Impressed by Sunsail

[TeeRev]

Got back on Sunday from a week's flotilla out of Dubrovnik, we've done a few flotillas over the years but it was our first with Sunsail. We only booked on the Tuesday before leaving so were expecting a 32 footer, when we arrived we were told we had been upgraded to a nearly new SO36i, it was spotlessly clean and EVERTHING worked all week, that's a first ever for us on any flotilla or bareboat charter.

Thomson's flights were on time and reasonably comfortable, transfers were quick, base check in was efficient, boat was ready a couple of hours earlier than expected and the boat briefing was clear and thorough. Throughout the week the lead crew (who had an average age of about 23) inspired confidence as they were relaxed, helpful and informative while carrying out all the necessary flotilla stuff like daily briefings, berthing assistance and games organising for 12 boats, mostly all with 6 or 8 people aboard.

The route was a short first sail to Sudarad on Sipan for day one, then to Polace on Mljet for day two and on day three to Lumbarda on Korcula, where we took a bus to Korcula town and had a lovely lunch on the city wall. On our free day we were the only boat to go to Pomena where we moored stern to at a restaurant and had a delicious fresh fish platter for dinner, all of the others went back to Polace or stayed in Lumbarda and were jealous when we met up at Orkluje for the last evening.

The sailing was varied, we had wind on every day bar one and when a small Bora turned up on day three we had a great sail, single reefed and hard on the wind we saw 7.2 knots at one stage. The last day started with heavy rain and no wind so the regatta was called off, we motored across the main channel and when we turned for home at lunchtime the wind picked up and the sun came out, we had the best sail of the week gybing downwind at 6 knots all the way to Dubrovnik and finished with goosewinging the last 4 miles up the river, dropping the sails right outside the ACI Marina.

I do hope this hasn't sounded like an advert for Sunsail but on the basis of this holiday we will certainly use them again.

 

[PhillM]

That sounds delightful. Thank you for posting. Personally, I have been put off the flotillia idea by some of the stories you hear. Time for a fresh think, me thinks.

I did some basic training with Sunsail and they were great - in that I was booked on comp crew - which I passed by noon on the first day - so they gave me a free theory training day so I could step up to Day Skipper, exercises between the two weekends. I found the service great and training great.

I know that on here some dislike Sunsail. TBH I am no great fan of the Sunsail fleet when its out racing, but they do meet a need and from my point of view, they do it as well as it could be done.

 

[prv]

That sounds delightful. Thank you for posting. Personally, I have been put off the flotillia idea by some of the stories you hear.

Really? What sort of stories? The only recurring negative I can think of is the myth that you all sail along in rigid formation, tacking on command from the lead boat like a squadron of frigates circa 1847. If that ever was the case it certainly hasn't been for twenty years - you meet up in port each night but spend the days separately, lunch at anchor in the bay of your choice, etc.

We did flotillas every summer from when I was 13 and my brother 11 - my parents still do. Excellent holidays.

Pete

 

[telford_mike]

Just back from the Ionian - 1 week Sunsail flotilla on a Cyclades 39. Once again a very good week, ageing boat but everything in good working order. Sunsail didn't seem to have any shortage of customers despite the economic climate and the (new for this year) strict Greek requirement to have an ICC or equivalent.

 

[mjcoon]

Really? What sort of stories? The only recurring negative I can think of is the myth that you all sail along in rigid formation, tacking on command from the lead boat like a squadron of frigates circa 1847. If that ever was the case it certainly hasn't been for twenty years - you meet up in port each night but spend the days separately, lunch at anchor in the bay of your choice, etc.

It wasn't like that in, say, 1974 when I started doing flotillas. Except perhaps when sailing between Corfu and Albania; they were a bit twitchy about how broad your tacks were then!

Mike.

 

[KellysEye]

>I can think of is the myth that you all sail along in rigid formation, tacking on command from the lead boat

The Yacht Cruising Association flotilla company used to that in the 1980s, it was extremely funny to watch. Sunsail bought them so the amusement ended unfortunately. Bring the YCA back I say.

 

[PhillM]

- you meet up in port each night

Yeah, that's it.

The idea of 2 weeks meeting up with some of the people that I know, who have been on flotilla's make me shudder. I am sure that most of the people are great, but the idea of sharing each evening with the same goup doesnt really appeal. I admit that part of the point of owning a boat is being able to choose where to go, when to go and who to meet (or avoid) at the other end.

Perhaps its just me - perhap's I'm the one that needs avoiding

 

[telford_mike]

Yeah, that's it.

The idea of 2 weeks meeting up with some of the people that I know, who have been on flotilla's make me shudder. I am sure that most of the people are great, but the idea of sharing each evening with the same goup doesnt really appeal. I admit that part of the point of owning a boat is being able to choose where to go, when to go and who to meet (or avoid) at the other end.

Perhaps its just me - perhap's I'm the one that needs avoiding

You don't share the evening with them, you're just in the same port. The flotilla crew do organise group meals once or twice a week, but there's absolutely no obligation (express or implied) to attend.

 

[TeeRev]

There is no obligation to spend any time with anyone else if you don't want to but part of the fun of a flotilla for us is the social aspect, we had 12 boats on ours, all mostly with 4 - 6 crew so there was no way we were going to meet everyone but Sunsail heplfully provide you with a list of boats and their crews first names.

As the only couple how it worked for us was when we moored up we said hello and introduced ourselves to the boats each side of us, some boats particularly the family groups preferred to keep to themselves, others were keener to socialise and after the first few minutes you know whether you want to hang around with them or not.

We quite often seemed to end up next to a group of americans who were a similar age to ourselves, we also sat next to them at one of the group meals and we had several late night sessions on our boat with a couple of them, my wife and his wife exchanged email addresses to swap photos but I doubt we'll ever see them again.

On a sightseeing trip to some salt lakes I got chatting to a chap with a wife and four teenagers on his boat, he and his wife came along for a drink one night to get away from the kids and as we are both in the construction industry we had a lot to talk about. They want some of my line of work done on their holiday home in Selsea so it's possible we may meet up with them to take a look at it and have a lunch together sometime this summer but as we didn't take their contact details the balls in their court.

There were several boats with teenagers on and it looked like they all gelled together very well judging by the number of times we saw them all heading off somewhere together to get away from the parents.