Sailing course - complete family with kids? suggestions?

[AlexL]

Howdy - been a while since i've been here.
We used to own a boat - sold about 4 years ago, due to not really using it as kids and a busy business for one of us and busy career for the other came along and life changed.
HOWEVER - we are trying to get back into sailing - we sailed a fair bit when the kids were small (<5) but now we are looking for some options for a holiday - Kids are now 13 and 15 (or will be shortly) and we would fancy a holiday or 2 where they can do competent crew or at least be properly involved. (having some structure and a 'qualification' at the end is good for kids for some pride and achievement) I'd like to work towards yachtmaster coastal or offshore and MrsL would like also to get back into it with maybe some bits toward yachtmaster or at least brushing off some of the rust.
There's some family "learn to sail" courses around where you all do comp crew etc but that's not really going to work as we are coming from different places so someone a bit more independent or less "factory school" would probably be ideal. Over multiple weekends in the Uk or short flight (croatia? greece? med?) for a week would prob be ideal.

Anyone got ideas ? options?

We are also in the market for a 20-25 ft pocket rocket sailing boat -the sort of thing we can blat up and down the crouch in Burnham on a sat or sun morning and still get to be dad's taxi in the afternoons for kids stuff. But that's the subject of another discussion!

 

[Cantata]

I'd suggest you talk to Mark at Learn2Sail, based on the Algarve.

 

[choppy]

Greetings -
How about charter + instructor in Balearics ? Owing to nature of our clients we do this more & more frequently. You could certainly work in a couple of Comp crew + higher qualification as long as instructor's role is clear and combine with a week afloat in the sun. If so please take a look at our website below - there is some self interest in this suggestion of course.
Re boat for East coast how about small Tri - Farrier/ Corsair etc ? (there was a F22 round there for sale) and you did say Blat. I would also think Burnham still has its community of multi sailors -

 

[RupertW]

I’d contact Activity Yachting in Croatia (run by a guy from Yorkshire called Gary). We shared a marina for a year with the fleet base a couple of years ago and I couldn’t think of a better way to get enthusiastic about sailing and getting qualifications. Most of their boats are smaller and a lot older than the 3-5 year old 40-50 footers of a typical flotilla fleet but seem very well maintained.

 

[capnsensible]

Lots of the smaller schools would give you a good course. For a mixture of sunny sailing, tidal waters, shorter passages, I can recommend Go n Sail in Ayamonte on the Spanish border with Portugal.

Shane and Debs run it. Ive taught for them so please PM if you got any questions.

Im not on their staff so not an advert!!

 

[duncan99210]

None of our kids involved but the Admiral and I did back to back competent crew and dazed kipper courses at Corfu Sea School RYA courses in Greece, learn to sail in Greece. Good instruction and they’ll let you stay on the boat before and after the course so you don’t need to pay extra for accommodation. A father and daughter did the course at the same time as us: dad did DS, daughter did CC, worked well from their point of view.
All the usual about no connection.

 

[Daydream believer]

Re boat for East coast how about small Tri - Farrier/ Corsair etc ? (there was a F22 round there for sale) and you did say Blat. I would also think Burnham still has its community of multi sailors -

Would not have a tri in Burnham. Too much windward work getting in or out of the Crouch & one would not make any progress under sail so it would be outboard all the time. I know from watching how slow a couple of tris are up wind in the narrow river. All speed but no pointing & loads of tacking & lost way. Different kettle of fish once off the wind though, so one might think that makes up for it. Horses for courses.

 

[AlexL]

Thanks everyone - I shall read and digest

 

[Sybarite]

We are also in the market for a 20-25 ft pocket rocket sailing boat -the sort of thing we can blat up and down the crouch in Burnham on a sat or sun morning and still get to be dad's taxi in the afternoons for kids stuff. But that's the subject of another discussion!

Bénéteau First 25 : un voilier marin, performant et confortable

 

[grumpy_o_g]

I would highly recommend this lot based on past experience RYA Sailing Courses & Yacht Training 2019 | Neilson although it's a few years since I've been with them and things do change. I'd strongly recommend the Med if you're doing a full week of sailing with newbies/kids though. The weather hides a multitude of sins and there's usually some good company for all ages with a flotila, great for the kids.

As for a pocket rocket, 50 years ago it would have had to have been a Hunter - maybe a Horizon 23 or Channel 245. They are both good sea boats and fast for their size and age but not extreme. Sadly the First 25 is probably the de facto pocket rocket these days if you aren't spending silly money though. Whatever you get I would strongly recommend that you get something that can do 4 knots in a bit of a chop and against a headwind under power though. That tide runs at a fair rate and it's a long hard slog back upriver when the Gods are against you. I would avoid something that is ultra-light displacement too as you can get a very uncomfortable short chop which flattish hulls often don't like. A lifting keel would be a huge bonus but does add to the price- perhaps a Parker 235 or a Seal 26?

 

[sgr143]

"RYA Day Skipper [and other - SGR] courses can be taken in either sail or motor yachts, and in tidal or non-tidal waters. Your certificate will be endorsed accordingly.", says the RYA. So the OP may prefer to do this holiday / training in tidal waters - i.e. not the Med., despite its various pleasant aspects; especially as he is planning to base his subsequent sailing in Burnham...

Equally, they could do it in two bites - one bite that's more of a holiday, in Greece or Croatia (maybe a flotilla - which could offer a halfway-house between being instructed and being independent?), followed by another bite that's more training-oriented, in tidal waters?

 

[E39mad]

I’d contact Activity Yachting in Croatia (run by a guy from Yorkshire called Gary). We shared a marina for a year with the fleet base a couple of years ago and I couldn’t think of a better way to get enthusiastic about sailing and getting qualifications. Most of their boats are smaller and a lot older than the 3-5 year old 40-50 footers of a typical flotilla fleet but seem very well maintained.

+1

We as a family have done two Activity Yachting holidays out of Murter, Croatia. Whilst I already had Yachtmaster I got my ICC through them and the family their competent crew.