tcm
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"definitely not for wife or girlfriend" - I agree - very telling though.
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Sunsail: not First Choice - more Last Resort
- Thread starter tcm
- Start date
dom
Well-Known Member
Thinking about it I think Sunsail want to have their cake and eat it. If a boat is intended to be knocked around the cans as part of corporate days out then fine - once they work who cares? The real sting is that they don't make this clear and will happily rent them to people who want a pleasant week or w/e on the water for which they manifestly not suitable being damp, smelly and generally knocked around.
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suse
Well-Known Member
Ha Jimi! I thought I was the only one, only I call it PUERTO Solente! Ah, the poor souls dreaming of the Med, drinkies outside on the decking and the passegiata in the rain. Pretentious, nous?
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flaming
Well-Known Member
I would happily sail one of those boats for a week. I did my coastal skipper course on a dufour 36 from another solent based company a few years ago and in my humble opinion the 37s sail better and are fitted out to a standard better than several private boats I have sailed on.
Also, much has been made of the price. I am the captain of a university sailing team and we are doing the round the island race this year. In the course of my investigations I got quotes for charter for many types of charter boats from 30-50 foot from many different companies. Sunsail was the cheapest. They also sold out months ago, so there is clearly no shortage of demand.
If you don't like the boats/company don't sail with them.
Simple really........
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Also, much has been made of the price. I am the captain of a university sailing team and we are doing the round the island race this year. In the course of my investigations I got quotes for charter for many types of charter boats from 30-50 foot from many different companies. Sunsail was the cheapest. They also sold out months ago, so there is clearly no shortage of demand.
If you don't like the boats/company don't sail with them.
Simple really........
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tcm
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Don\'t like it, don\'t do it
Yep, fair enough, I was warning others.
But something that "does the job" isn't necesarily good enough. They could and should be better, and they get away with stinking heads and a beaten up presentation. No offence but a bunch of students might find this ok , tho that doesn't mean others will. You will move on, i think.
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Yep, fair enough, I was warning others.
But something that "does the job" isn't necesarily good enough. They could and should be better, and they get away with stinking heads and a beaten up presentation. No offence but a bunch of students might find this ok , tho that doesn't mean others will. You will move on, i think.
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jimi
Well-Known Member
Re: Don\'t like it, don\'t do it
Contast this with the 20+ yo Sadler 29 we chartered from Alba Sailing last weekend , absolutely immaculate I will be back and have no hesitation in recommending.
<hr width=100% size=1>I Have The Body Of A God... Buddha
Contast this with the 20+ yo Sadler 29 we chartered from Alba Sailing last weekend , absolutely immaculate I will be back and have no hesitation in recommending.
<hr width=100% size=1>I Have The Body Of A God... Buddha
Aja
Well-Known Member
Have to agree entirely. Sunsail at Largs - I wouldn't but No18 or No39 they hit the floor much too hard for my liking going through the Narrows at Colintraive.
Have also sat and watched them being 'manoevered' - a loose term that - by people who have absolutely no consideration for the boat - funnily enough no consideration fro other peoples property either.
One came into Rothesay marina a couple of weeks ago - ok it was blowing hard - slewed round under engine and skelped a fishing boat tied up against the inner harbour... fended off as well as could be expected and finally managed to get alongside a pontoon. It was obvious there was no person really in charge. They then all disappeared below. Ten minutes later I heard the fishing boat owner - or whoever - call the Sunsail boat up on the R/T. Asked when he could expect the skipper to come round to the fishing boat and explain himself. The fishing boat was 'well used' - but obviously the Sunsail skipper thought that it was just an old boat and there wasn't much damage. Fishing boat skipper obviously thought it was just common courtesy.
Donald
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Have also sat and watched them being 'manoevered' - a loose term that - by people who have absolutely no consideration for the boat - funnily enough no consideration fro other peoples property either.
One came into Rothesay marina a couple of weeks ago - ok it was blowing hard - slewed round under engine and skelped a fishing boat tied up against the inner harbour... fended off as well as could be expected and finally managed to get alongside a pontoon. It was obvious there was no person really in charge. They then all disappeared below. Ten minutes later I heard the fishing boat owner - or whoever - call the Sunsail boat up on the R/T. Asked when he could expect the skipper to come round to the fishing boat and explain himself. The fishing boat was 'well used' - but obviously the Sunsail skipper thought that it was just an old boat and there wasn't much damage. Fishing boat skipper obviously thought it was just common courtesy.
Donald
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Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
Miraculous MOB conversion
Bennyman becomes manky old boat enthusiast!
<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>
Bennyman becomes manky old boat enthusiast!
<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>
mirabriani
Well-Known Member
I have just returned from sunsail holiday in Antigua. O.K. it was a beach holiday. There were over a dozen different dinghies, canoes, boards and motor boats. My most memorable attribute was the friendly atmosphere created. Dearheart asserts "the best holiday ever".
I know the thread is about yachts not dinghies but I feel "praise where it is due" All in my own humble opinion and I have already sold my shares in First Choice.
Briani
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I know the thread is about yachts not dinghies but I feel "praise where it is due" All in my own humble opinion and I have already sold my shares in First Choice.
Briani
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tcm
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ah. Now, we went to the club colonic (i mean colonna) in antigua and i am afraid i thought it an utter dump with flies, slow service, nasty awful food and er anyway, praps they fixed it up? Although with "over a dozen dinghies " its sounds as though the fleet is a third wghat it used to be. Spose it is half price and better value out of school holidays.
Or of course, i am just a dreadful snob and swmbo even worse. I am missing my boat very badly.
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Or of course, i am just a dreadful snob and swmbo even worse. I am missing my boat very badly.
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sonic
Well-Known Member
If you want to try nice new yachts you have to pay for them. Sunsail on the Clyde at Largs have a fleet of very used boats but still charge a lot of money for them. A new charter company at Clyde Marina,Ardrossan have a small fleet (3) new Beneteau Oceanis 331 Clippers with heating and sprayhoods give them a try as all the yachts are immaculate but they will charge you money if you bring them back uncleaned. There web site is www.clydeyachtcharters.co.uk
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flaming
Well-Known Member
Re: Don\'t like it, don\'t do it
So because we're students we're supposed to put up with crap conditions? You sound like my landlord.
The 37s are neither the best, nor the worst charter boats I've ever sailed. They're a perfectly good fleet of boats suitable for everything from corporate racing to family cruising.
Why is it that in this country if you become sucessful you are instantly a target for others to snipe at?
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So because we're students we're supposed to put up with crap conditions? You sound like my landlord.
The 37s are neither the best, nor the worst charter boats I've ever sailed. They're a perfectly good fleet of boats suitable for everything from corporate racing to family cruising.
Why is it that in this country if you become sucessful you are instantly a target for others to snipe at?
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jimi
Well-Known Member
Re: Don\'t like it, don\'t do it
Erm .. when I was a student I could'nt afford a bus ticket never mind a yacht charter so I presume you're not an archtypical student .. however I KNOW that 40 plus boats cannot be turned around in 1 hour by a staff of less than a dozen without their being some sort of care omission
<hr width=100% size=1>I Have The Body Of A God... Buddha
Erm .. when I was a student I could'nt afford a bus ticket never mind a yacht charter so I presume you're not an archtypical student .. however I KNOW that 40 plus boats cannot be turned around in 1 hour by a staff of less than a dozen without their being some sort of care omission
<hr width=100% size=1>I Have The Body Of A God... Buddha
mirabriani
Well-Known Member
What I said was over a dozen DIFFERENT dinghies Probably over 100 in total.
Food was very good and service prompt. Again dearhearts words but I agree. Apparently due for a revamp end of year.
Briani
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Food was very good and service prompt. Again dearhearts words but I agree. Apparently due for a revamp end of year.
Briani
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cgull
Well-Known Member
I started my sailing with Emsworth Sailing School , was OK then. Would not charter a Sunsail in Solent, was going to do a Largs next year but wont now.
Where I charter from in Hamble always present an immaculate boat whatever time of year i charter, and i have done a lot of charters from them over several years. I always leave the boats clean but they also do a professional going over.
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Where I charter from in Hamble always present an immaculate boat whatever time of year i charter, and i have done a lot of charters from them over several years. I always leave the boats clean but they also do a professional going over.
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flaming
Well-Known Member
Re: Don\'t like it, don\'t do it
Fraid I am pretty typical, Uni pays for all BUSA events.
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Fraid I am pretty typical, Uni pays for all BUSA events.
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jimi
Well-Known Member
Re: Don\'t like it, don\'t do it
Erm .. so when I pay my taxes or my daughters student fees part of that is going to pay for you chartering a yacht?
<hr width=100% size=1>I Have The Body Of A God... Buddha
Erm .. so when I pay my taxes or my daughters student fees part of that is going to pay for you chartering a yacht?
<hr width=100% size=1>I Have The Body Of A God... Buddha
flaming
Well-Known Member
Re: Don\'t like it, don\'t do it
sorry, slight confusion there. I meant Union, not Uni. When your daughter buys a drink at the union bar it will help fund all the sports clubs at the uni.
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sorry, slight confusion there. I meant Union, not Uni. When your daughter buys a drink at the union bar it will help fund all the sports clubs at the uni.
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jimi
Well-Known Member
Re: Don\'t like it, don\'t do it
Bluidy 'ell did'nt know she drank that much .. wait till the wee bitch gets hame .. in fact ah'm aff tae get her richt noo!
<hr width=100% size=1>I Have The Body Of A God... Buddha
Bluidy 'ell did'nt know she drank that much .. wait till the wee bitch gets hame .. in fact ah'm aff tae get her richt noo!
<hr width=100% size=1>I Have The Body Of A God... Buddha
tcm
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Re: crap conditions - keep up with it
h, first you said that the boats were lovely and you'd happily sail them. Now you're saying you shouldn't have crap conditions. which is it?
For the money, i was saying the sunsail boats could be better, perhaps a lot better. They advertise this as a family wife/girlfriend-able holiday, not a lads weekend with wiffy heads and minimal comfort.
Yes, i think that as a student you may have to put up with conditions slightly less opulent than those enjoyed by some other sectors of the population. However, I
would weed out the dim ones and restrict university to 10% rather than aim for 50% as this lot does.
Are your funding notes truly correct? yes, the student union funds the sports and jollies, and yes it's funded from drinkies and such. But the university buildings themselves are free for the union's use, hence a goodly portion of "profit" for the union arises from having rent-free premises provided ultimately by the taxpayer.
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h, first you said that the boats were lovely and you'd happily sail them. Now you're saying you shouldn't have crap conditions. which is it?
For the money, i was saying the sunsail boats could be better, perhaps a lot better. They advertise this as a family wife/girlfriend-able holiday, not a lads weekend with wiffy heads and minimal comfort.
Yes, i think that as a student you may have to put up with conditions slightly less opulent than those enjoyed by some other sectors of the population. However, I
would weed out the dim ones and restrict university to 10% rather than aim for 50% as this lot does.
Are your funding notes truly correct? yes, the student union funds the sports and jollies, and yes it's funded from drinkies and such. But the university buildings themselves are free for the union's use, hence a goodly portion of "profit" for the union arises from having rent-free premises provided ultimately by the taxpayer.
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