Holidays

Sailing holidays are totally personalised with timing & destination entirely your choice. We don’t do bareboat so you will always have Nick with you. For longer trips there is plenty of room for all your gear but depending upon the mix of the group we may restrict the number of guests to a maximum of four.

The boat is very comfortable and a good sea boat. Meals are of a quality & quantity to satisfy the most demanding clients, please see testimonials. We try to make each trip as interesting & action packed as possible whilst still allowing plenty of time for relaxation. You are encouraged to take an active part in running the boat from steering to sail trimming and navigation all under the watchful eye of your skipper who is there to make sure you have a safe and fulfilling holiday. Everyone is invited to be a full part of the crew but no one is expected to take on any task where they do not feel capable.

In 2008 one of our holidays started at Bucklers Hard and went to the Normandy town of St Vaast, famous for its sea food and Oysters. Our Channel crossing took a full day with a variety of wind conditions and mainly smooth sea. We set off at about 5a.m. as we needed to be sure of reaching our destination in time to lock into the yacht basin. We had an excellent sail and used the engine from time to time to keep us moving when the wind went light. Maintaining an average speed is important on longer passages in order not to miss a tidal gate. St Vaast has a good sized marina with lots of local boats and an active fish dock, but plenty of room for visiting yachtsmen. On this occasion we arrived in the early evening to find the alongside berths had all been taken (by a mixture of visitors from France, Holland & the UK). We therefore tied up alongside a cheerful and welcoming motor cruiser from Poole. Our neighbour had been in St Vaast for a few days and was a mine of useful information, not only did he have the latest weather report from the internet he also told us where to find the best bar & restaurant!

Having a had a full and long day sail we took it easy the following day and met up with friends from England for lunch and enjoyed the sunshine. A gentle stroll around the town and a visit to the renowned emporium (delicatessen and wine merchant) of Monsieur Gosselin finished the day’s activities and we returned to the boat for a quiet drink & early night.

On day 3 we visited the Capitanerie for a shower and a quick trot over to the Boulangerie for lunchtime baguettes. Then taking the tide we headed for Cherbourg in a stiff NE breeze. Cherbourg is a well known Port & favoured destination of many UK sailors. The sail was invigorating and we arrived early afternoon. The hypermarket beckoned & we walked through the town stopping for a couple of beers and moules frites before continuing with our shopping. The choice & quality of food is outstanding and we were forced to stock up on fresh baguettes, prawns, salad, pate, various cheeses & the odd bottle of vino before heading back to the boat for a feast of some of France’s finest produce.

Day 4 saw us taking the tide again as we made for Alderney, a half day sail. The Alderney Race is notorious for its’ strong tidal flow & the timing of any crossing is critical. We safely navigated our way through and arrived in the clear waters of Braye harbour where we re able to pick up a vacant mooring close in to the harbour jetty. Alderney is picturesque & largely unspoilt. The most Northerly of the Channel Islands it not part of the EU although still within the UK. As such it is necessary clear Customs & Immigration before landing. The locals are very obliging and soon dropped off the necessary paperwork to allow us to take down our yellow Q flag and pay out harbour dues! We were then on the VHF radio to call up the Mainbrayce water taxi for a lift ashore. A quick shower on the quay and then an invigorating trek up the hill to the little town of St Annes for a look around & the odd refreshment.

The following day was another half day to Guernsey. Timing of the tide was again critical and we were hard on the wind as we headed out of the Swinge leaving the Casquettes to Starboard as we made for the Little Russel and St Peter Port harbour. As we close the harbour entrance the sails are furled away & we proceed under engine. St Peter Port has many visitors and on this occasion we moor up to one of the floating pontoons in the outer harbour. It is possible to go inside the marina but the cill at the entrance limits entrance & departure times and at high water there can be an uncomfortable swell which causes the yachts to roll. Our journeys ashore are using the inflatable dinghy and outboard motor. There is a water taxi but when staying for a day or so the convenience of our own transport is easy within the calm confines of the harbour. Guernsey also has the advantage of a high speed ferry link to Poole and on this trip my guests are returning to the mainland and a fresh crew is joining Elixir for the next leg of our voyage.

Training

A typical training course day would be as follows:

Arrive early previous evening. A light supper on board and general introductions. A brief tour of the boat and turn in for a peaceful night on our mooring up the Beaulieu River.

7.30 morning tea & freshen up. If you are lucky you might see deer at the water edge or the Kingfisher looking for breakfast.

8.00 Breakfast of cereal, juice, egg, bacon, mushrooms, beans, fried bread.
Wash up & prepare boat for sea. Spray hood folded down, sheets cleared for use, halyards bent on, engine checked, weather checked, log written up, passage plan written up, weather gear put on (if appropriate), lifejackets on & up on deck.

9.00 Skipper gives briefing and demonstration of how to leave the mooring. Engine on and student steering the boat down river towards the Solent. Mooring lines and other gear stowed ready for sea.

10.00 In the Solent sails hoisted we start our first lesson on how to steer the boat and use the wind. Beating, tacking reaching & running are all points of sail to be mastered.

11.00 Those not actively sailing the boat are given instruction on how to use the hand bearing compass & plot our position on the chart.

12.00 Preparation for lunch. If going outside the Solent it will be food on the go e.g. hot soup, Cornish Pasty, fruit & chocolate bar. If inside we will find a sheltered spot, take down the sails & drop anchor. Lunch might then be soup, fish pie & vegetables, fresh fruit salad & coffee.

13.00 Wash up & loose items put away & back to sailing. Instruction on how to raise anchor and put up the sails. More learning to trim sails and steer the boat.

14.00 Instruction on how to save a man overboard (MOB). All crew try their ability to carry out the recommended techniques under engine & sail.

16.00 Having practised our MOB we head for our chosen overnight stop. This might be at anchor in say Newtown Creek or we may choose to stay at one of the Yacht harbours e.g. Yarmouth IOW. Whichever destination the boat has to be prepared and the crew instructed on their roles for dropping anchor or coming alongside.

17.00 Time for a cup of tea and a discussion on Rules of the Road & learning to tie those knots which some people find so difficult.

18.00 Boat tidied away, ropes coiled, sails flaked, halyards secured, anchor checked.

19.00 Start preparing food for dinner. This might be Lamb Shank & assorted vegetables followed by apple pie & cream, with cheese & biscuits for those still with an appetite.

21.00 A quiet drink and conversation on the day’s events as the sun sets on the horizon.

22.30 Turn in for a quick read before light out & ready for the next challenges in the morning.