent. Our next port of call is Sami, a town on the island of Kefalonia (or Cephalonia in English), which was the setting for the classic novel Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – a romantic tale by Louis de Berniere which saw a world war two soldier based on Kefalonia falling in love with a local girl (and the island, and Greek way of life).

Looking at the scenery, it’s easy to see why some people say this is the most beautiful island in Greece. Indeed, the scenery is so remarkable that after visiting the island for a field trip, the Director of the film version of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin insisted that they had to film it here, because it would be impossible to replicate, even with CGI. If you watch the film, which stars Nick Cage, then you’ll almost certainly spot parts of the town of Sami and the nearby beaches, because this is where they did the bulk of the filming.

In terms of the sailing, after the single tack straight line of yesterday, today you’ll travel in every single direction possible, so you’ll need to keep on your toes. It’s quite simple to navigate though – just keep the coast of Ithaki on your starboard side after leaving Vathi, and then hop over to the next island when you see it. There’s a decent beach in the bay immediately before you arrive at Sami (Antisamos beach) which is worth nosing in to if you have the time to spare – it’s supposed to be one of the top ten beaches in the whole of Greece.

Sami is a small market town by day, but has a holiday buzz and an almost lively atmosphere after night falls. There’s a small number of shops and tavernas, but plenty of character.
 

 Day 4. Sami to Sivota (Lefkas Island) – 23 nM Sivota
Sami is the furthest we travel on this itinerary, and now we’ll turning back towards Lefkas and sailing North. You’ll be beating up the prevailing wind as you move up the channel between Ithaki an Kefalonia, passing Fiskardo at the top of Kefalonia. Fiskardo, whilst still being a fishing village, has more shops than both our start-point Sami, and the end-point of Sivota, so if you have the time, it could be worth getting some provisions in here. Either way, it’s worth nosing into the bay here to see what Fiskardo is all about, as it’s (another) very pretty little village.

From Fiskardo, you bear slightly North-Easterly, ideally close-hauled so that you can make good speed across to the island of Lefkas. Sivota is at the end of one of the bays on your port side, and is very well sheltered from the prevailing winds of the season.

Sivota is an exclusive tourist resort, with a number of all-inclusive hotel resorts nearby. The town is quiet during the day (whilst the sailors are out at sea, and the landlubbers are sat by their pools), but the bars and tavernas liven up at night time. You’ll see for yourself what a beautiful place Sivota is, and it’s hard to put into words, or to pick out this particular part of the Ionian when the whole area is delightful, but Sivota has sandy beaches, white limestone cliffs, clear turquoise seas, green pine forests and a scattering of white buildings, and it certainly deserves its place on all the postcards. It’s a blissful place to spend the night.
 

 Day 5. Sivota to Vathy (Meganissi) – 15 nM Meganissi
There’s not many nautical miles between Sivota and Meganissi, but there’s plenty of options for whiling away the hours in luxury, and it’s quality sailing. Once you’re bored of Sivota (if that’s possible), you can visit the cave of Papanikolis, then sail around the south side of Meganissi where you’ll find lots of beautiful and secluded beaches. You can even set people on land and they will probably be able to walk to Vathy town quicker over land than you’ll be able to sail around the rest of the island.

Papanikolis cave is notable because it’s absolutely massive. At 120m in length, it’s the second longest in Europe, and is even long enough to feature a turn in it, offering even more chance of concealing yourself. Back in the day, boats used to hide in the cave to escape from pirates (that was before charts, let alone the internet, so they’d be unlikely to know about the cave!), and, most recently, it was used as a hiding place for the Greek Papanikolis submarine in world war two.

Following the coast-line round, you’ll arrive at the pretty little fishing village of Vathy, which is fast becoming a popular tourist resort for its serene and beautiful beaches. There’s a few tavernas splayed alongside the waterfront here, which are perfect to relax in and watch the water, or, if you want more choice, the next nearest town is only a kilometre or so away by foot.
 

 Day 6. Vathy to Preveza – 18 nM Preveza
From Meganissi, Preveza is pretty much due North, into the wind, up the Lefkas channel and through the Lefkas canal. It’s only 18 nM, so it might only take you a few hours of sailing – which means you might have time to explore Meganissi on foot (there’s a few beaches within a short walking distance), or to stop off somewhere on the way – both Nikiana and Nydri are popular with tourists and will appear on your port side as you make your way North. You could also stop at Lefkas and visit the old town there, but there might be a lot of charter traffic there.

After arriving in Preveza, you should return the boat to the area of the marina where you found it and follow instruction about refuelling – usually there is a mini-tanker which comes around which will refill your tank, but check with our charter partner as to how it works for them. Once you’re moored up then you’ve completed the sailing for the week, and hopefully you’ve gotten the boat and your crew around safely.

Someone will likely come and inspect the boat, but you’re staying on the boat for one more night. If you haven’t yet seen Preveza old town, then now is a good time to check it out. There’s narrow streets and seafront bars, but the view is never quite as good from the land as it is from the water.

Hopefully you will’ve enjoyed your time sailing, and right now you’ll have a big smile on your face, a bit of a tan, stronger friendships with all your crewmates, and a whole headful of memories of an epic voyage. And then we’re done. Have a safe flight home, and come and visit us to start planning your next great adventure!
 


Sailing Conditions

 WHAT ARE THE WINDS LIKE? 
Greece Sailing - Wind ConditionsAs well as sunshine in abundance, the wind is perfect for sailors in the Ionian. It generally ranges from Force 3 to Force 6, which should mean that you are sailing happily, and making good speed around the islands. The winds are reliable, tending to be strongest during the mid-morning and late afternoon, before petering out to a light breeze when dusk falls.

The prevailing wind during the summer months is a Northerly wind, which zips down the mainland coastline from further up the Adriatic. That means you should be able to move quickly up and down the coastline, which is useful, as there isn't much traversing to be done in this cruising ground anyway.

In winter, there is no such thing as a prevailing wind, and the winds come from the mountains in the North or the tropical South, and can vary in strength from non-existent to challenging - but most weather systems pass after a couple of days, so you should still have a fun voyage even outside of the main sailing season.

 HOW HOT WILL IT BE? 
Preveza - Average Temperature Preveza, like the whole of the Ionian, has such beautiful weather that tourists flock to the area. The best time to go is between May and October, when temperatures are almost always over twenty degrees Celsius, and you can relax in the warmth of the sun - though be warned that there can be some days in August where it can feel sweltering, even with an ice-cream!

 HOW WARM IS THE SEA? Preveza - Sea Temperature
You can swim in the Ionian all year round, and the sea is never colder than 15 degrees – which will feel fresh, but not freezing. For the sailing season, early on the sea hits about 20 degrees - which is a refreshing temperature for diving into the sea to escape the hot sunshine – and the sea temperature gets as warm as 25 degrees later in the season.


Marina Details

Our Charter Partners operate out of 3 marinas in Preveza - the main port area, the long-established Preveza Marina in the heart of the town, and new Cleopatra Marina, which is just across the water from the town. All are all within easy distance of the airport, and offer excellent facilities to visiting sailors.

If your flights aren't on a Saturday, you might need to spend a night or two on dry land. We're big fans of the following hotels - Dioni Boutique Hotel or Preveza City Hotel.


Preveza Marina

Preveza Marina is located close to the centre of this cosmopolitan town, which means that shops, bars and restaurants are within easy reach. The marina itself is a modern and comfortable marina, with all the usual facilities, including a fuel dock and wifi.

Preveza Marina
 WEBSITE:  No website | ADDRESS: Preveza Marina, Preveza, 48100
 GETTING THERE:  Preveza marina is easily accessible by air – with many operators flying direct to Preveza airport from Manchester, Birmingham, London, Bristol, Edinburgh and from across Europe. From the airport, either hop onto a local public bus to Preveza centre (and the marina is a shortish walk away) or grab a taxi for the 10 minute ride – we can help you arrange an airport transfer – just ask when booking.
 PROVISIONING:  There’s a mini-market near the marina and plenty of choice of supermarkets in Preveza - you should hit one within a couple minutes walk in most directions. Beware that most are closed on Sundays, so it’s worth doing the shopping as soon as you can when you arrive. One of the bigger, better-stocked supermarkets is the Masoutis supermarket, which is about 400m away from the marina (Καρυωτακη 15 & Λ. Ειρηνης, Preveza)
 FUELLING AT END:  There is a mobile fuel truck in the Marina - either watch out for it, or head to the Marina Office to book him to come to you.
Loading Map Co-ordinates...

Cleopatra Marina, Preveza

Cleopatra Marina is a small, modern marina with a capacity for upto 100 boats. It's the most convenient marina to get to in the whole of the Med, being just 2 km from Preveza Airport!  It's also just across the water from Preveza town itself, which has a cute Old Town, and plenty of restaurants and bars that spill out onto the squares and waterfront.

Cleopatra Marina, Preveza
 WEBSITE:  No website | ADDRESS: Cleopatra Marina, Aktio, Preveza, 48100
 GETTING THERE:  At just 1.5km from the Preveza Aktio Airport, you could technically walk to the marina (!) but it's probably best to grab a taxi, or ask us to organise you a low-cost transfer!
 PROVISIONING:  There is a mini-market in the Marina where you can find the essentials, but if you're after a bigger supermarket then you need to head across the water to Preveza town - we recommend Masoutis in central Preveza (Καρυωτακη 15 & Λ. Ειρηνης, Preveza).
 FUELLING AT END:  There is a fuelling berth in the Marina - head there before you head back to your home berth (there might be a queue...)
Loading Map Co-ordinates...

Preveza Main Port

As you'd expect, the main port in Preveza is at the heart of this cosmopolitan town, and has been a key area of town for hundreds of years. It's very well located for shops, restaurants and facilities.
Preveza Main Port
 WEBSITE:  No website | ADDRESS: Preveza Main Port, Prousis, Preveza, 48100
 GETTING THERE:  Preveza town is easily accessible by air – with operators flying direct to Preveza airport from across Europe. From the airport, either hop onto a local public bus to Preveza centre (and the port area is only a short walk away) or grab a taxi for the 10 minute ride – we can help you arrange an airport transfer – just ask when booking.
 PROVISIONING:  There’s plenty of choice of supermarkets in Preveza. Beware that most are closed on Sundays, so it’s worth doing the shopping as soon as you can when you arrive. If you're in the main port, the nearest decent-sized supermarket is the Masoutis supermarket, about 150m in-land (Καρυωτακη 15 & Λ. Ειρηνης, Preveza).
 FUELLING AT END:  There's a fuel berth at the entrance to Preveza marina, so head there before mooring up on Friday night.
Loading Map Co-ordinates...



 WHAT NEXT?  Use the pink box to search for yachts or catamarans with LIVE pricing & availability - if you have any other questions or requests, get in touch via Live Chat, the Contact Form, or by phone.

5/5
Independent Service Rating based on 439 verified reviews.