UK chartering company recommendations?

[spindly_killer_fish]

Hi all.

After last year doing a day sail and barely making out Plymouth harbour, we want to charter a 40 ish footer for a long weekend including a skipper. ideally not the solent as it just appears bland (nice scenery and Dolphins would be a plus). do you have any recommendations for decent charter companies? a google doesn't really bring much up and Gemini was also less than helpful. We really dont want all the faff of flying to the med with everything that entails for a weekend sailing.

Thanks in advance

 

[ashtead]

Are you able to specify a location if not West Country (on basis you know Plymouth) or solent_ maybe a weekend sailing on Norfolk Broads or around Scottish islands but maybe these will also be too far to travel to reach charter base?

 

[spindly_killer_fish]

Scotland would be great, im also open the the West country and Wales. We really just want more than the channel with all the commercial traffic and places we have visited (mainly the main places like Southampton and Plymouth etc. I could be completely wrong about the Solent mind, im more ill informed than anything else

 

[RunAgroundHard]

I hire from Alba sailing periodically. They can provide skippers if required. No issues with them. Scenery, the best in the UK.

Home - Alba Sailing

I have no association with Alba.

There is a small airport nearby if you have access to a plane, otherwise a short taxi ride from the Oban train station, or the bus from Glasgow stops right outside the marina. Easy drive up from down south as well, except the Loch Lomond road, but that is only for 30 minutes.

 

[Boathook]

Scotland would be great, im also open the the West country and Wales. We really just want more than the channel with all the commercial traffic and places we have visited (mainly the main places like Southampton and Plymouth etc. I could be completely wrong about the Solent mind, im more ill informed than anything else

For the size boat you are looking at the Solent could easily include Poole or even down to Weymouth if it is a long weekend.

 

[lustyd]

For that size boat "The Solent" could include the whole north coast of France! I know Josh from Roseate Sailing takes people to places like Dieppe and St Malo for a long weekend sail. No connection, they just used to be on the berth opposite us at Haslar. I guess it would really depend how much sailing you want to do vs how much you just want to be somewhere nice on a boat?

 

[spindly_killer_fish]

For the size boat you are looking at the Solent could easily include Poole or even down to Weymouth if it is a long weekend.

As I said, ill informed

 

[spindly_killer_fish]

For that size boat "The Solent" could include the whole north coast of France! I know Josh from Roseate Sailing takes people to places like Dieppe and St Malo for a long weekend sail. No connection, they just used to be on the berth opposite us at Haslar. I guess it would really depend how much sailing you want to do vs how much you just want to be somewhere nice on a boat?

That is an interesting idea, it may require some conversation to see if swmbo is up for that, gotta be something scenic though

 

[oldbloke]

Have a look at Salcombe Sailing Adventures. Chris is a great bloke and the boat is good

 

[spindly_killer_fish]

I hire from Alba sailing periodically. They can provide skippers if required. No issues with them. Scenery, the best in the UK.

Home - Alba Sailing

I have no association with Alba.

There is a small airport nearby if you have access to a plane, otherwise a short taxi ride from the Oban train station, or the bus from Glasgow stops right outside the marina. Easy drive up from down south as well, except the Loch Lomond road, but that is only for 30 minutes.

I did look at Alba, might be worth a call as i only saw full week pricing.

 

[spindly_killer_fish]

Have a look at Salcombe Sailing Adventures. Chris is a great bloke and the boat is good

Will check them out, I was around the corner from there last year near blackpool sands

 

[RunAgroundHard]

Chartered from these guys on the Firth of Clyde, good experience.

RY A Sailing and PowerBoat Courses in Scotland 2025 from ScotSail, Day Skipper From &pound549pp;, Bareboat & Flotilla Yacht Charter, Adventure Sail Cruises, Milebuilders, Bareboat Yacht Charter, SuperGroup Flotilla Sailing Holidays UK, Power Boat Level 2, Advanced Power Boat, Commercial Professional Training Largs Yacht Haven, West Coast of Scotland, Firth of Clyde, Glasgow, Competent Crew, Day Skipper, Coastal, Yachtmaster, PowerBoat Level 1, Level 2, Sailing Courses Scotland, Yacht Charter, Go West Coast Sailing in Scotland

Nearly motorway all the way from down south, except the last few miles if you come up the M6. Scenery on the Firth of Clyde is stunning, plus some great marinas that are remote but with spas as well (if relevant). Perfect location for a long weekend sail with every mile stunning scenery.

Edit: Wow, their hyperlink text is really pushing the advertising pointlessly.

 

[spindly_killer_fish]

I should probably clarify, I need a skippered charter as I have no RYA certs.....yet

 

[RunAgroundHard]

I should probably clarify, I need a skippered charter as I have no RYA certs.....yet

Scotsail can provide skippers. In fact, most of the companies that I have chartered from in the UK can, at a price of course. Just ask them.

 

[ashtead]

As said it’s key to flesh out sailing duration and what you want on arrival and time of year for planned charter. Assuming a weekend sailing in June `maybe ? Are you just looking for different ports/towns to visit? How many on trip ? Clearly if a summer weekend lighter days opens up more potential locations but is it the sailing or the venues and sights which are important? Sailing across Lyme bay gives a longish trip for example but can be fairly boring and while dolphins might be seen little scenery really. Are you looking for somewhere with a bay to anchor in and an onshore bbq each night? I can see why Plymouth doesn’t appeal but is it 3-4 hour max sails with a night harbour with decent food on sat night which attracts?

 

[crewman]

I did look at Alba, might be worth a call as i only saw full week pricing.

Alba sailing have just changed hands, no idea what the new owners are like , but chartered from the previous owners several times.

 

[lustyd]

gotta be something scenic though

In that case I'd go Dartmouth and Salcombe from wherever is close. Isle of Man is great too and can be an easy sail from Liverpool

 

[lustyd]

I should probably clarify, I need a skippered charter as I have no RYA certs.....yet

Or...just book a school boat with an instructor then the whole family can get Comp Crew or Day Skipper Same cost as a charter since it's the same boat and skipper.

 

[spindly_killer_fish]

As said it’s key to flesh out sailing duration and what you want on arrival and time of year for planned charter. Assuming a weekend sailing in June `maybe ? Are you just looking for different ports/towns to visit? How many on trip ? Clearly if a summer weekend lighter days opens up more potential locations but is it the sailing or the venues and sights which are important? Sailing across Lyme bay gives a longish trip for example but can be fairly boring and while dolphins might be seen little scenery really. Are you looking for somewhere with a bay to anchor in and an onshore bbq each night? I can see why Plymouth doesn’t appeal but is it 3-4 hour max sails with a night harbour with decent food on sat night which attracts?

So im thinking maybe a Friday to Sunday, or possibly Monday. There will just be myself, wife and teenage daughter. while I would like to do some learning as well as my daughter, the wife would like scenery. it would be nice to stop at a couple of quaint places over the trip and it will indeed be in the summer. I dont mind anchoring as long as we have access to shore, a pub/restaurant would be nice. I would like a bit more than 3-4 hour sails, but i guess distance and stops get determined by when you depart in the mornings to see how far you can sensible get. The plymouth day sail wasn't great, we basically left the harbour, dropped anchor, done a couple of ups n downs and then back.

 

[spindly_killer_fish]

Or...just book a school boat with an instructor then the whole family can get Comp Crew or Day Skipper Same cost as a charter since it's the same boat and skipper.

interesting proposition, any recommendations?