SAIL AWAY

Image: Shutterstock / Thornova Photography

Holiday sales are reportedly surging as many people opt to take their chances on getting away this summer, and people are upping their budget too, in order to get a better boat or longer holiday.

PlainSailing.com have noticed that, on average, people are spending a fair amount more on their holidays – and either upgrading to a bigger, better and newer boat, or pushing the boat out and booking the multi-week sailing charters they have always wanted.

They have also noticed a huge increase in interest in the more glamourous ‘once in a lifetime’ sailing destinations: searches for Caribbean destinations are up a massive 400 per cent on pre-pandemic levels, and there is also more interest in chartering from their French base in Saint Tropez. Luxury is back in fashion.

Part of this surge is that people have had time to formulate grand plans, and they tend to have extra money in their pocket from not being able to spend it so easily during lockdown. There are also a few clients who have bumped up their budget because they are only planning on travelling abroad once this year, so they are planning to do it in style.

Tommy Tognarelli, co-founder of PlainSailing.com, said: “It is nice to be back helping people to fi nd their dream yacht or catamaran to charter, somewhere sunny, and interest has picked up substantially as we start to hear about how international travel will work this summer.

“People are yearning to get away, and after a pretty miserable year, it is easy to justify that people deserve a break – and not just any break! When holidays are allowed again, people are planning to make the most of it!” www.plainsailing.com

What better way to discover some beautiful British rivers, forests and hidden treasures than on a SUP board.

Float through the stunning Hampshire scenery of chalk cliffs rising over calm creeks and drift up beautiful rivers where horses run wild. During your paddling expeditions, you will be able to explore the hidden treasures of the Solent and see its natural beauty up close.

Throw yourself into the sailing, and paddling, then wrap up warm with a cup of hot chocolate on board a cosy yacht and relax under the summer night stars. 2 nights: Various dates £595 per person kraken.travel

Whether you are a seasoned sailor or a complete beginner, Borrow A Boat is making it easier than ever to get more people on to the water.

Sailing is a great staycation option, especially this year, and Borrow A Boat has craft available throughout the UK, including in popular boating hubs such as Cornwall, Devon, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Those venturing further afi eld can also enjoy boating in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, North America and South East Asia. Not surprisingly, Greece, Croatia and Turkey are the most popular destinations though.

Rental starts from £40 per day and sailing yachts from £1,000 per week.

However, anyone looking for a more luxurious option can use Borrow A Boat Plus to fi nd luxury boats and superyachts, all fully crewed. Prices start from around £10,000 per week.

Borrow A Boat customers can choose from around 35,000 vessels in more than 65 countries, so there is plenty of choice. Boats can also be hired with or without a skipper and all meet the safety and insurance codes, standards and regulations for yacht chartering in their respective locations. www.borrowaboat.com

National lockdowns and a crippling halt of the global tourism trade have transformed industry fortunes over the past year.

It is still diffi cult to have truly comprehensive fi gures for the year, but a drop in passenger numbers at sea in the region of 80 per cent seems likely, according to Ida Rosenvinge, marketing manager of Sea Europe.

With vaccination programmes rolling out, pent up consumer demand and an overwhelming human desire to break free from the shackles of ‘home’, ships will sail again, but we can probably expect a gradual return to full steam.

New health and safety routines have to be in place, ports and government have to be in agreement about the transit of passengers over borders and across regions, and passengers must feel confi dent enough to once again set sail. That is why many industry stakeholders, including Sea Europe, who operate the Norwegian fullrigged sailing ship Christian Radich, believe in a ‘small is beautiful’ policy.

It means a focus on quality over quantity. They are operating a 60 person ship where the majority of the time is spent in the open air, immersed in a true sailing experience, with the sights and sounds of the water as constant companions.

In addition, their itinerary has been tailored to deliver short European voyages where they are always a safe distance from shore, enabling easy access to land-based facilities and infrastructure if required.

So, Sea Europe, and other operators, are focusing upcoming schedules on short-hop trips that deliver both unique seaborne experiences and a sense of reassurance. The Christian Radich, for example, will be taking European passengers to locations including beautiful Cherbourg, medieval Cadiz, charming Bremerhaven and magical Lisbon. www.seaeurope.no

Although until 17 May, at the earliest, it is illegal to travel abroad for holidays, from 12 April people in England have been allowed to stay away from home with other members of their household, or bubble, in self-contained accommodation. A framework to chart the safe return of international travel was set out in April by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. There will be a traffi c light system, which will categorise countries based on risk alongside the restrictions required for travel. A report, produced by the Global Travel Taskforce, showed how international travel could resume from 17 May. This includes the removal of the permission to travel form - meaning passengers would no longer need to prove they have a valid reason to leave the country. However, testing will remain an essential part of protecting public health as restrictions begin to ease. The risks posed by Covid variants remain signifi cant, and so restrictions for inbound passengers, such as a 10-day managed quarantine, home quarantine and stringent testing will remain in place - but will apply to people differently depending on whether the destination visited is categorised as ‘green’, ‘amber’ or ‘red’. It is too early to predict which countries will be on which list over the summer, and the allocation of countries will be kept under review. However, the government plans to set out by early May which countries will initially fall into which category, as well as confi rming whether international travel can defi nitely resume from 17 May. A Covid-19 charter will also be introduced from 17 May, setting out what is required of passengers and what their rights are while measures remain in place. Please follow current Covid-19 rules where you live in the UK.

Image: Ascannio / Shutterstock.com

IMPORTANT - The outbreak of COVID-19 continues to evolve. Please check FCO travel advice pages for the latest travel information: www. gov.uk/foreigntravel-advice. FURTHER INFORMATION ■ Nautilus Yachting: www.nautilusyachting.com ■ Nisos Yacht Charter: www.nisosyachtcharter.com ■ Seafarer: www.seafarersailing.co.uk ■ BVI Charters: www.bviyachtcharters.com ■ Ocean Elements: www.ocean-elements.co.uk ■ The Moorings: www.moorings.co.uk ■ Mauri Pro: www.mauripro.com ■ Dream Yacht Charter: www.dreamyachtcharter.co.uk ■ Sunsail: www.sunsail.co.uk ■ Mallorca Yacht Charter: www.mallorcayachtcharter.eu ■ Tall Ships Adventures: tallships.org ■ Naleia Yachting:www.naleiayachting.com

QHOW WILL THE EVENT ITSELF BE DIFFERENT TO PREVIOUS YEARS? BF: The weather is always a factor in how the race differs from year to year and in 2021 the conditions are going to be perfect. I have put my request in!

QWHAT WILL YOUR RACE DAY BE LIKE? BF: Long! I am usually up from 3am, but the sight of a sunrise over the Solent, with hundreds of boats preparing to start, will be fantastic.

QWHY DO YOU THINK IT HAS BECOME SUCH AN ICONIC SAILING EVENT? BF: The uniqueness of the event – you do not have to be a sailing superstar or even a racer to enter RIR. We have families, cruising boats and professional sailors on high performance yachts all competing against each other. Anyone in the right conditions could win the prestigious Gold Roman Bowl. The Island Sailing Club also provides a free rating system which allows many who would not normally have the opportunity the chance to race. The one thing which seems to be a constant every year are the smiles on all of the faces.

QDO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE ROUND THE ISLAND RACE? BF: Every RIR has a story. No two are the same and in the bar at the end of the day the stories always get embellished, which makes great listening. It is diffi cult to pick a favourite as I have enjoyed every single one, however, one does stand out. I was sailing on an Etchell. We had a private wager with a similar boat and, although we sailed completely different courses, everytime we crossed the lead had changed, all in perfect conditions. At the end, having changed places about eight times, the difference was less than 20 seconds. We did not win! The great thing is we have now made it possible for boats to have a ‘Race within a Race’, with other boats in their marina for instance, not just in their class.

QWHEN DID YOU START SAILING? BF: I started quite young, fi rst sailing dinghies on a lake at Longleat. There was also a classic from Beaulieu which was a handful; probably because we always had too much sail up for the conditions. In my late teens and early twenties I spent every weekend at Hayling Island sailing 505s, much of the time capsized with the mast stuck in the mud. Since then I have enjoyed an eclectic mixture of boats, making many friends on the way. The Round the Island Race still has to be one of my favourite races.

QWHAT IS YOUR ROLE WITH THE ROUND THE ISLAND RACE? BF: In addition to planning the race, one of my main roles is to coordinate the volunteers. There are over 100 volunteers, without whom it would be impossible to run this iconic race. Monthly meetings (which begin as soon as the last race has fi nished), liaising with all the relevant authorities, harbour masters, safety crews, results service, the list goes on. One thing we all have in common is an enthusiasm for sailing, and I cannot thank those people enough for giving up their time to help make this one day such a great event.

QWHAT (NON-COVID) CHANGES CAN WE EXPECT THIS YEAR? BF: It is our 90th anniversary, a landmark year for any event. With so many high-profi le events being cancelled, the race is being tipped as one of the biggest events to be staged since the UK’s fi rst lockdown a year ago. We are introducing a new event for small keelboat racers called The Windeler Cup, named after the founder of the RIR. The fl eet will race within the confi nes of the Western Solent, initially towards Hurst Narrows, back to the Central Solent and fi nishing on the Royal Yacht Squadron line. This year we will also be staging a rowing race around the Island starting on the Thursday before the main sailing race. Q WHAT BOAT DO YOU SAIL AT THE MOMENT? BF: Anything I can get on, although I am probably too old and unfi t for dinghy racing now as I would have to be helped back in the boat if I was hiking. I am lucky enough to be able to sail on The Island Sailing Club Sonars, which are brilliant keel boats in all weather conditions, available to members and non-members.

QWHICH SAILORS INSPIRE YOU (PAST OR PRESENT)? BF: First, I would say my father who was a fantastic sailor and taught me a huge amount, real old school and would never start the engine for any reason. Also, people I have been lucky enough to sail with such as Jon Ely, who remained calm whatever mistakes I made. Present day sailors - too many to mention, although someone who I think stands out as inspirational is Pip Hare after her incredible race in the Vendée Globe.

QIS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD? BF: Just to say I hope everyone enjoys the RIR on what is going to be a fantastic day, with glorious weather and will hopefully give a real lift to everyone after the challenges of the last year.

To enter Britain’s favourite race, go to the event website www.roundtheisland.org.uk. For all the latest news follow on social media and please use hashtags #RIR90years and #RaceForAll.

We will be bringing you a Round the Island Race preview next month!