Sailing Holidays

Fancy a sailing holiday, but afraid to take the plunge?

The time is ripe. With so many new options to choose from and tailor-made sailing packages to suit all preferences and levels of abilities, wannabe sailors have never had it so good!

Sailing Courses

If you’re worried that your sailing credentials don’t quite stack up, fear not. A pre-holiday crash course in sailing will give you a head’s start. Visit www.sailing-courses.co.uk for a range of RYA (Royal Yachting Association) recognised sailing courses including the RYA Practical Course and RYA Theory.

Better still, learn the ropes on a beginners’ sailing course in warmer waters, abroad. Build up your confidence and practical skills gradually and have some fun at the same time. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you progress to more advanced levels of seamanship!

Flotilla Sailing Holidays

Flotilla sailing for both beginners and experienced yachting enthusiasts has seen a huge upsurge in popularity since the early 1980s. So what’s it all about? Typical flotilla yachts vary in size from small vessels of around 27ft long, designed mainly for couples, to bigger yachts of approximately 46ft that cater more for families and larger groups. Levels of luxury and facilities also vary. Each flotilla has a lead yacht and an experienced crew ready to help out, if necessary. Safety and unobtrusive support aside, one of the main pluses of flotilla Sailing Holidays is the sense of camaraderie, the ready-made social life and the company of like-minded people. (Nightlife in those Greek tavernas is notoriously good!).

Sailing Hot Spots

Sailing enthusiasts gravitate time and again to Greece (some of the safest waters in the world) and in particular to the Aegean, Saronic and Ionian Islands (the latter recommended for beginners). Other sailing hotspots include the Croatian coastline and Dalmatian Islands, Turkey, the Caribbean (especially Antigua), Thailand (Phuket), and Australia’s Whitsundays – all are renowned for top notch sailing.

Other Sailing Holiday Suggestions

 Sail Solo: Go Bareboat: Charter and sail the yacht yourself; or enjoy the freedom and flexibility of using your own master and crew to take control and explore the open seas at your own pace. Contact Bareboat Sailing Holidays (see details below); Bareboat Sailing Holidays can also provide a local skipper and crew, if needed.

 Charter a Skippered or Crewed Yacht: No experience required!; chill out on a lux-crewed yacht and let someone else do the graft; hired skippers are always happy to advise on related aspects of your yachting holiday such as ports of call, local restaurants, best beaches, etc.

 Tall Ship Sailing: Take a nostalgic voyage back in time; back to the basics of crew v. elements; awe-inspiring splendour; the ultimate team challenge; take part in running the ship with watch duties tailored to individuals’ abilities and levels of experience; explore the Norwegian Fjords, for example; spectacular snow-capped scenery glistening in the midnight sun…

 Combined Sail and Stay-Put Holiday Packages: Ideally suited for beginners and those in search of a ‘taster’ sailing experience or families and groups with mixed interests; a beach resort-based/sailing holidays is the perfect compromise; check out Sunsail’s Beach Clubs Watersports & Activity Beach Resorts in 39 locations worldwide, including Greece, Turkey and Antigua; family sports and activities, e.g. dinghy sailing, yachting, windsurfing, tennis, mountain biking, spa facilities, etc.

Useful Sailing Resources

 www.sailingholidays.com: established operator of flotilla sailing holidays and bareboat yacht charter;
 www.sunsail.co.uk: specialists in flotilla holidays; state-of-the-art fleet of yachts; wide selection of flotilla holidays;
 www.schoonersail.com & www.tallshipsfalmouth.co.uk: tall ship sailing experts;
 www.sailingholidays.com: large choice of flotilla holidays; for bareboat yacht hire see www.bareboatsailingholidays.com (a division of Sailing Holidays Ltd);
 www.sailing-courses.co.uk: for RYA recognised sailing courses.