1st ever flotilla holiday-any do's/dont's?

mickywillis

mickywillis

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 Mar 2007
Messages
1,644
Location
Epsom,Surrey
Visit site
1st ever flotilla holiday-any do\'s/dont\'s?

Ok, relatively new to sailing and booked a weeks flotilla in the South Ionian for 1 week with Sailingholidays.com, on board one of their converted for couples Jaguar 27's.
Any recommendations on what to take with me, what not to bother taking, any do's or dont's, recommendations for eating out, etc, etc
Basically, any practical advice you can offer will be gratefully received.
I own a Westerly Pageant and have done a small amount of sailing in Portsmouth Harbour and towards Langstone where she is now kept. Passed RYA 1+2 Dinghy, Day Skipper Theory (albeit a while ago) and VHF radio courses.
We fly out next Sunday and whilst I am mildly confident of my abilities, 1st Mate Mrs W is a bit nervous (it's just the 2 of us on the boat) I'd like to reassure her that we are doing the right thing!!
In fact, if you have been on this same flotilla holiday (or are going to be there on the 14th) let me know your highs and lows of the holiday and what we can expect.
thanks in advance.
 
Re: 1st ever flotilla holiday-any do\'s/dont\'s?

Nothing to worry about. You will be more experienced than most as far as sailing goes. You will be well looked after by the crews. Plenty of suncream and light loose clothing. Sailing is not too demanding and you will soon learn the tricks of mooring up in the evenings. Most of your stops will be at delightful little ports full of tavernas. Bit pricy now (compared to past) but still reasonable.The Jaguars are very handy boats and you can eat aboard if you want to.

Enjoy!
 
Re: 1st ever flotilla holiday-any do\'s/dont\'s?

We came back a week ago from Ionian flotilla with Sailingholidays - which was the half term week as we have 2 kids. It was the best family holiday we have had in years and we had never been on a flotilla before.

You will be fine in terms of experience and I was impressed with SH and their lead crew and approach generally.We saw a few of the Jag 27s and we thought we would like one for when we have no kids around.


A few tips from our point of view as first timers :

- the holding tanks are not that big so do discharge in the open sea before you go into the port or bay

- watch your water - very easy to go through the lot quickly

- we took too many clothes , you need very little

- do ask the lead crew - vhf - if you have queries/problems , they are there to help and they are good at it !

- as soon as you get to your first lunch stop do practice putting the boat in reverse , and ensure you are happy steering her stern first as you will do quite a lot of stern to mooring and the distances in reverse are long - knowing the prop walk - or for us no real difference - makes life a lot easier

- bring sufficient tea bags etc - for us that included tinned fish and pasta whic we ate with sald every day - Grrek island supermarkets are expensive - similarly bring bog roll , and most importantly small bin liners

- the mooring is easy , the manual is very good , just do everything slowly as they say , so is anchoring

- the logs way under read - in our case by 1.9 kn

- it will be hot so take some small string or better elastic or bungee cord for the wind scooper at night ( if the Jags have them ) to tie it round the forehatch

- if you have them bring your own binos the ones on uor boat were rubbish ( in fact the only bit of kit on the boat we had that was no good - everything else was of a good or better standard .)

- sailing when we were there was easy , no more than F3 or so , only occasional swell , no tide , very easy cf the English Channel . Very few hazards etc - apart from some of the marine life !

- most important - ensure your beer wine and UHT milk is packed by the fridge cooler bit for max cooling and do buy frozen bottles of water when ashore as they do stay frozen for ages

I am sure you ( both ) are doing the right thing and like us your hols will be way better than expected. If either of you have any doubts or questions please PM me your phone no. and I or Mrs A will call .

Have a great holiday !

John
 
Re: 1st ever flotilla holiday-any do\'s/dont\'s?

For sailing in the sun try to get an Arab type hat with a peak and sides and back very long to keep sun off neck and ears. Big wide hats blow off.
Wear loose long clothing ie trousers and long sleeved shirt.(light coloured) Don't forget sun cream on feet, face and hands. enjoy..... olewill

Get a mask and snorkel to take when swimming.
 
Re: 1st ever flotilla holiday-any do\'s/dont\'s?

As others have said you will have more than enough experience for this. I have been on the two week version of this and a couple of the crews had no sailing experience at all and got through it, they even sailed a little /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif.
If you want to spend a couple or three days on your own let the lead skipper know and with your experience am sure they will let you go.

The Jags are old but solid boats. Word of warning the holding tanks on two of tthe Jags on our flotilla did not work and were not fixed during the two weeks. Meant the people in them were restricted in the use of the heads in harbours and anchorages, which became annoying for them after a while. But that could of course have been a one off and you may have no problems. Other minor grumbles some boats electric windlasses' gave up the ghost and a bathing platform fell off.
Please do not be put of as we had no problems with our boat and every one on the flottilla had a great time - you will enjoy it /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
Re: 1st ever flotilla holiday-any do\'s/dont\'s?

You'll have a great time.

We enjoyed our honeymoon years ago on a Cobra 850 (just the two of us) and as such we always had plenty of water for washing/drinking, unlike the other boats in the fleet with four and sometimes six on board- not many watering spots on the islands.

We found, in May, that there was hardly any wind in the mornings, then a little zephyr around 1100 which lasted perhaps and hour and then died away, but later in the afternoon a quick blast around 1500 for about 40 minutes of up to around F5. So we did quite a bit of motoring.

All the islands have a taverna close to their dockside, some a little walk away and apart from midday stopovers in free sailing time you need only worry about snacks and breakfasts.

The only hospital in that area at that time was at Levkas, and little medical facilities anywhere else, nor proper shops either so a rudimentary first aid kit, including painkillers would be a good idea- didn't see any dentists either. The lead boat will have a first aid kit of course.

We flew into Preveza military airport, NO PHOTOGRAPHS PERMITTED, and were then taken by un-airconditioned coach to Nidri- about 1.5 hours which was quite a hot journey, so water is a good idea for that if it still applies.

As to Sailing Holidays, a pal of mine swears by them as the very best of the operators

Have fun, and don't forget the sunscreen, as we lashed the tiller on some days and followed the shade of genoa around the foredeck to get some respite from the blazing sun.

Oh,yes- this trip may spoil you forever. The only sailing clothing you are likely to need will be swim suits and deck shoes
 
Re: 1st ever flotilla holiday-any do\'s/dont\'s?

We did our first flotilla with Sailing Holidays last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. We also had the Jaguar 27 which are good basic boats and comfortable for two. Most of the Jaguars will have been converted to very comfortable couples only with a shower etc. We had one of the originals but it was fine with two people. You get a briefing in the morning about your next port and then you will be left on your own. Mostly eyeball navigation but I did take a portable GPS which I did use on one occasion just to confirm where we were(we weren't where we thought we were - but close!) The islands can look confusing with very few navigation buoys. Enjoy youself! Some people took waterproofs but we only packed lightweight walking waterproofs which we never used.
 
Re: 1st ever flotilla holiday-any do\'s/dont\'s?

Judging by the participants in the Sailing Holiday flotillas in the North Ionian, if you have ever been on a boat before you are more experienced than most.
The flotilla leaders do a good job of keeping people out of trouble. With your experience you are likely to be the expert in the group.
 
Re: 1st ever flotilla holiday-any do\'s/dont\'s?

We went with Sailing Holidays a few years ago on the Ionian and enjoyed it all. Others seem to have covered most aspects; I would just add 1. Take a teapot! We find most Mediterranean hire boats lack a teapot 2. Try to obtain a sailing pilot for the Ionian and a good chart (the ones supplied by SH are very basic although I seem to remember you can buy an expensive pilot when out there).
 
Re: 1st ever flotilla holiday-any do\'s/dont\'s?

Ole will
for info only, SH had an office/store full of snorks etc that peeps leave on the boats, no need to take stuff like this, just ask them
S
 
Re: 1st ever flotilla holiday-any do\'s/dont\'s?

Hawian shirts are cooler (in all ways!) than T shirts.

Take good mozzy repellant. Jungle formula works for me.

I have never used sun cream in the U.K. but do in the Med.

Gardening gloves for hauling up the anchor chain.

Swiss army knife or multi tool, but make sure it's not in your hand baggage.
 
Re: 1st ever flotilla holiday-any do\'s/dont\'s?

Nothing much I can add - as others have said, you'll be more experienced than most!

Someone mentioned a windscoop - I'd strongly recommend (a) checking with Sailing Holidays to see whether or not the boat is equipped with one and (b) if not, buying one to take with you, and for future use (and believe me, you'll want to go back /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif). It can get very hot below decks in the Med.....

I've never heard a bad word about Sailing Holidays on here - enjoy yourself!
 
Re: 1st ever flotilla holiday-any do\'s/dont\'s?

If you have a handheld VHF you will find it useful.

Anyhow, enjoy - we'll be in a (Sunsail branded) Sun Odyssey 36i with the Welsh Dragon flying from the crosstrees - we also leave on the 14th /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif If you visit Fiskardho don't miss the Lord Falcon Thai restaurant!
 
Re: 1st ever flotilla holiday-any do\'s/dont\'s?

We were away for the half term with the same company in the Saronic. Great time, good company. As others have said, you will be overqualified compared to some, so relax. Take teabags, as the Greeks have no clue about tea, and a handheld VHF will make talking to the lead crew much easier when mooring up. We took our own lifejackets again, FWIW. No need for too may clothes, either - a couple of pairs of shorts and handful of T shirts will do, and maybe a nice casual shirt or two for the evenings. The mozzies had a field day with me on the first night, so don't forget the Deet.

Don't expect to use the plastic a lot out there - it's very much a cash economy, so if the hostie says there's a cashpoint in town, use it!
 
Re: 1st ever flotilla holiday-any do\'s/dont\'s?

Thanks to all for the really useful info, mrs W is a happier person now!!
I'm also taking a small 150Watt inverter with me (with 12V cigarette lighter plug) to charge mobile, camera batteries, etc so hope that will be useful.
Can anyone give me some idea of what the evening temperatures may be at the moment? Mrs W is unsure what to wear for the evenings, for me its a no brainer, shorts, short sleeve shirt/T shirt and deck shoes!!
Is it really worth taking my hanheld VHF and GPS unit? I guess they don't take up much room but as ever, its always the chargers which are bulky.

Once again, thanks for boosting our confidence and I'll let you know how we get on.
 
Re: 1st ever flotilla holiday-any do\'s/dont\'s?

The Saronic was 30+ during the day, and the evenings were shorts/T shirts weather. Yes, definitely take the handheld as the fixed VHF is downstairs and it's really helpful to be able to talk to the lead crew while reversing onto a quay. The GPS is a useful backup - in Croatia last year, eyeball navigation was confusing because of the number of islands...
 
Re: 1st ever flotilla holiday-any do\'s/dont\'s?

[ QUOTE ]
Can anyone give me some idea of what the evening temperatures may be at the moment? Mrs W is unsure what to wear for the evenings

[/ QUOTE ]

Temperatures at the mo, daytime 33c, night time not below 28c until early morning. short sleeved shirt ok, carry a jumper if the breeze gets up if eating outside. It can feel cool if you have been roasted all day. Enjoy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top