Class charter best of six

Class charter

Why not learn to sail while on holiday in Europe? Sue Pelling takes a look at six of the best tuition-based charter holidays to choose from

There is still time to bag a late season holiday and learn to sail at one of the many tuitionbased charter holiday companies in Europe.

A late summer sailing holiday is, in many respects, an ideal time to learn the basics of how to handle a charter yacht not least because it’s generally less busy in the marinas and ports, and temperatures are not quite so intense. You’ll also find some companies offer special late season deals, particularly out of school holiday season, so it is possible to sign up for a good package.

Whether you are travelling with friends, family or solo, there are plenty of options available with most companies happy to accommodate your needs, often with bespoke packages. For those who are less keen on long haul flights, a European charter holiday is ideal because most destinations such as Greece,

Croatia or South of France, are just a relatively short flight from the UK.

Tuition-based charter is the ideal option not only for total beginners who may have never have even stepped foot on a yacht before, but also for those who need to brush up their skills with a qualification before going alone and chartering their own yacht in the future.

Sunsail

Sunsail’s Lefkas, Greece and Agana, Croatia bases offer tuition for all levels. Lefkas is in the heart of the Ionian and its RYA-accredited sailing schools are the perfect place to gain a qualification from the RYA Yacht Starting course through to RYA Day Skipper, RYA Competent Crew certification and beyond.

The ‘Flotilla Starter’ course or ‘Flotilla Hero’ course Sunsail offers, provides an opportunity to gain the RYA Start Yachting or RYA Day Skipper certificate. On the Flotilla Hero course, up to two can earn an RYA Day Skipper certification or up to three crew members can gain their RYA Competent Crew qualification.

A similar option is on offer with Sunsail in Croatia at its Agana base, which runs until November. Here you can learn to sail while experiencing the cruising grounds of the Dalmatian Coast with its lush islands, pristine beaches, and quiet, ancient towns to explore.

ABOVE

Kefalonia, Greece is an ideal cruising destination

BELOW

Learning to sail with the family on a Sunsail holiday can be fun

Seafarer

Seafarer offers one of the most extensive ranges of tuition with its specific Yacht Training options in Greece and Croatia. There is something for everyone within its RYA training scheme but also, the company offers non-RYA courses for those who are not looking for certification but who are keen to improve specific skills.

Seafarer’s base is also in Lefkas, Greece at its longest established

training centre. This sheltered part of the Mediterranean is a popular location for a relaxing family-friendly holiday.

The company’s training centre in Croatia is at Zaton, near Sibenik, and offers more varied conditions, including stronger local winds. The season runs from early May to late October, and it’s worth keeping an eye out for Seafarers last minute special offers on its comprehensive website.

Sailing Holidays

Sailing Holidays has been offering Mediterranean charter and flotillas for over 40 years covering the areas Greece, Croatia, Italy, Spain and Turkey. From its bases in Greece on mainland Plataria, and on Corfu Island, this company offers comprehensive RYAbased tuition packages to suit all requirement including Competent Crew or Day Skipper courses.

For those looking to qualify in super-fast time, Sailing Holiday’s fast-track package offers Competent Crew and Day Skipper practical courses over a two-week holiday period.

Tuition is on a Bénéteau 393 and the student instructor ratio is 3:1.

Sail Ionian

Sail Ionian’s RYA Sea School is based in Lefkas, the popular charter location. The southern Ionian with its predictable weather patterns and sheltered sailing area is ideal for novices under RYA tuition. This company has plenty of options for training, including a full range of RYA courses, and practical courses for the internationallyrecognised ICC (International Certificate of Competence).

Choose from private tuition where you charter a yacht and have your own dedicated instructor, or join just three other trainees on a joint course, which is generally the most popular option.

Trek Adventures

Sea-Trek – the sailing section of Trek Adventures – specialise in sailing holidays for beginners and offers ‘Introduction To Yacht Sailing’ holidays from the Ionian Island of Kefalonia, Greece.

The base is in the quaint, traditional town of Lixouri and offers easy access to secluded bays/ anchorages and beaches, and some of the best tavernas on the island.

Although this company it is not an affiliated sailing exam centre, clients enjoy the relaxed holiday atmosphere and each yacht’s skipper helps sailing newbies, and those with previous experience to get to grips with yacht sailing.

ABOVE

Kefalonia, Greece offers plenty of picturesque bays in which to drop anchor

BELOW

Sailing Holidays has been running charter holidays for over 40 years, and offers 3:1 student/ instructor ratio tuition

Nautilus Yachting

For something different, why not consider a holiday in Gibraltar and learn to sail too with Nautilus Yachting’s learn to sail holiday package? This independent yacht charter company based in the UK, has been operating successfully for 30 years and has holiday bases throughout the world. It offers a whole range of different holiday options but is one of the few companies with a base in Gibraltar. It offers year-round sailing at the gateway to the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, and exciting opportunities to cruise the Spanish Costa del Sol and visit Morocco.

This RYA-recognised training centre offers a full range of RYA practical, live aboard courses from Marina Bay Complex, which is conveniently located just five minutes from the airport.

Useful contacts

sailingholidays.com sailionian.com nautilusyachting.com trek-adventures.co.uk seafarersailing.co.uk sunsail.co.uk

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