davidphillips
New member
I am thinking of taking my family on a flotilla sailing holiday in Greece or other area of the Med. Any advice on good companies, companies to avoid etc.
Flotilla holidays
- Thread starter davidphillips
- Start date
tom52
Active member
I went on a couple of flotilla hols with Sunsail about 7/8 years ago.The kids loved it,
its ideal for early teens.
Ionian is best if you have little or no sailing experience but it can be uncomfortably hot in August.
The only unpleasant surprise were the rats at some of the moorings
its ideal for early teens.
Ionian is best if you have little or no sailing experience but it can be uncomfortably hot in August.
The only unpleasant surprise were the rats at some of the moorings
MarkR
New member
Ditto on Sunsail (Ionian flot) and the timing. We went in late April and found great sunshine, admittedly cold water but NO crowds. Returning in the summer.....
Kids loved it, we made sailing friends that we still keep up with.
Mark.
Kids loved it, we made sailing friends that we still keep up with.
Mark.
SteveA
Active member
We have been with Sailing Holidays a few times and have always had a great time - being a smaller company than the likes of Sunsail their lead boat crews appeared to 'care' for their group more.IMHO
SteveA.
SteveA.
Joe_Cole
New member
We went with Sailing Holidays too. They were great, and they were flexible enough, once they felt that we were OK at handling the boat, to allow us to go off on our own if/when we wanted.
wishbone
New member
Thumbs Up for Sailing Holidays and Sunsail we have had a very nice time. South Ionian was more relaxing ie shorter sails and more time on the Islands for exploring! We were looked after by both companies. BVI’s longer sails, Locals can be a bit standoffish and rude & more expensive we thought of sharks with big white smiles! Can’t fault the Greeks, villagers very friendly and very good with children.
All the best
Wishbone
All the best
Wishbone
DavidGrieves
Member
We sailed with Setsail last year. Sailed out of Poros, North the first week and south the next. The legs on the second week were slightly longer but the most sailed in one day was about 25 miles. We thought Setsail was a well organised company, the boats belong to "Greek Sails" and only a couple of years old. And cheeper than Sunsail.
montezuma
New member
We've done several charters in out-of-the-way places through various people, but thoroughly recommend Tenrag/Latesail (same company.) Latesail are more of a broker than a holiday company, but we've been very pleased. I think it would be fair to say that you need to be a bit more self-reliant/experienced if you do it this way rather than on a per person basis with Sunsail et al.
tcm
...
Greece is unfortunately a dump, so staying on a boat is a good idea. The British Virgin Islands, by contrast, is much nicer. Reliably steady winds dec-june, iffy for high winds July-Nov. Also far higher priced so you'll find a better class of alcoholic drunken parents and not quite so yobbish kids.
AndrewB
Well-known member
We've done Sunsail and other (now defunct) companies a few times. All good holidays: Greece, Turkey, Croatia.
From my experience children will enjoy a beach type sailing holiday (dingies, dayboats) much more than a flotilla. More opportunity to interact with other children. Companies like Sunsail provide really good facilities for children in all age-groups. And it gives you a chance to get away from them for a bit, if you like that on holiday. Some companies do offer small cabin-cruisers as dayboats at beach holiday resorts, so it still possible to get in that type of sailing.
If you go with a company like Sunsail, aim for resorts that have been opened within the last couple of years, as older ones get tatty.
From my experience children will enjoy a beach type sailing holiday (dingies, dayboats) much more than a flotilla. More opportunity to interact with other children. Companies like Sunsail provide really good facilities for children in all age-groups. And it gives you a chance to get away from them for a bit, if you like that on holiday. Some companies do offer small cabin-cruisers as dayboats at beach holiday resorts, so it still possible to get in that type of sailing.
If you go with a company like Sunsail, aim for resorts that have been opened within the last couple of years, as older ones get tatty.
ruthhobson
New member
Hi
We did our first flotilla last year and used Activity Holidays, can't say I would use them again... unless I was assured the boats had some serious work done on them. We went late Sept and had rain....lots of rain, on the plus side it was mostly in the middle of the night so didn't interfere with sailing/eating or drinking. But not much fun when there are only 1 1/2 dry berths because of all the hatches leaking, also bad first impression of the boats when the carpet squealches under foot.
We also had problems with the lead crews, I will be diplomatic and say they were distracted during the first week and made a big effort in the second. But it was a case of too little too late for us. Especially as more than half the flotilla had mutinied - their team meals looked a little pathetic and lonely!
We talked to other people with Sailing Holidays and lots of them were repeat customers who had nothing but good things to say.
SunSail seemed to be very cautious, asking boats to be in early (just as the afternoon winds were picking up, there was no wind at all most mornings) also SunSail flotillas were stormbound a couple of times during our 2 weeks due to the weather but we were out and the conditions were fine.
On the plus side we made really good friends who we met up with at the LBS, got loads of experience and more confidence. The plus side of Activity was they realised you were there to sail and as long as you were back before it was dark - they were happy. So we felt like we had got in twice as much sailing.
Hope that helps.
Ruth
We did our first flotilla last year and used Activity Holidays, can't say I would use them again... unless I was assured the boats had some serious work done on them. We went late Sept and had rain....lots of rain, on the plus side it was mostly in the middle of the night so didn't interfere with sailing/eating or drinking. But not much fun when there are only 1 1/2 dry berths because of all the hatches leaking, also bad first impression of the boats when the carpet squealches under foot.
We also had problems with the lead crews, I will be diplomatic and say they were distracted during the first week and made a big effort in the second. But it was a case of too little too late for us. Especially as more than half the flotilla had mutinied - their team meals looked a little pathetic and lonely!
We talked to other people with Sailing Holidays and lots of them were repeat customers who had nothing but good things to say.
SunSail seemed to be very cautious, asking boats to be in early (just as the afternoon winds were picking up, there was no wind at all most mornings) also SunSail flotillas were stormbound a couple of times during our 2 weeks due to the weather but we were out and the conditions were fine.
On the plus side we made really good friends who we met up with at the LBS, got loads of experience and more confidence. The plus side of Activity was they realised you were there to sail and as long as you were back before it was dark - they were happy. So we felt like we had got in twice as much sailing.
Hope that helps.
Ruth
Adrian
Member
Glad to hear good things about Sailing Hols. I have just booked a Croatian Kornati Islands flot in July/ Aug.
Anybody done this flot with sailing hols?
Adrian
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kydproducts.co.uk>http://www.kydproducts.co.uk</A>
Anybody done this flot with sailing hols?
Adrian
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kydproducts.co.uk>http://www.kydproducts.co.uk</A>
Trevor_swfyc
New member
David, nobody has mentioned Templecraft maybe they are not so well known, went with them in 2000 and have booked again for this August 14 days in the south Ionian. Yes it is hot in August about 32 c bring it on. We think the Ionian is the best choice for a family you can virtually pick your own wind strength as very little wind AM but good breeze PM. The posting that said Greece is a dump was not our findings by a long way the islands rely on holiday income and we as visitors treat the country with respect and are treated well for it, good service by friendly people.
When you pick the boat remember it may say it berths 7 but how can they all get in the cockpit during the day so consider this factor.
One of my concerns was that we expected a flotilla might be follow the leader it was not, unless you were unsure you were free to find your own way to the next island, navigation is easy anyway as no tides to worry about.
email Templecraft for a brochure tc@templecraft.com
Go for it you will not regret it.
Trevor
When you pick the boat remember it may say it berths 7 but how can they all get in the cockpit during the day so consider this factor.
One of my concerns was that we expected a flotilla might be follow the leader it was not, unless you were unsure you were free to find your own way to the next island, navigation is easy anyway as no tides to worry about.
email Templecraft for a brochure tc@templecraft.com
Go for it you will not regret it.
Trevor
sailbadthesinner
New member
david cannot fault advice
just be aware how much does your family like sailing
if they get bored easily a week on a boat may not be fun
jhaving said that we had a friends 8 yr old on 2 week bareboat with no trouble.
i would do beach club and flotilla
that way you have a week to get used to the sun ( finding shade on a boat can be hard even with bimini up) and play in dinghies. great fun.
the kids clubs are great for all ages. The nannies are rather nice too.
greece is okay but the food can be bit samey for teenagers. hence i would not do a two week flot as at least in the club they cater for kids tastes too.
flot journeys are short 8- 12m miles max but you can plan longer hops in some areas by taking in distant lunch stops.
ionian very poular but i would say it is too busy and naff all wind for my tastes now. but i loved it when i first started as it was stress free for a boat full of novices.
croatia i am off to this summer but all the reports are good.
western med is tops nbut no sunsail type bases there.
doing a flot as it is only me and the mrs.
sunsail are good but they have to look to their laurels. setsail's boats looked excellent
i have some notes from LIBS i can look out if you want
i must have visited every stand. we ended up with sunsail cos they threw in free stuff.
Ok brain let's just do this and I can get back to killing you with beer.
just be aware how much does your family like sailing
if they get bored easily a week on a boat may not be fun
jhaving said that we had a friends 8 yr old on 2 week bareboat with no trouble.
i would do beach club and flotilla
that way you have a week to get used to the sun ( finding shade on a boat can be hard even with bimini up) and play in dinghies. great fun.
the kids clubs are great for all ages. The nannies are rather nice too.
greece is okay but the food can be bit samey for teenagers. hence i would not do a two week flot as at least in the club they cater for kids tastes too.
flot journeys are short 8- 12m miles max but you can plan longer hops in some areas by taking in distant lunch stops.
ionian very poular but i would say it is too busy and naff all wind for my tastes now. but i loved it when i first started as it was stress free for a boat full of novices.
croatia i am off to this summer but all the reports are good.
western med is tops nbut no sunsail type bases there.
doing a flot as it is only me and the mrs.
sunsail are good but they have to look to their laurels. setsail's boats looked excellent
i have some notes from LIBS i can look out if you want
i must have visited every stand. we ended up with sunsail cos they threw in free stuff.
Ok brain let's just do this and I can get back to killing you with beer.
jimi
Well-known member
Sunsail Villa Flotillas are the biz. Most people do the villa week then the flotilla .. do it the other way around!
davidphillips
New member
Thankyou everyone!
davidphillips
New member
Thankyou everyone!
sailbadthesinner
New member
Why wee jamsie?
did a 2 week bareboat in carrib
got burnt first day on a three hour stint on the helm
next day burnt again, different part of body
third day am wearing long trousers and a long sleeve hooded top and am sweating like a scotsman who thinks he's going to be asked to buy a round ;-)
people are looking at me like i am a loon.
Ok brain let's just do this and I can get back to killing you with beer.
did a 2 week bareboat in carrib
got burnt first day on a three hour stint on the helm
next day burnt again, different part of body
third day am wearing long trousers and a long sleeve hooded top and am sweating like a scotsman who thinks he's going to be asked to buy a round ;-)
people are looking at me like i am a loon.
Ok brain let's just do this and I can get back to killing you with beer.
jimi
Well-known member
Cos if you do it that way round you can get a decent shower when you get orf the boat!
And you can then relax at the bar relating tales of derring do and sounding like an old mediterranean hand .. means you can always get a space at the bar as the crowd there magically disappear like the red sea in front of Moses.
Plus you can get rid of the kids for a week after they've nearly driven you to infanticide the previous week ..
And you can then relax at the bar relating tales of derring do and sounding like an old mediterranean hand .. means you can always get a space at the bar as the crowd there magically disappear like the red sea in front of Moses.
Plus you can get rid of the kids for a week after they've nearly driven you to infanticide the previous week ..
sailbadthesinner
New member
i have a decent shower every birthday
whether i am on a boat or not.
Ok brain let's just do this and I can get back to killing you with beer.
whether i am on a boat or not.
Ok brain let's just do this and I can get back to killing you with beer.
