FAMILY SAILING


A family watersports holiday in Greece


You want a sailing holiday. The rest of the family are either keen but inexperienced or have no interest at all. Is there a way to please everyone? Simon Fevyer reports


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ook, the turtle!’ my son James shouted, pointing towards a black- beaked head that had popped up from the sparkling blue water. We were paddling kayaks and I was trying my hardest to keep up with my two super-charged children. It was the fi rst day of our holiday in Greece. We had been told there was at least one turtle living in the bay but I was surprised we had seen one so soon.


We paddled round the grounded wreck of an abandoned fi shing boat. My children were obviously enjoying their time on the water. I looked


PORTO HELI


back towards our hotel. My wife was there soaking up the sun on the beach. My plan was to have a family holiday that would keep everyone happy. It seemed to be working pretty well.


We were on an Ocean Elements watersports holiday in Porto Heli, Greece.


Athens Peloponnese GREE CE


Ionian Sea


Porto Heli


Spetses Idra


Monemvasia GREE CE


Aegean Sea


Perfect location Crete 500m


Porto Heli Bay


Nautica Bay Hotel


Father Murphy ‘The Pirate Ship’


Prevailing morning wind


Ocean Elements Sailing Area


Prevailing afternoon wind


Wreck of fishing boat


Opening the curtains next morning we were greeted by our fi rst proper view of Porto Heli Bay. It is a perfect setting for this type of holiday. The narrow entrance opens up into an oval bay more than half a mile wide, protected on three sides by the surrounding hills. Predictable winds and warm, calm water make it an ideal place to introduce beginners to watersports. We were staying in the three-star Nautica Bay hotel. It was lovely – clean, comfortable with friendly staff and good food. But we didn’t choose the holiday for the hotel. Ocean Elements holidays are all about the water. Kayaking, paddleboarding, windsurfi ng, and dinghy sailing are all on offer. There is also the chance to head out of the bay in Ocean Elements’ Bavaria 38. The RYA (Royal Yachting Association) qualifi ed instructors offer training at a variety of levels to suit all abilities, but if you don’t want or need training then the kit is available for personal use. All this plus the facilities at the hotel (beach, pool, restaurant, bar) promised a way to keep all the family smiling.


Our instructor, Jeki, gave my daughter Holly her fi rst sailing lesson in a Laser Pico. After 15 minutes of land-based theory Holly was sailing. Jeki was shouting enthusiastic instructions as she buzzed around in a small powerboat: ‘A fl appy sail is not a happy sail’. Holly soon got the hang of going in a


76 www.yachtingmonthly.com MARCH 2016


We paddled to the ‘shipwreck’ and saw a turtle


Our plane had landed at Athens airport the previous evening and we had been met by the Ocean Elements’ staff, all suntans, enthusiasm and shiny white smiles. We boarded a coach for the three and a half hour drive to our hotel. It was dark when we arrived and after a delicious but hasty evening meal we made our way to our apartment for a good night’s sleep.


PHOTOS: SIMON FEVYER


CHART: MAXINE HEATH


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