Have you ever experienced a west country sailing regatta? If not, you will have missed out on visiting one of our local quaint and historic towns. You will have missed the high-quality street performers and bands scattered throughout the location. You will have missed the fantastic firework display closing the celebrations. And, of course, you will have missed the enjoyment of the sailing.
But don’t worry. For your convenience, we have listed the west country sailing regatta dates below. If you are planning a visit to Devon or Cornwall during the summer of 2019, we really would definitely recommend a visit.
As our sailing season gets underway, we thought that now would be a good time to update you with our plans for 2019.
Our 2019 Sailing Experience Schedule
Dates for 2019 day sails and weekend sails continue to be listed on our sailing schedule page. You can book your sailing experience directly from our website. More dates will be added throughout the season, but as always, if you can’t see a suitable date just get in touch and we will do our very best to help you.
2019 Group Sailing Experiences
Our longer 5-day and 7-day group sailing experiences are added to our sailing schedule on demand. These types of sailing experiences are ideal for those wishing to develop their skills, build miles or enjoy an active holiday.
Our 5-day group sailing experience from 29th July – 2nd August is now FULLY BOOKED. If you would like to request an alternative date, do get in touch. We will do our best to schedule a date for you (subject to availability).
Sailing Experience Gift Vouchers
If you are in possession of a sailing experience gift voucher, you can visit our website to choose and book your sailing date. Your sailing experience must be booked within 12 months of the purchase date. This date is stated on the covering letter that accompanied the voucher. It is important to bear in mind that as we approach the end of the season (September/October) fewer dates will be available due to weather and sailing conditions, so please give yourself plenty of time to book.
As always, if you cannot see a suitable date, just get in touch to request one – we will always do our very best to help.
RYA Sailing Courses
Devon Sailing Experiences continue to run RYA Competent Crew and RYA Day Skipper (practical) courses. RYA courses are scheduled on demand. You are very welcome to request a date to be added to our schedule, however, we are only able to run a course with a minimum of 3 students. All courses are subject to yacht and instructor availability.
Bareboat Charter
We currently have some availability for a bareboat charter aboard our Bavaria 38 in May and July 2019. Our bookings calendar is constantly evolving. Due to the volume of enquiries we receive on a daily basis, we are unable to secure a date without a 20% deposit. If you would like to request a date, do get in touch.
Refurbishment at King Point Marina
The shower block at King Point Marina is currently undergoing refurbishment. As a result, secure temporary shower and toilet facilities have been set up in the car park area. Although this makes the normally high-quality marina look a little unsightly, they offer a good alternative whilst building works are being carried out. Guests are very welcome to use these temporary facilities. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause in the short term. We will keep you updated on the progress of the work.
Changes in our Terms and Conditions
Our Terms and Conditions have been updated for 2019. These small changes reflect our new business address as well as making information clearer for our guests with regards to cancellation, rescheduling and use of vouchers. By booking with Devon Sailing Experiences, you are accepting our Terms and Conditions. If you are unsure about any aspect, please feel free to ask.
Throughout the summer months, our sailing schedule is constantly being updated. Every time we add additional dates and sailing opportunities, we send notifications via our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. Make sure you follow us to receive immediate updates including information about last minute availability.
We also love to receive emails and messages about your sailing adventures with Devon Sailing Experiences. If you have any photos you have taken (or stories to tell) from your time aboard one of our yachts, we would like to share them on our social media pages and in our blog posts. We never mention names or dates in our posts, but your photos are great to use alongside our narrative. Please keep in touch and email anything you are happy for us to use.
The Devon Sailing Experiences team is looking forward to welcoming you aboard for an opportunity to explore the stunning southwest coast in 2019. If you haven’t already booked your adventure for this season, check out our sailing schedule for the latest opportunities or call/email us to check availability for your bareboat charter. As always, we will do our very best to offer you the flexibility you need for a wonderful time out on the water.
In the meantime, here is a reminder about what we have to offer.
Did you receive a sailing gift voucher for Christmas?
If you were lucky enough to receive one of our sailing gift vouchers for Christmas, we hope you were pleased with it.
Dates for our 2019 day sails and weekend sails are now listed on our sailing schedule page. You can now book your sailing experience direct from our website. More dates will be added throughout the season, but as always, if you can’t see a suitable date just get in touch and we will do our very best to help you.
Sailing experiences must be booked within 12 months from the date of purchase. Please bear in mind that as we approach the end of the season (September/October) fewer dates will be available due to weather and sailing conditions.
New Season – New Destinations
If you have previously enjoyed sailing to the popular destinations of Salcombe and Fowey, you may be interested in a longer passage from Plymouth to the Helford River.
The Helford River is a beautiful estuary situated between Falmouth and the Lizard Peninsula Upon mooring on the Helford River, you are rewarded with a selection of high-quality local pubs including the 300-year-old family run Ferryboat Inn and perfectly positioned Shipwrights Arms. With easy access to stunning walks along the southwest coast path, you may choose to stay here for a couple of nights to take in the scenery.
As always, your final sailing destination depends on sailing conditions and wind direction, Although your skipper will do his or her best to get you to your preferred destination, their decision based on safety and comfort of your yacht and crew is final.
Meet our new skipper – Emmanuelle Farrington
We are pleased to announce that Emmanuelle Farrington (Em) is joining our team for 2019. Some of you may have already met her. Originally from Vermont in the USA, Em is currently undertaking BSc Marine Biology and Oceanography at Plymouth University and will skipper for Devon Sailing Experiences whilst she continues her studies. With her RYA Yachtmaster Commercial Endorsement and wide-ranging skippering experience, she is a valuable addition to our growing team.
West-country Regattas 2019
3rd – 10th August – Salcombe Town Regatta 10th – 17th August – Falmouth Sailing Week 18th – 24th August – Fowey Regatta and Carnival 23rd – 31st August – Torbay Royal Regatta 29th – 31st August – Dartmouth Royal Regatta
RYA courses are scheduled on demand. You are very welcome to request a date to be added to our schedule, but please bear in mind that we are only able to run a course with a minimum of 3 students. All course dates are subject to yacht and instructor availability. Contact us for more information.
Bareboat Charter
We are currently taking a number of enquiries and bookings for 2019 so if you are thinking about bareboat chartering with us, do get in touch now to check availability. A 20% deposit will secure a date for you. Please note that we cannot hold a date without receiving a deposit.
Price Changes for 2019
Devon Sailing Experiences has not raised its prices on products since 2014. We are pleased to announce that there will be no price changes to our Day Sailing Experiences However, to enable us to keep the price competitive, we are unable to run this experience unless more than 3 guests are booked aboard. Lunch will no longer be provided. If you purchased your experience/voucher before 5th November 2018, your booking confirmation or voucher letter will state that lunch is included. We will honour this commitment and confirm this with your final booking arrangements. Tea, coffee and cold drinks will still be available throughout the day.
There is no change to the price of our Weekend Sailing Experiences Breakfast and a light lunch will continue to be provided. However, to keep the price competitive, we can only run this experience with 3 or more guests booked to sail.
Even though 2019 will be the first year we have needed to increase the prices of our bareboat charters we are also increasing our returning customer discount from 5% to 10%. This is for bareboat charter only. The new prices are now reflected on our website.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Our sailing schedule is constantly evolving. Every time we add additional dates and sailing opportunities, we send notifications via our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. Make sure you follow us to receive immediate updates including information about last-minute availability.
Don’t forget that we love to receive emails and messages about your sailing adventures with Devon Sailing Experiences. If you have any photos you have taken (or stories to tell) from your time aboard one of our yachts, we would like to share them on our social media pages and in our blog posts. We never mention names or dates in our posts, but your photos are great to use alongside our narrative. Please keep in touch and email anything you are happy for us to use.
We look forward to welcoming you to Devon in 2019.
Looking for the ultimate gift for Christmas 2018? We’ve got it covered. Here are the reasons you should be giving the gift of sailing with a Devon Sailing Experience gift voucher.
Something to look forward to in the new year
It is always lovely to receive a thoughtful gift, but once you’ve opened it – well, that is it. With a sailing gift voucher, you still get the excitement of opening the gift but the added bonus of checking out our website for a date that works for you and booking a date for Spring/Summer of 2019.
Flexibility
Gift vouchers are available for a range of experiences including Day Sails, Weekend Sails and Exclusive Charters. They are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase, so need to be booked within the timeframe before they become out of date. Our sailing schedule offers a huge choice of dates between April and October, and the schedule is continuously updated throughout the year. (Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to ensure you receive up-to-date notifications.)
Relax and be active at the same time
Research has shown that both nature and exercise are good for our physical and mental health. (You can read NHS and BBC reports by following the links). Onboard a yacht, you may feel yourself relaxing as you breathe deeper with fresh air filling your lungs. Later that evening, you may feel tired from the sea air or a slight ache in your body where your core muscles have been working out without you even realising. (Personally, I find the lack of phone signal the biggest benefit! KR)
Try something new or rediscover the love of a forgotten hobby
Whether the recipient of your gift voucher is new to sailing or they are experienced but haven’t sailed for a long time, we have something to suit everyone. Our highly experienced commercially endorsed skippers will ensure everyone has as many (or as few!) hands-on opportunities as they choose.
Our extended sailing season has just come to an end – and what a busy year we have enjoyed. With temperatures hitting 29 degrees in the south-west, so many of you could see the advantage of being out on the water. As always, the Devon Sailing Experiences team worked extremely hard to offer the flexibility required to meet the demand.
Looking ahead to 2019, we have listed opportunities for next season below.
Our 2019 Sailing Experience Schedule
Dates for 2019 day sails and weekend sails are now listed on our sailing schedule page. You can now book your sailing experience directly from our website. More dates will be added throughout the season, but as always, if you can’t see a suitable date just get in touch and we will do our very best to help you.
Our longer 5-day and 7-day group sailing experiences will be added to our sailing schedule on demand. This sailing experience is ideal for those wishing to develop their skills, build miles or enjoy an active holiday. Follow the links to our website for further information about this sailing opportunity.
Discounts available for cabin-sharing when booking 2 or more places on our group sailing experiences.
Sailing Experience Gift Vouchers
Whether you are searching for the perfect Christmas gift or dropping hints about your own upcoming birthday, our sailing experience gift vouchers are a great choice for active and adventurous people. With vouchers for day sailing and weekend sailing experiences available, they provide a memorable day out on the water surrounded by the natural beauty of Devon.
Sailing experiences must be booked within 12 months from the date of purchase. Please bear in mind that as we approach the end of the season (September/October) fewer dates will be available due to weather and sailing conditions.
With a 3:1 student to instructor ratio, our students were given plenty of hands-on experience and opportunities to develop and master their skills. Our highly experienced Chief Instructor ensured safety as well as enjoyment throughout the training – and we also hear he is a wonderful chef! What more could you ask for?
RYA courses are scheduled on demand. You are very welcome to request a date to be added to our schedule, but please bear in mind that we are only able to run a course with a minimum of 3 students. All courses are subject to yacht and instructor availability. Contact us directly to request a date.
Bareboat Charter
2019 will be the first year we have needed to increase the prices of our bareboat charters. However, we can also increase our returning customer discount on bareboat charters from 5% to 10%. We are starting to receive bookings for 2019 already, so if you are thinking about bareboat chartering with us again, it may be worth getting in touch with us now to avoid disappointment. The new prices are now reflected on our website.
Check us out on Tripadvisor
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to review Devon Sailing Experiences on Tripadvisor. Your feedback not only helps us improve, but also provides future guests with vital information about what to expect, helping them to decide if what we offer is right for them. If you haven’t already reviewed your sailing experience for 2018, it is not too late.
Our sailing schedule is constantly evolving. Every time we add additional dates and sailing opportunities, we send notifications via our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. Make sure you follow us to receive immediate updates including information about last minute availability.
We also love to receive emails and messages about your sailing adventures with Devon Sailing Experiences. If you have any photos you have taken (or stories to tell) from your time aboard one of our yachts, we would like to share them on our social media pages and in our blog posts. We never mention names or dates in our posts, but your photos are great to use alongside our narrative. Please keep in touch and email anything you are happy for us to use.
All the very best for the rest of 2018.
We look forward to welcoming you to Devon in 2019.
Congratulations were in order this week when a guest got down on one knee and proposed to his partner during their exclusive day sail.
A sunny October day in the shelter of Cawsand Bay provided the ultimate venue for a marriage proposal. With our skipper discretely out of the way, the bride-to-be was pleasantly surprised with a beautiful engagement ring. Champagne followed. Along with a light lunch freshly prepared by the skipper.
This exclusive day sail was secretly booked in advance. October can be a difficult month for sailing due to the normally deteriorating conditions. However, on this occasion, we are pleased to say that the weather co-operated fully.
We were delighted to award RYA Competent Crew certificates to three students who participated in Devon Sailing Experiences’ 5-day course in August. Congratulations to everyone who passed under the watchful eye of our Chief Instructor, Tim Sunderland.
Our students boarded their 42’ yacht at 18:00 on Sunday 26th August, where they had plenty of time to settle into their own double cabins and head out together for an evening meal. After a relaxing night aboard the yacht, they set sail on their 5-day training adventure following a safety-briefing and yacht familiarisation.
In addition to learning and improving skills including sail handling, ropework, safety precautions, helming, learning sea terms, rules of the road and customs, they had the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful sailing destinations typical to our local, southwest sailing ground. Such destinations during this particular week included the River Yealm, Fowey, Falmouth, Helford and Plymouth.
Tim didn’t fail to impress our students with his cooking skills in the galley. Our 5-star rated TripAdvisor reviews of our most recent RYA Competent Crew course describe the food as “exceptional” and “of a very high standard” as well as describing our Chief Instructor as a “super chef”.
Evening meals consisted of herb-crusted pan-fried salmon in a garlic cream sauce; Spanish chicken and chorizo with a green salad; Chana Masala with raita, rice and naan bread and Carbonara with garlic bread. Tim adds, “All prepared fresh on two burners and a dodgy oven.” (Just for the record, the oven is in perfect condition – it just doesn’t have 5 burners, double oven and temperature control!)
So, are our students planning to come back for more? Judging from the feedback we received, they have plans to do so. “This has been one of the most enjoyable courses I have attended with our super instructor, Tim” stated one guest. “I feel enthused to go forward” and “See you soon, I hope” are other quotes received.
Our RYA training courses are scheduled on demand (March – October) subject to availability. We run courses with a minimum of 3 students, maximum 4 to ensure comfort and plenty of hands-on experience. Further information about RYA Competent Crew and RYA Day Skipper can be found on our website. As always, if you would like to know more, just email info@devonsailingexperiences.co.uk or call us on 01754 424514.
After enjoying your day or weekend sail with us, the next obvious step is for you to join one of our RYA sailing courses in Devon.
Why choose Devon Sailing Experiences?
Devon Sailing Experiences offer the ultimate experience of RYA sailing courses in Devon. Our students are guaranteed their own double cabin aboard our high-quality yachts. Freshly laundered bedding and towels are provided for you during your training at no additional cost. Meals taken aboard the yacht are also included in the price.
With a 3:1 student to instructor ratio, you will be assured plenty of hands-on experience and opportunities to develop and master your skills. Our highly-experienced instructors will ensure your safety as well as your enjoyment throughout your training.
If you have sailed with us before, you will know that Devon and the West Country offer our visitors fabulous sailing ground against some of the most picturesque backdrops of the South West coast. We can’t think of a better location to carry out your RYA training.
What are my options for RYA sailing courses in Devon?
Listed below are the RYA sailing courses that currently have availability during 2018. We will be adding dates for 2019 later this year, so do check back to see our updated sailing schedule.
Don’t forget to look at the “Additional Information” section to check the pre-course requirements. If you have any queries about the suitability of a course, just give us a call on 01752 424 514 and we will talk through our recommendations and options.
I can’t see a suitable date. What should I do?
Just email info@devonsailingexperiences.co.uk with the dates you are able to attend, and we will do our very best to schedule a course that fits your requirements.
What are you waiting for? Book your place directly from our website.
Just 2 weeks ago, Nick had the pleasure of skippering our latest group sailing experience along the south-west coast. This 5-day sail along the southwest coast offers the opportunity to visit some of the most beautiful locations in the west country.
We welcomed our guests aboard our 42’ yacht at 6 pm on Sunday where they had the evening to settle in, relax and go out for a drink and bite to eat together. Nick joined the group, who had not previously met before this charter, on Monday morning for yacht familiarisation and a safety briefing, and then they set sail along the beautiful South Devon and Cornwall coastline.
Setting sail in a Force 4 breeze made a pleasant journey to Salcombe on day 1. Salcombe is a destination that we visit on a regular basis during our weekend sails, and we never get tired of it. It was the first time our guests had visited this busy, historic town so Nick introduced them to some of our favourite pubs and restaurants. It’s a tough job!
On day 2, the sailing destination was Fowey. Another popular destination for our weekend sails, this quaint town which is set in an area of outstanding natural beauty was another new experience for our guests (and another opportunity for Nick to visit our favourite pubs and restaurants – ‘tis hard work!)
Mylor, just up the river from Falmouth, was the next destination. Because this destination is a little too far to reach during our standard 2-day/weekend sailing experiences, it makes a refreshing change for our skippers to visit, as they only have the opportunity to sail there during our longer charters.
On day 4 we were joined by extra travelling companions: dolphins swimming alongside and under the yacht. We were on route to the River Yealm. This was a particularly long sail due to wind direction as well as the miles, however, the reward of the beautifully located mooring was definitely worth it.
On our final day, we headed to Cawsands where we dropped the anchor for lunch, before heading back to Plymouth where we said goodbye to our guests and wished them a safe journey home. Judging by their conversations and TripAdvisor reviews, it sounded as if they had a wonderful time and plan to join us again in the future.
Think this sounds like an ideal adventure for you? To help you make your decision to book your place on our next group sailing experience, here is a little background information for you. Our group sailing experiences are ideal for all sailing abilities: from beginners to those wishing to build miles to access RYA training courses. They also offer refreshers for those who already have RYA qualifications, but just need some time out on the water to build confidence. They offer a hands-on experience for all who take part.
Whether you are travelling alone, with a friend or with a partner, you are welcome to join our group sailing experiences. You are guaranteed your own double cabin, so no sharing (unless you choose to – in this case, we can offer a 30% discount on the second traveller).
Tempted? Visit our South West Coast Sailing Experience page for more information. You can secure your place with a 20% deposit. Can’t see a suitable date? Just get in touch and we will do our best to arrange one for you.
In this May edition of our newsletter, we bring you news about Devon Sailing Experiences becoming a recognised RYA Sea School, sailing opportunities for 2018, our new sailing schedule and links to our social media pages to help you keep up-to-date with our latest events. We have also included information about DSE and the new GDPR.
Devon Sailing Experiences is now a recognised RYA Sailing School
We are pleased to announce that DSE has expanded its offering to become a recognised RYA Sailing School. After a thorough inspection by the RYA, we have been certified to offer official RYA training courses, providing an ideal opportunity for guests who have enjoyed their sailing experience to take their new interest one step further.
Nick Rich continues to be the Director of DSE, and has taken on the additional role of Principal. Tim Sunderland, formerly of Brixham Sea School, becomes our Chief Instructor. Mick Chantler, who many of our skippered charter guests have already met, is also a qualified instructor and will run some of our training courses. He will continue to skipper on our day, weekend and exclusive sailing experiences.
We are pleased to say that Gail Wright, Mike Eggins, Trevor Kirkin and Neil Murray will continue to skipper our sailing experiences which are growing in popularity; they provide a less formal introduction to sailing as part of your holiday or mini-break in Devon. Katie Rich will still be dealing with your bookings and enquiries.
Our high-quality yachts will continue to be unbranded (ie, no logos pointing out that you, our guests, are aboard a training or holiday vessel).
This is an exciting opportunity for us, and we hope that this extra offering will be of interest to our past guests as well as guests we are yet to meet.
What is happening in 2018?
Listed below are all the opportunities on offer for 2018 with links to our information pages. With our new and improved online booking and payment system, booking your experience or course has just got easier. Don’t forget – we can always add dates if you can’t find one that is suitable.
Experiences
Our sailing experiences are ideal for all levels of sailor, from beginner to seasoned. They offer an informal opportunity to get out on the water and experience hands-on sailing without any pressure or time commitments. All our sailing experiences are skippered by a yacht-master offshore, commercially-endorsed skipper.
Our scheduled 7-day sail to the Isles of Scilly is now fully-booked, however, we are happy to schedule another date on demand. If this is of interest to you, just get in touch and we will discuss availability.
RYA Training Courses
Our RYA training courses offer officially recognised qualifications are run by fully-qualified Instructors. There are minimum requirements for some of the training courses, so please refer to the details listed on our website.
RYA Shorebased courses will be available at a later this year.
Bareboat Charter
We we are almost completely booked out for our bareboat charters this year. However, we do currently have limited availability in May, June and August. Do get in touch if you would like to book – we sometimes have cancellations so we will do our best to help you where we can.
Our Sailing Schedule
You will find all our current sailing opportunities listed in our sailing schedule.
We are always adding dates throughout the summer, so don’t forget to check it regularly. Notifications of new dates are announced on our Facebook page and in our Twitter account. As always, if you can’t see a suitable date, just get in touch and we will do our very best to help you.
We’ve just added the late May Bank Holiday weekend to our schedule (26th, 27th and 28th May) and to celebrate we will be including wine with lunch on our day sailing experiences. Book now while places are available.
Getting Social
We can’t wait for you to start sharing your photos of your 2018 yacht charter with Devon Sailing Experiences. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to hear about our latest news and events, and please continue to tag us in your own photos. (Don’t forget to add #DevonSailingExperiences to any of the photos you share on Instagram, too.)
DSE and The New General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
As part of our customer service and to enable us to effectively deal with your enquiries, we need to hold some information about you on our customer database. This is information that you have given to us.
The new General Data Protection Regulation (GDRP) means that from 25th May, we need you to confirm that you are happy for us to store your contact details. Our Privacy Policy describes the information we may need to keep about you, why we need it, and how long we will store it.
If you wish to be removed from our customer database, you may email us (info@devonsailingexperiences.co.uk) at any time. You may also reply to this email and type UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject box. If you do this, we will remove any information we currently hold about you from our database.
Haven’t been in touch with us for a while? Then in line with our Privacy Policy, we will contact you directly to check that you are happy for us to continue to store your details. If we do not hear from you at this point, we will automatically delete any information we hold about you.
Please be aware that if we delete your name and contact details, you may not be able to claim our returning customers discount (where applicable) and will no longer receive our newsletters. So, if you want to continue to hear about our exciting sailing opportunities, look out for and respond to that confirmation email.
Here’s to an exciting sailing season in 2018. We are all looking forward to welcoming you to Devon soon.
Nick, Katie and the Devon Sailing Experiences team.
