For those visiting our website for the first time and who have not been on one of our flotillas before, well explain a little about why our holidays are so popular.

Our sailing holidays are inclusive of flights, local transfers and your yacht for one or two weeks. A typical flotilla consists of between nine and twelve yachts depending on yacht size. This means that each flotilla group usually consists of around 30 people of all experience levels. Each of our flotillas is supported by a fully crewed lead yacht offering unobtrusive back-up, local knowledge, informative briefings and assistance where required.

We try to make our first days sail as gentle as possible and will usually only cover 10 to 12 miles. Your lead crew will often motor-sail to be at your destination in time to take your lines on the quay when you arrive .. in fact theyll probably do this on most days during the first week!

Most evenings you will be moored in a village or marina so there is plenty of time to explore on shore. One evening is set aside for a beach party when the yachts are rafted up close to the beach and youll row ashore in dinghies. The return journey can be entertaining! Your lead crew will organise the food and drink and the route for the following day is made appropriately short the first aid kit does not contain hangover cures!

During the first day or two of the cruise, your lead crew can soon ascertain whether or not individual yacht crews are competent to go off on their own. If they are satisfied with your boat handling ability, you are free to wander further afield although your safety and wellbeing remain their prime concerns. If you are going off independently for a couple of days, you will be expected to brief the flotilla skipper on your planned itinerary so that he/she can inform you of any idiosyncrasies of the area youre going to.

Our yachts

All our yachts are set up to provide ease of handling in all areas of operation. Our sails are kindly cut, they roll up smoothly and there is always the iron topsail (the engine) if you are in any doubt at all; the engine also keeps your beer cool!

Navigation

There are no significant tides, swell or compass variation to worry about in the areas where we operate our flotillas; we have seen fog there once in 25 years! You are never more than 10 miles from land and the good visibility means it is very much eyeball navigation so no need for a GPS!

Lead Crew & Lead Boat

Our lead crews skipper, engineer & hostess are chosen for their sailing and maintenance skills along with their gregarious natures. Our skippers and engineers are normally time-served trades people from the realms of marine or diesel engineering and boatbuilding disciplines. This preserves our down-to-earth and practical approach to the holidays.

The flotilla skipper has ultimate responsibility for your safety and general welfare and he/she will guide you throughout the fortnight and conduct the daily briefings. These will include information about the route, weather conditions and lunchtime anchorages etc.

Our flotilla hostess is your link with local people and she will advise on what facilities and attractions are available, where you can next change money and/or provision etc.

The flotilla engineer ensures that small jobs on the boats are quickly dealt with and that the yachts remain in excellent condition. There are areas where the roles of the three crew overlap, creating a cohesive and balanced unit.

Our lead yachts are specifically set up for the purpose of running the flotillas. As well as having powerful engines, they are all equipped with weather fax machines so the flotillas are seldom caught out by Mother Nature. They carry a comprehensive selection of tools and spare parts and in addition to fixed and portable VHF radios, the lead boat also has a mobile phone to maximise your safety and security. They also carry a communal windsurfer.

All our flotillas are run in an informal way and are very much a gentle way for sailing holidaymakers to enjoy being on the water in an idyllic environment. You will gain hands on experience without the hazards of UK waters whilst soaking up the wonderful atmosphere of pottering around the Greek or Dalmatian Islands. Whichever cruise you choose, the relaxed itinerary, warm seas, spectacular islands and the reassurance of a well equipped and experienced lead crew will ensure that your holiday is a fabulous one!