News

Staying in on New Year’s Eve? Join Jools (Joe) Bennett’s Vassiliki Hogmanay

Seasonal plans in disarray? New Year celebrations on hold? You are warmly invited to join our very own Jools Bennett for a Vassiliki Hogmany: an eclectic evening of celebration, salutations and mild (potentially raucous as alcohol involved) hilarity.

F18 Tigers and FX1* Intensive Catamaran Training Week May 15th

If you sail these high performance beasts this one’s for you. We will be kicking off the 2021 season with an Intensive Training week led by Cat race expert Joe Bennett so if you want to get your season off to a flying start and blow away those winter cobwebs: why not join us?

Laser Intensive Training Weeks 8 May, 15 May & 22 May

If you sail Lasers this one’s for you. We will be kicking off the 2021 season with three Laser Training weeks so if you want to get your season off to a flying start and blow away those winter cobwebs: why not join us? 

Nu open voor boekingen voor het 2021 zomerseizoen

Alvast de beste wensen van iedereen bij Wildwind! We hopen iedereen gezond en optimistisch dit toch wat vreemde jaar gaat uitluiden!

Laser and Catamaran Trainings May 2021

Once again we are kicking off our season with our Laser and Catamaran Intensive weeks.  Open to anyone who has at least one year's experience at club level there's no better way to start your own racing season off than a week in glorious Vassiliki bay learning all sorts of tips on and off the water with our experts.   Each course that will involve 5 days of coaching with a regatta day to complete the week.

Is it safe to travel to Wildwind this year?

This is the question that crosses many people’s mind as they decide whether to join us in Greece this year. With the experience of the past six months it is eminently wise that anyone considering travelling should have all the information they need to decide whether it is safe to fly to Vasiliki this summer. We have been on that journey with our guests as we made the decision to open and to welcome guests from the UK. We have listened to their concerns, gathered the information they asked for and welcomed them in Vassiliki: albeit in a socially distanced way.

I’m so impressed: no wonder you guys won the travel award for best sport/activity holiday! ”

Beach manager Joe and his team of highly experienced and qualified sailing instructors are here at our idyllic Greek island sailing base preparing for another day looking after dozens of guests from the UK, Germany and Poland who are revelling in the optimal wind conditions here at Wildwind.

‘Wat goed dat jullie open zijn!’

We zijn sinds 1 juli open voor onze gasten en nu, een maand later, is de belangrijkste boodschap die wij horen van onze gasten: ‘Wat goed dat jullie open zijn, we hebben een geweldige vakantie!' Zie hier wat sommige van onze Nederlandse en Belgische gasten te zeggen hadden over hun ervaring bij ons deze zomer.

Hoor onze eerste gasten van 2020 vertellen over hun reis naar Vassiliki (video!)

Op 1 juli konden we dan eindelijk onze deuren openen voor het zeilseizoen van de zomer van 2020. Onze eerste gasten hebben het al prima naar hun zin op, naast en rond het water. Luister naar hoe deze gasten hun ervaring tot nu toe beschrijven in deze video's. 

Wildwind is OPEN – De zon schijnt en je boot ligt te wachten op het strand

Je kunt je misschien voorstellen dat we heel blij zijn dat ons zeilcentrum in Vassiliki vanaf 1 juli eindelijk weer open is! Het lijkt alweer lang geleden toen we eind 2019 de British Travel Awards voor ‘beste sport/activity holiday company’ in ontvangst mochten nemen. Natuurlijk hebben we een aantal aanpassingen moeten doen om ieders gezondheid en veiligheid te garanderen (zie hieronder), maar uiteindelijk blijft er vooral veel hetzelfde.

A letter from Wildwind to our guests (updated)

We hope this finds you in continued good healthy and heart during these challenging times. We would like to give you this update with the latest information on your Wildwind 2020 holiday.

See What’s Streaming! Live with Wildwind this week

No real change from last weeks analysis of the Covid situation. Greece, with its excellent response to the virus is still planning on opening up in July with sensible protections. With our existing overseas team Healthy Options is equipped to open as soon are given the go-ahead - and we are aiming for July 1st even if that is only for visitors already in situ in Greece!

We are slowly but surely making our plans for the summer

We though it's time to give you an update on where we are, what we understand so far from the various governments, and where we expect we'll go from here. Luckily, there is some good news!

Joe and Karens offerings from Vassiliki

As you probably know Joe (our excellent manager for over 20 years) and his wife Karen (one of our yoga teachers) live permanently in Vassiliki and while we are unable to start our holidays there just yet they wanted to offer you at least a taste of what we normally offer.

Paas-update

Wens je het allerbeste in deze moeilijke tijden en blijf gezond.

If you sail Lasers this is for you…

Over the years our Laser training weeks have been so successful that this year we have had to put on an extra date in Greece AND for the first time we are also organising Laser training and one on one coaching at our exotic base in Mauritius.

Joe gets done for speeding in Mauritius!

As promised, we’re keeping your dreams of sailing in the sun alive this week by forwarding you recently taken videos of Joe’s exploits in Mauritius.

Stick it where the sun DOES shine!

Long time Wildwind Vassiliki beach manager Joe Bennett - who many of you will know for his unique sense of humour and skill both on and off the water has just returned from his first ever trip to Wildwind Mauritus.

Joe gets done for speeding in Mauritius!

As promised, we’re keeping your dreams of sailing in the sun alive this week by forwarding you recently taken videos of Joe’s exploits in Mauritius.

Wild times at Wildwind this summer!

Even if you are a dedicated monohull sailor and visiting us to try out our wide range of dinghies from Optimist to 49er - with pretty much everything in between - you’d have to be impressed by our amazing fleet of catamarans lined up on Vassiliki beach this summer.

Dubbele korting voor kids deze zomer

Bij Wildwind delen we ons passie voor zeilen graag met jongeren en kinderen – weinig dingen zijn zo belangrijk voor ons. We passen ons programma steeds aan aan de leeftijd, vaardigheden en ambities van elk kind en elke tiener die bij ons verblijft. Terwijl wij de kids zes dagen per week, met gekwalificeerde supervisie, bezighouden in de ochtend en middag, heb jij de kans om te doen wat je wilt, in de wetenschap dat jouw kinderen niet alleen in goede handen zijn, maar de tijd van hun leven hebben!

Our new 2020 brochure is out now. Start dreaming!

Best wishes from the Wildwind team. We hope you are enjoying a great start to 2020 and we hope to see you later in the year whether in Greece or Mauritius.

BOOT 2020 in Düsseldorf

Lilian en Peter van Wildwind zijn te vinden in hal 15 G 21, bij de stand van de Hobie Cat Klassenvereinigung.

What’s new for 2020?

Wildwind already boast the widest range of catamarans and dinghies at any sailing holiday company in Europe – and this year we’ve added even more to our amazing fleet in Greece.

Wildwind’s choir sings for you…!!!

Wishing you a very happy Christmas and a successful New Year

WE WON GOLD!

Wildwind was proclaimed Winner of the Best Activity/Sports Holiday Company for 2019. At the prestigious British Travel Awards Gala travel professionals were stunned and delighted that such a small nominated company had secured so many votes from the travelling public.

We are ready for you!! Meet the Team

Meet some of the new team: Nick, Guy, Ollie, Tom Grout, Joe, Mattia, Rick & Eve. 

Challenge yourself this summer – it’s good for your Health!

“Scientists have discovered that humans have something they call a “blue mind.” This means that our brains are hardwired to react positively to water. Watching the ocean, listening to the ocean, or being in the ocean, gives the brain a rest from overstimulation. Our brains do not shut down, they simply adjust how they  are working, giving them a much-needed break… Often followed by the release of the happiness chemicals – dopamine and serotonin.” 

So much more than a sailing holiday!

A Wildwind instructor with race winning ambitions

A Wildwind instructor with race winning ambitions

Wildwind supports sailing talent.

Our German agent Peter Kukla sails across the Atlantic. Here’s his story.

Our Amazing Fleet - just keeps growing...

Take a look at the ever-expanding Wildwind Fleet.  There is a boat or boats to suit everyone's taste!

Joe's Multihull Masterclass - May 12th and 19th.

Special Laser Training Weeks – 5th, 12th and 19th May. (5th May now full)

Meet Wildwind at BOOT 2019 in Düsseldorf

Lilian and Peter from Wildwind can be found in hall 15 G 21, near Prosail

Merry Christmas from the Wildwind Team

A little bit about how Christmas is celebrated in Mauritius and Greece..

What is it that sets Mauritius apart from other tropical Islands?

What is it that makes a holiday in Mauritius so special?  A combination of the history, the culture, the people and the food make for a magical holiday experience.

An amazing cat sailing experience at Vassiliki for disabled sailors.

Wildwind's resident Sailmaker Thanos organised a fantastic 2 day event for the Greek Sailability in September.  The sailors really enjoyed the thrill of sailing on cats.  The event was such a success that they are hoping to organise it again next year and Thanos has been honoured by the National Sailing Club in Greece.  

Thanks for joining us in Vassiliki this season

We would like to thank you all for visiting us this season and we look forward to seeing you again next year.  Look out for the new prices for 2019 from November 12th.

Warm weather warning!

Flight and early booking deals for our Mauritus Winter Escapes.  The quicker you book the better the price!

Pro Sail- Hobie 16

Hear all about the exclusive Pro Sailing event for Hobie 16s in Germany

The latest news

Ionian Regatta in September 2018

The annual Ionian regatta takes place on the third Thursday of September and is an event cherished in the Wildwind calendar.

Hobie European Championships 2018

A summary of all the news from the Hobie Europeans in Denmark.  Read on for more details of the Hobie 16 UK and European Evenst for next year...

Extreme Sailing in Cardiff – Special Offer for Wildwind guests and friends

If you fancy spectating or even crewing at the Extreme Sailing Series then check out the speical offer for Wildwind Clients. Extreme Sailing Series from 24th-27th August, Cardiff.

Why we love sailing and we are so keen to support it.

This article talks about how we at Wildwind love sailing and how we are keen to support in lots of areas -  from sponsorship to promotion and training.

Out and about in Lefkada

A few of our favourite places to see around the beautful Island of Lefkada.

Joyrider TV

Wildwind Vassiliki’s Centre Manager, Joe Bennett likes to share his passion for all things Vass through his You Tube Channel ‘Joyrider TV.’ Read on to find out about where you can find the latest in You Tube training tutorials.

Our Passion for Live Music

If you have been on a Wildwind holiday you will know how much we enjoy a bit of live music in the evening after a day of sailing.  We have 2 great fun evenings of food and live music everyweek at the Wildwind Centre.  We also organise special music and sailing weeks every season.

At Wildwind we are serious about Laser Sailing

At Wildwind we love our Lasers, not only do we buy a brand new fleet every year we also support the UK Laser Class Association through sponsorship and we offer intensive race training weeks every season with special guest coaches.

What the papers say about Wildwind

Georgie Corlett- Pitt the Editor of Yachts and Yachting Magazine, (the UK’s leading performance sailing magazine) came out to Vassiliki in August of last year to give the Wildwind experience a thorough test!

The new season is underway...

The new season kicked off with Laser and training weeks - hear all the latest news about the boats and instructors at the start of the 2018 season.

Wildwind and a love affair with Hobie Cats

Learn all about Wildwind's 30 year relationship with Hobie Cat.

Vassiliki + catamarans = lots of fun!!

Wildwind - Where it all started.

If you have been on a Wildwind Holiday you will know what a special place it is, we thought we would share with you the story of how it all began…

A day in the life of Wildwind’s kids club

Hear all about kids club from the parents and kids!!

“Kids club was real highlight for us, seeing our kids (8 & 5) gaining confidence at and having fun on the water.” Adriana, Renewable Energy Instructor

24th June week - A Very Special Date for your Diary

By popular demand we have been persuaded to run the eighth edition of the Vassiliki Watersports Festival this year, and we are delighted to tell you that the amazing band that performed in front of a huge audience on the beach in front of Vassiliki Town Hall have invited themselves back as they loved it so much last year!

Visit Greece in May and you’ll be amazed!

There is no place quite like Greece in May and if you have never experienced it, you must and here’s why…

First of all, you’ll be welcomed more than at any other time. After the long winter break the locals are extremely happy to be seeing clients to be returning to their businesses and enjoying their beautiful island. There are far fewer tourists around at this time of year than there are at the height of summer, so you can take advantage of great service and the feeling of being able to find your own little corner to escape to.

Secondly, there’s s freshness not only in the air but on the beach too.  Wake up to a dozen brand new Lasers and our foliing Aeros, as well as our refurbished fleet lovingly prepared for the start of the season.

Catamaran Trainingsweken 2018

Ook dit jaar organiseert Wildwind de jaarlijkse Catamaran-trainingsweken. Dit is altijd de perfecte gelegenheid om nieuwe 'tips and tricks' op te pakken en het zeilseizoen goed te beginnen. Wat is er mooier dan, terwijl het in Nederland nog best fris is, het warme water van de Middellandse Zee op te gaan op onze high-performance catamarans.

Laser Trainingsweken 2018

Wildwind organiseert dit jaar drie Laser-trainingsweken, beginnend op 5, 12 en 19 mei. Elke week zijn er vijf dagen met intensieve training die je de kans geven om zowel op het water als aan land te leren van echte experts. Er zijn oefeningen op het water en videofeedback in onze strandtent.

New RYA Foiling Courses available at Vassiliki

At Wildwind we are proud to be one of only a few locations to be offering the RYA pilot Foiling Courses for 2018.
Read on if you would like to pick up some pre-holiday tips and tricks from the Wildwind Team.

Wildwind at London Boat Show 10-14 January

Hobie hits Holland

It’s one of the biggest sailing regattas of the season: the Hobie 2017 Multiworlds & Europeans. Sponsored by Wildwind, almost 300 boats have registered for the event and Wildwind’s own Simon, Thanos and Hans will compete for the grand prize.

How Does a Catamaran Clinic Help You?

Since 2010 catamaran clinics have been a regular feature in Vassiliki, and once again we are kicking off our season with our intensive training weeks which offer top class race coaching to the club enthusiast.

"I don't think I would be where I am today if it wasn't for working at Wildwind." - Tris Best

Continuing with our ex-staff series we recently caught up with Tris Best who founded and runs the OTC UK centre in Weymouth.

The Wildwind Difference: YachtsandYachting.com speak to Base Manager Joe Bennett

Joe Bennett, Base Manager at Wildwind Vassiliki, has now worked for Wildwind for 20 years. Mark Jardine talked to Joe about why people come back time and again to Vassiliki, his own sailing, the Wildwind Cat Training Weeks and what he likes to do on his days off, including his favourite local restaurants.

Wild is the Wind at the Vassiliki Festival

The Vassiliki Festival celebrations are particularly special to us this year as it’s our official 30th Anniversary week and the line-up for the party is just epic. From the 26th June to 2nd July there will be some fantastic off-the-water entertainment and live music including the splendid David Bowie tribute band ‘The Bowie Legacy’.

Spectacular new self-catering villas in Vassiliki

We have some exciting news, we have just acquired some beautiful new accommodation at our Vassiliki centre. Now we not only provide top spec equipment, highly experienced RYA qualified instructors and a location with one of the most reliable wind patterns in the sailing world, but can also offer luxury villa accommodation.

Have you tried foiling yet? Top tips from Marko

In 2016 we invested in foiling kits for some of our Laser fleet, converting the standard everyday Laser in to a flying machine.

Wildwind Sponsor Hobie 2017 Multi Worlds & Europeans

This year the Hobie 2017 Multi Worlds & Europeans will be held in Noordwijk, Holland (a.k.a. ‘the beach of Amsterdam’) on the 20-29 July and we are proud to announce that we are once again sponsoring the event. We will be supporting ZV Noordwijk, in partnership with VR Sport Media, in the production of daily social media and video reports, and we will also be offering 2x one week holidays to our Vassiliki centre and 2x one-week holidays to our Mauritius centre as prizes (all excluding flights).

Wildwind Sponsored Y&Y Awards 2017 Winners Announced

After thousands of votes cast by readers of Yachts & Yachting magazine, the Wildwind sponsored 2017 Yachts & Yachting Awards were presented Thursday 12 January at the London Boat Show.

Best wishes from all of us at the Wildwind team, wherever you might be…

HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR

Wildwind's 30th Birthday and Vass Festival

Yes, Wildwind will be 30 next year!

30 years since Simon Morgan, the company’s founder, took a sabbatical from work in London, took in a few major sailing events including a 727 mile non-stop race in a Hobie 16 from Miami to Fort Walton beach, and eventually drove his VW campervan to a windy place called Vassiliki…and never looked back!

World Champion at Wildwind

Youth Training with current world champion this summer

We are extremely fortunate to have the current 420 World champion, Bryony Bennett Lloyd working as a member of staff at Wildwind this season. Bryony has to return home at the end of June to compete in the SB3 Nationals - after that she is keen to return to Vassiliki but she also needs to raise funds for her 2020 Tokyo Olympic campaign in the new 49er FX class – so we are offering 4 lucky WW youths each week from July 6th to get personal instruction from Bryony – at a cost of £100 per youth per week to be paid directly to Bryony to support her campaign.

If you are interested in having your kids take advantage of this very special opportunity then please contact Simon Morgan, Wildwind founder, at simon@wildwind.co.uk in the first instance.

PS See Bryony on video at the ISAF Worlds 2013 here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdQDLBLYZL8