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After the ‘victory for all Europe’ – how about some sailing?
I’m writing this an hour after agreement has been reached on forming a coalition government here in Greece. Sunday’s election result pulled the country back from what many foreign journalists predicted would be a Greek exit from the eurozone. Antonis Samaras, the leader of the winning New Democracy party hailed the result as a ‘victory for all Europe’.
He will now be sworn in as Prime Minister after a coalition agreement with two minority partners that support Greece’s bailout commitments. There is still some way to go before Greece manages to find solutions to the problems in this country but at least there is some stability in the near future.
Almost every business in Greece has suffered as a result of the uncertainty and we at Aegean Sailing school are no exception.
I checked a few days ago and our bookings for mid-summer are down about 40% from the past two years. By the end of June we are normally almost full for most of the summer but this year we still have availability on many weeks. Most schools and charter companies that we know of are in the same position. The crisis has been not so good for us but …
Group course places @ 600€ / £500 single occupancy or 400€ / £334 each for 2 sharing a cabin.
Private courses for up to 4 people on 40 yacht @ 2820€ / £2350 total
Private courses for up to 5 people on 44 yacht @ 3240€ / £2700 total (not available 24 June)
All prices include accommodation on board, all yacht expenses, instruction, RYA course books and certificates, linen and towels (please bring your own swim towels), and food for breakfasts & lunches.
They don’t include getting to us or evening meals ashore. You should budget for around 20€ per person per night for a meal with some wine.
Our special offers normally get snapped up very quickly and, now that the crisis here has eased, these places are likely to go soon. To book a place please email melody@aegeansailingschool.com I can hold places for you for a couple of days while you make your travel arrangements.
I had lunch with a former colleague a couple of weeks ago. She and her husband were on a week’s holiday in Athens from Scotland. She told me that, when she told friends they were going to Greece on holiday, they asked her if she was crazy! We were sitting in a taverna by the harbour at the time. The sun was shining, the sea was blue, the tables were full of Greeks and holidaymakers enjoying their meal and the view. Her husband looked around in amazement – this wasn’t the picture of Greece that the British media had been presenting.
It is absolutely true that there is a lot of hardship in this country at present. As always, the poorest and most vulnerable in society are suffering the most. There are homeless people on the streets and many soup kitchens operating in some parts of Athens. It is extremely difficult for young people to find work and unemployment is high. You will find closed and boarded up shops on most streets, apart from the main tourist drags.
But life for most of us here carries on. We’re not queuing for food or sleeping on the street!
People tighten their belts. They replace their big cars with smaller ones, they may try to sell their family holiday homes on islands, they go out less and entertain at home more. Unless you specifically look for signs of the crisis it will not be obvious to you, especially on the islands. The welcome and the weather will be as warm as ever. So come to Greece – she badly needs your support!
Read what some of our sailing students have to say, explore our course catalogue, and contact us for more information about each course and our availabilities to come and sail in Greece!