Mr Barcas, who owns the fastest sailing boat on the island of Santorini, tells us about sea excursions in the most romantic Greek island and explains why should someone live the experience of a tour there.
Mr Barcas, tell us a few things about Barca Sailing. How did you come up with the idea of that business?
Well, it was one of my dreams, a certain thought I had every time I participated in sailing races. I consider myself very lucky, since I managed to combine my hobby with business.
How many years has Barca Sailing been operating?
Summer of ’15 was the fourth year of operation.
Why should the visitor of Santorini experience a sailing tour?
Those who chose our boat for a trip are going to discover the beauties of the island via sea. We take them to the most popular landmarks of the island, such as the Caldera, the White and Red Beach, Ia, the volcano, the island of Thirassia… And you know what? These places are so beautiful, that even us, who are used to see them every day, enjoy every minute of our visit there. It’s like seeing these destinations for the very first time!
How long does this sea trip last?
The tour lasts 5 hours and includes swimming and lunch on board. We prepare shrimps, barbequed potatoes with cheese, but we also serve veggie pasta, pilaf with mussels, authentic Greek salad, tzatziki… not to mention the drinks. You can enjoy plenty of drink, there is no restriction.
I heard some people call you “Captain Cook”. What is this about?
That’s my nickname! Someone saw me cook on board, holding –not a hook- but the pincers and everyone begun to call me that.
How many persons can this cruise boat host?
We travel with up to 12 persons. Unless it’s a special occasion, such as a bachelor party, a yoga or pilates event etc.
Tell us about that. You undertake events on board, don’t you?
Yes indeed. Barca Sailing is ideal for special occasions private tours, like wedding, baptism and birthday parties, and many more.
Do you have famous customers? Are there celebrities who lived the experience of Barca Sailing?
Yes, of course. We have travelled with the Vice President of Panama, the singer Vassilis Karras, a great Russian singer named Suras, a talented comedian of Japan (I never manage to recall his name unfortunately), the football player Simao, a basketball player of NBA… and various others. We have had amazing time with them all.
So, we are officially talking about VIP tours…
Yes, exactly. And depending on the customer, we get serious… or not! Just kidding. We have lived really beautiful moments during private a la carte tours. We have seen men asking their beloved to marriage, we have organized for couples the setting for romantic tours, and other similar.
What is the price for the classical sea tour, meaning the cost per person.
The 5-hour classic tour costs 125 € per person and includes everything, from swimming equipment to lunch on board and drinks. You can tell that our customers are satisfied and happy if you take a look at their comments on tripadvisor, where they mention that our services really worth every euro. For me, it’s a good price, and I have no intention or raising it.
Let me ask one more thing. Why did you choose Santorini to start this business, and not another island?
I had been working in the field of port constructions for many years. Diving and racing sailing were my hobbies. When I returned from a trip to Libya, 4-5 years ago, a friend of mine suggested I should take the boat and work with it. Once I started, I really felt that this is what I love to do, and to be honest, I like to talk about my skills on the sea. Please forgive me if I sound arrogant, but, when on board, I only sail. When the air helps, the boat machines remain on the off mode.
That must be a nice experience for tourists, right?
That’s for sure. Only sailing, without hearing the machine noises. An amazing travel experience with the fastest boat of Santorini.
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