Cheery
Well-Known Member
Anyone know about the company featured in the Sunday Times Travel section?
Sailing holidays
- Thread starter Cheery
- Start date
alistairedw
Well-Known Member
Haven't got the Sunday Times.
If the article mentions the company called 'Sailing Holidays', then yes I know a bit about them, having been on one of their flotillas.
What do you want to know?
If the article mentions the company called 'Sailing Holidays', then yes I know a bit about them, having been on one of their flotillas.
What do you want to know?
MoodySabre
Well-Known Member
Yes - it is Sailing Holidays. Friend of mine has used them many times and thinks they are very good.
alistairedw
Well-Known Member
We certainly had a good experience with them in the Northern Ionian. Some of the smaller/older boats like the Jaguar 27 are a bit basic but accordingly inexpensive.
They are a particularly good company for people who have very little yachting experience.
The only thing I don't like about SH is the fact that you have to clean the boat, deflate/stow the dinghy etc on the last day.
They are a particularly good company for people who have very little yachting experience.
The only thing I don't like about SH is the fact that you have to clean the boat, deflate/stow the dinghy etc on the last day.
alldownwind
Well-Known Member
We've been on several flotillas with them, excellent family-run company (the boss often turns up and sails on the flotilla as well), I'd thoroughly recommend them. Cleaning the boat, not a big deal, they get cleaners in anyway but they just ask that you don't leave it in a mess - common courtesy really.
ostra4
Well-Known Member
Having been based in ionian for a number of years we come across sailing holidays boats all time .They have attracted a lot of new to sailing people and amongst those are a small minority who havnt the least idea about consideration for others when in harbours and are not pleasant to be moored next to .We have only found this with sailing holidays ,maybe we have been unlucky and the times it has occured it has always been new starters on 36 foot plus boats .The jag brigade seem better behaved and know what they are doing in comparison .Have fun but please try and think of others .
mcframe
Well-Known Member
One of the nice things about Sailing Holidays is that they make a point of providing crokery mugs and glass glasses on the grounds that it's much more civillised even if there is a greater rick of breakage.
(Ionian 2004)
(Ionian 2004)
alldownwind
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Having been based in ionian for a number of years we come across sailing holidays boats all time .They have attracted a lot of new to sailing people and amongst those are a small minority who havnt the least idea about consideration for others when in harbours and are not pleasant to be moored next to .We have only found this with sailing holidays ,maybe we have been unlucky and the times it has occured it has always been new starters on 36 foot plus boats .The jag brigade seem better behaved and know what they are doing in comparison .Have fun but please try and think of others .
[/ QUOTE ]
Well, on my hols with them I've never come across this problem, always been really nice people.
Having been based in ionian for a number of years we come across sailing holidays boats all time .They have attracted a lot of new to sailing people and amongst those are a small minority who havnt the least idea about consideration for others when in harbours and are not pleasant to be moored next to .We have only found this with sailing holidays ,maybe we have been unlucky and the times it has occured it has always been new starters on 36 foot plus boats .The jag brigade seem better behaved and know what they are doing in comparison .Have fun but please try and think of others .
[/ QUOTE ]
Well, on my hols with them I've never come across this problem, always been really nice people.
Appleyard
Well-Known Member
I have just read the article..it sums up Sailing Holidays pretty well. We had never sailed at all before our first flotilla with them ,but were completely happy with their low-key approach to beginners.Amazingly enough ,now that we have our own boat we frequently come across people we met on the flotillas who return with them regularly,so they must be doing something right!
Achillesheel
Well-Known Member
The best flotilla company I have come across. Friendly staff, well maintained boats.
l'escargot
Well-Known Member
Couldn't fault them when we used them and have never heard a bad word about them as a company from anyone else.
Mostly booked up a year ahead and a lot of repeat customers - you will probably be hard pushed to get any peak dates for this year and if it was a favourable article they are probably taking bookings for next year already.
Mostly booked up a year ahead and a lot of repeat customers - you will probably be hard pushed to get any peak dates for this year and if it was a favourable article they are probably taking bookings for next year already.
pheonix
Well-Known Member
friends of mine have sailed with them many times verry happy with them, i myself am booked along with them in may this year on the new run "far away islands cruise" i am realy looking forward to the holiday.
adjusting back to sailing the solway and irish sea may be a bit of a problem but one which i am willing to undertake
/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
adjusting back to sailing the solway and irish sea may be a bit of a problem but one which i am willing to undertake
/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
tudorsailor
Well-Known Member
Re: Sailing holidays sound lethal to me
I could not believe what I read in this article. Would a company really get a licence in the UK or even the EU to allow people out on boats "with a bit of dinghy sailing experience as schoolboy"?? I suspect all of the people who have replied above, knew how to sail before going with this company. I first chartered with Sunsail and think that their 3 day yacht charter course is barely adequate.
If there ever is an accident involving novices given a yacht and 40 minutes instructions, the headlines will be screaming
TudorDoc
I could not believe what I read in this article. Would a company really get a licence in the UK or even the EU to allow people out on boats "with a bit of dinghy sailing experience as schoolboy"?? I suspect all of the people who have replied above, knew how to sail before going with this company. I first chartered with Sunsail and think that their 3 day yacht charter course is barely adequate.
If there ever is an accident involving novices given a yacht and 40 minutes instructions, the headlines will be screaming
TudorDoc
stubate
Well-Known Member
ive been 3 times, cannot fault them, ive never seen the behaviour you describe, the only rude person i met was a dutchman in fiskardo with a load of spoilt germans on board on a single boat charter, he liked using the f word, i pulled him about it, he wanted to get bolshie until i told him that if he didnt shut up i would knock his block off, he fancied his chances ( he mid thirties, moi mid fifties) until my mucker george (mid thirties, ex navy boxer) uncoiled himself and made similar threatening moves!!
the company is superb, v tolerant of learners, people book year on year, most good dates are gone by now.
stu
the company is superb, v tolerant of learners, people book year on year, most good dates are gone by now.
stu
Cheery
Well-Known Member
Thanks for all the replies. Reading these has given me a good insight into their company. The website is quite informative also. SWMBO is quite keen to 'dip her toe in the water'. It will probably be next year now anyway which, given reports above would have been the earliest bookings would be available.
l'escargot
Well-Known Member
Re: Sailing holidays sound lethal to me
[ QUOTE ]
I could not believe what I read in this article. Would a company really get a licence in the UK or even the EU to allow people out on boats "with a bit of dinghy sailing experience as schoolboy"?? I suspect all of the people who have replied above, knew how to sail before going with this company. I first chartered with Sunsail and think that their 3 day yacht charter course is barely adequate.
If there ever is an accident involving novices given a yacht and 40 minutes instructions, the headlines will be screaming
TudorDoc
[/ QUOTE ]
I have been with Sailing Holidays and Sunsail (only because SH was fully booked that year). Most but not all with SH had experience but I met those with least experience on Sunsail - some families on 36 foot boats who had not sailed boats half the size before.
And yes companies in the UK and EU do allow people out on boats with that level of experience - the UK joined the EU in '73 and Greece joined in '81. Been doing it for years with very good safety records.
[ QUOTE ]
I could not believe what I read in this article. Would a company really get a licence in the UK or even the EU to allow people out on boats "with a bit of dinghy sailing experience as schoolboy"?? I suspect all of the people who have replied above, knew how to sail before going with this company. I first chartered with Sunsail and think that their 3 day yacht charter course is barely adequate.
If there ever is an accident involving novices given a yacht and 40 minutes instructions, the headlines will be screaming
TudorDoc
[/ QUOTE ]
I have been with Sailing Holidays and Sunsail (only because SH was fully booked that year). Most but not all with SH had experience but I met those with least experience on Sunsail - some families on 36 foot boats who had not sailed boats half the size before.
And yes companies in the UK and EU do allow people out on boats with that level of experience - the UK joined the EU in '73 and Greece joined in '81. Been doing it for years with very good safety records.
andymcp
Well-Known Member
Re: Sailing holidays sound lethal to me
[ QUOTE ]
I could not believe what I read in this article. Would a company really get a licence in the UK or even the EU to allow people out on boats "with a bit of dinghy sailing experience as schoolboy"?? I suspect all of the people who have replied above, knew how to sail before going with this company. I first chartered with Sunsail and think that their 3 day yacht charter course is barely adequate.
If there ever is an accident involving novices given a yacht and 40 minutes instructions, the headlines will be screaming
TudorDoc
[/ QUOTE ]
I've been with them more times than I can remember, and encountered many of those who came along with no prior sailing experience. The lead crews treated them well, gave them extra attention (not insisting they go for a ££££ residential sailing course) and kept a discreet but effective eye on them.
All those who came to learn had the wonderful ability to listen, and learn. The cock-ups and smashes came from those who claimed to sail and thought they knew best. Most of them were is a Sunsail boat. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
[ QUOTE ]
I could not believe what I read in this article. Would a company really get a licence in the UK or even the EU to allow people out on boats "with a bit of dinghy sailing experience as schoolboy"?? I suspect all of the people who have replied above, knew how to sail before going with this company. I first chartered with Sunsail and think that their 3 day yacht charter course is barely adequate.
If there ever is an accident involving novices given a yacht and 40 minutes instructions, the headlines will be screaming
TudorDoc
[/ QUOTE ]
I've been with them more times than I can remember, and encountered many of those who came along with no prior sailing experience. The lead crews treated them well, gave them extra attention (not insisting they go for a ££££ residential sailing course) and kept a discreet but effective eye on them.
All those who came to learn had the wonderful ability to listen, and learn. The cock-ups and smashes came from those who claimed to sail and thought they knew best. Most of them were is a Sunsail boat. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
gjbentley
Well-Known Member
What I liked about Sailing Holidays was the Flotilla Leaders approach to the chart briefing each morning, eg: "Go out from the harbour, turn left, then turn right at second island and we will be there before you help you berth at the quayside"
Sailfree
Well-Known Member
Met the owner a few years ago at LIBS asked for a villa/flotila holiday as we had only sailed a Wayfarer.
He asked a few questions and offered us a new Beneteau36 saying that inexperienced people like us never caused a problem it was always the commodore of the yacht club that thought he knew it all that damaged his boats! He said book the boat and after the briefing/1 lesson in how to berth if we felt unsure he would put a skipper on board for a day or 2.
It was this holiday that decided for us that at some time we would buy a big boat!
He was right we had no problems, the staff were excellent and there were 2 incidents, 1 commodore went aground in the canel and another very experienced sailor broke a backstay when caught out by the variable high winds that can occur in Vassileki Bay!
He asked a few questions and offered us a new Beneteau36 saying that inexperienced people like us never caused a problem it was always the commodore of the yacht club that thought he knew it all that damaged his boats! He said book the boat and after the briefing/1 lesson in how to berth if we felt unsure he would put a skipper on board for a day or 2.
It was this holiday that decided for us that at some time we would buy a big boat!
He was right we had no problems, the staff were excellent and there were 2 incidents, 1 commodore went aground in the canel and another very experienced sailor broke a backstay when caught out by the variable high winds that can occur in Vassileki Bay!
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
A broken backstay sounds more like a maintenance or specification problem than a charterer-induced one.
