Is a flotilla holiday the right choice for us?

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kathdawson

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I want to take my 16 year old son on a sailing holiday - we have no sailing experience, both love being on the water, want to be somewhere hot and sunny, want to learn about sailing and also have a social experience - hence our interest in the flotilla concept.

someone I met who has sailing experince suggested a YHA competent crew course.

I'de really appreciate some help from those with excperince to advise us what would be best for us.

Do you think the YHA course would be best or could we get away with being novices on a boat where there is more experience - we will muck in and learn quickly of course....

also, do you think the YHA courses with 5 on a boat + skipper can be a social experience too?

any advice or suggestions much appreciated /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif)

thanks,
Kath
 
Hi Kath, the social experience depends on your liberation.

the YHA (Youth hostelling association) is not very well known for its sailing courses... but, the cram 20 into a room with no facilites is very similar to and boaty course.. so you should be fine.

Most parents who weant to take their yoof to sea do it for themselves, with the yoof as an excuse.. do YOU want the experience.. if not really - ask THEM what they want... might be a new cd from some nameless groop...
 
Hi Kath,
On a flotilla holiday you would be expected to take charge of a yacht and sail it on your own, albeit in company with a flotilla lead boat and with help and advice when ashore. You would need some sailing experience first and probably RYA Day skipper or Coastal Skipper qualification.

The RYA competent crew course does on the face of it seem a better option. Being a part of a crew of 6 is certainly social! It's also a good way to learn from other people.
Have a look at other sailing schools too, I don't know where the YHA course is based but a holiday somewhere more likely to be warm could be less challenging than one in our home climate. There's nothing worse than being cold, wet and cramped for taking the shine of your first sailing experience.
If you do a course, make sure it is a recognised RYA centre so that you will end the time with a recognised qualification that is a first step towards the Skipper's certificates.

David
 
Unfortunately.. the rya skippers cert is not really worth a damn. bin diluted so much by much of the above.

On a foltilla break, you DO NOT have to make any decisions .. period.. its an instructor led group of holidaymakers.
 
I meant RYA didn't I? and not YHA - opps! told you I was a beginner!

Nath, my son, chose this type of holiday so even though I am up for it the lead is coming from him /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Its sounding like we wouldn't be permitted on most flotilla holidays, but there was a company I spoke to who said we could be on the lead boat with no experience and be fine.

I'm looking at a SunSail competent crew course in Lanzarote which sounds good - I just want to be sure its the right choice.

Your input is much appreciated
thanks,
Kath
 
I am thinking that maybe if you have no previous experience of sailing that you should try dinghy sailing first. Perhaps go to a Club Med location and learn. But if that is not your fancy then opt for the comp crew course over the flotilla.
 
I think both of you will find the comp crew course a lot of fun and a good social holiday too.

You can sometimes share a boat with others on a flotilla. I'm sure Sunsail offer that option. Not sure I'd do it but it's an option to share with someone who knows a bit.

I took Day Skipper before going on a flotilla holiday and SWMBO took comp crew during the week before the actual holiday. We had a great time. Well, I did - she screamed a lot!
 
If you want to learn to sail then take a course. It will be enjoyable but you'll find that everyone is there to work/learn rather than to party.

If you want to muck about on the water and have a holiday then do the shared flotilla option.
 
"..an instructor led group of holidaymakers."

Each on separate yachts. The leader deosn't sail your yacht for you so some skill in that department is essential.

Whatever your valuation of the RYA Skippers certs, many charter, including flotilla companies require possession of one at some level before they will let you loose with their yachts.
 
1 wk club and 1 wk flotilla

Some companies do a combination of a week ashore with full use of boats incl training on the yachts, with the second week on flotilla.

Try Sunsail and Nielson
 
Re: 1 wk club and 1 wk flotilla

Taking charge of a yacht on a flotilla is not realistic for a newcomer to sailing. Whatever the brochures say, the sailing can get challenging. Much better I'd have thought to do one of the land based sailing holidays at a beach club where you can learn in safety in dinghies, do as much or as little as you choose, and mix it with other activities, and have a proper bed for the night.

If you really want to do the 'big yacht' thing, then you could try the 'Share a Yacht' option that Sailing Holidays (and others) offer, where, as a crew member with no experience you will be allocated to a boat with an experienced crew. You will be expected to help crew the boat, but there is no pressure on you, and i'd have thought its an ideal introduction to yachting. If you enjoy it, then you can sign on to competent crew courses and all that when you get home.

Flotilla sailing is great, don't be put off, but be aware that it can get very hot on a boat and the only place to cool off is in the water, and that storms can brew up quickly in the med, so calm steady sailing can be rudely interrupted if you are unlucky. I've never been hit by a storm, but friends have. time of year can make a big difference, as can your chosen sailing area. The flotilla companies will advise you. Everybody's fav seem to be Sailing Holidays Ltd at present, but Sunsail have a reasonable reputation as well,so speak to both i'd suggest.

Tim
 
Hi Neilsons villa flotilla may be a good compromise. During the first week you will be in a hotel but you can each do a four day introduction to yachting course. With three of you there will probably be only yourselves on the boat with an instructor. The days are 9-5 and are good fun and as well as instruction you will get to sail to other bays and harbours for lunch. Did one quite a few years ago but recommended it to a friend who did one recently and thoroughy enjoyed it and have now got the sailing bug. At the end of four days you should be fine to sail, especailly in less challenging waters like the South Ionian. The lead boat will not let you leave the harbour if they have doubts about the weather conditions.
The 4 day course costs around £120 each, but is good value.
For the remianing couple of days of your shorebased week you can always sail dinghys etc (at additional cost) or just chill out - best wishes
 
I will second that.

Neilsons villa flotilla is a fun way to start. You will have to demonstrate a certain amount of competence or it's a villa/villa holiday. I would recomend a dinghy course first as it would be a good "Primer". There are plenty of clubs around where the courses are available and they will usually hire you a dinghy on club nights at reasonable rates.

Have fun.

Dave.
 
Flot sounds perfect. Getting non-sailing people on a sailing holiday is exactly what they are for!

Of course many charter firms do skippered charter.

A formal RYA course is an expensive way to take a sailing holiday and frankly you'll want to have some fun rather than spend all day doing sailing and mooring drills or whatever thay do on these courses.

Of course if you really aren't sure about a sailing holiday there's always the NOrfolk Broads or the Canal du Midi or somesuch. Not really sailing but it's still boating...

It's the safest sport in the world - just get out and do it.
 
Check out

http://www.sea-trek.co.uk/CSS/

We learned to sail with these guys and they were excellent. Basically you get three days of dedicated tuition on a boat on your own and three days on your own (with them close by in case you get into diffculties). It's all day sailing out of their base in Kefalonia. Go at the right time of year and the weather is perfect and the wind conditions are good and not too challenging for a beginner. It's not an RYA certificate, but they do offer recognised certificates.
 
Aegean sailing school do a comp crew course in the Saronic, only pre qualification required is "a sense of adventure". Just come back from doing my dazed kipper with them and can recommend highly.
 
Why don`t you telephone a charterer and ask them to place you with other people on a boat who have some experience, I found sailing holidays excellent and very helpful ( I have no connection with them) they sail in the north Ionian (also other parts), if you want to do it now then do it.
RGH
 
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