Sailing Charter Holiday Advice

[Guest]

I am in the process of selecting a sailing hoiliday for my wife and I. I am tyhe keen sailor, mostly in the Solent area, and my wife comes out for the odd day. However she as said she wouldn't mind trying a sailing holiday somewhere warm. So I am starting to do the research, I obviuosly want to break her into a gently, any recommendation/advice

 

[Guest]

Try Greece on a flotilla holiday. Articles in PBO this month. Gentle sailing, easy to manage. I persuaded my wife to go , and we finished up going again the following year. However wouldnt recommend high season, try for end of season this year , or early next year. Berthing is relatively easy, and if you let your wife take the helm and attend to the stern anchor ( and fendering off!) you will both enjoy it. Also big advantage is that they all have decent engines so you can motor/ motor sail if required. Company on a flotilla is aslo good fun, and of course the evening stories about " almost hit a rock " add to the sense of adveture, but in reality the Team leaders take good care of those who need it.
regards Spits

 

[lezgar]

My wife doesn't come sailing in our boat in UK more a weekend, but she says that the best holidays that she has had was our two weeks sailing holidays in the BVI.
She says that she likes sailing but she doesn't like cold and rainy weather.

We charter in Greece last year, and there were a very nice holidays, but no so good like in the BVI.

 

[Roberto]

Greece is a wonderful place for sailing.
Though, to be sure of maximizing the chances your wife will keep on following you, in summer I would definitely prefer Ionian islands and avoid at all costs the Aegean/Kyklades area. The latter are wonderful for muscled sportsmen sailing, lots of shelter etc but 40+kt winds are not exactly the best to keep the newly born sailing flame burning...
Or else go north to Croatia, more than a thousands islands, sheltered seas, beautiful weather, lots of moorings... Brittany with warm climate and no tides!

 

[JeremyF]

I'd certainly recommend Ionian...although quiet, its much better to have something on the quiet side, rather than scare her rigid.

Have you thought about Villa Flotilla? Just liked driving instruction, some wives wont take sailing tuition from husbands, and this is the case with mine. Neilson's run a 2 week villa flotilla, and in the first 2 weeks they run a 4 day intro to yachting for your wife, while you can race around in dingys and windsurfers. The second week is a traditional flotilla.

At the end you have a great holiday, and a more competant crew!

Jeremy Flynn

www.yacht-goldeneye.co.uk
New pics 11.02.02

 

[kingfisher]

Keep it short

The sailing, I mean. Use the boat as a means to getting from one place to another, not as an end in itself.
So no trips where you have to get up at 0600, sail for 12 hrs, and land at 2000 with all the shops closed.

Do the sailing in the morning, than either go sightseing, or anchor of in a bay for a spot of lunch and some swimming. Be in the marina by 1600.
Yes, that's right: no overnight anchorages, unless the water is perfectly flat.

Obi-Wan
http://sirocco31.tripod.com

 

[billskip]

if you go to greece you dont have to sail the ionian..sailing the aegean is not all bad (as others have said)..if you want to visit some very good quiet ports/anchor the saronic golf offers ..aegina, vathi,methena,poros,hydra ,ermioni,spetsia.and many more all easy sailing ..

Bill
www.macsyachting.com
www.aegeansailing.co.uk

 

[Trevor_swfyc]

Re: Ionian Again

Spent two glorious weeks in the Ionian last year, well sheltered waters, predictable weather, clear blue water, cheap food and friendly people. I would go flotilla again it is not follow the leader sailing anymore and as has already been said you have the company of other boats if you want it and help is at hand.
We (my wife and I) went with three other club members this means less time at the helm but more time to enjoy the sights and sunbath also meant we had a bigger boat 40', which they recon will take 9 now that would be interesting.
Storage on these boats is a problem tanks everywhere fuel/water/sewage so clothing was stored on shelving round the berth, so don't take loads of clothes mostly shorts and teashirts.
Do it and you will enjoy it thats for sure.
Happy Sailing
Trevor