A new yachting tax law was passed in Greece on the 14th of April introducing significant improvements to the legal and fiscal treatments on private and charter boats in Greek waters.

Some of the key points are:

·Abolition of special Yacht Tax imposed on private pleasure yachts since 2009 and contributory fees on 3^rd party flagged yachts imposed since 1999.

·Abolition of the tax for yachts flying a non-EU flag.

·All yachts (EU and non-EU flag) can charter in Greek waters providing they are longer than 35m, built of metal or GRP and can carry more than 12 passengers.

·Simpler registration for charter yachts. Yachts can obtain a charter license online by registering with the “Registry of Touristic Yachts and small vessels” and submit an application to the Ministry of Mercantile Marine and Aegean.

·Embarkation and disembarkation of passengers in Greek waters is allowed for EU and non-EU flags.

·Pleasure yachts can be chartered in Greek waters, with no limit on minimum number of charter days, as with commercial yachts.

·Owners of commercials yachts can now use their yacht privately without the need to draft a charter party or pay the previously relevant VAT.

·Financial leasing is allowed for pleasure and commercial yachts.

·Bareboat charter extends up to 24m yachts.

·No clearance requirements from Port Authorities for private yachts or chartered yachts with LOA less than 24m.

New flights started on 19^th of April from Schiphol airport in Amsterdam to the Ionian islands with Transavia airline.  There are two flights to Corfu and Lefkas while there is one flight to Kefalonia and Zakynthos.

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Departures are set as follows (local time):

The ICOMIA World Marinas Conference (WMC) opened its doors on Monday June 2 in Istanbul to start an event with a truly international character. Some 225 guests arrived from every continent, covering 27 countries. With over 50 speakers from all over the world and an impressive programme of seminars on the global marina industry and emerging markets, ICOMIA WMC is the leading light in ensuring the successful future development of marina facilities around the globe.

After the opening ceremony was concluded, the 200-plus marina professionals present joined various sessions designed to facilitate knowledge and information exchange. The primary areas of focus were on new opportunities in emerging markets, different approaches to marina management, and the diversity of regulations and legislation related to marinas and boating.

The President of the Greek Marinas Association, Mr. Stavros Katsikadis and the Vice Presidnet and General Manager of K&G, Mr. Nikos Koutsodontis,were among the speakers and contributed to the program sharing their insights and experience.

The Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature has announced that, Greece was ranked 2^nd on the Blue Flag quality awards this year among 51 countries. In total, 408 beaches and 10 marinas in Greece have been recognized for their excellent seawater quality, litter management, organization of the swimming area, safety procedures for bathers and protection of the environment, among other factors.

The Cultural Center of the Municipality of Lefkas welcomed Friday, May 9, 2014 an original sailing mission with the title "Odyssey" from the twinned town Leucate in southern France.  The group of twenty French sailors led by the Director of the Marina of Leucate, Bruno Troqueraud, made ​​the journey Leucate-Vallearides-Sardinia-Sicily-Lefkas in eleven days. Their purpose was to learn about the island and its beauty but also to introduce this trip annually involving crews from both cities.

On Friday 9^th of May, the Mayor of Lefkas hosted a welcome reception at Lefkas Marina where the boats of the mission were hosted.  Mr. Bruno Troqueraud met with representatives of the Nautical Club of Lefkas which invited in Leucate and thanked Mr. Spiros Dallas, General Manager of Lefkas Marina, for hosting the French vessels and expressed the view that the Lefkas marina is a very well organized Marina.

MS Tûranor PlanetSolar is the largest solar boat ever built that has accomplished in 2012 the first around the world tour only powered by solar energy. In 2013, together with the Geneva University the boat transformed into a scientific platform to carry out an exclusive measurement campaign along the Gulf Stream

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 In 2014 the boat will again be used for research, in Greece this time and will be  visiting Zea marina for 2 days. 

For more information and the exact arrival date please visit http://www.planetsolar.org