Essential Information

Essential Information

• Address & Map
• Arrival & Departure
• Sailing Information
• Banks & Money Exchange
• General Information
• Electrical, Phones & Music
• Activities
• Provisioning
• Health & Safety

Address & Map

Address

Sunsail Sporades
Vathoudi Bay
Mavri Petra
Milina
Pelion T.K.370 13 Greece
Tel/Fax: + 30 24230 65010
Email: xtinemcd@otenet.gr

Location

Based in the Northern Sporades on the western Pelion Peninsula, Milina is a small seaside village, approximately 49 kilometres from Volos.

Base Open Hours

Sun – Weds:  8:30am – 5pm
Thurs – Fri: 8:30am – 7:30pm
Sat: 8:30am – 2pm
A 24hr emergency number will be given to clients on departure from the base.

Base/Shore Facilities

Base facilities include, water, fuel, showers, provisioning locally in Milina and ice.
Along the beach you can find tavernas, bars, coffee places, fish tavernas and tourist shops and mini markets.

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Arrival & Departure

Time Difference

Standard time zone in Greece is GMT + 2 hrs.

Flights

Luggage allowance is 20kg per person. Only one item of hand luggage per person is allowed and this must not weigh more than 5kg. For storage aboard we recommend traveling light and using folding luggage.

Lost or damaged luggage while flying is the responsibility of the airline and is not covered by your travel insurance.  You must not include in checked baggage money, jewelry, precious metals, computers, personal electronic devices, negotiable papers, securities or other valuables, business documents, passports and other identification documents or samples.

If an incident occurs, immediately report it to airport officials. Claims will not be considered once you have left the airport.

Alcohol may be taken on flights  but only in checked luggage (well secured from breakages) not as hand luggage due to airport security restrictions.

Airport

Volos airport (Nea Anchialos) is 21 km SW of Volos and 326 km from Athens. 
Please be aware that there are very limited facilities at Volos airport. 

Transfers

The transfer from Volos to Milina takes approximately 45 minutes, and from Athens in excess of 4 hours. 

By Car

Arrive Volos on the E75 from Athens or Thessalonica.
Drive through centre of Volos on one way system and head for Pilion.
Keep the sea on your right and continue for approx. 33 km.
Turn right at road sign saying Milina 17km.
Continue on this road for 2 km past Milina and you will be at the Sunsail Milina base.

There is no designated parking area at Milina base. There are places to park in the streets near to the base but nothing is secure and it’s very much at the car owner’s risk.

Luggage

We would highly recommend packing prescription medicine and essential clothing (swimsuit, t-shirt and shorts) in your hand luggage as occasionally your luggage may arrive at the base after you do.
Please pack using soft-sided bags, as these are easier to store on your yacht.

Passport and Visas

Please ensure your passport is valid for the period of travel and for six months after you return.  Your passport name must match the name on the flight ticket otherwise you may not be able to travel and insurance may be invalid.

It is the responsibility of each individual to ensure relevant visas are obtained where necessary. Sunsail cannot be held responsible for refusal of entry or travel due to lack of visas. If you are in any doubt please contact your Embassy for full details.

Customs and Immigration

Before leaving the airport you will have to clear Customs and Immigration

Your Lead Crew

Your lead crew is a qualified and trained team consisting of a Skipper, Engineer and Host (ess). They are on hand to help you with everything from advice on where to visit, to physically helping you moor up when you have reached your destination for the night. Never very far away on a Flotilla, you have a specialist team on call 24 hours a day by radio contact.

The Skipper holds informal chart briefings to help you get the most out of your sailing day. Every morning they will decide, based on the weather and the number of yachts in the Flotilla, where best to head for the night. You can follow as closely as you like or take your time reaching the destination.

Your Host (ess) is there to make sure you get the best out of every day. They can give handy tips on where to go to find the best attractions or where to dine ashore. Often they will arrange dinner for the flotilla and it’s up to you whether you want to join in or not.
With an expert Engineer nearby at all times, you can relax and enjoy a carefree holiday, knowing that if any problems do arise, your support team is never far away!

On Arrival

Your yacht will be ready at 6:00 pm for boarding.
Upon arrival at your base you will be greeted by a member of the flotilla team who will show you to your boat. Once there you will be given a basic welcome brief demonstrating the essentials you need to know, before heading out for dinner at your leisure.

Your flotilla crew will carry out chart and flotilla briefings describing the cruising area, facilities at each stop and any potential hazards. Yacht briefings introduce you to your yacht, its systems and rigging. It is important that all systems and equipment are fully understood. Please Note: Briefings are mandatory.

Out of hours arrival procedure

If you are to arrive outside normal office hours please contact us during office hours and we will leave necessary instructions at the base for boarding. This is usually in the form of instructions on the front door of the office & inside the yacht (lights are usually switched on) and a flotilla crew or base staff will be watching out for you until a reasonable hour. On turnaround day there are always some staff around at all times of the day, and the local Greek taverna staff are also very helpful and will help you onboard if necessary.

On departure

At the end of your charter you will vacate your yacht by 9:00 am.
Before departing your boat, please collect a debrief form from reception.
The debrief form is to let us know if you have encountered any problems with the boat or broken anything during the trip.  This enables us to rectify problems for the next charter.

In addition to filling in forms we also require you to bag dirty laundry and leave in the cockpit, empty all cupboards and refrigerator of food and throw away, return snorkel gear and any lifejackets borrowed from reception and ensure that the boat is handed back to Sunsail in a clean and tidy state.  We reserve the right to charge you for boats left less than shipshape.

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Sailing Information

Sporades Sailing Experience Level 2
Experience levels are based on sailing conditions and the length of passages within your chosen sailing area. Follow the link for more information on the sailing conditions.

Sailing Licenses

Greek charter law requirements state that on board a bareboat or flotilla yacht charter there must be at least two adults, holding proper sailing ability licenses - a skipper and a first mate. The skipper and the first mate must be 18 years of age or older.
We therefore strongly advise that you take any sailing certificates on vacation with you.   This may be useful should you be contacted by Customs or Port Police.  If you have not already done so then both the Skipper and 1st Mate will be required to fill in a Sailing resume to confirm that you have the necessary skills to sail in this region.

Cruising Permits & Taxes

In Greece it is essential that we have all of the following details in advance: Full name, date of birth, place of birth, nationality and passport no. /ID card no for every member of your crew so that your boat papers can be prepared. You will not be able to sail without these papers, and failure to supply information in advance could delay your departure from the base.

Please bring any sailing certificates or other sailing qualifications with you.

Night Time Sailing 

Night Sailing is not permitted; you must be moored at least one hour before sunset at all of our locations.

Cruising Area Limits

This information is covered in the chart briefing.

Mooring Fees and Taxes

Greece does levy mooring fees in some harbours, and these are not included in the price of the charter. The charges are fairly minimal and are usually around $8 to $24 per night. Marina prices are considerably higher, between $41 to $73 per night depending on the size of your yacht.
If you stop free of charge at a private jetty it is expected that you will eat at that taverna.
Shower facilities are available at most restaurants for a small charge.

Start and end of season flotilla routes

Please note that on early and late season flotilla routes the start or finish base may differ from the normal route. Please refer to the pricing section in the back of the brochure for more details.

Charts & Pilot Book

All the charts and pilot books you will need for the sailing area are on board the yacht.

Skippered Charter Information 

The skipper’s time is booked from 12:00pm to 12:00pm in 24-hour periods. If you have reserved him for the first day of your charter and have a 6:00pm start, he will use this time to ensure he is happy with all aspects of the yacht and will be at the base to meet you upon your arrival. If you have reserved him for a later date on your charter he will start at 12:00pm on that day.

The skipper is responsible for the safety of the yacht at all times. He is not permitted to dive with you, nor leave the vessel overnight. He must conduct a safety brief with you before leaving the dock regardless of the duration of his contract with you.

 For “check out charters” (anything less than the full duration of the charter) the check out skipper’s time is booked from 6:00pm to 6:00pm to allow for a meet and greet in the evening and go over basic systems, then a full day with you the next day. This skipper is required to give you a thorough briefing on all aspects of the yacht and dinghy in addition to assisting you with planning an itinerary for the trip and advising you how to contact the base, the return to base procedures and the emergency assistance procedures. It is suggested that you attend the scheduled chart brief that will be supplemented by the skipper during his time with you on the yacht. It is also suggested that you make it clear exactly what you want to cover…anchoring, docking, etc.

The skipper will be required to give you as much information as you require concerning the yacht and its systems, sailing skills and navigation in general.

The skipper fee does not include food or beverages for the skipper and are your responsibility. It is suggested that you discuss this on the first day with the skipper and establish whether you will give the skipper cash for meals, whether you have included him in your provisioning or whether you will accommodate him as part of the group for meals ashore.  The skipper must have his own cabin. 

For one-day check out skippers it is your responsibility to get the skipper back to the base. If you prefer not to come back to the base you must pay for his expenses (ferry, taxi, etc.) to get him back to the base.

The average tip for a skipper is 15-20 % of the skipper’s fee. This is, of course, at your discretion.

More information on Skippered Charter Options.

Coolers

Coolers are available at the base on a first come first served basis at no additional charge. Please sign for these and return them clean and undamaged otherwise you will be charged for replacement. Only one per boat.

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Banks & Money Exchange

There are no money exchange facilities at the base or at the airport. This must be done before arrival in Milina. Milina has no Bank or card facilities and few Tavernas will accept a credit card.

It is possible to exchange currency in the village, but you are advised to bring enough currency with you to last at least the first three nights. There are no ATM machines in Milina,. The nearest ATM machine is 15 minutes away by taxi.  

Currency

The currency in Greece is Euros.
Money changing facilities are present in the majority of towns, although, they are not that readily available off the beaten track. Money changing should be done either with cash or by travelers’ checks, Euro checks and credit cards are rarely accepted, with most local tavernas accepting only cash.

Banks

There are Banks and ATM machines available on the larger islands, i.e. Skiathos, Skopelos, and Patatiri.  

Banking hours are Monday-Thursday 8:00am-2:30pm, and Friday 8:00am-2:00pm.
Banks on the larger islands tend to stay open in the afternoon and some during the evening to offer currency exchange facilities during the tourist season.

There are no limits on the amount you can take in or out of the country, but the exchange rate is often more favorable in Greece.

Credit Card Information

Travelers checks and credit cards are accepted in most restaurants and shops in the larger tourist towns, however these are rarely accepted at smaller establishments/tavernas.
Please Note: Bases are unable to accept personal cheques and cannot give cash back on credit or debit cards.  
 

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General Information

Language

The Language of Greece is Greek and English.

Cost of living in Greece

Prices in Greece usually include service charges although it is normal to leave loose change as well.

Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant         10.19 €
Meal for 2, Mid-range Restaurant     37.12 €
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught)       3.67 €
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)        4.00 €

Restaurants

There is a good choice of tavernas and restaurants throughout our cruising areas.  Your Lead Crew will advise you of their whereabouts.

Tipping

Tipping is standard and expected in all restaurants / bars and for other services undertaken during your holiday. The rule of thumb is generally 10-15% of the amount charged. Some establishments automatically add this onto the bill.
Tip according to quality of service.

Shopping

Shops in Greece tend to be open from 9am-1pm and then in the evening, after siesta, from 5pm-8pm.
Special purchases include lace, jewelry, metalwork, pottery, garments and knitwear, flokati rugs, leather goods, local wines and spirits. Athens is the center for luxury and designer goods and local handicrafts.

Regional specialties include silver from Ioannina, ceramics from Sifnos and Skopelos, embroidery and lace from Crete, the Ionian Islands, Rhodes and Skiros, alabaster from Crete and flokati rugs from the Epirus region.

Visitors should be aware that many ‘antiques’ sold to tourists are fake; it is illegal to export any items of real antiquity without a special permit from the Export Department of the Ministry of Culture.

Hotels

Xenia
1 Plastira Street, Volos 38222, Greece
Phone: +30 24210 92700
Fax: +30 24210 92800
Restaurant, bar, shops, sauna, indoor pool, baby sitting, beauty salon, spa

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Electrical, Phones & Music

Electricity

The standard voltage on all yachts is 12 volts. Electricity in Greece is 220 Volts and uses the standard European 2 pin plug. 

Mobile Phones

GSM 900 and 1800 networks exist. Coverage is good around the major towns on the mainland and on many islands. Main operators include Cosmote, Q-Telecom. Stet Hellas, and Vodafone. Please check with your service provider for coverage details and call costs. You may need to activate international roaming on your contract. 

Music/Ipods

All boats are fitted with a radio and CD player. If you wish to listen to your IPOD while sailing you will need to bring along an I-trip or FM radio transmitter.

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Activities

Car and Jeep Rental

Car rental is available throughout Greece – all international rental companies available.

Watersports

Diving

Scuba diving in the Greek Islands with its crystal clear waters gives excellent opportunity for both beginners and experienced divers. There are three diving centers in the Sporades islands, two on Skiathos island and one on Alonissos island. All centers offer introductory dives and PADI certificates.
Visit the PADI site for more information at www.padi.com

Fishing

Sea fishing is possible from the shores, from boats and even underwater and is allowed almost everywhere without a permit.

Snorkeling

We have a range of snorkeling gear which you may wish to use. We are limited on children’s sizes so if you have your own you may wish to bring them with you.

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Provisioning

Limited provisioning is available in this location.  More information on provisioning.

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Health & Safety

Illness or Injury

If you are sick and visit the doctor or hospital during your trip contact a member of Sunsail staff as soon as possible on either your lead boat.
If you need to make a claim for curtailment due to illness, ask the base manager for assistance and contact your insurer’s emergency medical service immediately.
Your insurance company will assist with travel arrangements, advice and payment of bills.  Obtain receipts for any medication, treatment or transport you have to pay for and submit with your claim

Safety

All yachts are equipped with adult life jackets harnesses we leave it up to you to decide when personal safety equipment should be worn.
We have a limited supply of children’s life jackets (age 4+ only) if you have your own children’s life jacket we would encourage you to bring it along.
We suggest that children who are not strong swimmers should not be allowed in a dinghy without a life jacket or buoyancy aid and that they should wear a buoyancy aid or harness when on deck. We can also supply safety nets for you to fit to your yacht.
Children under the age of 16yrs should not operate an outboard engine and should be supervised at all times when in the dinghy.
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