A Brand New View
LUXURY YACHT EXPERIENCES WITH HELM
Experiencing a brand new place every single day is a luxury like no other. Crystalline mirrored waters, ombré sunsets, white sand beaches and secret, unspoilt coves, the Saronic Gulf in Greece offers the epitome of summer escapism.
HELM, proud partners of Sports World, are a luxury yacht charter with a wealth of experience in creating broker luxury yachting holidays, perfectly tailored to each client. Dive into completely customised holidays in unparalleled settings, with expert personal service on board your very own yacht. Your favourite cut of steak, your signature cocktail, sunrise yoga aboard the deck, sailing from island to island – all of your needs are met with efficiency and elegance in the most exclusive sailing locations in the world.
Come with us on a full yacht charter across the Saronic Gulf, a stretch of turquoise sea connecting the peninsula’s of Attica and Argolis in the Aegean Sea, to experience the bliss of a personalised yacht charter with HELM.
Ahead of each trip, all clients are invited to use HELM’s interactive ‘Experience Builder’ to craft their perfect holiday.
STEP 1
Fill out your exact requirements for the trip, from budget and location to activities and food likes and dislikes
STEP 2
A personal broker will give you a callback and recommend the yachts and trips best suited to you
STEP 3
Revise your options and tailor the details to suit your needs
STEP 4
Book an unforgettable holiday using the online platform and prepare for a once-in-a-lifetime experience
Day One
There’s few places on earth that have the same enchanting allure as Greece. Culture, art and climate intertwine beautifully to create a location that soothes the soul and opens eyes to new horizons. We were excited to arrive in Athens, in beaming sunshine, to be greeted by the HELM team and guided onto a private transfer to Alimos Marina.
Suitcases collected, we approached the yacht – a sleek luxury Lagoon 52 catamaran with six cabins, a luxury lounge area, ample sunbathing space on the deck and an incredible crew; Captain So, a great musician and conversationalist, Chef Kostas, a wizard of Grecian cuisine and Penelope, a yoga instructor and fantastic attendant – the perfect mix of personalities to deliver excellence. There were warm wraps to feed our appetites and a refreshing ice-cold ginger juice to quench the thirst.
We then embarked on a short trip to Epidavros, a small Greek town famed for its rich history and Ancient Amphitheatre which is still in use today. The acoustics in here were mythical and the views from the top befitted a postcard. We anchored at the bay, and enjoyed a fresh dinner of Monkfish skewers with homemade mayonnaise and soft, saffron-infused fluffy rice, and crisp local white wine overlooking the sunkissed peaks of the Saronic Islands. This enlightened us to what was to follow for the rest of the trip – an absolute triumph of Greek gastronomy made with the utmost love and care by our own chef, Kostas, who sees special requests as a spectacular privilege. Wine was poured before we could finish, we were invited to take control of the sound system to play our favourite music and the aura defined refined relaxation. Immediately, we knew we were in for a week of sheer bliss.
Day Two
There’s nothing quite like the smell of cooking to wake you, especially as the dappled sunrise of a fresh May morning peeks through your blinds aboard your yacht in a secret Greek cove. Following a slow rise we headed out of the room. Stepping onto the deck, we were greeted by sensational sunshine and presented with a freshly prepared breakfast of omelettes, cured meats, fresh fruit, toast and homemade jam and marmalade, immaculately laid out awaiting our arrival. Refuelled and well rested, we head out to enjoy some time sunbathing before exploring the charming town of Epidavros – one of the main joys of having a yacht charter is getting to experience places off the beaten track and cultures that illuminate your outlook, and the quaint bougainvillea-lined streets of Epidavros offered so much to discover, as Captain So educated us about the history of the Greek language as we sipped Sangria on the dock.
Back on the yacht, lunch was underway – melt-in-your-mouth braised beef with creamy potato polenta and honey carrots served with red wine – a recipe Kostas inherited from his grandma. This was enjoyed overlooking turquoise waters and red rock edges before we headed to the next island, Poros. Never on the move for more than two hours, the journeys were smooth and spent reading or sunbathing on the deck. On arrival in Poros we headed to the clock tower perched high above the village, affording incredible vistas over the town in golden hour (and an impromptu proposal between two locals), before we headed to Poseidon, one of the village’s most popular tavernas, to be greeted by owner Giorgos and shown to our table on the seafront overlooking the harbour. The dishes were immaculate and showcased the quality of produce on these islands. An ice cream from one of the local parlours and a short amble back to our yacht, and our second day was perfectly complete.
Day Three
From Poros port, we headed to the nearby Russian Bay, a secluded cove of turquoise waters and sandstone cliffs offering an air of complete calmness. This was the perfect spot to enjoy another freshly cooked breakfast and indulge in a spot of paddle boarding – something we had requested before travelling – in addition to the jet skis, snorkelling equipment and water skis. The beauty of the crewed boat was that we simply could sit back and relax knowing our safety and enjoyment was of paramount importance to the staff, who never hushed or rushed. It was clear that the time was ours to spend as we pleased, a theme that underpins HELM’s unique service from start to finish.
We returned on deck for hot showers and some Tiropita – a popular Greek snack consisting of filo pasty filled with feta dipped in tzatziki – and an ice-cold lager. Lunch was chicken thighs and orzo pasta, delicately seasoned with lemon and herbs, before we headed onwards to our final destination of the trip, Aegina, a popular fishing village famed for its pistachios. First port of call was to hop off and browse the beautiful boutique stores that peppered the marina, which sold everything from pistachio body soap to handmade jewellery inspired by the marine surroundings – a souvenir dream. Our final meal of the trip was fittingly served on board, with head chef Kostas, Penelope and Captain So joining us as we watched over the bustling marina in twilight.
This moment summed up the beauty of the experience. Connecting with individuals from other walks of life, to thank them for their flawless service and commitment to excellence. The whole trip was made a joy by these crew members, who turned an ordinary holiday into a customised dream.
Day Four
Unbeknown to me I had mentioned my like of an avocado and poached egg breakfast on deck the previous day. You can thus imagine my surprise and subsequent delight when Kostas presented us with that exact combination for our final morning. Testament to his unwavering commitment to making people smile, this moment summed up the beauty of the whole experience: where else can you receive a level of attentiveness, where someone subliminally understands your needs and puts them into practice immediately? The smooth avocado was served on a slice of toast with poached eggs, crispy thinly-sliced Greek sausage and spring onions – think avocado on toast, but from another dimension.
We were returned safely to Alimos marina in Athens and made our way to the airport, a journey that was spent reflecting on a wonderful week, and a newfound love of travelling on the water.
ON DECK DELIGHTS
- LUXURY EN SUITE CABINS
- FRESH G&TS AT SUNSET
- AUTHENTIC GREEK BREAKFASTS, LUNCHES AND DINNERS
- 24/7 ON-HAND SERVICE
The all-in cost including yacht, crew, all food and drink and VAT for this trip is €25k (£21k) per week.
To discover HELM’s personalised yacht charters, fill out your experience builder today.
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