A flotilla holiday is a structured sailing trip where a group of yachts follows a set itinerary, guided and supported by a professional lead crew. Unlike a bareboat charter, where you sail completely on your own, a flotilla provides the perfect balance of independent sailing and expert assistance—ideal for both new and experienced sailors.
Each flotilla is led by a skilled team, usually including a lead skipper, technician, and sometimes a host, who offer support with navigation, mooring, and boat maintenance. You’re free to sail at your own pace, stopping to enjoy stunning bays, local villages, and scenic anchorages along the way.
Flotilla sailing holidays are especially popular with families, couples, solo travellers, and groups of friends looking for a stress-free sailing adventure with a built-in social element and the safety of expert guidance.
What Will You Do During the Flotilla Holidays?
After a beautiful night's sleep on your yacht, there is a briefing every morning.
During the presentation, you will receive an explanation from our flotilla guidance about the route, tips on where you can have lunch, the weather, and where you should be at the end of the day.
After the briefing, a delicious breakfast and a strong cup of coffee, you can leave with your sailing yacht or catamaran.
At the end of the afternoon, you will arrive in a beautiful bay or an authentic harbour. The flotilla guidance is ready to support you with anchoring or to help with the construction.
Then, it is decided whether we go, for example, to the beach for snorkelling or barbecuing by a campfire.
On other days, we relax on a terrace in the beautiful sun, eat delicious local food in a restaurant and visit the local village.
Is Flotilla Sailing Right For You?
Flotilla holidays are for everyone! It differs per season in the participants.
In the summer, there are usually families with children, sometimes more novice sailors, who want to get to know new waterways safely and pleasantly. But it is also great fun for the experienced sailor who enjoys a good time.
In the off-season period, there are also plenty of options for theme flotillas, such as the delicious wine flotillas in Croatia and Italy.
How Much Sailing Experience Do I Need?
If you want to sail a flotilla in Croatia, Italy, Greece or Turkey, you must have sailed as a skipper on a yacht at least once, regardless of whether it was a bareboat or a flotilla.
If you are unsure about your experience, mail or call us, and we will make an inventory together to see if you can sail independently in a flotilla.
You don't have enough experience? Then you can also sail on the accompanying yacht to get the hang of sailing. An alternative is, of course, to sail along with your yacht with a skipper.
Do I Need a Boat Licence?
Flotilla sailing in Croatia and Spain usually requires an ICC. Other countries typically ask for proof or an explanation of your experience.
Cabin Charter Holidays
We also offer cabin charter holidays with the flotillas departing from Athens. A relaxed way of a holiday on the water while being accompanied by well-experienced skippers.
Keep in mind - for now, this is only possible with the flotillas departing from Athens in Greece.
What Is a Cabin Charter Holiday?
If you have little to no sailing experience or aren't yet experienced enough to stand behind the helm independently, we also offer cabin charter holidays. You sail aboard the mothership in the flotilla, alone or with family/friends.
A flotilla consists of a group of sailing yachts that all sail the same route under the guidance of experienced flotilla supervisors. So you can board and join them, alone or with your family or friends, and sail along.
What Does Your Day Look Like When You Join a Cabin Charter?
This varies a lot because every day looks different.
We know that the flotilla leaders, and/or your skippers, are often busy in the morning. They help the other boats on their way and tell them where the journey will take them that day. For you, this means a moment for yourself until they're ready themselves. So grab breakfast on a terrace, swim, or shop.
When all or most of the boats have sailed, you leave, too. The flotilla leader will regularly be the last to go but would like to be the first to return to its destination to assist the other flotilla yachts again with mooring.
During the day, you will often sail for around 4 to 5 hours, possibly dropping anchor in between for a refreshing dive or snorkelling session. The destination is, therefore, different every day.
Once you are, say, in a beautiful village, you will spend the night in a clear blue bay. The group will regularly have a bite to eat together in the evening, which is also a nice moment for the children present to meet again.
What Should I Take On A Flotilla Holiday?
- Take your luggage with you in a weekend bag or sports bag due to limited storage space
- Take shoes with white soles and an anti-slip profile for more sturdiness onboard
- Especially casual, airy clothing and swimwear, short and long pants, and a shirt with long sleeves protected against burning and mosquitoes. Please remember a windbreaker, rain gear and a warm jumper for the evening. During the May holidays, a pair of warm sweaters for when it is cool once in a while
- Think of a cap or hat for the sun
- Leave jewellery at home as much as possible to prevent loss
- Sunglasses (Polaroid for the skipper) and sunscreen
- A valid travel document and your health insurance card
- Also, think of a snorkel set, fishing rod or hammock on the boat
- If you are a student, don't forget your student card. You often get a local discount for museums, but occasionally, you must pay fees
- It is sometimes helpful to take an old-fashioned AUX cable with you to use Spotify via your phone or to stream on the radio
