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Does anyone have any good suggestions for holidays where some sailing can be done, but alongside other stuff like walking or touring? I've tried Flotilla Sailing, but that's no good for non-sailors. I've also rented a Drascombe Lugger along with a self-catering place near Falmouth. I think that Sunsail beach holidays are too expensive and maybe too full-on. Does anyone have any other thoughts?
Have you looked at Neilson holidays. My son has been to Ortakent in Turkey for a week for the past two years and thinks it's great. He's going again in a month's time and is paying less than £500 for half board, sailing, windsurfing and mountain biking, from Manchester Airport.
We went with Neilson to Vasilliki, windsurfing, for a week in May, and it was just over £400 for bed and breakfast. All of the windsurfing kit (120 boards and 120 sails) was new and well rigged, ready for use. Mountain biking was also available along with the use of a Dart 16 and a couple of Picos.
I have been with Sunsail on a couple of occasions. The last time was to Colonna in Antigua for a fortnight about three years ago and I have found that some of the British staff were lazy and poor at their job, the local staff were great. There were stacks of boats and boards of all kinds but everything was poorly maintained, purely down to the staff. I still had a great holiday though.
I agree that Sunsail is very expensive unless you can get a 'deal'.
You could also look at Wildwind at Vasilliki where they have lots of cats. Another option is Minorca Sailing. They have great kit but, generally, they are more expensive than Sunsail as meals are not included.
Whilst they do not show a mast support on their web site they do state that mast supports are available for some of their boat trailers, worth a talk with them.
Has yours just broken free - is it worth welding? We build our own trailers for our patrol boats and weld them out of 2x2 and 1x2 box section steel and also do welding repairs on our boat trailers.
Robert wrote:Does anyone have any good suggestions for holidays where some sailing can be done, but alongside other stuff like walking or touring? I've tried Flotilla Sailing, but that's no good for non-sailors. I've also rented a Drascombe Lugger along with a self-catering place near Falmouth. I think that Sunsail beach holidays are too expensive and maybe too full-on. Does anyone have any other thoughts?
Robert,
You need to be at Pentewan Sands Holiday Park 22-29 August 2009. It is our Nationals and fun sailing. You can rent accommodation (caravans or cottages) and there is lots of other things to do in the area. The coastal path goes through the campsite. Mevagissy is a 40minute walk and you can (obviously go lots further in both directions), The Eden project is close by as is Charlestown and much more. That way you bring your boat AND your caravan. The fun sailing is optional but better still come for more than a week. A lot of people will..........
I think that Pentewan is more the sort of thing I'm thinking of, but will I be able to concentrate on the racing when my other half is there, and will there be any of me left over to do the other stuff when the racing has beaten the hell out of me? We still intend to come, though, so when do we need to book the caravan by, and who with?
I'm also wondering if anyone has been on a winter sun holiday (not a specialist sailing one) and found that there were hobie cats or similar to rent, either from the hotel or nearby (preferably not in Antigua or such exotic places). I dare say they may be available at places like Playa de Las Americas on Tenerife, but we like slightly more sedate locations. We might go to Puerto de la Cruz before Christmas but there's not much chance there. I'm really looking for a holiday where I can hire a boat for a few hours now and again but not focus mainly on sailing. Just something to keep me happy, then I can go back to reading my book...
