boat hire in Corfu · Wauquietz — Amphitrite 43 (1979)

ASTERIAS is a true classic. The hull number 49/138 was on the road in Holland for a long time and has now arrived in the Ionian Sea. The design was conceived for long stays on board. It is correspondingly generous. You won't find a similarly large aft cabin on any other charter sailing yacht as here. The armchairs in the saloon also underline the demand for comfort and spaciousness. There is also enough space on deck for the small number of people in relation to the length of the boat. There is no air conditioning, but windscreens cool the cabins during the night. There is a sunroof on deck and one of the numerous shrouds is always in the right place to hang up one of the numerous sun sails. Thanks to the ketch rig, the sails can always be optimally adapted to the wind conditions, and the engine, which was completely overhauled in 2023, ensures reliable propulsion when the wind is calm. At anchor, a dinghy with an outboard engine ensures the connection to shore and a SUP provides fun. In the port, 5 bicycles guarantee mobility and the opportunity to discover the interior of the country behind the coasts - they have also proven to be very practical for shopping. ASTERIAS is based in Benitses, near Corfu Airport, from where the wonderful Ionian Sea can be explored ideally. The diversity of the landscape can be seen in the north of the island of Corfu, where the sea opens far to the north and east. In between lie the Othonian Islands in a rather shallow basin, while the Albanian mountains rise to the west and the Pantokrator to the south. Where the stunningly beautiful coasts of Albania to the east and Corfu to the west almost touch, the Northern Strait of Corfu leads into the Kerkiraiki Thalasa, the Gulf of Corfu. There is also a lot to discover here, such as Aleko's fish restaurant in Sagiada or the UNESCO World Heritage, the old town of Corfu. The Syvota islets, with their fine white sand, close off the gulf to the south. From here the sea opens up again to the south and east. Right in the middle are Paxos and Antipaxos, with their rugged west and lovely east coasts. Further south, it is worth taking a detour east through the Preveza Canal into the Amvrakian Gulf. We have seen dolphins, flamingos and turtles here - and only a few other boats. Finally, we continue south through the Lefkas Channel, where the small, lovely island of Meganisi with its deeply incised bays lies sheltered behind Lefkas.