Weekend Cruises

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These weekends offer adventurous sailing for those wanting more experience, from competent crew level to yachtmaster and beyond, and an opportunity for mileage building and qualifying passages. Be as involved as you like – you can gain skippering experience and take on the planning and navigation.

Easter in France Sailing Adventure
Join us on Thursday evening for a drink and introductions, when we will make a final decision on the planned itinerary (depending on the forecast).
We depart early on Good Friday, after Hot Cross Buns and a safety brief, and head out into the Channel for Cherbourg. We aim to moor close to the wonderful old town in time for supper.

On Saturday we continue east to the very picturesque fishing port of St Vaast where the fresh fish is awesome. We plan to stay here for most of Sunday giving time to explore the Cathedral and the Abbey and to crack open our Easter eggs.
After dinner on Sunday we set sail back across the Channel aiming to arrive back in Gosport by mid afternoon.

The final destinations for this trip are weather dependent. If the wind is unsuitable we may head to alternative destinations in France or the Channel Islands. We will keep you fully informed and give you details a week before departure. Don't forget to bring your passport!

May Day Bank Holiday Exploring Alderney Weekend
Join us on Friday evening for a drink, when you get to meet the rest of the crew and we make a final decision on the itinerary, based on the weather forecast.
We plan to depart very early on Saturday morning, heading to Braye, our base on Alderney.

On Sunday we have the choice of cycling some of the 50 miles of paths or joining the Alderney Wildlife Trust's Dawn Chorus Walk (with cooked breakfast)- or you can do both! On Monday we join the May Day Ramble around Alderney organised by the Alderney Wildlife Trust (www.alderneywildlife.org).

On Monday evening after dinner we set sail back to the Solent overnight and aim to be back in Gosport by mid afternoon on Tuesday.

Round The Wight Charity Racing Weekend
Join us on Friday evening before we head to Cowes in preparation for an early start on Saturday morning. This weekend is hosted by East Cowes Sailing Club and we race (in a friendly fashion!) club members around the Island to raise money for the local hospice. 2008 we were in second place so we're aiming to improve on this in 2009!

If conditions allow we'll be flying the spinnaker along the south coast of the Island after passing the Needles. Once moored up we join the Club for a well earned bbq and drink. On Sunday we head out for a sail in the Solent before returning to Gosport for mid afternoon tea and cake!

Round the Island Race Weekend
Come with us for one of the biggest and most exciting inshore sailing events in the UK when we join some 1800 other yachts for a thrilling race around the Isle of Wight.

This weekend comprises a day of training (including spinnaker) on the Friday before we head to Cowes in preparation for an early start on the Saturday. We can expect over 200 other yachts on our start line, which gets the adrenaline going early in the morning (we start around 6am).

We eat breakfast and lunch en route while crewing our yacht amonsgt the hundreds of others trying to make it past us. Seeing so many spinnakers behind us is a great thrill!

Enjoy a glass of champagne as we pass the finishing line and spend the evening in Cowes soaking up the atmosphere. On Sunday we head out for a sail in the Solent before returning to Gosport for mid afternoon tea and cake!

Osborne House Festival Weekend
Join us on the Friday evening for a meal and a chance to meet your fellow crewmates. On the Saturday morning, following breakfast and a safety brief, we set sail into the Solent, eventually arriving at East Cowes marina in the mid/late afternoon.

From the marina at East Cowes it is a short walk to Osborne House, in a spectacular setting overlooking the Solent. Our picnic spot will already be laid out and waiting, all you need to bring is a drink or two (which we have time to buy enroute to Osborne House).

We spend the evening being entertained by Bournemouth Philharmonic Orchestra, who finish, of course, with Pomp and Circumstance (don’t forget your Union Jack flag!). The evening ends with a ‘bang’ – a spectacular firework display – before we wend our way back to the marina.

On the Sunday we set sail into the Solent again and arrive back at our berth in Gosport for mid/late afternoon.

Channel Islands Cruise
Join us on Thursday evening for a drink and introductions, when we will make a final decision on the planned itinerary (depending on the forecast).
We depart early on Friday morning and head out into the Channel for St Peter Port, Guernsey.

On Saturday we get to explore the town for a couple of hours before heading to Herm or Sark. We will aim for an overnight stop on Sark (depending on the weather). Wherever we end up on the Saturday night, we will spend time on the Sunday exploring before sailing back across the Channel aiming to arrive back in Gosport by mid afternoon on Monday.

The final destinations for this trip are weather dependent. If the wind is unsuitable we may head to alternative destinations in France or the Channel Islands. We will keep you fully informed and give you details a week before departure. Don't forget to bring your passport!

French Coast 7 day milebuilder/cruise
The ultimate destination is the area around Brest on the Brittany coast (some 200 nautical miles from Gosport). This coastline provides some challenging sailing and some spectacular scenery.

What is included?
The cost of our weekends includes accommodation on board your yacht, breakfasts, lunches and our now famous homemade cake. We tend to eat ashore in the evenings (apart from when we are night sailing) so that everyone can stretch their legs (this cost is not included) or you can cook for yourself on the boat if you wish.

Our yachts are vegetarian. Breakfasts and lunches will be warm, tasty and filling but will not contain meat! By eating ashore in the evening a non-vegetarian diet can be catered for.

The only additional cost is a proportion of mooring fees which are split between those aboard. These vary between nil- £5 per night depending on where we stay.

Upon booking you will receive your Joining Instructions which provide a suggested list of what to bring. Sailing waterproofs are an important item, whatever the time of year, as they keep you warm and dry. We have these for you to borrow, free of charge. You are likely to have most other items on the list and we encourage clients to travel light because of the limited storage room on board.

Your Joining Instructions will also detail where to find us. We sail from Royal Clarence Marina in Gosport which is easily accessed by road (it is 20 minutes from the M27 at Fareham) or by train to Portsmouth Harbour (from Waterloo).

We look forward to sailing with you!

Dates, availability and costs for 2008 and 2009