For early apartment package bookings for 2026, it’s a deposit of just £100. This is fully refundable up to 30 December 2025, at which point the remainder of the deposit becomes payable. Book early and get good prices and one’s choice of accommodation.
After a very productive and interesting summer of Lugger charters, meeting new crews, families and groups who returned for yet another taste of freedom of sailing in the South Ionian Sea, it’s time sadly to get the boats out of the water, cleaned and into winter storage.
In mid-May running through into early June I held ‘Sailing For Beginners’ courses. There is nothing more worthwhile and satisfying than to teach youngsters the skills and craft of small boat sailing.
I had two fathers and respective sons, aged 12 and 13, so at the age to become receptive to learn new skills. Also I had in a third boat Richard, who had sailed a dinghy over 20 years ago, and his wife who was a beginner and a little apprehensive. However they got on really well together in the boat and she was a very good crew. Within 3 days of on-the-water tuition, Noel and Jamie with sons were out on their own, proving to be very competent sailing units.
These courses proved to be very successful, so for 2026 I will be replicating these programmes for couples, and family groups of no more than 2 adults and 2 children over 12 years of age or 2 adult friends. The dates for these courses will be May 23 to May 30 and May 27 to June 3. Like all my charters, advanced booking is essential.
An additional sailing programme this summer, aside from the Lugger charter, apartment and transfer packages, was a three-day charter-only to competent sailers. This was based from my Eucalyptus pontoon base where they just sailed daily and had their own accommodation in Nydri. For groups that had a holiday booked locally, 3 days of sailing added a definite Plus to the holiday. See what Stefano has said about his family’s sailing experience.
This summer I had 2 couples attend from the US, both Lugger owners who had combined their sailing in the Ionian with other visits in Greece.
Firstly, Hente and Fern had crossed Greece from the Dodecanese islands where Fern and her daughter had spent a first week at a Yoga retreat, then came by coach / ferry to my base apartments, Geni Garden for a week of sailing.
This coincided with the stay of Jo and David from Cardiff, they got on really well with them, both couples also Lugger owners.
Whilst later in September David and his wife drove over from Mount Olympus where they had trekked for a week and now settled in to day-sail and explore the South Ionian Sea.
From my homeland of Wales and in particular just close-by in Cardiff, David and Jo are also Lugger owners and they had a great two weeks in mid-September. For those who know the area, September and early October are very specials periods for weather, good winds, warm seas. Major tourism has slowed yet all the facilities are still operating.
It’s my favourite period to be in the Ionian Sea. You must give it a go, it extents your summer and slightly shortens the UK winter.
Wayne and Victoria made their second visit for a 12-day stay at The Athesis apartment in late September. As a midweek adventure to explore a new area I organised a 3-day sail to Kioni on Ithica with 2 nights stay with Tim and Sue at Pebbles of Kioni. Sadly the second night had to be cancelled with an approaching day of unsettled weather, so they returned a day early.
Victoria fell in love with Kioni as a village with its cobbled streets, small shops tucked in alleyways and such good sea food tavernas. I’m sure they will return to continue this sailing journey.
Here is what’s Wayne said in his message to me
Cheers Phil, all smooth back to the cold weather. Thanks for facilitating another great two weeks in the Ionian Sea. Just amazing, our batteries are now fully charged up to keep fighting the good fight of daily life and work in the UK. Thanks again Phil, our very best.
Wayne
The Great Ionian Dragon Cruise
I now come to something new for Dragon Drascombe, this being The Great Ionian Dragon Cruise, held in the Ionian Sea by members of the Drascombe Association Group of The Netherlands.
My link and connection with Michel Maartens of Drascombe Nederland over the past 2 years with his company selling the joinery, fittings and spars manufactured by my Wales-based company Just Lugger Joinery&more, proved a connection and talking point. “Wouldn’t it be great to introduce members of the Dutch Drascombe Group to sailing these boats in the Ionian Sea”. This was talked through and I have had contact with Dutch members who have shown great interest for 2026.
What I hadn’t expected was that a group of 6 Coasters were now gathering to organise an Ionian cruise in their own boats, travelling from the Netherlands to Greece through Europe and towing their boats with them. That in itself is a challenge, but then to embark on the cruise …
Very briefly, the Dragon Drascombe base at Nydri was used to ease the logistics, to stow trailers in my compound, arrange taxi returns for the first leg and facilitate the return of the boats mid-trip and at the end on my Eucalyptus pontoon berth, with booking apartments and yard facilities to clean the boats prior to departure on the 9 October for the ferry port of Igeomenitsa.
The full report from the Dutch group will follow shortly, however I have attached a series of pics from Michel just to whet the appetite for ‘Sailing Drascombes in the sun’
What’s New for 2026
Firstly my thanks to Neville and Urszula, the owners of the Villa Eleanor at Geni who have given my guests great hospitality over the past 8 years. They have decided to sell the villa and move onto another project. Again my thanks to you both.
With this in mind I will be adding The Villa Crystal as a venue for my charter groups. It accommodates 6 persons and is set above Vlycho village and overlooking the bay. It’s going to be a great venue with easy access to the village and its facilities, tavernas and restaurants. The boat will be safely moored on the village quay so good access for sailing.
‘Theodora’s rooms in the Trees’ which I have now used this summer on 4 occasions are proving very good value. It is quiet, no through traffic on foot or by car, very adequate apartments and within 50m of my Eucalyptus pontoon beam-to moorings and it’s an easy walk into Nydri town. Package bookings are now available.
For the past 5 years I have used the apartments at The Athesis which is owned and run by the most amazing and energetic Effie. This however is the last year as she has given the contract for sole occupancy to the tour operator Sunweb of Holland. So sadly unless something changes I will not have access to her apartments. The only way to book the Athesis is to book one of Sunweb’s packages which fly out of Amsterdam on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Maybe take a weekend city break to Amsterdam and then leave for Preveza on your package booking.
However, for the interested groups from the Netherlands who have shown interest in my website this is a great chance to get a flight and accommodation package then booking my charter separately.
The Armonia Apartments are now owned and run by Peter Gazi and has had a nice refurb this past winter. It has spacious pontoon mooring with beam-to positions for ease of departing and returning. I’m pleased to be using the Armonia again as a venue, the first floor double bed apartments are sea-facing with a balcony, and to the side and rear very well appointed Garden Apartments.
Another plus is that as a part of the apartment booking one has a full buffet breakfast all in. It’s a stroll into Nydri to this bustling holiday Greek traditional town with a ferry port and waters-edge tavernas and good restaurants. I’ve had my first booking this week for 2026.
Give Phil a call for more details on package costs
Power Boat Handling & Safety
Another new item for 2026, for families or individuals who come as a part of my sailing package I will be offering ‘Power Boat Handling and Safety’ programmes. They will be held for just 2 hours, either in the mornings or evenings.
This August I upgraded my current licence and took part in a Greek advanced power boat course here in Lefkas, so now I have a full Greek permit. To my amazement the Port Police officer that assessed me said I was the oldest person to have graduated with this licence! “The old ones are the best”
Dragon Boat Workshop Courses
And finally I’d like to announce my new workshop course which I’ll start running from January 2026. These 4/5 day courses based at NP22 4LA, with pre-arranged AirBnB/Bunk House accommodation in the Brecon Beacons National Park are specifically aimed at Drascombe boat owners, particularly Luggers and Longboats. This is a chance to get hands-on and learn many of the techniques I have shown in my Lugger restoration blogs, to meet up with other like-minded Drascombe people and improve your practical hand and machine tool skills.
Find out more about this new course over on my Just Lugger Joinery&more site.
My thanks to all of you for supporting Dragon Drascombe Ltd for the past 12 years of “Luggering About In The Sun”, and to those I have served with joinery, spars and fittings, not forgetting valuable advice by Just Lugger Joinery&more.
To all, please keep safe in 2026 and happy sailing,
Phil. Osborne