Catamaran or Sailing Yacht in Halkidiki? The Truth From Someone Who’s Done Both

Catamaran or Sailing Yacht in Halkidiki — How We Decided

A few summers ago, I found myself sitting with six friends around a table, trying to plan what was supposed to be a simple sailing trip along the Kassandra peninsula in Halkidiki. Simple — until someone asked: “So, catamaran or sailing yacht?”

Half the table had an opinion. The other half had no idea there was even a difference. What followed was a 45-minute debate that settled nothing. So we did the only logical thing: we tried both — on separate trips — and I’m here to tell you what actually happened.

I’m not going to tell you which one to pick. But I will tell you the truth.

The Catamaran: Space, Stability, and a Net That Changed Everything

The moment I stepped onto the catamaran, I understood what all the fuss was about. The first thing that hits you is the space. Compared to a sailing yacht, it feels like moving from a studio apartment into a proper house. Seven people on board and nobody was in anyone’s way. The cockpit, the deck, the cabin — everything breathes.

But the space wasn’t even the best part.

The Net

At the bow of every catamaran there’s a trampoline net stretched between the two hulls. You lie down on it, the sea rushing just beneath you through the mesh, and you feel like you’re flying over the water. It sounds simple. It is not simple. It’s one of those rare experiences that genuinely stops you mid-thought.

And then — and I still can’t quite believe this happened — dolphins appeared directly beneath the net. Right there, close enough that I could have reached down. I didn’t move. Nobody moved. We just watched.

I’ve been on the water many times since. Nothing has come close to that moment.

What About Seasickness?

This one matters more than people admit. The catamaran’s double hull cuts through waves with dramatically less rocking than a monohull. If you have a friend who says “I love the idea of sailing but I always get seasick” — a catamaran is your answer, no hesitation. I’ve seen people who were convinced they couldn’t handle the sea spend a full day on a catamaran without a single problem.

If you want to experience what a full day on the water looks like aboard our catamaran, you can find all the details here.

The Sailing Yacht: The Classic That Never Gets Old

The sailing yacht is a completely different story — and I mean that in the best possible way.

Where the catamaran is generous and comfortable, the sailing yacht is raw and real. You feel the wind differently. You feel the heel of the boat as it catches a gust. The sound of water against the hull is closer, louder, more present. If you want to feel like you’re actually sailing — not just floating — this is it.

There’s also something about the sailing yacht that suits longer journeys. If someone told me they wanted to spend several days at sea — real sailing, anchoring in different bays each night, waking up somewhere new — I’d point them toward a sailing yacht without a second thought. There’s a rhythm to it that the catamaran, for all its comfort, doesn’t quite replicate.

It’s the classic choice. And classic choices exist for a reason.

Side by Side

So, Which One Should You Choose?

There’s no wrong answer here. It comes down to what kind of experience you’re looking for.

If you’re coming with a group, if someone in your crew gets seasick, if you want space and comfort and the chance to lie on a net watching dolphins swim beneath you — the catamaran is your boat.

If you want the authentic sailing experience, the feeling of the wind doing the work, a journey that feels like a proper adventure — the sailing yacht is waiting for you.

At Halkidiki Sailing – Babasails Yachting, we have both. Whichever you choose, Halkidiki from the sea will make you want to come back.