Hospitality Awards 2023

26 | LUXlife Magazine Best Sailing Holiday Company 2023 - Greece On the back of a sailing holiday in Greece in 2004, Pim Bastiaanssen and Joyce Corbeé changed the course of their lives to guide beautiful sailing holidays across the region, first establishing base in Nidiri in 2018, before moving to Sivota on the island of Lefkas from the 2021 season onwards. We spoke to Joyce, who provided more insight into the fantastic breaks Sunny Sailing Greece provide. Pim and Joyce took over Sunny Sailing in 2018, twelve years after falling in love with Greece on their own sailing holiday. With a home base in Sivota, the business is easily accessible from Preveza airport, where you can fly directly, and provides a great starting point for your holiday, with views of beautiful harbours and bays in the local area. There is nothing quite like the freedom of sailing in a tropical paradise, and Greece offers the perfect backdrop. Whether you want to sail solo, in a flotilla, or a sailboat, Sunny Sailing will make sure you have a fantastic holiday on an excellent boat. The team have a fleet consisting of Bavaria yachts that range from 31 to 47 feet long and all are well-equipped. Flotilla sailing is the ultimate combination of independent and group sailing, giving you the best of both worlds. You sail the set route yourself, or with help, along with other boats in the fleet, forming a flotilla. There are many benefits to sailing in this fashion – it is particularly ideal if you do not yet feel confident enough to sail alone but have some familiarity with sailing. Furthermore, you are provided tips from expert guides and can follow mapped routes, meaning you do not have the hassle of having to find the best spots by yourself. With flotilla sailing, you can determine the stops, giving you the freedom to be in control of your own holiday and have fun as part of a group. This form of sailing is especially ideal for a family holiday. Before starting, you will receive a detailed brief every morning, which will include information about the goals for the day, the weather forecast, where to find the most idyllic bays, and even the best place to look for dolphins. The flotilla’s lead boat is always the last to leave and the first back in the next town or bay, to assist you with mooring. Once moored, there is plenty of time to exchange experiences and even enjoy an ‘anchor beer’. Feel free to eat with the flotilla in a Greek taverna in the evening, but of course it is your holiday, so there is no obligation to do anything but what you want! Flotilla sailing provides a piece of freedom, fun, and a helping hand when necessary, making it the perfect way to explore the beautiful country of Greece. The Sunny Sailing experience begins with the fresh and regularly updated company website, or via the telephone or one of the open days. This first taste of paradise always brings enthusiasm to guests, many of whom have heard about the business from family and friend recommendations or read the stellar independent reviews. From there, everything is taken care of, so you can relax. After being welcomed to Greece by the regular taxi driver, guests will arrive in the picturesque Sivota, with a neat and cozy office providing that ultimate holiday feeling. Once aboard the rented boat, guests can expect an extensive check-in, before a welcome drink and dinner officially begin the holiday experience. Sunny Sailing only employ highly qualified skippers, and a refreshing mix of young people and experienced crew make it a very special, welcoming time for everybody aboard. Many people come back repeatedly due to the way the company distinguish themselves from the competition, by ensuring everything is kept looking clean, professional, and new. From the boats down to the clothes the team wear, every detail has been extensively considered and implemented. Looking forward to the rest of 2023 and beyond, the company will continue to expand responsibly, with two older boats leaving soon and three new boats joining the fleet in 2024. Despite expanding, the team are determined to apply the same quality over quantity approach that has brought them success, not wanting to be the biggest, but remain the best. Company: Sunny Sailing Greece Web Address: www.sunnysailing.com

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUyMDQwMA==