For yachts that end their summer season in the azure waters of the popular Eastern Mediterranean yacht charter destinations – Greece and Turkey, Camper & Nicholsons Marinas offers an increasing range of options for a winter base.
Each location has something different to offer, but all of them provide a well protected, secure location, along with good international connections, competitive seasonal rates, and top quality facilities and service standards.
Whether you’re leaving the yacht for several months or planning to stay aboard and maybe extend your season through the autumn and spring, at least one of these marinas is likely to meet your criteria.
Starting in the north of the Aegean, Sani Marina lies in the heart of the five-star Sani Resort on the Kassandra Peninsula near Thessaloniki, Greece. Voted Best Resort in Greece by Condé Nast for three years running, the resort is set in a spectacular 1,000 acre eco-reserve comprising beaches, olive groves, pine forests and lush gardens.
Sheltered from the elements, Sani Marina offers all the support needed for comfortable wintering and a fresh start to the new season. The marina is just an hour’s drive from Thessaloniki’s international airport, with daily connections to all major European cities.
A major contrast in style is Athens Marina, 130 miles to the south but a world away in terms of environment. Located on Faliro Bay on the Athens seafront, the marina is only a few miles from the city centre and close to the international airport, but the controlled entry points and 24/7 security ensure privacy at all times for yacht owners and their guests.
With ready access to technical services and spares, as well as nearby shipyards that cater to even the biggest of superyachts, Athens has everything for minor maintenance up to major refits. And, as a leading European tourist destination, it has numerous attractions beyond the marina’s immediate vicinity, including museums, historical sites, fashionable shops and restaurants to serve all tastes.
Across the Aegean to the east is Cesme Marina on Turkey’s Izmir Peninsula. Lying at the heart of a purpose-built waterfront village, Cesme Marina blends harmoniously within the historic maritime town from which it takes its name.
A lively, bustling place in the summer, Cesme takes on a more leisurely pace for the rest of the year but maintains activity on and off the water throughout the autumn and from early in the spring. It has a boatyard with an 80-ton travel hoist and space ashore for those with maintenance work to do or who prefer to haul out for the winter.
Heading further south to Cyprus, Limassol Marina continues its transformation of the city waterfront, with newly opened bars, restaurants and shops, and one of the Mediterranean’s finest boulevards. This is a lively and cosmopolitan destination through summer or winter.
The marina is now in its second year of operation and provides facilities and service to the highest standards. The boatyard and 100 ton travel lift make this an ideal location for repairs and maintenance, especially given the island’s warm, dry and sunny climate through the winter months.
While these four marinas serve the eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean, yachts in the central Med and Adriatic also have excellent options for winter berthing – from Porto San Rocco near Trieste to Cala Ponte Marina on the Puglia Coast near Bari.
And Grand Harbour Marina in Malta, a favoured wintering location for yachts of all sizes, is offering particularly good winter deals for superyachts over 30m, including up to one month’s free berthing.