Sailing from Gibraltar

[crewman]

I am planning on doing my Coastal Skipper Practical early this year. Scottish West Coast too cold so thinking of doing it from Gibraltar. What is the sailing like in mid/late Feb or early March? Anyone got any recommendations for a sailing school?

TIA

 

[tarik]

Gibraltar

I am planning on doing my Coastal Skipper Practical early this year. Scottish West Coast too cold so thinking of doing it from Gibraltar. What is the sailing like in mid/late Feb or early March? Anyone got any recommendations for a sailing school?

TIA

Capt Sensible in Gibraltar, will be along soon, he will provide you with 1st class training.

PM me if you want further details.

David

 

[Downsman]

Try a pm to Capnsensible he's always sculling about in the Strait and probably knows it and Gib: better than anyone..

You won by a short head Tarik..

 

[Woodlouse]

It'll still be cold, wet and windy. Just less so than Scotland.

 

[jonic]

Gib is a great choice. I ended up doing mine there.

 

[robinsoncrusoe]

We are booked for Feb with Hurcules.

flights were £50 return !

 

[Victoria Sponge]

We went with Allabroad, who were excellent. We went early June, so nice and warm.

 

[BuzzFan]

trafalgar sailing

hi, i did a ym with these guys a decade ago one march or april, couldn't recommend more highly.

http://www.trafalgarsailing.co.uk/index.html

I am planning on doing my Coastal Skipper Practical early this year. Scottish West Coast too cold so thinking of doing it from Gibraltar. What is the sailing like in mid/late Feb or early March? Anyone got any recommendations for a sailing school?

TIA

 

[Conachair]

I am planning on doing my Coastal Skipper Practical early this year. Scottish West Coast too cold so thinking of doing it from Gibraltar. What is the sailing like in mid/late Feb or early March? Anyone got any recommendations for a sailing school?

TIA

Canaries is worth a look as well. I did dayskipper with Allabroad in Gib and coastal with can't remember in Canaries. Both interesting places to sail, wind more reliable in canaries,and sunnier.

 

[maxi77]

Another alternative is the Algarve, there are several RYA schools here. The weather is about 10 degrees warmer than the UK most of the winter but it does rain from time to time. From memory Gib is much the same.

 

[Pete R]

For me it all depends on what you want the piece of paper for. I did my Yachmaster there and regret it very much.

Gib is easy with almost no tide. Yes the straits are sometimes a challenge but not difficult. Although going over to Africa was an experience.

The rock itself is not impressive and is reminiscent of a run down UK council estate.

The only really tidal stuff we did was when we went West to Spain and Portugal and that was marred by some very poor instruction.

I wish I had stayed in the UK but if the weather is your concern (it was mine) then at least go to Portugal for some tide and be challenged.

Good luck.

 

[capnsensible]

Thanks everyone who mentioned us!!!

I had better not say anymore....

 

[aitchem]

For me it all depends on what you want the piece of paper for. I did my Yachmaster there and regret it very much.

Gib is easy with almost no tide. Yes the straits are sometimes a challenge but not difficult. Although going over to Africa was an experience.

The rock itself is not impressive and is reminiscent of a run down UK council estate.

The only really tidal stuff we did was when we went West to Spain and Portugal and that was marred by some very poor instruction.

I wish I had stayed in the UK but if the weather is your concern (it was mine) then at least go to Portugal for some tide and be challenged.

Good luck.

This is a very good point.
Tides in Gibraltar is negligible and not good preparation. the wind and weather was always ideal, even had a scary crossing to Ceuta.
I did all my practical with Allabroad in Gib. very good school, but really, I wish I had gone to somewhere like Jersey. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.


Howard

 

[VO5]

For me it all depends on what you want the piece of paper for. I did my Yachmaster there and regret it very much.

Gib is easy with almost no tide. Yes the straits are sometimes a challenge but not difficult. Although going over to Africa was an experience.

The rock itself is not impressive and is reminiscent of a run down UK council estate.

The only really tidal stuff we did was when we went West to Spain and Portugal and that was marred by some very poor instruction.

I wish I had stayed in the UK but if the weather is your concern (it was mine) then at least go to Portugal for some tide and be challenged.

Good luck.

Ha ! Ha ! Ha !

You are funny !

It hasn't rained here for the last 68 days.
Bright and sunny it is, visitors wandering around in summer clothes.

As for it being a run down council estate, you need to go to specsavers, the sooner the better..

This is a Tax Haven, not a slum.

 

[trapezeartist]

+1 for Trafalgar Sailing. I did my Dazed Kipper (theory and practical) with them.

I've also sailed with Cap´n Sensible before he became Hercules, and that was good too. (Though he's not very good at organising the weather.)

A couple of the main people from Trafalgar went off to Lanzarote to set up their own school (I forget the name they chose). I would think that would be very good too. Possibly a better choice weather-wise if going in the winter.

 

[rib]

with respect vo5 i was disappointed with gib once twenty paces from the water

 

[GrahamM376]

with respect vo5 i was disappointed with gib once twenty paces from the water

That was our impression first time there, a scruffy corner of a depressed UK town, once away from the waterfront. Having been there a couple more times, found I now quite like the place and there are always some friendly folks around Marina Bay to have a natter with.

The Straits can be quite "interesting" when the wind kicks up and, although there isn't much tidal range can certainly sort the men from the boys. The area from there up the coast to Cadiz and further is a good training area.

Algarve tidal ranges are very low as well, a big spring only around 3 meters and, having gained most of my early sailing experience around the Irish Sea, consider it to have no challenges in most normal weather conditions.

 

[VO5]

with respect vo5 i was disappointed with gib once twenty paces from the water

Yes, I can understand your disappointment.
Lots of ex pats share your view.
That is why they buy properties in Spain, you see ?
They consider the prices of properties there at 1/3 of what they are here to be a bargain.
Then they reflect....but they cannot get a foothold here so they resort to sour grapes and insults.

 

[alteredoutlook]

Do it where you can get maximum experience for the money.

IMO this is the solent. (nb. i dont live/sail there!) Lots of other boats/ships of all types to worry about. Lots of places of different types to visit/experience. Tides. ......and yes the great varied uk weather!

Also, do it in winter or early spring/late autumn when it gets dark early - there is nothing worse than having to stay up late to do the 'night hours'!! Choose the right time and you can get to the pub most nights!

Choose a good sailing school with good instructor/pupil ratios.

I did mine many years ago with Southern Sailing and can thoroughly recommend them

 

[VO5]

That was our impression first time there, a scruffy corner of a depressed UK town, once away from the waterfront. Having been there a couple more times, found I now quite like the place and there are always some friendly folks around Marina Bay to have a natter with.

The Straits can be quite "interesting" when the wind kicks up and, although there isn't much tidal range can certainly sort the men from the boys. The area from there up the coast to Cadiz and further is a good training area.

Algarve tidal ranges are very low as well, a big spring only around 3 meters and, having gained most of my early sailing experience around the Irish Sea, consider it to have no challenges in most normal weather conditions.

Why not try The Bay of Fundy or The Pentland Firth ?
You will get plenty of tidal excitement there.
It is a good idea for you not to stray far from Marina Bay.
SWMBO and I go there regularly but we keep away from a couple of awful placed infested with expats with tattoos and No1 haircuts swearing loudly and swilling beer. They seem to be friendly to each other.