We have just returned from 10 days of exploring the Ionian Islands in ‘Katerina’, one of Phil’s Drascombe Luggers based in Nidri – what a perfect holiday! We stayed in the Geni Garden Apartments (perfect location and perfect for our needs) and our lugger for our stay was moored on a pontoon in front of the apartments. Phil meets you on arrival and gives out all the necessary information on rigging and sailing the luggers, daily weather forecasts and information about the islands within reach for the day sailing. Phil also provides you with a chart, pilotage book, cool bag and picnic set for your boat! We sail a Cornish Coble in Jersey so, once assessed, Phil was happy to let us sail away.
We went much further than I had imagined we would be able to and visited, Spartakhori, Port Atheni, Sivota and Meganisi, in addition to spending days anchored in tiny bays, swimming and relaxing. Sandra at Geni Gardens takes daily orders for bakery goods so, in addition to croissants for breakfast, we could order pies for picnics and could also shop for extra picnic ingredients by hopping aboard Katerina (or taking a lift with Phil!) for the two minutes back across the water to Nidri and a local supermarket. Sometimes we had lunch at tavernas in small ports we visited – sometimes we made a picnic for our day out on the boat and then ate out in the evening, walking the 10 minutes along the road to Gialo’s Taverna for traditional, home cooked Greek food on the waterfront.
It’s hard to explain how well Phil’s set-up works. The location is perfect and the area and islands are stunning. The boats are well-maintained and Phil checks them over each evening. The sun was shining, the sea was warm, we had gentle breezes (and a couple of times a little more than gentle!) and sometimes just glassy seas for motoring gently along and swimming. If you enjoy dayboat sailing, like warm weather, swimming and relaxing in beautiful bays, you won’t be disappointed!
Thank you Phil for ensuring everything ran so smoothly – we had a perfect holiday.
