Greek-Canadian James Roumeliotis runs Azure International yacht charters and set up the Athens Institute of Sailing, which runs sailing classes for foreigners. He talks to GreeceNow about this "sailor's paradise."

What makes Greece such a good place for sailing?

There are three things really. First, the climate is ideal Greece has 300 sunny days a year and good wind for sailing. Second, there are no tides to worry about in Greece, with all the extra problems that they create. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the countrys hundreds of islands make it a sailors paradise.

What are the advantages or disadvantages of taking a sailing holiday rather than a regular holiday?

The advantages are that you get to see a different place each day, many of which are only accessible by boat. You are also away from the crowds during summer.

Many people might think that a sailing holiday is much more expensive than a regular holiday, but in fact it costs about the same amount as spending each night in a three or four-star hotel.

When is the best time of year for a sailing trip in Greece?

The most popular season is during summer from mid-May to mid-September, but people sail all year round. In the Aegean the northerly wind, known as the meltemi, blows from mid-July to mid-August, at around 5 to 7 on the Beaufort scale. This kind of weather is really only for experienced sailors, so at this time of year many people choose to sail in the Ionian Sea where the conditions are milder.

How can a visitor organize a sailing trip in Greece?

Visitors without their own boat can rent a boat from a charter company. There are two charter options having a skipper on board or bareboat chartering without a skipper. Otherwise, for a little extra cost, you might choose to take part in a sailing course that will give you new skills and a certificate that you can use later.

What advice do you have for someone who is trying to choose between a skippered or bareboat charter?

There are advantages in taking a skippered boat which make for a more relaxing, trouble-free holiday. The skippers are experienced and have local knowledge of the areas you will be sailing to. It is their job to take care of any problems that occur along the way.

If you want to bareboat charter a yacht then at least one person from your group must have a recognized sailing certificate issued by any legitimate authority, including a sailing club, organizations such as the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) or the American Sailing Association (ASA) or in some cases a government licence. At least one other person on board must also produce a certificate or sign an affidavit saying that he or she has sailing experience. I normally recommend that you have at least 100 hours of sailing experience before you set off on a bareboat charter.