Kairos // Palermo, Capo Gallo, Trapani

your Sailing Area

Sicily, Italy

Set sails from the ancient capital city of Sicily – Palermo. Oozing with 12th-century architecture, the main Cathedral houses royal tombs, while the huge neoclassical Teatro Massimo is known for opera performances. Palermo is a great starting point for your luxury sailing holiday aboard Kairos where you will spend the voyage discovering the surrounding coastline and Aegadian islands. All destinations are subject to the wind and weather but should give guests a good idea of what to expect!

Our first stop is likely to be the coastline surrounding Palermo made up of the Capo Gallo Nature reserve. This beautiful rugged coastal boasts steep cliffs and deep caves making it a great habitat for falcons, buzzards and owls.

The tiny island of Ustica sits off the north coast of Sicily and if the winds are in favour, Kairos will endeavour to sail here.  White washed harbour villages line the crystal clear waters are perfect for swimming and snorkelling as the area is a protected marine reserve.The island is also home to a fascinating prehistoric village and Roman settlement forts.

The Aegadian islands are made up of three main islands with Favignana being the top of Kairos’ list to explore. Rocky cliffs and outcrops bathed in Italian sunshine roll into the crystal clear water where snorkelling and enjoying Kairos’ on board water-sports is a must! Wander the sleepy harbour villages and enjoy the relaxed Italian lifestyle with coffee in the beautiful piazza’s.

The harbour town of Trapani sits on the West coast of Sicily, not far from the Aegadian islands and is another fine example of Italian culture and hospitality. A bustling port where honey hued houses meet azure blue waters and traditional fishing boats line the harbour. Wander the back streets as you soak in the maze of ancient medieval churches and golden mansions.

Cefalù is a traditional fishing city on the Northern coast of Italy known for its Norman cathedral and elaborate Byzantine mosaics fortress. Topped as one of Sicily’s finest beaches, Cefalù also offers some medieval churches, glorious piazza’s and stunning mountain backdrops.

This Sicilian sailing adventure with Kairos is one of pure relaxation and exploration as you discover the beautiful coastline and surrounding islands of Sicily.

All voyages for Kairós

Kairós

Guest berths: 14 Rig: Bermuda Schooner

Luxury yacht Kairós offers an unforgettable sailing holiday experience in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea. A purpose-built charter vessel designed with the beautifully elegant lines of a classic boat, Kairós gives guests the ultimate luxury sailing experience with 5* service and private ensuite cabins. She spends her winters in Greece before sailing in Croatia, Corfu and Italy during the summer months.

This beautiful schooner is the creation of Andreas Steidle-Sailer a passionate sailor and visionary with a love of classic yachts. He realised that sailing on board beautiful classic yachts was often only accessible to the super-rich and wanted to create an opportunity for anybody to be able to sail in luxury on a modern yacht with classic lines. He teamed up with Klaus Röder in 2007, who based his design on a classic yacht whilst keeping up with the modern-day schooners, built for performance sailing and guest comfort.

Kairós offers cabin charter berths for up to 14 guests. She has six private en-suite double cabins (all named after iconic classic yachts) with full walk-in shower cubicles and one small double cabin with a wet room ensuite. All her cabins have full air conditioning, teak interior finishes, and full-size double beds. There’s a bar and navigation station in the midships, and below decks, she has a large saloon area with comfortable leather seating and dining.

Built with luxury in mind, the deck’s outline is teak and mahogany, with plenty of space to sunbathe, read a book and enjoy the views. All the sails are electronically retractable, so there is no need to “learn the ropes” here!  An admiralty ladder provides the perfect place to jump off into the warm Mediterranean waters, swim, and climb back aboard easily. Kairós also offers her guests the option of using her paddle-boards, snorkelling and water sports equipment too!

Read more about what to expect from life onboard here.

The crew service is unquestionable 5* and generally will consist of the Captain, first mate, deckhand, chef and two stewards. You will most certainly be looked after during your time aboard Kairós. 

Cabins explained…

Deluxe Cabin: This cabin has one large double bed and an ensuite with a walk-in shower cubical.
Small Double Cabin:  This cabin has one small double bed, an ensuite toilet, and a shower wet room. It is suitable for solo travellers or two young guests.

Deck plan

More about Kairós

Life on board 

Our sailing holidays on board Kairós are ones of luxury, style and comfort while exploring sunshine destinations and unforgettable locations. A purpose built charter vessel, Kairós was designed with the elegant sailing lines of a traditional classic boat and is perfect for couples or multi-generational families looking for a luxury adventure on the water.

Authentic Sailing Fun

Sailing with Kairós is certainly one of comfort and relaxation. Think of a boutique, intimate classic sailing experience where nothing is too much trouble. Her dedicated and professional crew are highly trained and well-versed in a smooth sailing operation. 

She has an impressive sail area and her rig is electronically operated with retractable sails so there is no need to “learn the ropes” here! That being said, there are still traditional pin and tails if guests want to have a taste of authentic sailing. 

Although there is less focus on the “hands-on” sailing of Kairós, the Captain and crew offer interesting sailing talks and information briefs for guests during the voyage. Learn about the history of the boat, its sailing terms and even take a tour of the engine room if you fancy! Understanding these elegant classic vessels and feeling their power with the wind is truly an unforgettable experience.

Sleeping and Relaxation

Every space on Kairós is considered with the guests at the forefront of all design. From the spacious saloon, private ensuite cabins clad in tropical wood to the sweeping open decks with plenty of sun lounging spaces – the boat is certainly oozing 5* luxury.

The generously proportioned cabins all have plenty of luggage storage, full size domestic showers and air conditioning units. Kairós has six double cabins and two smaller twin bunks. All bedding, towels and a robe per person are included in the ticket price. Each cabin is named by the winds of the sea and this matches the allocated swim towel set for guests, so if you leave it drying on deck, a member of crew will deliver it back to your cabin when dry. 

Daily cabin service is also part of the offering. A member of the crew will make your bed and freshen up your bathroom every day and if you want a towel change or full cabin clean, just leave the relevant sign on the cabin door! 

Eating and Entertainment

Although the day is punctuated by meal times, you certainly don’t feel like you’re running on a schedule. The relaxed nature of both the boat and the crew give a perfect balance. 

Depending on the voyage location, the daily routine can change and is flexible depending on the wishes of the group. Perhaps sit back and relax as the crew set the sails to another remote anchorage to enjoy a freshly cooked lunch and the on-board water toys! Or spend the morning swimming in a secluded bay or exploring an ancient port city before setting the sails to a new location. 

Start the day with a rich buffet style breakfast, on to a light 2-course lunch at noon, coffee, tea and cake in the afternoon before finishing the day with a freshly cooked dinner. For every voyage on Kairós, guests enjoy a meal ashore at their own expense to really immerse themselves in to the local culture and cuisine. Guests tend to go off in their own groups but sometimes the crew can join in if guests are unsure of the best spots!

Depending on the mood of the group, the crew can arrange some light hearted entertainment too – from local musicians over dinner to a friendly on-board music quiz (which is always amusing with international guests!) or even a wine tasting session (at an extra cost).

Water-toys

For those water lovers with a sense of adventure, Kairós has a multitude of water-sport activities and equipment available for guests. Adult-size snorkelling equipment is free for guests to use. Water-skiing, wakeboarding and tube riding are all chargeable once on board. Kairós offers this at a moderate price and suggests an average of 10% of the voyage price to serve as a guide for consumption. The onboard currency is EUROS and guests can open an on-board account which can be paid at the end of your voyage.

What’s included

• All inclusive* (breakfast, lunch, dinner and filter coffee and tea)
• All bedding (pillow, sheets & duvet), wash and swim towels and bath robe per person
• Full crew plus tuition
• Marina and fuel fees
• All tender trips to and fro the boat
• Lifejacket
• Adult snorkelling equipment

What’s not included

• Alcohol and soft drinks
• Waterproofs
• *One meal is eaten ashore at the customers own expense
• Any flights
• Transit hotels
• Travel to and from the boat on the day of joining/leaving
• Travel insurance
• Sailing Insurance (Please read our Sailing Insurance page for more information)
• Crew tips
• Personal expenses
• Water skis, wakeboard, tube-riding > Kairos offers this at a moderate price and suggests an average of 10% of the voyage price to serve as a guide for consumption.

Travel insurance notes

As this is an active adventure holiday, we advise that everyone has the appropriate personal accident travel insurance whilst onboard in addition to standard travel insurance which would cover you in the time between making your booking and departing for your adventure. These policies can sometimes be combined so please check with your travel insurance provider.

Please read more information on our Insurance guidelines page.

This voyage will be not more than 12miles offshore.

*Please note passengers sailing on Chronos, Rhea or Kariós do not require personal accident cover, only health insurance. 

FAQ

• Are all meals included?

  Yes, all meals* on board are included in the price (breakfast, lunch, dinner and filter coffee and tea) *One meal per week is eaten ashore at the customers own expense.

• Can you cater for dietary needs?

  Meat eaters and vegetarians only please.

• Are there any added extras?

  One meal is eaten ashore at the guests expense. Alcohol and soft drinks are not included but can be added to your account on board. Water-sports are not included.

• What are the sleeping arrangements?

  Kairós has 6 Deluxe Double Cabins Ensuite (10m2) and 1 Standard Double Cabin Ensuite (8m2) (suited to younger sailors and solo travellers).

• Is there a porthole in my cabin?

  Yes, all cabins have portholes.

• How many toilet/showers does she have?

  All cabins have their own ensuite.

• Are bedding and towels included?

  All bedding, a hand towel, bath towel, swim towel is included per person.

• Is there a hairdryer on board?

  Yes, there is a hair dryer in each cabin.

• Will I be able to wash my clothes?

  No, Kairós does not have laundry on board.

• Is there heating/air conditioning onboard?

  Yes each cabin has its own easy to use system.

• Do I need to tip the crew?

  Tips are not mandatory but are welcomed by the crew! There will be an honesty box available at the end of your voyage (as a general guide, a 5-10% tip based on your ticket price)

• What language is spoken onboard?

  English is the common deck language but there will be international guests and crew.

• Is there WIFI on board?

  When within shore range, you should be able to reach 4/5G. Please make sure you have international roaming set up on your data plan. There is chargeable access to Starlink on all voyages. You can buy vouchers once on board if required.

• Can I charge my phone/Camera?

  Yes, there are 2pin EU sockets throughout the boat so please bring an adaptor if needed.

• What is the currency on board?

  Euro's

• Are there life jackets provided?

  Yes.

• How do I get on and off the boat?

  Kairós is often at anchor so you'll need to be comfortable climbing in and out of the tender dinghy. There is an admiralty ladder and there will always be a crew member to steady.

• Are Waterproofs provided?

  No.

• Do I need sailing experience?

  No, absolutely not!

• Does the boat have any water toys?

  Yes, Kairós has water skis, wakeboard, tube-riding, snorkelling. For activities that require pulling with a dinghy we charge €1 per minute of use.

• Will I be sea sick?

  Everyone reacts differently but we recommend if you are at all worried to take some medication 24 hours before departure.

• Is there an age limit?

  Yes. Minimum age of 5, and as long as the child can swim.

Travel Planning

From: Palermo, Sicily

To: Palermo, Sicily

To see where the ports are, along with your likely sailing area, please view the sail area & highlights.

GETTING THERE 

PALERMO

BY AIR:

Palermo Airport is a 40/50 minute bus or train journey to Palermo. Alternatively a taxi ride is 40 minutes or so.

Flights go direct to Palermo Airport from London Gatwick and London Stansted with easyJet, Wizz Air and Ryanair.

STAY IN PALERMO:

There are plenty of places to stay in Palermo. Try Papillon BnB, Hotel Concordia and Hotel Bel 3.