Cruising Greece
by Noonsite 30 May 2020 02:51 PDT
Greece Sailing - Agathonisi - Day 1 - Pythagorion, Samos to Agathonisi © Richard Gladwell
With many cruisers wanting to head to Greece this Summer or return to the country and re-commission their boats for the season, it's been an anxious few months.
Getting back to your boat is still a complicated process but further border openings are signalled for mid-June onwards and from then restrictions ease significantly.
Currently the only boats that can enter Greece are those with a boatyard contract, or in exceptional circumstances boats in transit that need safe haven (and ports are very limited).
Cruising boats in Greece are finally able to cruise freely between the Islands and this plus the scrapping of the DEKPA this year bodes well for Greek Island cruising this summer. Find out more in the Greece Bio-Security section.
The good news is that the EU have declared exceptional circumstances with Covid-19, meaning that anyone can apply for an extension to the 18 month temporary import limit for non-VAT paid boats.
With a quick run out of the EU to reset the VAT clock almost impossible due to current border closures this will ease many owners minds who have their boats in Greece, or indeed anywhere in Europe.
This article has been provided by the courtesy of noonsite.com.