Inexperienced couple looking for weekend away!

[blindman]

My wife (Mrs Blindman) and I are trying to find flotila for a weekend during spring. Sunsail have racing and weeks in he med but no sailing for inexperienced peeps for the weekend. We would like to leave our two young children at home as we will need to concentrate!
We have both sailed about 100 nm (skipperd 50) in the med and port solant.
We have both passsed day skipper pratical and want to build up experience to tackel the Coastal skipper.

Could you suggest a solution?
Is shared yatch the answer?

Yours (with sailing withdrawal syptoms).

Blindman

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[sonic]

The answer is to go as a couple on a skippered charter where you do the sailing and the skipper is there as back up. If you are not sure of anything he /she is there just to give you confidence.
Clyde Yacht Charters on the Firth of Clyde offer this service. Their web site is www.Clydeyachtcharters.co.uk. and they have got 3 brand new 33ft boats

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[rhinorhino]

If Scotland is a little far for the weekend, there are plenty of companies providing this service on the south coast, but it would not be cheap. If you have children, £5/600 for a weekend may be a little rich, if so drop me a PM with some details and I will see if i can help you out.

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[Cotillion]

You could try these

http://www.crewseekers.co.uk/

I had some nice rides last year. Not only will you find local opportunities there are also many holiday and worldwide adventures.

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[jimi]

Initially chartering is probably the way forward partic if you wish to skipper cos even if you get sailing, the only way to really learn to skipper is to in fact skipper! It would help if a relatively experienced person was with you who was capable of sitting on his her hands and shutting up unless you got yourself irretreivably in the kak. Initially charter in an undemanding area and have less than ambitious passage plans until you build up a bit more experience. Good luck and go for it!

<hr width=100% size=1>.. got an udder rudder, brudder?

 

[sailbadthesinner]

Re: sailing and nut allergies

agree with jimi
do an undemanding charter
if you want an undemanding area scotland is good (weather permitting) lots of shelter and you know it will rain a bit so you prepare for that and when it happens it is not a problem and if it don't it is brill
the pontoons aren't rammed and there is lots of space to practice picking up moorings ands bashing pontoons without crowds watching
you can fly and train to say largs and troon no worries forrabout 20 quid each return if you book smart
lots of boats to charter sunsail are in largs but there are others along the coast
pm me if you want more details
WARNING
SCOTLAND MAY CONTAIN NUTS

<hr width=100% size=1>Beer. Source of and answer to all life's problems.

 

[jimi]

Re: sailing and nut allergies

Erm might just be worth pointing out that Sailbad is talking Firth of Clyde and definitely not the NW Coast where there are significantly more hazards!

<hr width=100% size=1>.. got an udder rudder, brudder?

 

[sailbadthesinner]

Re: sailing and nut allergies

thanks jimi
yes
stay in the firth lots of views and shelter to run for
but the outer bits ARE beatiful too

<hr width=100% size=1>Beer. Source of and answer to all life's problems.

 

[capn666]

If you're looking for an experience, I know of a skippered charter boat that needs crew for a trip from Clyde (Rhu) to Kilmelford via Mull of Kintyre over Easter as it's too deep draft to get through the Crinan canal.
Website is www.xanaducharters.co.uk
Call Andy or Val for a chat.

<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by capn666 on 17/03/2004 21:35 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[whisper]

Re: sailing and nut allergies

Agree regarding Scotland but only in the Clyde Estuary - don't think any further West is very suitable for relative newbies.

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[Jeremy_W]

A possibility (if you really only have 100NM experience each! 200NM is the minimum for Day Skipper) is chartering a YCA29 from Blakes on the Caledonian Canal. The sailing isn't exactly taxing but it'll fill the gap [and give you some experience of sailing 2-up] until you can get out and do some real sailing!

I've no idea of the cost of flights, but if you can't afford it you have no business living in Surrey!

Regards,
Jeremy
Surrey-born adoptive scouser.

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[mldpt]

Hi Skippered charter sounds like the best option for you, the skipper will let you skipper if thats what you want and be there to help and advise when needed, this way you learn and have fun at the same time, the clyde is definatly the place and can be wonderful in May. My boat Paget's Lady is laid up and I dont think she will be ready for then, www.pagetsladysailing.co.uk is my site, but you could have a look at www.dolphin-haven.freeserve.co.uk we work to gether,we both have Westerly Corsairs and do Skippered Charter and RYA sailing instruction, if any of the dates offered are suitable for you I could arrange to skipper Sea Dawn from Ardorssan for a week.
Regards Mike. www.sailingforfun.co.uk

<hr width=100% size=1>www.sailingforfun.co.uk