World renowned Greece sailing expert Sandra

Sailing through -can we??!- or sailing around?! A late night, or better, midnight arrival to a remote NE bay and beach on Dhenoussa island, the Small Cyclades Islands archipelago in the Aegean Sea. A new adventure for all of us, and so was lowering down the dinghy and the outboarder in the moonlight and making it to the shore. Just to find out there is a bus taking people all the way from the main village on the other side, to a cabin … a taverna! An instinct made our walk back through the rocky bush and then out to the beach safe, sort of, as we ventured onto the starlight sky crossing back to the boat. The next morning we made it through this narrow passage in between two islands. Once again bravo! — with Daniel, Gianpietro and Monica at Donoussa island, the Small Cyclades Archipelago, early September 2014.

2012 London Boat Show
2012 London Boat Show
2009 Classic Barcolana Regatta, Trieste, Italy
Classic Barcolana Regatta – 2009 Trieste, Italy
Once upon a time in April 2009, Stromboli island, Sicily, Italy
Once upon a time – April 2009, Stromboli island, Sicily, Italy
Barcolana regatta 2012 in Trieste, Italy the biggest amateur sailing race in the Mediterranean; a drink with with one of the most renown sailing champions on international scale, Cap. Cino Ricci, at the Sailing Club 'Adriaco' on the wonderful seaside walk of our town. These are days of great fun, friendship and events we get to enjoy every second week end of October, the last sailing event of the season as it happens to be. On my right friends and fellow-crew of that year yacht we participated in the regatta.
Barcolana Regatta 2012 in Trieste, Italy

the biggest amateur sailing race in the Mediterranean; a drink with with one of the most renown sailing champions on international scale, Cap. Cino Ricci, at the Sailing Club ‘Adriaco’ on the wonderful seaside walk of our town. These are days of great fun, friendship and events we get to enjoy every second week end of October, the last sailing event of the season as it happens to be. On my right friends and fellow-crew of that year yacht we participated in the regatta.

Arranging someone's sailing holiday, 2009, from Skradin on Krka waterfalls, near Sibenik, Croatia
 Arranging someone’s sailing holiday – 2009, from Skradin on Krka waterfalls, near Sibenik, Croatia

Meet the Founder

Some of the first questions people ask: Where did everything start? How did it all happen? Was this your family-business? With my unusual mixture of London city-goer and Mediterranean sailor, I get some pretty strange looks from them; can’t blame them. It would have been odd to find this odd combination coexisting in the world prior to these communication-enlightened times we are privileged to live in.
Grew up on the North East coast of Italy, the gorgeous Trieste is renown for its strong wind called “Bora”, which has challenged the sailing community throughout many generations. Some of the most renowned international racers and navigators originated here and have mastered their sails in these very tough conditions. Living in this environment and watching the yachts’ cut through the waves while competing, it had become my wishful thinking to become a sea-pioneer. My family proudly supported me when I was fourteen at the Chamber of Commerce awards ceremony. I was awarded for the most authentic canvas painting of the now world-renown Barcolana sailing regatta (view the impressive gallery here) . The navy-blue gemstone on the sailboat decorated brooch, awarded by the Mayor, is one of my most treasured possessions till this very day.
It wasn’t until my uni years and the desire for something more than academics of corporate marketing that this dream came to materialise. I interviewed for a position at a sailing academy and became accustomed to the practices and during summer I was put in charge of every aspect of the yacht rentals, a side business of the academy. Stories from the captains and their inhabitants that had experienced adventures of exotic isles, plus the challenging waters they had to face, aroused the desire to explore more profoundly. It was a quick switch from there, expanding the existing fleet and establishing partnerships with further operators in the area. I am also fluent in Italian, French, Croatian, can get around with my Greek, and little Russian and Turkish, so communicating with the new partners or boat owners was a pleasurable joy. Three years later, I started to feel the walls closing in and wanted to discover the sailing world further, while making it possible for others as well. While working full-time, getting encouragement/insights from sailing captains, and getting a Yacht Brokerage licence, I also graduated.
Naming my company was easy: “Armstrong” was always there in my mind, it was to be the synonym for who I was, and “Global” because I knew it was going to go global. The network of crews and boats grew exponentially from there due to the referrals from other clients. I began sailing three to five months out of the year during the summer season. Each summer I sailed to different areas of the Mediterranean. I gained hands on experience by traveling from the Adriatic Croatia to the Italian Isles, Corsica, France, Balearics, and the waters around Spain. I also spent a few months out of the year, usually from October to December, in places like Vietnam, Thailand, China, Hong Kong, and the United States talking with different traveling agencies/retailers that were interested in advertising the tours. Most of the guests communicated with me via telephone or written correspondence because I was traveling while arranging the different aspects of my job. Meeting the guests face-to-face was rare, so when, after years of planning out their vacations, I did meet them, their reactions were quite amusing. One writer I worked with even asked, “ Are you ‘The’ Sandra?” After these three years of sailing experiences, I visited the peaks of the Swiss Alps for a skiing adventure, Crans Montana in Vallais for some solid social life, and London, UK to satisfy long cultivated curiosity for the European way. Corporate UK caught my attention, and my experiences through university landed me a job proposal pretty quickly. Thus, I made my way into Banking/Finance IT within the financial district of London. During this new challenging adventure in life, I acquired many skills, worked with many new people, had many travels abroad while following markets, and attended many seminars and business meetings. Working with Armstrong Global during the extra hours not spent in corporate UK, I again began to feel to need to sail pulse within me. Three years after, I took a solo vacation back to the Mediterranean for my first experience with Greece and Turkey. Coming back to the roots and identity of a true southern European was one of the best gifts I could’ve given myself; Especially when I stepped into the Ece Sarayi Marina in Fethyie, Turkey. Air filled my lungs as I walked along the pier, my eyes glancing over the sails, masts, and ropes dancing in the wind, along with the sparkles the summer sun made on the water. I had come alive again! When my vacation was over, I returned with a plan to discuss with my corporate boss. A month or so later, after a farewell party, I embarked to Corfu, Greece for the five months of sailing season. Armstrong Global has flourished ever since, never relying on advertisements and working from referrals, which is most impressive to me. Everyone that we work with looks back on the inspiring and adventurous times with us, in enjoyment. I am enamoured with the different stories I hear each year on the many different isles. Once I learned the Greek, the connection became even more accentuated. The hospitality and humanity of the Greek people is abundant. The mix of their culture, history, and traditions is something everyone should be able to experience. Visiting locations away from mass tourism, we engage and explore who the locals are. This is the real Mediterranean, as it once was, as it still is. This is the experience we hope to help you have.

Launching M/Y Aicon 52, 2009 Taormina - Sicily island, Italy
Launching M/Y Aicon 52 2009 Taormina
Sicily island, Italy
Isle of Wight circumnavigation 2010, Cowes, UK
Isle of Wight circumnavigation 2010
Cowes, UK
Greece 2016
Greece 2016
Volcano sailing in winter time, January 2006, Stromboli Island, Sicily, Italy
Volcano sailing in winter time – January 2006, Stromboli Island, Sicily, Italy
2007 Barcolana regatta, Trieste, Italy
Barcolana regatta  – 2007 Trieste, Italy
Corinth Channel Passage, 2013, Greece
Corinth Channel Passage – 2013 Greece

Get Started

We are excited you are gaining an interest in trying out our sailing vacation tours. Let’s start working towards it together and have fun arranging it to the very last detail.

Call on US (+1) 201-253-1848
UK (+44) 020 3300 0792
or email us here.

Meet the Founder

Some of the first questions people ask when trying to define who I am are: Where did everything start? How did it all happen? Is this a family-business? With my unusual mixture of London city-goer and Mediterranean sailor, I get some pretty strange looks from them; can’t blame them though. It would have been odd to find this odd combination coexisting in the world prior to these communication-enlightened times we are privileged to live in.

Originally from former Yugoslavia, I was brought up in the outer northeastern region of Italy in Trieste. This regal town holds many facets, the most famous among them is the strong wind called the “Bora” wind, which has challenged the sailing community throughout many generations. Some of the most renowned international racers and navigators originated here and have mastered their sails in these very tough conditions. Living in this environment and watching the yachts’ cut through the waves while competing, it had become my wishful thinking to become a sea-pioneer.

Arranging someone's sailing holiday, 2009, from Skradin on Krka waterfalls, near Sibenik, Croatia
Arranging someone’s sailing holiday – 2009, from Skradin on Krka waterfalls, near Sibenik, Croatia

My family proudly supported me when I was fourteen at the Chamber of Commerce awards ceremony. I was awarded for the most authentic canvas painting of the now world-renown Barcelona sailing regatta (view the impressive gallery here) . The navy-blue gemstone on the sailboat decorated brooch, awarded by the mayor of Trieste, is one of my most treasured possessions till this very day.

2012 London Boat Show
2012 London Boat Show

During my second year at university, the desire for something more than random lectures won over and I interviewed for a position at a sailing academy. I became accustomed to the practices and during summer I was put in charge of every aspect of the yacht rentals, a side business of the academy. Stories from the captains and their inhabitants that had experienced adventures of exotic isles, plus the challenging waters they had to face, aroused the desire to explore more profoundly. It was a quick switch from there, expanding the existing fleet and establishing partnerships with further operators in the area. I am fluent in Italian, Croatian, English, French, and a little Russian, so communicating with the new partners or boat owners was a pleasurable joy.

Launching M/Y Aicon 52, 2009 Taormina - Sicily island, Italy
Launching M/Y Aicon 52 2009 Taormina
Sicily island, Italy

Three years later, I started to feel the walls closing in and wanted to discover the sailing world further, while making it possible for others as well. While working full-time, getting encouragement/insights from sailing captains, and getting a Yacht Brokerage licence, I also miraculously finished the university.

World renowned Greece sailing expert Sandra

Sailing through -can we??!- or sailing around?! A late night, or better, midnight arrival to a remote NE bay and beach on Dhenoussa island, the Small Cyclades Islands archipelago in the Aegean Sea. A new adventure for all of us, and so was lowering down the dinghy and the outboarder in the moonlight and making it to the shore. Just to find out there is a bus taking people all the way from the main village on the other side, to a cabin … a taverna! An instinct made our walk back through the rocky bush and then out to the beach safe, sort of, as we ventured onto the starlight sky crossing back to the boat. The next morning we made it through this narrow passage in between two islands. Once again bravo ‘Marion Seagull’, Bénéteau Oceanis 510 Clipper, Greece 2014! — with Daniele Nota, Gianpietro Beltramello and Monica Pimpinato at Donoussa island, the Small Cyclades Archipelago, early September 2014.

2009 Classic Barcolana Regatta, Trieste, Italy
Classic Barcolana Regatta – 2009 Trieste, Italy

Naming my company was easy: “Armstrong” was always there in my mind, it was to be the synonym for who I was, and “Global” because I knew I was going to go global. My network of crews and boats grew exponentially from there due to the referrals from other clients. I began sailing three to five months out of the year during the summer season. Each summer I sailed to different areas of the Medditarranean. I gained hands on experience by traveling from the Adreatic Croatia to the Italian Isles, Corsica, France, Balearics, and the waters around Spain. I also spent a few months out of the year, usually from October to December, in places like Vietnam, Thailand, China, Hong Kong, and the United States talking with different traveling agencies/retailers that were interested in advertising my tours. Most of my clients communicated with me via telephone or written correspondence because I was traveling while arranging the different aspects of my job.

Meet Sandra

Sandra is excited you are gaining an interest in trying out our Greece sailing trip as your next vacation. Let us start working towards it together and have fun arranging it to the very last detail.

Call on (+1) 201-253-1848 or use our contact form

Sandra, London Boat Show 2013 portrait

Meeting the clients face-to-face was rare, so when, after years of planning out their vacations, I did meet them, their reactions were quite amusing. One writer I worked with even asked, “ Are you ‘The’ Sandra?” After these three years of sailing experiences, I visited the peaks of the Swiss Alps for a skiing adventure, Crans Montana in Vallais for some solid social life, and London, UK to satisfy long cultivated curiosity for the European way. Corporate UK caught my attention, and my experiences through university landed me a job proposal on my third day in the country. Thus, I made my way into Banking/Finance IT within the financial district of London. During this new challenging adventure in life, I acquired many skills, worked with many new people, had many travels abroad while following markets, and attended many seminars and business meetings.

Once upon a time in April 2009, Stromboli island, Sicily, Italy
Once upon a time – April 2009, Stromboli island, Sicily, Italy
Barcolana regatta 2012 in Trieste, Italy the biggest amateur sailing race in the Mediterranean; a drink with with one of the most renown sailing champions on international scale, Cap. Cino Ricci, at the Sailing Club 'Adriaco' on the wonderful seaside walk of our town. These are days of great fun, friendship and events we get to enjoy every second week end of October, the last sailing event of the season as it happens to be. On my right friends and fellow-crew of that year yacht we participated in the regatta.
Barcolana Regatta 2012 in Trieste, Italy

the biggest amateur sailing race in the Mediterranean; a drink with with one of the most renown sailing champions on international scale, Cap. Cino Ricci, at the Sailing Club ‘Adriaco’ on the wonderful seaside walk of our town. These are days of great fun, friendship and events we get to enjoy every second week end of October, the last sailing event of the season as it happens to be. On my right friends and fellow-crew of that year yacht we participated in the regatta.

Isle of Wight circumnavigation 2010, Cowes, UK
Isle of Wight circumnavigation 2010
Cowes, UK

Working with Armstrong Global during the extra hours not spent in corporate UK, I again began to feel to need to sail pulse within me. Three years after, I took a solo vacation back to the Mediterranean for my first experience with Greece and Turkey. Coming back to the roots and identity of a true southern European was one of the best gifts I could’ve given myself; Especially when I stepped into the Ece Sarayi Marina in Fethyie, Turkey. Air filled my lungs as I walked along the pier, my eyes glancing over the sails, masts, and ropes dancing in the wind, along with the sparkles the summer sun made on the water. I had come alive again! When my vacation was over, I returned with a plan to discuss with my corporate boss. A month or so later, after a farewell party, I embarked to Corfu, Greece for the five months of sailing season.

Armstrong Global has flourished ever since, never relying on advertisements and working from referrals, which is most impressive to me. Everyone that we work with looks back on the inspiring and adventurous times with us, in enjoyment. I am enamoured with the different stories I hear each year on the many different isles. Once I learned the Greek language, the connection became even more accentuated. The hospitality and humanity of the Greek people is abundant. The mix of their culture, history, and traditions is something everyone should be able to experience. Visiting locations away from mass tourism, we engage and explore who the locals are. This is the real Mediterranean, as it once was, as it still is. This is the experience we hope to help you have.

Greece 2016
Greece 2016
Volcano sailing in winter time, January 2006, Stromboli Island, Sicily, Italy
Volcano sailing in winter time – January 2006, Stromboli Island, Sicily, Italy
2007 Barcolana regatta, Trieste, Italy
Barcolana regatta  – 2007 Trieste, Italy

Get Started

We are excited you are gaining an interest in trying out our sailing vacation tours. Let’s start working towards it together and have fun arranging it to the very last detail.

Call on US (+1) 201-253-1848
UK (+44) 020 3300 0792
or email us here.