Capacity
The Master, assisted by a Hostess, are aboard at all times. Six guests can be accommodated in 3 cabins: an owner’s cabin with ensuite (toilet and shower) aft and two double cabins forward with a private toilet. The forward cabins share a shower in the forepeak section of the yacht.
Crew sleep in separate cabin quarters located midships.
Guests Aboard
Guests aboard in Greece are resident on a foreign flagged vessel as guests of the Master. The Master is required by law to register guests’ names on the yacht’s transit log and submit that log with guests’ passports to the nearest Greek Customs Office. Passports are photo-copied but not stamped and are returned immediately. No further action or documentation is required.
Weather
The world is warming and July / August temperatures are in the mid to high 30’s. Summer cloud and rain are rare and typical wind patterns are normally calm to northerly force 4. Typical summer gale conditions are called the Mistral coming off the Alps Maritime in France, the Adriatic Bora from the mountains above Trieste, and the Aegean Meltemi. In the itinerary described above, all ports are safe havens and sea state is no greater than force 2 or 3, with the exception of the Cyclades open water passage from Hydra to Kythonos. An afternoon summer southerly to force 4 is consistent along the eastern Peloponnese from Monemvasia to Naphlion. Water is crystal clear.
The 57 is a circumnavigator and the centre cockpit provides a dry space and sense of security for all aboard. Nausicaa has run before 50 knots from Cabo de Gata to Cartagena with two crew (straits such as Gibraltar and the Bouches de Bonifacio attract strong alternate east – west wind movements). There is no swell in the more enclosed areas of the Mediterranean but gale to near gale conditions throw up short period steep breaking seas. The 57 is not a racer but the Farr design and fin keel easily make for 7-8 knots in force 4 – 5, under genoa alone. Motoring is an easy, economical 5 knots at 1 litre per mile.
A Typical Day
Casual rising, plenty of brewed coffee, typical breakfast, morning swims and walk ashore.
Lunch aboard and perhaps transit to another port. Dinner ashore. There is WiFi aboard and guests are given a mobile with Greek Vodafone service for communication with the ship.
Nausicaa normally does not dock at port quays but for the experience and perhaps to replenish water tanks, it can be done at Poros, Porto Heli and Naphlion. Aegina port is on the “wrong” side of the island, Hydra is a nightmare, Ermioni is too small and Spetses has no yacht port. Otherwise all access is by ferry, water taxi or tender.
Apart from Athens – Aegina and Kilada – Naphlion, transit times between ports are no more than 2 to 3 hours. Guests can take a break from life aboard and stay overnight at shore – for that, the most interesting locations would be Poros and Hydra.
Getting There and Back
Eleftherios Airport to Athens or Piraeus, taxi or bus, allow one hour
Hellenic Seaways Flying Cat to all ports except Aegina (which is regularly serviced by other ferries from Piraeus) and Naphlion (which is accessed by road from Athens)
Airport to Varkiza (pickup off the small port by tender) – or ferry to Aegina, an overnight stay and drive across the island to Ormos ay Marina, where Nausicaa will be anchored and waiting.