All Larry Russel of Los Angeles, California, had to do was see an ad in Cruising World's May 2004 issue and that was it. He was soon off on an adventure he never expected to have. The ad that caught his eye promoted a sailing-vacation contest sponsored by the Greek charter company Hellas easyachts. It showed a montage of beautiful photographs capturing the essence of sailing in Greece—picturesque towns perched on the shore, ancient ruins, stunning sunsets, and, of course, boats sailing in warm, gentle breezes.

That was enough for Russell, who owns a 36-foot Catalina he sails on weekends out of the Southwestern Yacht Club in Point Loma. He sent in his entry and promptly forgot about it. Imagine his surprise when he learned he'd won the charter trip. Some of his family and friends doubted his good fortune. "My wife didn't believe it. My friends didn't believe it. But I did. I've always wanted to charter," he says.

"But I was often turned off by so many places when I called for information." Among turnoffs for Russell is the way some charter companies' websites flood users with confusing information. Criticism from this web surfer is worth noting, since Russell's job with Citibank includes developing software for its online-banking system. He praised Hellas for the straightforward delivery of information on its site as well as for the efficiency of its personnel. "Contact was immediate," he says. "They called me. Everything was then done by e-mail. It was nice dealing directly with someone in Greece and with the captains who were working the boats."

Now Russell had his first big chartering chance, and it would be aboard a 50-foot sailboat complete with a captain. He also took along his wife, Lynda, and two other couples, courtesy of the charter company. After a limousine chauffeured the group last October from Athens International Airport to the docks at one of the city's marinas, skipper Spyros Karayannis met and helped the winners aboard the Venus 18, and soon they were whisked off on a seven-day odyssey through the Saronic Islands. As the contest ad promised, Russell and his crewmates had an unforgettable, highly enjoyable adventure.

They savored excellent, inexpensive fare at tavernas, took long walks through villages and along beaches, and often parked themselves at cafes to watch the sun slowly set. "We were so relaxed at the end it was unbelievable," Russell says. "To tell you the truth, I could just go back and sit on one island, it was so relaxing." Russell is an avid sailor, but on his trip he sometimes just let the captain do the driving. It was a mellow time, and he wasn't about to break the mood of his first charter.

For details about chartering with Hellas easyacht, contact the company (+30-210-41-72-902, www.easyacht.gr and e-mail info@easyacht.gr).