A fine spell of weather in October coincided with our first Hen Party Sailing Weekend – and what an experience that was!
Wearing a blindfold (which we were told she had worn since leaving her home 2 hours prior to her arrival at King Point Marina in Plymouth), our hen was led along the pontoon to our 40’ yacht, Bewitched. After removing her blindfold and shoes (sorry, ladies – no heels on board!), she helped the rest of her crew load up the yacht with Prosecco and…. well, not much else, really! What else do you need on a hen party sailing weekend?
After setting sail under the guidance of their experienced skipper (brave man!), a few rounds of games (Cards Against Humanity – look it up, by all means, but please don’t hold us responsible if it causes offence), gangsta rap boat songs and the obligatory photo shoot at the helm, the party dropped the anchor for lunch. October can sometimes be a little cold for sailing, but the sun shone and the ladies were well prepared with their layers of clothing. Besides, the freshly prepared home made chilli-con-carne with rice and sour cream washed down with more Prosecco helped warm everyone up.
Upon returning to land, the sailing hen party hit the first-class shower facilities that can be found at King Point Marina, then they were ready for their evening at The Dock, the fabulous restaurant that overlooks the marina. They didn’t have far to stagger home – staying onboard a cosy, heated yacht 6-berth yacht that they could see from the restaurant window just finished off their celebrations perfectly.
Spellbound, our Jeanneau 36i, hosted the Meet me on the Boat project, which took place 13th – 16th September in the sheltered waters of Torbay.
Encounters Arts arranged to charter a yacht and skipper from Brixham for a few days (and an evening) and invited a number of artists along to sing sea-shanties, tell stories, and create artefacts. The outcomes of this exciting and unusual project will be exhibited at Living Coasts, Torquay on Saturday 26th September.
The work demonstrated by the artists whilst underway goes a long way to show that sailing in September can offer a wonderful experience. You can see that their photographs show clear blue skies, and as the nights begin to draw in early, you can see how it is possible to sit back and watch the small coastal towns light up beautifully.
We have had requests to charter a yacht and skipper for birthdays. We have had requests to charter a yacht and skipper for anniversaries. We have had requests to charter a yacht and skipper for stag or hen parties. Never before have we had a request to charter a yacht for a group of working artists.
Would we take part in such an exciting project again? Oh, yes. Definitely!
And what a fabulous weekend we spent with our latest guests who purchased sailing vouchers through Red Letter Days. The photo says it all. The sky was blue, the early September sunshine warmed the air, and our guests (both groups from different parts of the country) gelled well. Sailing vouchers for special occasions can be booked directly through our website or through Red Letter Days.
“What can I give to the person who has everything?”
Well, it seems that some of our customers has solved that age-old problem for themselves. An increasing number of our guests have found sailing gift vouchers for birthdays and sailing gift vouchers for anniversaries make the perfect present.
And we have sailing gift voucher options to suit all budgets.
Martin was stuck for a birthday present for his younger brother, Shaun. Being an active kind of guy, Shaun had tried most things, but sailing was not one of them. Our day sail options (http://www.devonsailingexperiences.co.uk/sailing-vouchers-and-short-packages/) allow people to get as much hands-on experience as they are comfortable with, so this turned out to be an ideal birthday gift him.
A couple of our other guests, June and Robert, were the first to admit that they are no longer as active as they used to be. However, when June saw the day sail package for 2 could be as active or as relaxing as they liked, she thought it was the ideal special anniversary gift for her husband. She loved the freshly prepared lunch at anchor at Cawsands (which she washed down with a glass of wine) while her husband happily fished off the back of the boat.
Tony was also looking for a special anniversary gift. His wife, Sandy, had hinted at a romantic night away – he wanted an affordable night away. A gift voucher for one of our weekend sail packages (http://www.devonsailingexperiences.co.uk/sail-dartmouth-salcombe/ ) was the solution for both Sandy and Tony. What can be more romantic than spending two nights on a 40’ yacht and admiring the beautiful coastline that Devon offers?
In our opinion, sailing gift vouchers for birthdays and sailing gift vouchers for anniversaries make the perfect gift for the person who is impossible to buy for. With sailing gift vouchers available directly through us or through the Red Letter Days website, buying a special present for a loved one couldn’t be easier.
“I like the idea of it, but have never tried sailing before and I’m not sure how to get into it.”
If this applies to you or someone you know, Devon Sailing Experiences has the perfect opportunity for you.
Roy, who was new to sailing and is now one of our regular guests, first booked a day sail from Plymouth with exactly that thought in mind. He explained that he liked the way that a day sail from Plymouth with Devon Sailing Experiences meant that he could take part in as much (or as little) sailing as he liked. His experienced skipper took full responsibility for the safety of the yacht, while encouraging his enthusiasm to learn how to hoist a sail, take the helm, tack and jibe. That was it for him – from never trying sailing before he was immediately hooked and now regularly checks our sailing schedule (and requests his own dates) to come out with us.
Whilst taking a break in the South Hams, Katherine saw a day sail from Salcombe advertised and brought her 8-year-old daughter along. Both of them were new to sailing and had never tried sailing before. It was ideal for them; their skippered yacht charter enabled then to be picked up from Salcombe first thing in the morning and they returned to exactly the same spot after a fun-filled day on the water (with a lunch stop at a local anchorage). They shared some great action-packed photos with their friends on Facebook.
Day sails are not the only option for those new to sailing. A weekend skippered charter from Plymouth or Salcombe means that our guests have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a sailing experience. Louise and Malcolm booked a skippered weekend charter from Plymouth. They commented on how amazed they were with the level of comfort (Egyptian cotton bedding and towels, on-board heating, entertainment system) and the quality of the yacht (a new 2015 Jeanneau 409).
And you don’t need to invest in any specialist gear to try out sailing. We just ask our guests to bring non-marking footwear (everyday trainers will do), warm and waterproof clothing (everyday clothing for living in the UK)
If you (or someone you know) like the idea of sailing but have never tried it before, why not purchase a voucher for a skippered yacht charter from Plymouth or Salcombe? We have something for everyone. Vouchers are available from the Devon Sailing Experiences website, or they are now available on the Red Letter Days website.
So you have thought about chartering a yacht in Devon or Cornwall. What kind of things do you need to look out for and what are the pitfalls?
Chartering a yacht
First off, you need to know whether you will be allowed to charter, the sailing conditions and the costs (boat insurance etc). In the UK , it is more difficult to sail and more expensive to charter than chartering in the med. Usually you’ll need a minimum of an RYA day skipper ticket – the practical tidal one, not the theory part. On top of that, you will need to have skippered before (probably a few hundred miles worth). It’s worth remembering you are in charge of something that is anywhere from £20K to several hundred thousand pounds so it’s worth being honest with yourself.
If you’re not certain or don’t want the responsibility, you have 2 options:
1) Skippered Charter. You can still do as much of the skippering as you want, but you have the crucial element of having someone to fall back on and take away the anxiety of mooring or problems you may encounter.
2) Refresher training. At Devon Sailing Experiences we can put a yacht master instructor on your boat for the first day or two. This helps with confidence and will also help you learn key skills you may not get with RYA qualifications (RYA training is quite a broad brush with a set criteria).
Booking early
Waiting until July or August to book a yacht charter will mean you’ll be disappointed, or you’ll end up with something that really doesn’t work for you. You’ll be surprised at the number of calls we get in August for August. Ideally, you’ll be booking in Jan/Feb/March to secure the boat that you want. Ask for photos so you know what you’re getting and whether the yacht is kept clean and tidy.
Security deposit
All charter companies require a security deposit. This usually ranges from £1000 plus and it covers damage (or insurance excess) that you might of caused during your charter. In reality, it won’t cover anything significant but things like gel coat damage would be covered.
Your Yacht Charter
If the cruising ground is unfamiliar, ensure the yacht you are chartering has (at it should do by law) up to date charts and a plotter.
Don’t try to be too ambitious early on – the almanac contains the distances to your destination but are assuming your VMG is 100% (i.e you are heading directly to your destination without the need for tacking or gybing). Weather plays a big factor on you, your crew and the angle you can sail (or motor) to the destination. If you’re sailing into strong winds, don’t forget that the sea state and the fact you’ll be tacking will add significant constraints to your plans. Have a back-up plan.
Don’t be afraid to stay in the harbour; you’ve sailed to a nice place so why not enjoy it for another day rather than go out in unfavourable conditions.
Finally
Sailing, unlike power boating, is not about getting from A to B as quickly as possible. It’s about enjoying the experience of being out on the water and using the natural elements to drive yourself to the destination …. enjoy it!
For photos of your yachting experience see our partners at marine digi pics
Salcombe is a great destination for boats (Salcombe Yacht Charter can be busy so try and book early), whether sail or motor. It is well sheltered from every direction except a strong southerly wind, and even then you can shelter in the “bag” and still get access to the town.
During the summer months, the town is positively buzzing with people of all ages. My husband and I used to regularly visit it as a couple before our little one came along: I love the fact that it offers an “exclusive” style feel with a fabulous range of independent and high street shops. We both love the wide selection of pubs and restaurants. We have stayed on one of Devon Sailing Experiences yachts in Salcombe with our 5 year old, too: there is a choice of pristine beaches to take him to that can be safely accessed with him in the tender, as well as a number of pubs with child-friendly beer gardens.
We first bare-boat chartered a yacht from Devon Sailing Experiences when we were on holiday in the South Hams. I would suggest to anyone, if you’re staying in the South Hams area then why not charter a yacht from or to Salcombe? Weekend packages and skippered day sails on board their 41′ yacht are available, or perhaps bare boat charter on one of their 36’s.
Yacht Charter in Salcombe offers access to bays and anchorages, including a steady day sail to Burgh Island where you can stop off at the ancient Pilchard Inn.
For more information about chartering a yacht in Salcombe or the surrounding area then please drop them an email or phone. Contact details are at the bottom of the page.
Stag weekends on the water can be enormous fun. We’ve been successfully organising sailing events and stag weekend sailing for a number of years, and during this time we have come up with a number of tips to help you decide whether it’s for you and how to get the best out of it. Here are our main hints and tips on how to make the most of your stag weekend on the water.
It might sound obvious, but…
If you want to balance a good time on shore with some sailing activity, it’s best not to over do the alcohol as it will spoil your enjoyment if you are feeling unwell for the entire event. If you are looking for just pub to pub drinking, then a land based stag weekend (rather than a sailing stag weekend) is definitely for you.
Usually there are non-sailors or people that have never been on the water at all in your group. If it looks like the day might be a bit sporty weatherise, it might be an idea to split the group into people that have done it before and those that haven’t; it means that the skipper on the novices boat will take more time getting the chaps used to the sea and will adapt the experience.
Save the pranks until you’re onshore.
Respect the boats – they’re expensive.
Food and drink
We provide water and lunch, you don’t need to provision the yachts with much food.
Avoid food that will make a mess such a pastries or greasy food.
The yachts have fridges, so you are welcome to bring beer and wine for the evening, however in our experience, you’ll be out and about in one of the harbours so you don’t need loads. The yachts may not be moored together.
To prevent carrying lots of stuff on your trip to us in Plymouth, you can have the food and drink delivered direct to the boats using one of the many home delivery services.
What to bring
Depends on the time of year of course but the basics are as follows
Can you combine a relaxing break with a sailing holiday?
Yes, you can.
As much as I love being on the water, personally, after 6 hours of hoisting sails and grinding winches, I am ready for a relaxing shower, putting on a pair of heels and heading off into town for a drink and some good quality food. Thinking that I can’t be the only woman in the world to think this way, Devon Sailing decided to team up with Salcombe Harbour Hotel to offer luxury sailing alongside a luxury spa break.
Obviously, we had to test the package idea, so this is what we did.
We took one of the charter yachts from Plymouth and spent an action packed day on the water. One of the advantages of yacht charter from Plymouth is that King Point marina is easily accessible from the mainline railway station meaning we could leave the car at home. Plymouth also has the advantage of being within easy reach of such beautiful destinations. In this case, Salcombe was our final destination.
After mooring up alongside the beautiful and historic town centre, we took a short stroll to the luxurious Salcombe Harbour Hotel which boasts stunning views over the estuary. Obviously, I had to indulge in a spa treatment: a back, neck and shoulder massage (I didn’t have time for a facial), then we prepared for a stylish evening out. As fabulous as it normally is to stay on our brand new charter yacht overnight, the advantage of staying at the Salcombe Harbour Hotel meant I could use my hair straighters. Don’t laugh – this is a very important issue to me, personally.
After a cheeky gin and tonic in the Terrace Bar with river views, we made our way to the hotel’s stylish, new restaurant, The Jetty, for locally sourced, seasonal food. After rewarding ourselves with a high quality dinner following our adventure sail from Plymouth, we returned to our luxury room, simply slid open the wide glass doors, breathed in the fresh sea air and enjoyed the unrivalled views. I know it was early – but we had been out on the water all day, and it was supposed to be a relaxing break, after all!
When trying to choose a yacht charter in Devon, you can’t go far wrong with chartering a yacht from Plymouth which is an excellent area for charter. Not only do you have a number of locations within the protection of Plymouth Sound such as Cawsands, Kingsands and the Yealm, but many anchorages as well.
From Plymouth, you can sail East or West. Just a day sail away to the East is Salcombe and to the West is Fowey, meaning you can choose a destination that suits the weather. You are also in striking distance to Cornwall if you choose to venture that way.
Devon Sailing Experiences has yachts based in Plymouth for charter, both skippered and bare boat. So when deciding to charter a yacht from Plymouth, Devon Sailing Experiences can help you get on the the water at a sensible cost.
Yacht charter Plymouth also has the advantage of being close to the mainline station – just 5 minutes away from our moorings at King Point marina.
If you choose to charter a yacht from Plymouth, then our facilities at King Point marina are second to none. Being a new marina, it offers large walk in shower and toilet cubicles that are to such a high specification, they put any other marina to shame. There is plenty of space for you to manoeuvre the yacht, and friendly marina staff are always on hand if you need help.
For more information contact info@devonsailingexperiences.co.uk
