Family sailing experience

[Chris_B4]

A long time ago I used to sail quite a bit but since the kiddywinks arrived I've been a fairly dedicated motorboater (please don't start now, that's not the point of this post)

My kids are now aged 11, 9 and 7, I have a week off arranged shortly and our boat is currently laid up. What I'd like to do is hire/charter * what I would call a dayboat and treat the kids to a sailing experience somewhere relatively near to our home port of Portsmouth

Trouble is all my enquiries about dinghy hire have led to places where you must first be a member and I can't find any place that will hire/charter something larger (like a Hawk 20 or something similar)

Does anyone know where I might find what I'm after

Thanks for any helpful suggestions you may have

Chris

* Funny that, you apparently hire a dinghy but charter a yacht, at what size does hire become charter ?

 

[alahol2]

Not quite what you are after but it might be a good day out is Terror in Chichester.
http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/agenda/Terror-No-it--was.5289743.jp
I think their trips are usually 2 hours but I bet you could negotiate a half day or more...

 

[rr_123]

Thanks for any helpful suggestions you may have

Pick something up off eBay?

If the kids don't take to it you've only gone one bid higher than the other person so you could pop it back on, if they do take to it, happy days!

R

 

[jhr]

There must be somewhere around the Solent that does this, but I'm afraid I don't know of any. Istr that there's an outfit on the Helford River that hires out Drascombes - which would be ideal if they were about 100 miles nearer - but other than that.....

 

[Romeo]

I have always assumed that around the solent anything less than 35 feet is a day sailer. I could direct you to places in the Lake district (Glenridding) and Argyle (Linnhe Marine). Perhaps a help to others who might read this with similar queries, but not much use to you I'm afraid.

R

 

[arfa]

A few years ago the trailer sailer centre used to operate out of Northney marina and would charter out day boats etc. I am not sure if they are still operating but there are contact details on their website which might be worth a shot ?
The link is below

http://www.thetrailersailercentre.co.uk/contact.asp

 

[paulburton44]

I know its not local to you .....but..... Norfolk Broads...

http://www.huntersyard.co.uk/

 

[aquaplane]

We are lucky enough to have Pugneys http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/CultureAndLeisure/ParksAndOpenSpaces/PugneysCountryPark/default.htm

close to us, I used to go for a fix before I got my own boat. A Wayfarer for a couple of 2 hour sessions and a BBQ was a good day out.

Is there anything like that near you?

What's this place like?

http://www.mount-batten-centre.com/