Aegean Rally 2022

[Paul Turner]

Hi Chris. I'm still seriously considering keeping my boat in Greece when the timing is right. Those yard prices are very reasonable. The only thing that worries me about that area is that it doesn't seem to be the easiest place to get to particularly early and late in the season. Also may not be as sheltered as the Ionian which I love. I've just read the Lugworm book - he doesn't do a great job of encouraging small boat sailing in the Aegean - he seems to nearly wreck his boat every other day. Anyway it's pouring down outside so it's something nice to think about.

[Tony Treen]

Chris, am still considering a visit out for a few weeks next summer. What is making me think twice is the long drive there and back on my own. What is the security situation like for driving through Serbia and N Macedonia?

[Chris Wicks]

Serbia is not a problem. If you have SSR registration and boat papers they may want to look at these. For me it was only a matter of showing the SSR certificate and the corresponding SSR number on the boat. Other ownership papers plus the boat hull number would do the same. N. Macedonia should be the same. I choose to go through Bulgaria after Serbia, which adds an hour or two but gets you back in an EU country. I have not been outside Greece since Brexit but it should be ok.

There is always a need to be street-wise, in Serbia I parked where I could see the car/boat in filling stations. I stayed one night in Serbia at a hotel with a secure compound for parking.

I can help with journey planning via PM. My last trip was from Calais. I made an overnight stop near Frankfurt, then 2nd night just into Hungary at the Austrian border, (about an hour past Vienna) the 3rd night near Nis in Serbia arriving in Greece (Pelion) on day 4. Each stop was planned with inexpensive hotels and secure parking... Of course, you might sleep on board. But my last trip was towing my Lune Whammel, an open boat so hotels were comfortable and secure.

[Chris Wicks]

Replying to Paul. I would have no worries about the sailing area, we are semi sheltered in the gulf of Volos or the lee of the Sporades islands. Shelter and safe harbours are abundant. My wife would not put up with it otherwise... For access year round flights to Thessaloniki and then it is just 2.5 hours down the national road to Volos. May to October easyJet fly Gatwick to Volos, but we have no problem traveling from Thess. Easy access brings the masses, Pelion takes a bit more effort but then you do find yourself in a totally unspoiled little paradise...