Athens Sailing Academy is the oldest American Sailing Affiliate in Europe. For the past 20 years, we have been teaching students how to sail here in Greece, with the beautiful blue Aegean Sea as our backdrop. Our base is located in the Saronic Gulf, a stunning area known for its calm to moderate winds and abundant sights. Just a short cruise away, you’ll find the scenic Southern Peloponnese coastline, which boasts breathtaking, lush landscapes with fjord-style mountains and pristine white-sand beaches. Further afield, our students can explore the Cyclades Islands, the Sporades Islands, and the Dodecanese Islands, located near Turkey. All of these island groups are accessible to our students once they qualify with us for their Bareboat certification.
Our home port is on the island of Poros. The island is a 1-hour Fast ferry ride away from Athens. Once you leave the airport you can be at our base in 2 hours and on your yacht ready to go sailing. Poros Island is a wonderful cosmopolitan Greek island, it has a rich history of Greek Shipping moguls and local Greek village-style charm. The island is the gateway to the Saronic Island Group and the Southern Peloponnese coast.
Come and sign up by visiting our website athenssailingacademy Set sail on the Aegean Sea on one of our scheduled trips from July 12-19 or if you’re interested in exploring our school and need alternative dates please email us or call us, we are always happy to help.
Captain Jonathan Chandler opened the Athens Sailing Academy in 2005. He is a Greek citizen with dual nationality. Educated in England, he learned to sail from his father, who served in the British Royal Navy. Jonathan later joined the navy himself and served as an officer on frigates and destroyers before being transferred to the Maritime Police Force of the Royal Hong Kong Police. While in Hong Kong, he continued sailing and was selected to join the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s team to compete in the 1979 Admiral’s Cup. He was aboard “Uni ni Mara” during the tragic 1979 Fastnet disaster.
After completing his commission with the police force in 1981, he contracted with an American businessman to deliver a private yacht from Singapore back to San Francisco. Throughout the 1980s, he worked and lived in the United States in the marine industry as a professional yacht captain and racer. During this time, he collaborated with some of the most notable figures in the field, including Huey Long on the 82-foot maxi yacht “Ondine,” Bevin Koppel with “Congere,” George Coumantaros on “Boomerang,” and Jim Kilroy with “Kialoa 3.” Jonathan has logged hundreds of thousands of sea miles, including participating in the around-the-world Whitbread Race.
He returned to Greece in 1998 and established a yacht charter business, purchasing several yachts. Eventually, he decided that opening a sailing school would be a better option and a meaningful way to give back to the industry that had provided him so much. He opened the sailing academy in 2005 and became a full affiliate instructor in 2006. Jonathan has extensive knowledge in sailing and teaching all aspects of the sport
Capt. Chandlers certifications:
ASA instructor for : ASA 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106,
RYA : Marine Radio, First Aid.
RYA : Yachtmaster Offshore, Ocean.
Master Marine ticket as supplied by MOD UK.
In the Aegean Sea, there is no island too large or too small for you to conquer. Some islands are cosmopolitan and luxurious and some islands are pure and pristine with untouched beaches of timeless beauty. Some islands are arid and parched and islands with lush green trees and exotic beaches.
From the islands of the Dodecanese and Cyclades, on to the Sporades and the North Aegean and Crete … yachts, catamarans and boats of all kinds are ready to set sail. You can find yourself in a different landscape and on an island with a completely different vibe in the blink of an eye.
Syros and Naxos are the epicentre of Greek island-hopping in the Aegean. From Syros, you can easily reach Tinos, Mykonos, Kos, Leros, Patmos, Rhodes, Santorini and Anafi. Or start on Naxos and travel to Paros, Santorini, Amorgos, Astypalea, Ios, Folegandros and the so-called Small Cyclades islands.
And don’t forget the cluster of islands near Pelion called the Sporades (Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos… and a little further south, Skyros), adorned with world-famous beaches, both secluded and organised with water sports and other activities for you to enjoy. Or the North Aegean islands of Lesvos, Chios, Samos and Ikaria.
Please Note. This itinerary is meant to serve as an example, however, it is important to note that the actual itinerary is subject to change due to weather conditions or circumstances beyond our control.
We love the school, we have be back 3 times from Australia. Jonathan is an excellent instructor, amazing knowledge great person.The school yachts are in fantastic shape. Beautiful and stunning area to learn how to sail. Highly recommended.
Join Athens Sailing Academy and their instructors, learning to sail at our facility on Poros island, all our courses run for a week, starting on Saturday and finishing on a Saturday.
