shamrock
New member
Well, we just had a FANTASTIC family holiday at Sunsail's Vounaki Club, and since some members of the forum gave us really good advice beforehand, I thought I'd quickly share our experience with all.
If you don't know, this is a holiday where you stay in the resort, half board, kids (our two are 2 yrs, and 6 months) go into the nursery / kids club, and the beach has lots of dinghies and people to help rig them for you. They also have 28-36 foot yachts available for day cruising.
The accomodation was very good, food good, day yachts OK, dinghy sailing excellent, and kids clubs fabulous. But what really made it was the staff. Congrats to Will Hutton (resort manager) on building a really good, keen young team in all areas of the resort. On the beach, in particular, they really knew their stuff.
SWMBO went from cautious but keen in dinghies, through a great Level 1 course where she got one-on-one tuition for 2 days, to the point where she was confident taking a Laser out in light-moderate airs and even won the Laser Radial rig race.
I got the chance to really learn about dinghy sailing in Lasers and Hobie Cats (pitchpoling one in an F4-5 is a quick way to learn about not gybing too quick!) and to sail (well, capsize frequently) in an RS800 and 29er. I've cruised and raced yachts for 15 years but wanted to go 'back to basics' and am now hooked.
Anyone got a Laser for sale?!
Our toddler didn't want to leave the kids club and is still asking about it a week later.
We went right at the start of the season, so it was nice and quiet - perhaps the experience is a bit different when they are full, but there were remarkably few teething troubles and the variable weather was actually in our favour - got to sail the little Picos in F7 gusting 8.
Highly recommended.
Nick
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If you don't know, this is a holiday where you stay in the resort, half board, kids (our two are 2 yrs, and 6 months) go into the nursery / kids club, and the beach has lots of dinghies and people to help rig them for you. They also have 28-36 foot yachts available for day cruising.
The accomodation was very good, food good, day yachts OK, dinghy sailing excellent, and kids clubs fabulous. But what really made it was the staff. Congrats to Will Hutton (resort manager) on building a really good, keen young team in all areas of the resort. On the beach, in particular, they really knew their stuff.
SWMBO went from cautious but keen in dinghies, through a great Level 1 course where she got one-on-one tuition for 2 days, to the point where she was confident taking a Laser out in light-moderate airs and even won the Laser Radial rig race.
I got the chance to really learn about dinghy sailing in Lasers and Hobie Cats (pitchpoling one in an F4-5 is a quick way to learn about not gybing too quick!) and to sail (well, capsize frequently) in an RS800 and 29er. I've cruised and raced yachts for 15 years but wanted to go 'back to basics' and am now hooked.
Anyone got a Laser for sale?!
Our toddler didn't want to leave the kids club and is still asking about it a week later.
We went right at the start of the season, so it was nice and quiet - perhaps the experience is a bit different when they are full, but there were remarkably few teething troubles and the variable weather was actually in our favour - got to sail the little Picos in F7 gusting 8.
Highly recommended.
Nick
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