SHOOTING STAR | 2008

Christos & Nina,
Can we please spend an entire summer on the Shooting Star? This question is a testament to our spectacular sail this month and that our family of four – three of whom had never before slept on a boat – wishes for this: me, my husband Karl, and our two boys, Konrad (15) and Wesley (12).
It’s been a lifelong dream of ours to visit Greece and explore these islands. We were met with extraordinarily windy weather and a first day of sailing having us navigate waves upward of 1.5 m.
Christos recognized Wesley’s oncoming seasickness and immediately had him at the helm, his background instructing sailing in full gear. Wesley manned the wheel for an hour. Every time I had a moment of worry, I looked at Christos in the cockpit, relaxed, smiling and confidently coaching Wesley, and at Nina, serene in the huge bean bag chair at the bow, not flinching as we heard plates and glasses banging in the kitchen cupboards; Christos engaging us in endless conversation of stories at sea and at home, other worldwide travels, extreme pursuits and hours of analysis of the NBA and World Cup (much to Konrad’s bliss). Blankets were at the ready, dolphins played at the bow, the horizon glimmered to watch.
After two days the winds died and, looking back, thankfully our itinerary had to be completely rejigged. Christos expertly arranged everything for us the remaining days. All we discovered of these islands feels a dream:
Deserted coves and swimming holes, charming ports, wonderful shopping spots, a hike to an active excavation site of the Temple of Apollo, and fantastic restaurants (Omega’s on Sifnos, my favourite).
We can’t imagine this week without Nina’s sweet, calming presence, so accommodating our every request from the boys and an uncanny ability to anticipate our needs before we knew of them: a perfectly sweetened iced matcha on a sunny afternoon; a plate of sweet treats and biscuits for the boys; homemade white bean hummus after a lake day island exploration; lunches encompassing the tastes of the Mediterranean, satisfying, balanced, healthy and delicious; and breakfasts that we lingered over every morning with a second (or third) cup of decadent coffee, crepes with hazelnut spread, a fresh fruit medley, sourdough with tahini, eggs, avocado and lime, and the boys’ favourite scrambled eggs with butter and olive oil, and mounds of yogurt with muesli and berries.
All this while coordinating with three other families, our friends, on a beamy gulet not made for the Cyclades.
Christos and Nina, thank you for making this experience unforgettable, for keeping us safe during inclement weather, engaging with the kids, answering our endless questions about Greece, the Aegean and sailing, and the back-and-forth and back-and-forth tendering to shore and our friends’ boat, catering to our every request; and hosting us on the pristine and most special Shooting Star.

With sincere gratitude and plans to return!
Tara, Karl,Konrad and Wesley.

Christos & Nina,
Thank you both for an amazing sailing week through the Greek islands. We had such a wonderful time and it wouldn't be the same without you.
Christos, thank you for getting us everywhere safely and for showing your love of the islands. You made every day so fun! Drone & toys!!! Nina, as you know we loved every meal, they were incredible. We wish we could take you home with us! You are talented and charming!
Thank you for your kindness, hospitality and all your special memories!
Best always!
Janice & Bill

Thank you both for all of the hospitality, delicious food and memories! We will have to come back to Angie's cove with Angie and we will all be reunited. We will miss you all and are so grateful for our time on the SHOOTING STAR!
Best,
Wigh & Gus

Our sail charter on the SHOOTING STAR exceeded every expectation!
Christos & Nina were so friendly, attentive and knowledgable. Christos treated this boat as his own. I was so impressed with his seamanship. Nina's cooking was inovative and delicious! Her detail to her craft was amazing. This trip was a perfect blend of adventure and relaxation! I loved every minute of out trip!
Bill.

A huge thank you to Christos and Nina for this magnificient holiday in the Cyclades!
You managed to create so much more than just a sailing trip, a warm, joyful, and cheerful atmosphere. Always smiling, always attentive, always ready to ask if we would something to drink, eat, swim, paddleboard, or simply enjoy the moment. You τοοκ excellent care of us from beginning to end.

Thank you also for all your great advice, the restaurant recommendations, the places to visit, the beautiful coves, but above all, for your humor, your kindness, and the wonderful support that made the atmosphere on the boat as pleasant and relaxed.

We can tell, you truly love making people happy and you went above and beyond to ensure everyone had an unforgettable holiday. We're leaving with wonderful memories and only one desire: to come back!!!
And i promise Christos, next time we will swim and the sea will surely be much warmer! See you very soon and thanks again for everything!

Nina, I really wanted to thank you for everything you prepared for us during these holidays, because honestly, a holiday where you don't eat well isn't a real holiday!
You put so much love into your dishes, and it showed in every meal. We could also see how much care you took with the presentation. It was beuatiful and above all, delicious!
You're a fantastic cook!
You make a wonderful team.
If your route takes you through Belgium, you are welcome to visit us!
Marianne

Captain Christos steered with grace, Giannis kept a smiling face.
Calm seas, cool dips, and food divine,
Even the kids behaved (most of the time!).
The wind was shy, but came to play. What a perfect Greek holiday!
Thank you for a lovely time!
Francois, Annika, Willem, Thais, Lazuli.

Christos and Yiannis were phenomenal crew member!!!
- Christos is a master sailor, we ride the waves smoothly, even on windy days. It was an amazing experience!
- Yiannis was a brilliant cook, always creating an unexpected and tasty Greek cuisine. I think we received full Greek authenticity with Yiannis cooking.
Both Christos and Yiannis were passionable and the enthusiasm on doing what they love made our experience one to remember forever. When we come back to the Cyclades, we would love to have Christos and Yiannis as our captain and chef again!
Emir!

Christos & Yiannis, our heartfelt gratitude for your warm hospitality, outstanding cruising, and a genuine culinary tour of Greek cuisine! Christos, you are a master of your craft, an authentic sailor at home on the sea. I would sail anywhere with you and trust your skills and judgment. Yiannis, you too have mastered your craft. We learned much about Greece through your creations, to say nothing of the multitude of wonderful meals we enjoyed. Looking forward to our paths crossing again!
Markin
Christos and Yiannis,
What an absolute dream this entire week has been on your Shooting Star. The memories we have all made this past week will no doubt bring our hearts joy for the rest of our lives, and we are indebted to you both for that gift!
Christos,
You have clearly reached the point in your career when no matter the weather, the crowd, or any other sea-related inconvenience, you trust your knowledge and experience on the sea to successfully carry your boat to your next destinations. Watching you sail this wonderful sailboat was both relaxing and awe-inspiring, because everything you did, you did it with ease. Thank you for sailing us to the islands you chose to sail us to. Thank you for choosing the specific routes you chose so that our experience would be as pleasant as possible. Thank you for making the landplans as swiftly as you did the sea-plans. We would not have changed a thing!
Yiannis,
We were all shocked to have learned, halfway through the week, that you had not, in fact, been serving as a sailor chef, on the water, for your entire life. To think that this is your first summer on board is astonishing, because you have mastered each of your roles in such a short time. Yes, we recognize, that you've been a chef, since you were a pre-teenager but it is one thing to command a kitchen on land, and another to do it in a narrow, teetering kitchen inside a sailboat'scabin. Each and every meal was prepared as if we were dinning at a Michelin star restaurant. It felt criminal to leave any food uneaten, since we knew we'd never have foo quite this delicious again, so we all probably gained 5kg by finishing as much of each meal as possible. But we gained the weight happily.
Highlights from the week(this list is by no means comrehensive):
- sailing across the Aegean sea
- anchoring at night, to some of the most beautiful blue waters, unique coastal views and starry nights we've had the pleasure to see.
- 5 star, truly world class meals (service)
- seeing the lunar eclipse from the sea
- taking a water-taxi on a paddleboard being towed by Emir to a beach(done at least 3 times)
- sea glass hunting
- learning that the word ''sorry'' can fit itself into every sentence of communication almost seamlessly
- making what we anticipate will be lifelong friendships with two of the most remarkable, fun, caring, experts (captain and chef) of their craft Greek sailors that we may ever have the pleasure of meeting.
Thank you over and over again, for this remarkable once in a lifetime experience on the Aegean!
- Most sincerely and with deep admiration and respect -
Marty, Mallory, Libby and Emir.

Another beautiful trip with brilliant Cristos and the incredible chef, Yiannis! What a team! Thank you for the most special days and food, for discovering new islands and and a refreshing course in steering for Gigi. Such a special end to our holiday!
Cristos, thank you and safe seas!
p.s. Until next year!

What a beautiful and delicious odyssey. Thank you for the most magical and my favorite days of the summer, Christos and Yannis. I shall always remember my fabulous sailing time to Patmos and I cannot wait for our next sail together. Will be dreaming of Shooting Star, the aegean and sensational lobster spaggeti on a rainy London day!
Gigi
Ευχαριστώ, Χρήστος και Γιάννης, ήταν πολύ ωραία και υπέροχη η ιστιοπλοία, και το φαγητό νόστιμο.
Κλαίρ
Όλα ήταν τέλεια!

Dear Christos! Dear Yannis!
Thank you so much for this wonderful trip through the Aegean! If anyone asks us if we liked it, well, we simply say it wouldn't be better! A very competent captain, a very talented chef with great ideas, a stunning landscape and perfect weather.
We sincerely look forward to seeing you again soon!

Dear Christos and Yiannis,
Thank you so much for an unforgettable trip sailing the islands. We had an absolute blast, you have both been extremely kind and accomodating.
Yiannis, your cooking was way beyond our expectations and simply delicious, we especially loved the lobster finale! :)
Christos, thank you for taking us to the best towns and bays, to see the best fish and experiences!
We will for sure return soon!
Lots of love,
Max, Anna, Aaron, Chiara, Lea

Christos and Yiannis,
A huge thank you to the greatest crew on the seven seas. This week was magnificent and memorable, the perfect introduction to the never ending possibilities of the greek islands. It has been great getting to know you both of you, as an incredible chef(especially given the kitchen size) and Christos, a calm and confident navigator and captain. I hope to see you both soon in Athens, and beyond!
All the best for now,
Aaron
ps. don't worry, there is waves everywhere...
Dear Christos and Yiannis,
You have made our holidays a dream!!!
All were perfect and we will miss you already..
For the cooking to the sailing and the planning to being on top of everything. I hope to see you in the future and wish you the best. You have helped us create unforgettable sailing holidays that we will cherish forever!
Thanks!

Thank you for such a wonderful time on the boat, I enjoy every moment, from swimming under rocks, on sailing in 30 knot wind, I found it very gently. The food was also amazing with very unique tastes! The beds were very comfy!
Thank you to Yanni and Christo!

Thank you guys both for being an incredible Crew and Captain!
After thoroughly consideration I have listed you two as my favorite hosts of the tour charters I have been on! You were always happy colorful and playful! Thank you Yanni for always making delicious meals and keeping the boat imaginary clean and thank you Christos for being an incredible Captain! I have loved the islands authenticity, so thank you both very much fro making such a wonderful experience possible!

Dear Christos & Yannis,
What an incredible week it went away too fast! We loved every new island, every authentic port, every hidden swimming spot. This is our 4th summer sailing with our boys in Greece but the first starting from Kos to head into the deeper Dodecanese. These islands are so special, some we've never heard of..most! It felt like true holiday and i've hardly even thought of my phone! Can't say the same for the boys but..! :) , Pierce and Spence have loved it all! Thank you for being so playful and for connecting with them, that means so much for two tired parents!!!
Christos, you have showed so much knowledge and positivity and humor , I think even you had some ''firsts'' this trip, so i hope we were good company and a full week for you too!
Yannis, you get more creative by the day! Your food and hospitality are wonderful and you are so easy to talk to and kind. Thank you for your warmth and determination to think of everything to make us all so enjoyable.
Anyway, that's enough from me! Thank you so much from all of us!!! Smooth sailing, fair winds and following seas!
Aillia, Roeland, Pierce, Spence

Go on with the wind!
Once again on "Shooting Star", while the world is shouting and shooting with gales and gusts we greet the great and glorious gifts of the gods to Greece plus growing admiration for general ''IRON MAN'' Captain Christos, gymnastics ogn board and sea, gastronomic Chef Gianni's goodies galore.
Gee whiz guys and gals!
Getgoing with glamourous Beatrice and godawful punster Francois with love!

Christo & Gianni
Thank you for a trip we will nerver forget! The boat was fantastic - what a bed in the bow! I had trouble waking up everyday. I loved the monohull - No more Catamarans for Margie & I.
But the boat is nothing compared to Captain Christo & Giannis. We had a harrowing wind at Vathy & a suip that was the eye of a needle. Captain Christos slid the 66 foot Shooting Star in - He 'stuck the landing' what a great Crew! Gianni the genius - a master chef. I gained 5 pounds and so happy i did.
We will be back.. This trip the Dodecanese - The next time the Cyclades and soon!
Fair winds & a travelling sea.
We had the best time and the food was fantastic! I will never forget this trip!

Dear Cristo & Gianni,
You two were wonderful! This is our first sailing trip in Europe. You made it fun and at the same time very safe. We had wonderful food and conversation. We loved your stories and sense of humour. You guys were very professional and yet as we got to know you , your humor and personality showed through. Thank you so much for making us feel welcomed. We appreciated you guys very much!
Love, from California.

Friends,
Thank you so much for your professionalism and making our journey amazing. The food was amazing! The Captain was the best i have ever experienced!
Thank you for teaching us to tie knots and how to speak with the locals. Please visit us in Seattle!
Much love!