My First Sailing Trip in Greece: Sailing Solo with Strangers
At the beginning of October I went on my very first sailing trip: five days in Greece's Ionian Islands with More Sailing. I went solo and I'd never sailed before.
I'd always thought sailing was really hard, something for people who grew up on boats. I wanted to understand what the hype was about. Spoiler: I get it now.
Quick facts about my trip
- Where: Ionian Islands, Greece, from Mytikas marina near Preveza
- When: early October 2026, 5 days (More Sailing's regular trips are usually a full week)
- Boat: Nova, a modern sailing yacht with 5 cabins
- Who: 10 guests (including me, solo) plus Erik, our skipper, and Viktor, our host
- Sailing experience needed: none at all
- Included: your place on the boat, breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks on board, and the crew. Dinners ashore are extra.
Our route
The original plan was to sail south to Lefkada, Kefalonia, Ithaca and Meganisi. But the route on a sailing trip isn't fixed: the skipper plans it around the weather and the group. So we went north instead, and I'm so glad we did.
- Antipaxos: some of the bluest water I've ever seen.
- Erimitis Beach, Paxos: honestly, stunning. White limestone cliffs and azure water. We anchored for hours to swim, paddleboard and explore the sea caves.
- Lakka, Paxos: a beautiful horseshoe-shaped bay with a sleepy little village.
- Parga: pastel houses climbing the hill below a Venetian castle.
- Gaios, Paxos: the little capital, and our last stop.
Life on board: meet Nova
Nova was a beautiful boat: super modern, stylish and perfect for all those gorgeous photos you're probably already dreaming about. It has everything you could wish for.
Downstairs there's a proper, fully equipped kitchen, just like the one at home, and a dining table big enough for all of us. I loved that. Sitting down together for every meal on board is a big part of what turned a group of strangers into a crew.
What to do on a sailing trip
People ask me, "But what do you do all day?" Quite a lot, actually:
- Watch the sunrise. It was my favourite moment of the day: wake up with the sun, watch the sky change over the water, and then breakfast is ready.
- Look at the stars. No lights around you, just you and the stars.
- Swim, snorkel and paddleboard straight off the boat. We saw so many fish, and some of the group even spotted dolphins.
- Learn a bit of sailing. The crew were always happy to teach. We even had a little workshop on tying sailing knots.
- Play games. Some nights we all played games together, and those evenings became some of my favourite memories.
Or do absolutely nothing. Sunbathe, read, nap. It's your holiday.
It also works for groups of friends who like different things. Some can explore, some can do nothing, and everyone meets up again for lunch on deck.
The funniest moments (that I have on video)
Not everything on a sailing trip goes to plan, and that's part of the fun. The dinghy incident. To get from the boat to land, you use the dinghy, the little inflatable boat. One evening, one of the guests was driving us to town and couldn't get the engine to start. So there I was, FaceTiming our skipper to relay instructions, when I slipped on the platform and ended up with dirty trousers. We got the engine going in the end, and yes, it's all on video.
Refuelling in the dark. Another night, on the way back to the boat, the dinghy ran out of fuel. So we refuelled it in the dark, with me holding my phone torch so the skipper could see. A very glamorous sailing moment!
The lightning show. On our last day a storm rolled in, with some crazy lightning over the sea. Our crew had everything under control, and watching the sky light up from a boat is something I'll never forget.
Going on a sailing trip solo
I went alone, and that's one of the things I love most about More Sailing. Most sailing companies only rent out whole boats, but More Sailing lets you book a single place on a boat, whether you're solo, a couple or a small group. That makes a sailing holiday much more affordable and accessible. The idea goes back to the founders' own trip to Croatia: one week of sailing that turned into seven.
You won't feel lonely, I promise. You're sharing a small space with the other guests, and on my trip I met people from the UK, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands. Meeting people from all over the world was what made the trip so special.
On our last stop, in Gaios, I went for a walk with Joanna, a fellow guest who'd been a stranger a few days earlier. We headed up into the hills, past quiet villages and empty beaches, talking about life the whole way. It's one of my favourite memories of the trip. (Joanna wrote about it too: read her More Sailing review here.)
The food on board (it gets its own section)
I couldn't stop talking about the food, so it gets a whole section so I can brag about it properly. Viktor, our host, cooked everything fresh on board: a generous breakfast every morning and a proper home-made lunch, usually at anchor in a swimming bay, plus snacks and drinks during the day. On our first night we had his charcuterie boards on deck, and one day he made us fresh gyros for lunch near Erimitis Beach. Honestly, I'd go to a restaurant for food like Viktor's. You won't be disappointed.
Between Viktor's cooking and our dinners ashore, I tried all the Greek classics: tzatziki, moussaka, Greek salad… and feta. So. Much. Feta. Grilled, baked with honey, crumbled over salads, plain. You name it, I ate it.
Dinners usually aren't included. Most evenings you take the dinghy ashore to a local taverna, which is the perfect way to see each harbour town at night. If you have allergies or dietary requirements, let the crew know before the trip.
How to get there
Greece trips with More Sailing start near Preveza, on the mainland's north-west coast. Ours left from Mytikas, a small marina a short drive away. The easiest way is to fly into Preveza's own airport (Aktion). You can find flights to Preveza on Tryp.com and find the best route and price from wherever you are.
I made a mini-trip out of it. I flew to Corfu, spent the weekend there, then took a bus to Preveza and stayed one night before the trip. It's very doable, but plan it as a travel day.
My tips for your first sailing trip
- The first night is the hardest, so go with it. Your body is still getting used to the boat moving with the waves. Lying in your cabin feels a bit like being rocked in a cradle as a baby. Let your body move with the waves and relax. The more you tense up, the more likely you are to feel a bit of nausea.
2. Never been on a boat? Try a short trip first. A two-hour boat trip at home is an easy way to see how your body reacts before you book.
3. Give yourself a break from your phone. It's tempting to film everything (I did plenty!), but give yourself moments without a screen too: a morning swim, a quiet sunrise, an evening on deck. Those are the moments I remember most.
4. Pack these: your own snorkel and goggles, a waterproof phone pouch (great for paddling to the shore with your phone), card games for after dinner, and a soft bag rather than a hard suitcase.
Final thoughts: would I go sailing again?
I left on the last day really happy. I met incredible people, and I hope we stay in touch. The biggest surprise was how easy it all felt. I arrived thinking sailing was hard and only for experts. The More Sailing team made it feel easy and fun, and it completely changed my mind. Would I go again? Definitely. Next time, I'd love to try Croatia. If you've been dreaming about a sailing holiday but thought you needed experience, a boat or a group of friends, you don't. You only need to book a place.
👉 Explore More Sailings trips in Greece
FAQ
Do I need sailing experience? No. A professional skipper and host handle the sailing, navigation and meals. You can help as much or as little as you like.
Can I go on a sailing trip solo? Yes. More Sailing sells individual places on a boat, so you can book alone and share the boat with other travellers.
What's included? Your place on board, the crew, breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks on board, and boat costs like fuel and harbour fees.
Disclosure: More Sailing hosted my trip. As always, all opinions are my own.
