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Life on the ocean waves...

Mike Keegan
21/ 4/2008

I'LL start with a confession.

The closest I have come to sailing before this trip was on a barge from the Mark Addy pub, up the River Irwell to Old Trafford. The occasion was an England football match and the nearest I got to being in control was when I staggered to the bar at the front of the boat.

So it was with some trepidation I headed for Greece and a two-week sailing holiday around some of the historic country's most beautiful islands.

The aim, at Sunsail's Club Vounaki, was to turn me from `zero to hero'.

To be honest, I would have settled for watching from the deck, with G and T and good book in hand, as somebody more seaworthy took the controls.

But I needn't have worried.

The first week, based at the complex itself, is geared towards, well, making sure you don't crash the following week.

Ellen MacArthurs

"We're not trying to turn beginners into Ellen MacArthurs," joked cheery instructor Dirk.

"Just as well," I thought.

Dirk, who "gave up the mortgage and the day job" for a life on the ocean waves, then tells us his first joke.

"Why are pirates called pirates?" he asks.

I forgot myself, shouted: "Cos they arrrrrrrrrr," and hoped he wouldn't pick on me for ruining it.

A good start then.

Amid the spectacular craggy backdrop of the Akarnanika mountain range, Vounaki lies on the edge of Paleros Bay, overlooking the sparkling Ionian Sea and the islands of Skorpios, Meganissi and Lefkas.

The two-week package consists of seven nights at the resort and seven on board a yacht in a flotilla. It caters for all ages, from babies through to oldies.

Leisurely pace

Each yacht travels at its own leisurely pace across often glimmering waters towards the same destination. Each evening crews get together and swap stories of life onboard over delicious local cuisine and seemingly bottomless jugs of red wine.

For those, like me, who have never sailed before, there's a three-day training course within the first week.

The sessions focus on making sure you know your jib sheets from your mainsail among a host of other terminology.

It sounds gibberish but after some intensive training, and games of `I spy' sat in the cockpit with Dirk, it becomes surprisingly familiar.

"They're not ropes they're sheets!" he thunders.

Soon you find yourself conversing in the lingo and looking forward to your next tack. You've raised and lowered the sail, you've been taught how to steer and it's time to relax and catch some of that sunshine.

Except it isn't.

"MAN OVERBOARD!" screams Dirk, throwing a fender (the inflatable cylinders that stop your boat from damaging others) into the sea.

Then it's all hands to the pump to put into practice what you've learned.

'Casualty'

Fellow novices shout directions, one keeps an eye on the `casualty' and another grabs the pole to hook the stranded `passenger'.

After minutes of mayhem said fender is back on board, not knowing the worry it has caused.

The week sails by and it's time to set off.

The yachts, home for the next seven days, are impressive.

They gleam white in the sunlight and for a landlubber like me wouldn't look out of place in Monte Carlo.

Each has three bedrooms with deceptively big beds - I'm 6ft 3in and had no sleepless nights. There's also a living and kitchen area and surprisingly powerful showers.

And so it was off into the sea, minus Dirk.

The flotilla took us to some of the country's most enchanting islands.

Day after day there were breathtaking views across bays taken straight from the front of a holiday brochure.

Not a race

The schedule, as mentioned, is leisurely. This is not a race and I needn't have worried - there's plenty of time to drop anchor and plunge into the crystal waters. Or if you'd prefer to lie on top of your boat and catch up with that book.

In fact, as we approach Kefalonia, I'm beginning to feel like I'm in the middle of a Duran Duran video.

The trip took us through the sweeping bays of Ithaca, Meganissi, Levkas and Scorpios. Countless villages of white houses dotted against a daunting, rugged backdrop greeted us. Once there we bought fresh fish and salad to eat onboard.

Evenings were spent playing cards, telling stories and taking part in the odd drinking game.

That's a bonus of sailing too - the morning sea breeze is a fantastic hangover cure.

One night was spent in upmarket Fiskardo. There we ate like kings at a harbour side restaurant, watching the well dressed tourists saunter by amid the twinkling lights.

All too soon it was time to head back and deal with dizzy spells as you get used to being back on terra firma.

Activities

Aside from sailing the resort offers a host of activities. You can try and beat the tennis instructor (who plays with a frying pan instead of a racket), go mountain biking and take part in numerous keep-fit activities.

There's also a spa where your aching body can be massaged at the end of another day of action.

Two bars with spectacular views of the bay are open until late. Club Vounaki's restaurants offer freshly caught fish, moussaka, Greek salads and a naughty but nice selection of sticky desserts.

Nearby Paleros is home to some fantastic tavernas. For a relatively low cost they serve delicious stuffed vine leaves, juicy steaks and some of the biggest jugs of wine I've ever seen.

Guest books are proudly brought out by owners for you to sign. Apparently Paul O'Grady is a big fan.

Relaxing with a lemonade as I waited for the bus back to the airport the group reminisced with Dirk over the highs and lows.

I won't be heeding his advice and packing it all in to take up a life at sea - but I think I'll set my sights further than Old Trafford for my next sailing trip.

FACTFILE
Spend two weeks on Sunsail's Vounaki Club Flotilla departing on September 7, 2008, for £1,099 per person. Price is based on return flights, seven nights half board accommodation at Club Vounaki in a twin/double room plus seven nights on a Dufour 30 yacht sharing with four people.

Price includes use of Sunsail's watersports equipment and shore based activities at the Club as well as a fully equipped cruising yacht on the Flotilla. A three-day Flotilla Training Course costs £140 per person. Manchester flights are available on request.

For reservations contact Sunsail Clubs on 0844 463 6578 or visit sunsail.co.uk/clubs