flotilla holiday

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gjgm

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Is that what they are called for those groups of boats that go from A to B each day, under some sort of guidance?
Was vaguely thinking of doing this next year Spring or Autumn, somewhere warm !
Assume ignorance on my part re sailing, but any suggestions of where to go that time of year.. Turkey,Croatia ..or recommendations for which companies to use??
 
gjgm said:
Assume ignorance on my part re sailing, but any suggestions of where to go that time of year.. Turkey, Croatia ..or recommendations for which companies to use??
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Autumn will give you warmer water, of course, if you care about that. And you could include Greece; they need us!

A list of (only) some of the trips I've been on is here: Yachting holiday trips; 1974 to present. The next trip starts tomorrow!

Sailing Holidays has the reputation of being most tolerant of yachting novices (if that is what you are implying). You also don't say how many there are of you, or their ages.

Go for it!

Mike.
 
Sailing Holidays, Sunsail, Sunny Sailing and Nielson are the companies who accept novices, either with-skipper charter of as flotilla.
All are fairly competently run here in the Ionian, though the individual lead skipper's own competence as an instructor is highly variable.
The best one I've watched in operation was a big burly Nederlander who brought all his tyros comfortably to rest in Poros, Cephalonia with an N5 blowing across the quay. To my surprise all the 8 boats were on their first trip of the season, most never having sailed before. He was, naturally, with Sunny Sailing and is named Piet.
 
We've done two in the past and thoroughly enjoyed them - both in Greece, one in the Sporades and one in the Ionian, and both with Sunsail. My cousin and his wife have been doing the same in Turkey for about 20 years.

We were dinghy sailors at the time and this was how we first got into cruising boats. Both holidays were fantastic, the locations superb. The lead boat crews excellent and good fun in each case.

Please note that you do not all traipse around in a sort of middle-class nautical wolf pack. The first time we went as beginners we still had many days doing our own thing with only a few points where we were required to meet up. The second time, in the Ionian, we went as independents - you get a better equipped boat and you can go off completely on your own or particiapate in the flotilla activities as you wish. You still get the support of the lead boat crew if you have any problems. We joined up for some of the BBQ's etc as we got on well with everyone and really enjoyed it but we were otherwise free spirits.

Our second Ionian independent trip was as close to a perfect holiday as we've ever had. A few years later we'd bought our first small cruising boat and a few years after that we managed 6 months as liveaboards in a bigger boat.

I'd strongly recommend it - if you're completely new to big boat sailing as we were at the time you can do their 3-day flotilla sail training in the Solent, which was also very good.
 
did sunsail in turkey and greece in flotilla and bareboat in croatia. never a bad experience. advanatage with flotilla is if you have a nice group you can develop a real sense of cameraderie, informal races, share recipes, enjoy drinks etc. Solo sailing to do more private exploration etc.

Also bareboated in Hobart but that is a different story.....why is it called Storm Bay?
 
We've done flotillas a good number of times and we love it. We've ditched Sunscape/Seafarer as their boats seem to have deteriorated and their prices have increased.

Turkey is a wonderful place to cruise. I much prefer it to Greece. The Turkish people are very friendly and helpful, the cruising area is fabulous with wonderful views from every bay. We just love it and can't wait to go back. Flotillas are great as you have company if you want it, or you can go off and explore by yourselves. The lead crew secure a berth for you in the evening, which means you have all day to sail, swim and enjoy yourselves. We've done bareboat and sometimes you go in early just to get yourself a berth. Having said that, we did enjoy the freedom of finding a quiet bay and spending nights on the hook. With flotillas you get the best of both worlds as the lead crew are generally happy for you to do your own thing, once they are happy with your abilities.

We're going with Neilson next year, sailing from Marmaris. I can't wait :):):)
 
Another vote for Sailingholidays.com, been with them 10+ times over the last 15 years or so in Greece and Croatia, as others have said the quality of the lead crew can make a big difference to the holiday. If you give them a ring before you book they will tell you the ages of the Kids already booked in, a real benefit if you have (or haven't!) got kids.
 
The first one was arranged by Christopher Columbus but the Flotilla was only 3 ships and anyway you are a bit late to join them now.


Things have developed a bit and I think you will find most consider Sailing Holidays one of the better ones!
 
gjgm said:
Cripes.. I hadnt thought of that.
Surely children have to go to school or boot camp, or something?
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Or they haven't started school yet?

On our first trip, one couple had a 4 year old and a 2 year old, there were as good as gold, it was the bloody Uni students that were more bother!

God I feel old saying that...

Anyhow, another vote for Sailing Holidays, very relaxed, very competent. The flotilla boats aren't luxury models (their bareboats are substantially better), but who cares when you'll be out on deck all day? :)
 
Flying Penguin said:
Anyhow, another vote for Sailing Holidays, very relaxed, very competent. The flotilla boats aren't luxury models (their bareboats are substantially better), but who cares when you'll be out on deck all day? :)
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Our Bavaria 44 of theirs in the Saronic last month didn't even have shore power; a bit like going back a decade or so (buying lots of ice!)...

Mike.
 
mjcoon said:
Our Bavaria 44 of theirs in the Saronic last month didn't even have shore power; a bit like going back a decade or so (buying lots of ice!)...

Mike.
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But in the Ionian (where most of their flotillas seem to be) I've never actually had shore power available at any place we've stopped.

Our bareboats with them have all been very nice and surprisingly high tech...
 
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