Holidays Afloat
Choose between the gentle cruise on an inland waterway, or the excitement of passage making offshore, or something in between – holidays afloat are available for everyone, from beginner to the most experienced skipper.
Follow the links below for some of the options:
One week or two at sea in a sailing cruiser equipped to the highest standards will provide the whole family with a totally new experience, one that often leads to owning a similar boat later on. Charter companies are well aware that families new to the sea need to be well cared for so that their holiday is relaxing, sometimes exciting – and always safe! So here are some of the options available:
- Skippered Charter. Sail with an experienced and highly qualified skipper on board. You will handle the boat under his or her watchful eye and if you want to, start on the RYA training programme at the same time. For more information visit www.nfss.co.uk which has a listing of companies offer Sailing holidays.
- Flotilla Holidays. These are for the family with a little more experience. You will be in charge, but sailing with a group of similar boats under the supervision of a Flotilla Leader. He or she will be on hand to advise, to help with passage planning and to meet you each day at attractive destinations.
- Bareboat charter. Not quite what it sounds - the boat will be anything but bare, in fact like all charter boats it will be fitted out to a very high standard. But you will be in sole charge and on your own unless you choose to cruise in company – obviously for the more experienced skipper.
There are nearly three thousand miles of waterway in this country. In fact had you the time you could cruise from Bath in the South West to Skipton on the Yorkshire moors – and back to London. Canals both broad and narrow seem somehow to disappear into the country side to emerge in the town, then disappear once again. They can be explored in a comfortable purpose built narrowboat which you will quickly learn to drive.
As an alternative you might cruise on one of the major waterways where the boat you hire will probably be different, a little broader than a narrow boat, not as long but again beautifully equipped. Try the Thames, cruising from Lechlade to Teddington perhaps, passing Windsor and the great memorial to Magna Carta at Runnymede. Yet again the Anglian Waterways are altogether different, winding through the mysterious Fen country.
Request a free copy of our booklet which lists hire companies across the country or visit www.waterscape.com for a full listing of Inland boating holidays.
Why not visit Hire Boat open day in your area.
The Broads are a delight; stretches of open water, connected by gently flowing rivers and fringed by reeds and trees. Here you may hire a motor cruiser and quickly learn to handle it in safe waters. You might want to try a sailing cruiser instead, a modern boat or one of the traditional gaff rigged types so much a part of the Broads heritage.
Visit the Broads Authority web site at www.broads-authority.gov.uk and click through to their Boating page for more information.
Combine a holiday with a sailing course, a splendid way of learning to handle a boat to the RYA syllabus and at the same time relax with the family or friends. Holiday courses are available in this country and in many “warm seas” centres. Once you have learned to sail then you can carry on with the sport at home, perhaps at a local sailing club <link to dingy sailing page in watersports section> where once again the whole family will be welcome.
Alternatively you might want to take a course as the major part of your holiday, learning new skills and working your way through the stages of the RYA syllabus. Your course might be centred on dinghy and small boat sailing - or learning to handle a bigger cruiser and the secrets of navigation which go along with it. Courses are available at sea schools in this country and abroad Alternatively many local clubs have RYA qualified instructors amongst their members and are keen to teach newcomers.
The RYA publish a free booklet listing RYA approved Sea Schools. Visit the RYA web site at www.rya.org.uk for more information.
