Holiday of a lifetime to Croatia and Greece: Bespoke trip sailing the Med with an expert Yorkshire skipper
Imagine yourself on a private yacht, drink in hand, with nothing to do but enjoy the views and watch the sun set the seal on another perfect day. Your course is charted, your expert guide and skipper is at the helm and your own Michelin-trained chef is in the galley – this is the life!
All this might sound beyond reach, the preserve of the rich and famous – but all this could be yours for the same as you would pay for the average ski chalet, or all-inclusive hotel deal.
A voyage, not a holiday
Bespoke sailing charters – where the choice to don your deck shoes and learn the ropes or just watch others at work as you relax – are more than just holidays. They are voyages of discovery.
No wonder YorkshiremanTom Brawn, founder, skipper and the inspiration behind this local bespoke sailing holiday company, chose to name it Odyssey Sailing.
His company offers one-week, small group holidays at sea with your exclusive Michelin-star trained chef in the galley, and a personal service second-to-none.
Tom has been plying these waters for around a decade. Despite growing up in land-locked Harrogate, he discovered a love, and aptitude, for sailing as a teenager, honing his skills at a renowned sailing school on the Isle of Wight, UKSA.
It was whilst working for flotilla companies in the Med that he became really familiar with this part of the world, particularly around Croatia and Greece. It’s a region he’s both passionate and extremely knowledgeable about, and one that still has the power to surprise and delight him. We asked him what made a trip here so special for him.
“It’s the sunsets,” is his unhesitating response, saying there is nothing better after a lovely day, mooring in a bay on a long line, to watch the sunset, glass in hand.
This is something his passengers love too, later on maybe taking a night-time swim beneath the stars, or stepping ashore at a pretty town or village to check out some of the local bars and restaurants, before returning to their luxury cabins.
Odyssey Sailing charters different types and specification of vessel – traditional and luxury yachts for an authentic sailing experience or catamarans for more of a ‘hotel at sea’ vibe. How high-spec the boat and its facilities is, depends on your tastes and your pocket. But as a guide, trips for a group of 8 people start at around £1,250 per person.
Your voyage; your way
Tom’s experience, local knowledge and contacts mean he is best-placed to craft an experience which will be perfect for your likes, needs and budget, but every charter will enjoy same quality of service, food and expertise.
“I describe it as like a floating five-star hotel,” says Tom, who will not only be your main point of contact and holiday planner before you travel, but he’ll be your guide, skipper and crew while you’re there.
Croatia’s Dalmatian coast – the Adriatic Sea Coast – has over 1,000 miles of mainland coastline, with the numerous islands adding a further 2,500.
Tom has fine-tuned his circular sailing routes since setting up Odyssey in 2021. The main routes explore the Adriatic, starting and ending in Split, or the Saronic Islands of Greece, starting and ending in Athens – either offering plenty of easy flight options.
“I know the area like the back of my hand,” explains Tom. “The cool thing about exploring via Yacht is that we can take the long way to our next stop, exploring hidden coves and paddle boarding in private bays.”
Island hopping using bigger ferries or passenger boats means you’re bound by set timetables and limited as to where you can go. Tom can take his clients to main tourist destinations or little-visited secluded bays or villages where the mainstream ferries and day trips don’t go.
For those that love to be active there are opportunities to swim, paddle board, walk or generally enjoy messing about on the water – Tom has even teamed up with a Pilates practitioner who leads daily sessions on some charters.
‘Pilates with Caroline’ is an optional addition to your experience, to improve your power, posture and performance. Caroline met Tom while he was hosting her family week’s sailing in Croatia last year – and away from sailing, she runs her own highly successful Pilates studio back on dry land.
Local knowledge – home and away
Because Tom still lives in Harrogate, his clients get to deal with a local person right the way through your holiday journey – from initial enquiry, to getting to know you, planning your charter, booking and, of course, skippering your voyage. You could even meet up for a cuppa in person.
The only other crew member is another local face - Harvey Hughes. Harvey was a teenage apprentice at the renowned Grantley Hall 1 Michelin star hotel kitchen, under celebrity chef Shaun Rankin and after 18 months secured a place at Mark Birchall’s 2 Michelin star restaurant, Moor Hall, which at the time was rated as the best restaurant in the UK.
“There is nothing Harvey cannot cook,” says Tom. Armed with prior knowledge of the type of food guests like to eat, and any dietary requirments, Harvey will stock up on fresh local produce en-route. Breakfast and lunches are cooked and served on board but in the evening it’s your chance to explore the local cuisine on land. You’re free to discover these for yourself, or Tom can make recommendations and can secure reservations for you, even at the most popular places.
Couples, groups or families
Whether you’re looking for a romantic week for two, a honeymoon charter like no other, enjoy time with your intimate friendship circle or want a family holiday to suit everyone, then Tom will be brimming with ideas.
“I can make sure the charter is tailored to your interests and group dynamic,” said Tom. “If people want to get involved that’s great – I can even teach the kids to sail while the parents sit back with an Aperol Spritz, no problem!”
What holidaymakers loved
Guests are full of praise for their trips. One wrote: “Tom & Harvey simply couldn't have been friendlier, more professional, skilful & knowledgeable. An absolute joy - every moment filled with forever memories of a wonderful trip and deliciously fabulous food too.”
While another said: “I know this is a trip my friends and I will be talking about for many years to come.” Whilst another said: “This is the best way to vacation as a group of friends or a family for a mixture of adventure and relaxation, amazing views, food, and incredible service from Tom and his team. 5 stars all around!"
Browse the gallery to see for yourself
Where to begin
The bulk of planning for the charter will be done after speaking with you, finding out what you enjoy – are you a fine dining, cocktails in five star venues type of person, or do you love to get back to nature or experience some ‘authentic’ local colour – or a bit of both! Are you a swim-before-breakfast person or a night owl, love exploring ancient historical sites (Tom is something of an expert here too) or will zipping around the islands in an all-terrain vehicle hold more appeal?
Visit the website here for inspiration, or pick up the phone to speak to Tom. Odyssey holidays are available to book throught the summer season from May to the end of September, with the shoulder months best for more interesting sailing conditions and the middle months best for hotter temperatures and calm waters.
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