| Yachts are seen as a luxury experience that are | | | | around 500 BC. Ancient Greek pirates used the Lipari |
| normally associated with rich people. The Greek | | | | Islands as their base for over 2000 years; Crete was |
| yacht and shipping industry have been a strong | | | | the main homeland and haven for pirates for almost |
| business for over 10,000 years. Some of the most | | | | 800 years, until the Rhodeans had begun patrolling |
| famous magnates of the twentieth century have | | | | the Mediterranean Sea, with the sole purpose of |
| used the shipping industry to make their fortune. The | | | | removing pirates from the island. |
| Greeks have maintained their passion for the sea, | | | | Other Greek Islands that suffered from many pirate |
| which is revered as the a beautiful element and | | | | attacks were Paros and Corfu. Paros officials were |
| believing it possessed Godlike powers. To this day | | | | forced to build fortresses around the island to |
| they still use the sea for many explorations and have | | | | prevent any further attacks, whilst the people of |
| continued to keep the sea as part of their way of | | | | Corfu were pushed to seek help from the Romans. |
| life. | | | | The Greeks and the Romans together had spent |
| Greek yachts are more popularly used for sailing | | | | years fighting against pirates, and had successfully |
| holidays for younger people and families, travelling | | | | deterred many away from the island. |
| around the Ionian Islands. However, yachts have not | | | | The pirates had built their own lairs in and around |
| always been used for vacations and family holiday | | | | Greece, making life difficult for religious officials to |
| explorations. Yachts were a very effective method | | | | build their monasteries in certain areas for fear of |
| of travelling on sea because of its lightweight build | | | | being attacked. Saracen pirates, had created their |
| and fast sailing vessel. The Dutch Navy were | | | | own base on the small island of Gavdos, where the |
| commonly found to use them for capturing pirates, | | | | inhabitants lived in fear secretly cultivating their field |
| which were for a long time a major problem on the | | | | to avoid trouble. Locals avoided settling near the bay |
| Greek islands. | | | | and sea, as this would normally attract many pirates |
| History | | | | travelling across the sea. |
| The word pirate is a derivative from the Latin Pirata | | | | Some of the effects of pirate attacks are still |
| and the Greek Peiras meaning attempting and | | | | evident in certain parts of the island. The narrow |
| experience. Pirates were known as rebellious violent | | | | twisting roads and paths were built to further deter |
| people who committed robbery at sea, they were | | | | pirates off the island, and are prevalent for tourist |
| more active and prominent during the early 17th and | | | | attraction. Tourists today can even experience the |
| 18th century, particularly among the Mediterranean | | | | slippery mosaic paths, which were made to slow |
| and Caribbean coasts. Though Greek yachts were | | | | down the movement of invaders and attackers. |
| not used to capture pirates, pirates had used their | | | | Pirates are no longer a threat in Greece, however |
| knowledge of shipping and sailing to invade the islands | | | | the shipping industry is thriving even today and |
| creating their own base. | | | | people can enjoy the historical remnants of what is |
| Early pirate activities have been recorded to date | | | | left from pirate bases. |
| back as far as Ancient Greek and Roman periods | | | | |