Happy Valef Client
I am a meeting planner by trade and know the effort that is made to make a trip come off like it is a seamless event. You all did it.
The Valef Yachts Experience "Custom Tailored Bliss!"
In 1969, Vassilios (Bill) Lefakinis founded Valef Yachts, the first yacht charter company in Greece. As Valef Yachts welcomed tourists from abroad eager to visit the beauty of Greece's untouched and vibrant islands in the comfort and luxury of their own charter yacht, the yachting world of Greece opened to the world. With an office in Marina Zeas, Greece and services ranging from crewing, sales to publishing Greece's first yachting magazine, 'Sea & Yachting', the industry began booming. Now with offices in the USA and in Greece, the full-service yacht charter company well known for its expert guidance, personal touch, and client pampering, offers yacht charters all over the Mediterranean, Turkey, and the Adriatic. The legacy continues with the Lefakinis family still at the helm and ready to serve. The experienced Team gives attention to details that make the difference, from food provisioning to organizing activities on the islands catered to guests’ needs.
As seen on
Our Legacy, Our Joy, Our Pride 50+ Years of Making Dreams Come True
1969
Valef Yachts was established by Mr. Vassilios (Bill) Lefakinis with the purchase of his first yacht – m/s Rowena. The first office was located in an apartment in Athens’ Kolonaki neighborhood. Bill’s first charterer was Kenny Rogers aboard the m/s Rowena, who became a country singer legend. He had a recommendation of Valef Yachts from a friend and just showed up at the office.
1973
Bill Lefakinis took over as President of the small yacht owners organization and renamed it Hellenic Professional Yacht Owners Association, made a board of directors, hired a secretary and rented an office located in Marina Zeas. The organization exists today. With the help of the lawyer of the Y.P.Y.O.A. and the Ministry of Merchant Marine, Bill, as Secretary General of the Hellenic Yacht Brokers Association, developed the H.Y.B.A. contracts, in use still today, allowing only Greek flagged ships to be able to be chartered in Greece.
1973
Valef organized the first Miss Universe contest to be held outside of the U.S.A., in Greece. It was held at the ancient Herodion Theater and the great after-party was held at the Athens Towers. The Valef Experience Buzz was growing.
1977
Bruce Springsteen (“The Boss”) and Sting took a break from being on tour to relax and refresh with a Valef Experience aboard the motor yacht Invicta II.
1978
Bill founded "PAKOE" (The PanHellenic Ecological Research Foundation) together with a group of volunteer scientists and doctors to record the pollution issue devastating Athens and her seas. Valef Yachts provided the funding for the yachts and airplanes used in collecting the data.
1979
Valef Yachts helped in securing the yacht used in the film “The Greek Tycoon” (The Aristotle Onassis story), with Anthony Quinn and Jacqueline Bisset which was filmed aboard m/y La Belle Simone in Marina Zeas, Vouliagmeni, Mykonos and in Corfu, Greece.
1980
Bill brought the TV show 'THE LOVE BOAT' to Greece to film some episodes. Valef Yachts organized the use of a Greek Cruise ship and the storyline incorporated Valef yachts’ m/s DOXA I in a few episodes, where the cruise director of the Love Boat was to have fallen for our Captain, Adonis Sivris.
1981
Valef Opens the VALEF MARINE SHOP located at the top of Marina Zeas, Piraeus. The shop primarily sold a new Nautical line of fashionable clothes, bags, and towels, specifically designed for Valef Yachts by the well-known Greek fashion designer Yannis Tseklenis.
1981
Roger Moore plays James Bond in 'FOR YOUR EYES ONLY' filmed in Corfu and Meteora, Greece, aboard chartered Valef Yachts Santa Mavra and the Triana. The film displayed the wonders of the ethereal Meteora site with its towering monastery on the cliff and the elegance of Corfu town with its surrounding greenery. As always, Bond stuns with his classy yachts, fueling the ultimate "toys for boys" fantasy.
1985
Playmate Barbie Benton and long-time girlfriend of Hugh Hefner, shot a 14-page pictorial for the December 1985 issue of Playboy aboard Valef’s yacht M/Y Christina while NBC TV filmed the shooting for a TV special featuring yachting the Valef way and the mesmerizing Greek islands.
1993
Bill Lefakinis interviews with Robin Leach for an episode of LIFESTYLES OF THE RICH & FAMOUS, telling viewers how he began the Greek yachting empire and carefully avoiding answering more direct questions like Who has been hosted aboard! The Parthenon stands tall in the background for the Athens interview before the cameras head south to reveal bits of life onboard.
2009
E! Entertainment Television along with Valef Yachts produce reality game show PERFECT CATCH in Athens and the Greek islands, hosted by Carmen Electra and featuring models Rachel Hunter & Marcus Schenkenberg, and actors and TV hosts Marcellas Reynolds, Rob Walker, and Louise Roe. All the lucky "catches" by contestants in the Greek islands were brought aboard motor yacht Lady KK for their yachting reward and special pampering.
2013
Valef Yachts helps bring E! Entertainment and the Kardashian-Jenner clan to Greece for filming ‘KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS’. Valef coordinates all details for accommodating the famous reality show to be filmed in Mykonos and Santorini along with cruising onboard mega-yacht O'Ceanos. They aired a record-breaking three episodes in Greece due to the amazing footage!
2015
MTV brings reality show Geordie Shore, with its party-loving ways, to Greece to film aboard Valef charter yacht m/y ALLAHOU. This classic Lurssen yacht hosted wild parties at anchor amidst Greek island hopping.
2015
Along with Pierre-Yves Cousteau, son of legendary oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, Valef Yachts help produce documentary film 'Guardians of the Aegean' regarding the efforts to make the first Marine Protected Area on the island of Santorini and to preserve artisanal fishing in Greece. The filming spanned five years.
2020
Valef Yacht's initiates cooperation with Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation, a non-profit, non-governmental organization committed to researching and defending the biodiversity of the Greek seas and islands, as well as the entire eastern Mediterranean. With yearly donations Valef Yachts aims to help create healthier seas and sustainable tourism.
The Next Generation
Passing know-how, knowledge and tradition down through the generations helped secure Valef as the reputable company that drives return clientele. The backbone of the company is the family name that Valef derives from and remains honored by excellence from over half a century of yachting knowledge and customer service.
Our customers say it best
Creating extraordinary personalized experiences for our customers is our life’s passion, but the joy we bring to the lives of others is truly the most fulfilling reward.
