Qualification Free Holidays

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AlistairM

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I am currently looking to undertake the day skipper course with a view to chartering. Until then is there any way we (swmbo and 2 year old) can have a holiday afloat in blighty preferably or abroad, without the need for any sort of qualification (I dont really see the point of doing the ICC if I am doing the DS anyway).

As ever thanks for your comments
 
How about a skippered charter?

I spent last weekend sailing from Whitehaven to the Isles of Fleet with two other dinghy sailers and had a great time. I sailed with Martyn from Suresail (email Suresail7@aol.com )

No connection other than as a happy customer who is busy sorting out a group to do it again.
 
I don't know if this would apply in the UK - but I will tell you my experience. I have chartered with one of the big companies both in the Caribbean and in Mallorca. I have no formal qualifications. They asked for experience on the charter application form and I gave it. That seemed to satisfy them.

Might work for you, too.
 
ICC is more widely recognised than DS.....

many countries, so it's worth considering if you might want to charter abroad at some time.

In fact, it's more widely recognised than yachtmaster in places.
 
If you can sail already then you might find that a Sunsail flotilla meets your requirements. You can do a Club/Flotilla holiday where you stay for a week in a sailing club (Turkey, Greece, etc) and then have a yacht for a week. During the club week you can do a pre-flotilla course to get you up to speed. Your child would probably also enjoy the club activities (if not the yacht!)
No connection except that two of my kids have been sailing instructors with Sunsail. PM me if you want more details - or look at Sunsail website.
Morgan
 
AlistairM

Contact Tina at atsailing.com, they're always helpful.

You may get a few days, and a skipper to help as much or as little as you wish.

Great food with them too.

Al
 
Loads of traditional boats available for hire on the Norfolk Broads. A great choice of gaff or bermuda rigs, from 20' camping halfdeckers up to 36' yachts with all mod cons. Whilst you won't be doing any chartwork or worrying about secondary ports you will learn more in one day about close-quarters boat handling than you will in a week at sea. Broads sailing is amongst the most technically challenging sailing I have done anywhere, especially if you hire a boat with no engine and are determined to sail everywhere. On the other hand it's inland and therefore relatively safe. Nobody gets seasick either.
The rivers and Broads are delightful, there's loads of places to stop - important for kids - and the beer is good too!. The boatyards are keen for business, and welcome anybody with a bit of experience, such as competent dinghy sailors.
Have a look at boats from Hunters Yard, Eastwood Whelpton, Norfolk Broads Yachting Co., Colin Buttifant (Swallowtail Boatyard)
When I did a day skipper course the instructor wanted to know how my wife and I were so confident about handling his 36' gaffer in confined spaces. I explained that we'd done a lot of sailing on the Broads, where tacking 6" from the bank in a channel only a few boat lengths wide is not uncommon.
 
Sailingholidays.com have a great base in the south Ionian.
If you can sail a dinghy, you are more that qualified for their flotillas.

Really good fun & safe.

Thats how we started in big boats. SWMBO and kids will have a great time/

Some deals at the moment.
 
I agree - Sunsail Flotillas are set up for people with virtually no experience at all - and good fun and good company. Excellent way to find if you like to be in a boat for more than a day or two. You learn a bit too and it is very very undemanding.

Alternatively the French canals and rivers - particularly the Canal du Midi are beautiful and a lovely way to spend a holiday. No experience at all required and NO Qualifications. If you hire a boat from a canal/river charter company you are not required to have a CENVI or ICC. Nothing at all. Charter company boat hires are exempt...

Michael
 
Also Neilson holidays do 'Villa-Flotilla' in the Mediterranean (in fact, they invented the concept in 1981!). It's a week ashore when your wife and yourself do a 4 day intensive course on yacht handling in the Med while junior is looked after in the creche, followed by a week afloat in charge of your own yacht sailing in company.

Most such sailors return next year to do a 2 week cruise, then go off for independent charter . . . then buy their own boats out in Greece - often from the charter company they learnt with.

Google 'neilson holidays', or go to your local travel agent.
 
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