How the Programme works
 The
first evening you will be shown on board your yacht and you get to meet your
instructor and the rest of the crew. You will be shown everything you need to
know for living on board for the night and then left free to go off and explore.
Most choose to go for a meal with their new shipmates, while anybody arriving
late just retires to their bunk. Normally your instructor will not sleep on board the first
night but will then be with you for the rest of the week.
The
following morning (don’t worry, not too early) starts with a comprehensive
briefing for the entire flotilla. This is an excellent time to see the entire
group together for the first time. It is mainly for the skippers and crews of
the flotilla yachts, but also useful for newcomers as they get to see how the
programme operates. Your instructor will be busy for the first hour or two with
the other yachts at this stage so he will have set you about exploring the
yacht, peering in lockers, trying on life jackets and sorting out getting provisions for the week. Breakfasts and Lunches are usually taken on board while most people choose to take evening meals in local restaurants, but you have full use of the
facilities on board should you wish. All shopping is done in local shops and markets. Families and groups take care of all their own provisioning costs while, those sharing a yacht usually choose to operate a small kitty among themselves for onboard meals Preparation
of lunches as with cleaning up and tidying of the yacht is to be shared by all
on board.
Once
everyone is organised, usually between 11 and 11.30 you will prepare to leave
port. The rest of the morning will
be spent getting everyone familiar with the workings of the yacht, the engine
and handling under power, the sail controls and generally establishing
everybody’s experience. This will
all be done as you slowly make your way towards your first lunchtime stop and
swim of the week. The afternoon will usually be spent doing some sailing and
leaving everybody get the feel for the yacht in its natural environment. By the time you reach port on that first afternoon a lot of the mystery of sailing will have disappeared and you will be
ready for a cool drink. A shower
and freshen up is normally next followed by a pre arranged group meal at a local
restaurant for those interested in getting together. Most people like to go along, as it is the first night and its kept
simple by everyone paying their own bill. It’s
the perfect chance to discuss the day’s activities with the other members of
the group. Sleep is never normally
a problem on the second night.
The
pattern for the week will now have been set. The day will start with a short flotilla briefing at 0930 and most yachts
will have left within an hour or two. Mornings
tend to have lighter winds making them perfect for practicing and teaching. We will have lunchtime stop most days unless we have a particularly
favourable wind and everyone wants to keep going. The brisker afternoon winds make for great sailing and the evenings are
spent in port. After the first
night we do not arrange group meals every night (unless by popular demand) but
people just get together among themselves and wander off to try out different
restaurants.
During
the course of the week we try to visit a different port every night. There is always time to explore locally and the whole emphasis is on
learning by doing, hence our use of the word ‘tuition’ rather than
‘school’. Where possible we try to keep
the obligatory distances between ports no more than 12 to 20 miles so we allow
all day to get there. This approach allows for maximum flexibility as with
the multitude of small islands available to us to sail around, we can always
make the route as long as we want, while still providing plenty of variety and
training opportunities. This is what makes
the programme ideal for both those who like the idea of a sailing holiday while
being taught how to sail, and those who want to develop their skills further by
getting more fully involved in all aspects of sailing the yacht and training to
be a skipper.
The
complete beginner to sailing will be shown how to tie knots correctly and
general rope work, steer a boat under sail and power, handle the sails, mooring
and anchoring, basic navigation,  and all the other things which lead up to
gaining an International Crew Certificate. Someone with prior boating experience will be taught
how to develop these skills further together with more advanced techniques in
order to get them up to a Flotilla Skipper level. This is a particularly popular way for
dinghy sailors to obtain the yacht sailing experience and certification needed
prior to taking their own yacht on flotilla.
For anybody that hopes to get to a skipper level, we can also assess for
International Certificates of Competence (ICC) for which there are some extra
costs and requirements. Please see the section on the IYT
qualifications and training for further information. At
the end of the week you will return to our base on the afternoon of the day
before the holiday ends. We usually
organise a last evening get together and this often extends into the early
hours. You spend your last night on board and leave the yacht by
0900 the
following morning. Clients, either
out for a second week live-aboard tuition or a follow on activity, will have a
free day to do as they wish, either relaxing or do some land-based sightseeing. Full details will already have been given to anyone staying for a second
week while those leaving will
have any flight and transfer arrangements confirmed.
View some independent journalists articles on our holidays via the links below, but please bookmark this page first as these links will direct you away from this site.
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