RETREAT FOR AUTHORS ON THE SAILING SHIP IN GREECE

Sat., April 5th (arrival) - Sat., April 12th 2025 (departure) - 7 nights. OR:

Sat., April 19th (arrival) - Sat., April 26th 2025 (departure) - 7 nights.

For individually adapted dates: Please ask when booking two cabins for two people each.

Accomodation: Private sailing yacht KISIWA of Julia Q. and Ralf BURGstaller in the (gues) haul. Celebrating the simple, yet luxurious life, we share our galleys (kitchen & shower as well as toilet). These are, considering the circumstance, that they are on a ship, spacious and modern.

Location: In and around Actium, Preveza, Lefkas, Ambracian Gulf, Ionian Sea.

Goal: Using the tranquility on the sea and on beaches for writing and the other times for inspiration and relexation.

Daily procedure:

Early writing from about 06:30 (optional)

Breakfast

Writing together outside (beach & additional inspiring locations)

Entspannen auf See: Weiterreise zum nächsten Ort (oder weiter in die Tastatur hacken)

Relax on sea: Continue to the next spot (or keep hitting the keyboard)

Stopover on land (optional)

Dinner on land, or on board

Late writing from about 8:30 pm (optional)

day 1:

Arrival: Arrival in Actium (Preveza/Lefkada), historic location full of history over thousands of years, orientation, settling in, probably stopover on land.

day 2:

"Lonely beach": We enjoy the tranquility on a hidden beach in the Ambracian Gulf, will not be distracted by screeching sea gulls, charge energy with the mediterrranean sun and write with likeminded.

In the afternoon we set sail towards Preveza.

Discovering Preveza: Explore the fishing town with its new yacht port. Poke around in little artist's shobs in the pedistrian zone, or spoil your palate with rustic Greek cuisine.

Write on board with colleagues, still full of energy.

day 3:

"book shop": "Buchhandlung": We absorb the world of words in a local book shop, enjoy Greek-style coffee, while we hit our keyboards.

We lift the ancor and make our way to the island Lefkas. (Gr.: Lefkada = the white island).

Keep writing on board with motivated authors.

day 4:

"Clear water": By the Ionian Sea, on the island of Lefkada, we keep typing, have the wind from southern Italy stroke our nose and taste the salt on our tongues.

KISIWA bobs along towards its next destination.

Depending on the weather- and wind conditions, an excursion to the capital of the island with the same name might be possible.

day 5:

"natural beach": We find new perspectives on the main land, opposite the island and our fingers type miraculously.

Our floating accommodation keeps floating target-oriented in the afternoon.

The FREE workshop "suspension in writing" is offered on board in the evening. Suspension is the salt of every story, every text. We dig into the spice container and sprinkle our text with them.

Writing for night owls in the late hours.

day 6:

"New land": We discover and besiege an unknown village (Ag. Nicolaos).

After its conquest, we keep swimming towards our next destination with our catamaran.

Today the dark hours can be used for our bright reflections too.

day 7:

"Antiquity": We relocate a couple of thousand years into the past, awaken ghosts and lock them into sentences.

Relaxing evening, preparation for departure, or going on shore.

Tag 8:

Departure. Individual.

I have worked on a main structure with great pleasure and have tested all the locations thoroughly. Of course, you have the freedom to omit single parts.

Landings and take-offs of the ship are subject to the weather and tides, which is why we will have to adapt accordingly, to be able to work as best as we can for your safety.

Additional information:

It is necessary to arrive with soft bags, or backpacks (NO suitcase!), as only those can be brought on board.

Deprive of a lot of luggage! This way you can engage better and leave ballast and burden at home. Your live on board is easier this way, as re-finding a lot of items makes it more difficult.

(drinking)water: Free on board from our tank, which is filled by our desalination device, or external drinking water.

Additional drinks for a fee, as long as they are on stock.

A transfer from and to the ship, which is mainly on anchorage, is included for our writing locations. Additional rides are charged with €/CHF 5,-- one way. Additional transfers are only possible from our anchorage spot and if hte hight of the waves allow so. The security of the ship, as well as the functional implementation have to be considered, which is why rides with the dingi (little transport boat) can not be guaranteed any time. I am confident though, that we are able to agree on useful transportation, if we communicate early enough. It will mainly be possible to swim ashore, because of the short distance. Probably a SUP will be available, which can be rent for €/CHF 10,--/h. .

In case all passengers agree on docking in a port under the condition it is applicable to the program, weather and other crucial factors, port fees will be applicable, which will be spread over the amount of passengers.

Using the ship and its facilities takes adaption. Hardly anything, which can be taken for granted on land, can be treated as such on board. To be able to grant a peaceful life with each other and the protection of our direct environment, the sea, we need your help and cooperation and careful implementation of our board rules, which will be explained upon arrival. Don't worry, nothing is difficult or complicated, yet life saving for certain devices, which make a comfortable life on a certain standard possible.

We are going to hear and see each other. Granting the other person's privacy, requires a different kind of adaptation, then on land.

Get involved with new experiences! Try to enjoy the culture and habits of the innate regions, to use the advantages and different perspectives for yourself.

Life on board is also connected to challenges and its mastering always makes us grow at the end.

Accomodation / Living:

- Do we have our own shower?
No, we have to share a clean shower. Let's experience and be inspired by simplicity!

- Do we have our own toilet?
No, we have to share a clean toilet/bathroom. Let's enjoy simplicity!

- Will you put me in a cabin with someone else?
No. Absolutely not. If you bring someone, please check our better price for a shared spot.

Activities:
- Do I have to participate in every writing session?
Absolutely not. You are free to use your time in different ways.

- Is the program flexible? Do I have to join all of the yoga classes?
Yes, it is flexible. You do not have to join all of the writing sessions, or the free workshop.

Arrival / Departure:

- Are the dates flexible or do you have any other retreat dates than this one? (if host is one time / multiple)
If you fully book the ship (for four people), it is quite flexible. We can arrange something in this case.

- Can you arrange an airport transfer? How far is it from the airport?
We might be able to check an airport transfer for you. We are simply not able to promis it. The location of the ship always depends on the weather.
However: Preveza/Aktio airport is VERY CLOSE and it is easy to get taxis there.

- Is a shorter or longer stay possible?
Shorter and longer stays are possible, please simply contact us for that.

Emergency:
- What, if I become ill, some days before?
Please check the conditions; still: don't forget to simply contact us and we will be able to arrange a new writing retreat for you.

- Will I be able to get off the ship, in case I can't do it (sea sickness, …)?
Of course! We help you and have a dingi for transportation.

General:
- Are solo travelers safe / welcome?
Yes, of course. Simply check our pricing models.

- Can a child join the retreat or can I bring along my children? (under 12)


Unfortunately not.
The ship is not ready for child savety, which is quite particular on a yacht.
Secondly: We would like you to write! 😉 That is the main goal! ✍

- Can I bring along my pet(s)?
Unfortunately not.
The ship is not ready for animal savety, which is quite particular on a yacht.
Secondly there are many stray cats and dogs, which make it even more difficult.

- How many people will be on the retreat?
Up to 4 max.

- Is this suitable for teenagers? (12 to 18)
No. For responsibility and insurance reasons people need to have the legal age of adulthood (of your country and Greece).

- What is the average age range?
As we can only take up to four people in one of our exclusive tours, the average age varys a lot. However: I (organiser, boat owner, writer, ...) am a 1975er and my husband (boat owner, skipper, maintenance officer, ...) is a 1969er.

Nature:
- Does the ship move a lot?
No. Especially, because it is a catamaran. If you are still not sure about sea sickness, please simply bring some pills, just in case. Ear plugs are very helpful too.