Water sports – take the plunge in Skyros

Learn sailing, canoeing, kayaking or wind-surfing on a Skyros holiday break - and a lot more besides. Water sports are ever popular on this holistic holiday experience on a beautiful Greek island, but you can also choose from 10 courses a week in subjects ranging from survival skills and abseiling, to flirting, ball-room dancing, mosaic and writing.

If dipping your toe in the water and trying out new adventures while you are on holiday appeals to you, then Skyros, in Greece is the place to head for.

This unspoilt island in the northern Aegean just happens to be home to the ground-breaking Atsitsa centre, run by Skyros Holidays (skyros.com), which provides life-changing and stress-busting breaks for the 21st century holiday-maker. It offers sun, sea and sand holidays with a difference – guests become part of a community sharing food and entertainment with the chance to try out a wide range of creative, therapeutic and adventurous fun courses during their stay.

BBC2 Travel Show’s Matthew Collins said: “This amazing place has really fascinated me. It is the perfect place for a proper holiday.”

On the water, sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and canoeing are on offer – for beginners and experienced sailors alike. The emphasis is on one-to-one tuition and tailoring lessons to suit holiday-makers.

“It’s a lovely secluded bay with an island just off the coast – perfect for learning all kinds of watersports. It’s absolutely safe – I have never had one person overboard. You don’t get much other traffic except for fishing boats,” said sailing instructor, Steve Smith, who was so inspired as a holiday-maker on Skyros years ago that he sold up his home in the UK so he could get fully qualified and spend time teaching on the island.

Now a Royal Yachting Association Cruising Instructor, Steve runs his own Big Blue Sailing company in Southampton (bigbluesailing.co.uk) but returns regularly to Skyros. “Atsitsa is like nowhere else. It’s very supportive, positive and fun. People get encouraged – if you want to do something, basically you can.”

“Some do get nervous but we aim to put everyone completely at ease. It’s a holiday and about having a good time, so people can learn as much as they want to. The level is set by them.”

Atsitsa is all about trying out new things in a supportive community setting and watersports are taught along the same principles. Participants learn on a 27 foot Jaguar yacht and casses are held morning and late afternoon. In one week it is usually possible to learn the rudiments of getting the boat out on the water, away from the moorings with the engine working and into the bay with the sails up – plus the ability to bring the vessel back in again. For more experienced people, instructors can provide advanced tuition or individual time on the boats.

“It’s more a sailing experience really and it gives you a taste of what is involved. Several people have told me afterwards they were going back home to take it further and do more training.”

“It’s hard to explain the magic. What I tell people on the first day is that there is simply nothing in the world like the moment when the wind fills the sails up and you find yourself on a boat being driven along through the water.“

Water sports are top of the popularity list when it comes to Atsitsa holiday-makers, but there is plenty more on offer too. People usually combine at least one water sport with other – sometimes unusual – activities like belly-dancing, T’ai Chi, trapeze, yoga, survival skills and mime. But with a choice of up to 10 courses a week (5 hours a day), you can also fit in some more leisurely pursuits like mosaic, photography, flirting tuition, writing and life choices and dream workshops. Or you can always just flop on a beach somewhere.

Atsitsa centre breaks in Skyros, Greece, start at £485 per week – and include meals, accommodation and all courses, excluding flights/transfers. To book online and for details of all Skyros Holidays vacations in Greece, Thailand, Cuba and Cambodia go to Skyros.com.