We (3 couples) bareboated a Moorings from Athens in May, 1997. We went
early in the year to avoid the 'meltimi' winds and to experience the
locals before they tired of tourists as we expected they would late is
the season. The main drawback of going in May was the cold water
temperature, but we did avoid the high heat of summer.

The boat was a Jeaneau 43 called Arethoussa. The first day we sailed out
of Kalamaki Marina (Moorings HQ) near Piraeus and made Kea, stern tied
at Vourkari (the big ferries dock at the main port, Korissia) in a 20 kt
cross wind, which was wild (took us 3 tries, but we finally made it).
The boys from the local Taverna caught our tossed lines and secured them
for us, then brought us ouzo on ice, carefully pointing out which
taverna they represented.

Unfortunately, the leech had blown apart on our roller furler genoa (our
only foresail) and we were in a pickle! There was no sail repair shop on
Kea and we didn't speak the language! We got the taverna owner to call
Moorings on his cell phone, and arranged to deliver the sail to the
ferry terminal in Korissia, and put it on the ferry. We rented motor
scooters and went 'up country' to the 'chora' which was the origional
village high on the tallest part of the island. They origionally built
their villages way up high to foil pirates thousands years ago. We would
have missed this trip to the village if our sail hadn't torn.

The sail mysteriously returned to the taverna the next day, and we were
notified by our benefactor, who said Moorings paid for everything. It
worked great for the rest of the trip, including a strong blown from
Mykonos to Naparos (our thought was that the strong local sunlight had
beaten the threads in the sail prematurly, as the boat was almost new).

We had a great trip through the Cyclades and highly recommend Moorings.
You get what you pay for.

Good luck
Bumper7


Robin Collins wrote:
Looking to bareboat charter a 40' sailboat from Athens in June. Would love
to hear the recommendations of experienced consumers. Prices vary widely
and we have confidence in Moorings, but wonder if we really have to spend
nearly $4K US. Fyly sounds great and is much less pricey. Other
suggestions welcome.