Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

Up anchor

Images Scope, photolibrary.com

Chartered yacht holidays open up a whole new world of affordable luxury. Ben Mondy sets sail for five of Europe’s most shipshape destinations without having to push the boat out

Amalfi Coast

This region is a byword for Italian Mediterranean sophistication. Usually thought of as a playground for the rich, the coastline around Naples, Procida and the AmalfiCoast boasts beautiful beaches, rugged landscapes and plenty of upmarket nightlife. But there’s no need to don the oversized sunglasses and bikinis of snow leopard fur to enjoy this spectacular part of the world. This is especially true if you’ve had some sailing experience, as it’s possible to take in the stunning scenery, sumptuous food and overall glamour for a fraction of the price by hiring and skippering your own yacht.

The so-called ‘bareboat’ option is ridiculously affordable, and gives you a freedom that very few other types of holidays can offer. For example, Bareboat Sailing Holidays (www.bareboatsailingholidays.com) offers a 10-berth Bavaria 46 yacht for just €1340 (€134 pp), leaving from the Port of Agropoli. This is basically your accommodation covered for a week – a pretty special rate when you consider that you’ll be gently rocked awake only a few hundred metres from some of the most coveted holiday real estate in Europe.

Local mooring fees are about €50 a night, but this is a small price to pay for access to the Pontine Islands, the archaeological site of Pompeii, the Blue Lagoon on Capri, the beautiful volcanic island of Ischia and popular resorts such as Positano, Amalfiand Ravello.

Fly to Naples with Brussels Airlines from just €99* return all-in.

Sicily

The waters around the island of Sicily offer smooth seas and the opportunity to visit the rugged islands lying to the north (such as rocky Filicudi and colourful Salina). Winds of eight-to-12 knots blow predictably from the northwest and there are plenty of anchorages, small tidal ranges, and easy line-of-sight cruising in sheltered waters.

Mind you, take a trip aboard the Nazaleen, a luxury eight-berth, fully crewed catamaran, and you’ll have different concerns – such as whether to order the rotolo di tacchino con radicchio (a local meat dish) or plump for fish, say a vari carpacci tonno spada cernia polipo, cooked by Gloria Ragno, your hostess and a trained chef. Add an experienced crew and double cabins offering ensuite bathrooms, air conditioning and home cinema, and this has got to be the best way to visit this part of the stunning Med. You might even find it difficult to tear yourself away from the luxury of below decks to kayak the green waters, enjoy a night beach barbecue on Salina or hike the hills of Filicudi.

Through Ocean Blue Yachts (www.oceanblueyachts.com), the Nazaleen can be booked for a week in May for €9300 (€1162pp), which includes all crew, transfers from/to the airport, full board, open bar, fuel and harbour fees.

Fly to Palermo with Brussels Airlines from just €139* return all-in.

The Balearic Islands

There’s no better way to approach the remote nature reserve of Cabrera Island, on the east coast of Mallorca, than on the beautiful blue-hulled Menelaus. Eden Yacht Charter (www.majorcayachtcharter.co.uk) offers this 50ft, six-berth luxury yacht with full crew for €6300 (€1050pp), including full board, fuel, open bar and all equipment. Laying anchor in Cabrera’s natural harbour, you can either hike the national park or wait to see the dolphins – this is one of the only places in the Balearics where they survive. And for a change of pace, Ibiza and Formentera are only a day’s sailing away. Ibiza Town offers culture and its raucously famous nightlife, while neighbouring Formentera will drag you in with its laid-back attitude and Caribbean-style beaches. What’s more, it’s just a short sail up the east coast of Mallorca and on to Menorca, where you can visit Mahon, the Mediterranean’s largest natural harbour.

While the Menelaus’ experienced skipper, hostess and crew are there to create your ideal holiday experience, there’s also the opportunity to get involved in the actual sailing. From pulling the anchor to steering and setting the course for a night’s sail, you can really feel like the master and commander. Of course, the other option is to sit back, sip on a cocktail and watch as yet another golden sunset lights up one of the most beautiful parts of the Mediterranean.

Fly to Palma with Brussels Airlines from just €99* return all-in.

The French Riviera

Think St Tropez is beyond the financial reach of mere mortals, and that cruising the French Riviera in a 55ft luxury yacht is the sole preserve of Russian oligarchs, movie stars and footballers? Well, think again. Its entirely possible to cruise the unspoiled islands, rugged, rocky inlets and fine beaches – not to mention the large cosmopolitan resorts of Cannes, Nice and Monte Carlo (and even take a day trip to Corsica) – on a fully crewed yacht for a fraction of the cost of a fancy hotel.

Dream Sailing (www.dreamsailing.com) offers a week on board the DreamCatcher from just €1635 per person during May, based on a group of six. Over the seven days you can – and remember, it’s entirely up to you – swim in St Jean Cap Ferrat, sail beneath the towering cliffs of Eze to anchor for lunch at Mala Plage and have dinner ashore at the Belles Rives, a favourite haunt of F. Scott Fitzgerald. You could also sail over to the Îles de Lérins – the four islands are now a nature reserve, but the legendary Man in the Iron Mask was once in prison here – or hit the boutiques of St Tropez and the cobbled streets of Cannes old town. And if that doesn’t appeal, you can simply spend a day around the island of Port Cros, swimming, sunbathing and exploring the beaches of this car-free nature reserve. All this, plus charming hosts, locally sourced gourmet meals, watersports equipment and luxurious ensuite cabins. Trip of a lifetime? It should be an annual event!

Fly to Nice with Brussels Airlines from just €99* return all-in.

Ionian Islands, Greece

Situated off the western coast of Greece, the Ionian Islands will come as a surprise to those familiar with the Greek Island-stereotype of sun-baked rock dotted with whitewashed houses. Here you’ll find a greener landscape, along with a collection of Italian and French architecture and English tastes that are welded together into a whole that’s indubitably Greek.

One of the advantages of sailing the Ionian Sea, rather than the more popular Aegean, is that the winds – especially in summer – are much milder and more predictable. For the less experienced sailor, chartering your own yacht is a definite possibility. Alternatively, there’s the assisted sailing option, where your skipper leaves in the evening after ensuring that you’re safely moored in a different port each night. There’s no fixed itinerary; you simply play it by ear and let the tides and wind guide your life. You can meander along the mainland coast or explore for the neighbouring islands of Paxos and Anti Paxos, while those with more time could head south for Lefkas, Cephalonia and Ithaca.

Sail Ionian (www.sailionian.com) offers an assisted sail aboard a six-berth, three-cabin yacht in May for €1617 (€270pp), leaving from Corfu. Everything is included, so all you need is some euros to buy your fresh food and wine – be it to eat onboard or in one of the hundreds of cheap and delicious tavernas that line the coastlines of these beautiful islands.

Fly to Athens with Brussels Airlines from just €139* return all-in.

FR Levez l’ancre

Passer des vacances en voilier charter ouvre un nouveau monde de luxe accessible : Ben Mondy largue les amarres sans trop se dépenser (ni dépenser).

Côte d’Amalfi

La Côte almafitaine est d’une grande beauté naturelle. Le charme des plages est complété par certains de ses sites naturels et par une vie nocturne incomparable. Si vous avez une expérience de la navigation, vous pourrez barrer le bateau. Bareboat Sailing Holidays (bareboatsailingholidays.com) offre un yacht à 10 couchettes pour 1 340 € (134 € pp) – un très bon prix au vu de votre situation exceptionnelle, à quelques centaines de mètres de la région la plus prisée des touristes en Europe. Aéroport : Naples

Sicile

Au Nord de la Sicile, la mer est calme et une série d’îles jalonnent les eaux environnantes. Mais à bord du Nazaleen – un catamaran de huit couchettes avec un équipage complet – vous n’aurez peut-être pas envie de débarquer. Vous pourrez tout aussi bien apprécier les paysages fantastiques en restant à bord de ce bateau luxueux. Ocean Blue Yachts (oceanblueyachts.com) loue le Nazaleen pour 9 300 € (1162 € pp) par semaine en mai. Aéroport : Palerme

Les îles Baléares

Le bateau est la meilleure façon d’approcher la réserve naturelle retirée au large de Majorque, sur l’île de Cabrera. Eden Yacht Charter (majorcayachtcharter.co.uk) offre le luxueux Menelaus à six couchettes, avec l’équipage, pour 6300 € (1050 € pp). Il est également possible de participer à la navigation. Ibiza, avec sa culture, sa vie nocturne et son agréable petite île de Formentera, se trouve à un jour de navigation. Aéroport : Palma

La Riviera

Vous pensez que descendre la Riviera française à bord d’un yacht luxueux est un privilège de stars ? Détrompez-vous. Dream Sailing (dreamsailing.com) propose une semaine sur le DreamCatcher pour 1635 € par personne en mai. Vous pouvez accoster à St Tropez et à Cannes, ou passer la journée dans l’île de Port Cros, avant de rentrer à bord, dans une luxueuse cabine. Un voyage d’exception ? Cela devrait être un rendez-vous annuel ! Aéroport : Nice

Îles Ioniennes, Grèce

Les îles ioniennes offrent des paysages verts, une architecture Italienne et française et un goût British, le tout réuni dans une identité grecque. La douceur des vents convient parfaitement aux marins débutants. Ou optez pour la ‘navigation assistée’: Sail Ionian (sailionian.com) propose un yacht à six couchettes, en mai, pour 1617 € (270 € pp) – la seule chose dont vous ayez besoin sont des drachmes pour les repas et le vin. Aéroport : Athènes

NL Laat het anker zakken

Vakanties op een huurjacht openen volkomen nieuwe perspectieven van betaalbare luxe. Ben Mondy hijst zonder veel moeite (noch geld) de zeilen

De kust van Amalfi

De kust van Amalfiheeft prachtige stranden, ongerepte natuur en een eersteklas nachtleven – en als je al wat zeilervaring hebt, kan je er kapitein zijn op je eigen huurboot. Bareboat Sailing Holidays (bareboatsailingholidays.com) verhuurt een jacht voor tien personen voor € 1340 (€ 134 p.p.) – een geweldige prijs als je beseft dat je op amper enkele honderden meters van de meest begeerde vakantieplek van Europa zal dobberen. Luchthaven: Napels

Sicilië

De wateren rond Sicilië bieden een rustige zee en afwisselende eilanden in het noorden. Maar aan boord van de Nazaleen – een volledig bemande catamaran voor acht personen – kan het best moeilijk zijn om even voorbij de weldadige luxe te kijken om van de adembenemende omgeving te genieten. Ocean Blue Yachts (oceanblueyachts.com) verhuurt de Nazaleen voor € 9300 (€ 1162 p.p.) voor een week in mei. Luchthaven: Palermo

De Balearen

Er is geen betere manier om naar het afgelegen natuurreservaat van het eiland Cabrera (nabij Majorca) te reizen dan een luxejacht. Eden Yacht Charter (majorcayachtcharter.co.uk) verhuurt een Menelaus van zes personen, inclusief bemanning, voor € 6300 (€ 1050 p.p.) waarbij je zelf een handje kunt helpen bij het zeilen. De cultuur en het nachtleven van Ibiza en de rust en kalmte van Formentera liggen een dagje zeilen ver weg. Luchthaven: Palma

De Franse Riviera

Dacht je dat een luxejacht in de Franse Riviera enkel weggelegd was voor filmsterren? Neen hoor! Dream Sailing (dreamsailing.com) biedt huurders een week op de DreamCatcher voor € 1635 per persoon in mei. Je kunt Saint-Tropez en Cannes aandoen of een dagje dobberen aan Port-Cros alvorens je ’s avonds terug te trekken in een van de luxueuze cabines. De vakantie van je leven? Zo zou het elk jaar moeten zijn! Luchthaven: Nice

Ionische Eilanden, Griekenland

De Ionische Eilanden baden in het groen, staan vol met Italiaanse en Franse architectuur en heeft heel wat Engelse invloeden, maar blijven op en top Grieks. De zachte windstromen zijn uitermate geschikt voor beginnende zeilers of je kunt kiezen voor ‘begeleid zeilen’: Sail Ionian (sailionian.com) verhuurt een jacht voor zes personen voor € 1617 (€ 270 p.p.) – je hoeft alleen nog enkele drachma te betalen voor eten en wijn. Luchthaven: Athene

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