Welcome to our latest newsletter, where we review the outgoing 2024 sailing season for Devon Sailing Experiences and fill you in about our plans for 2025. We are also giving you the chance to win a gift voucher for a day sail by taking a short sailing quiz on our website. Read on to find out more.
What happened in 2024?
In a nutshell: the weather was rubbish, bookings were down and our boats needed a lot of repairs. Not great news for a small, family-run, seasonal business, but we made it through and are looking forward to the 2025 sailing season! Here are some of our stories.
Bewitched to the rescue!
During our recent Milage Building Weekend whilst on passage to Salcombe, Bewitched received and responded to a Pan Pan. It was issued from Falmouth Coastguard regarding a 21ft blue and white angling boat with engine failure drifting NE from Hope Cove.
You can read an account of the situation in our latest blog post.
Well done to Chief Instructor Tim and his weekend crew for their support to a vessel experiencing difficulties.
New Feathering Prop for Bewitched
Following mechanical failure aboard Bewitched, we decided to invest in a prop that will enhance the sailing capabilities of our boat.
Initial tests has shown a 1/2 – 3/4 knot increase in speed.
Thank you to our talented Skippers
As always, huge thanks go out to our skippers who always demonstrate professionalism, expertise and skill. This year they have exceeded any expectations by (amongst other things) diving under boats to recover/fix/check parts, sailing into marinas after mechanical failure (not recommended!), towing/being towed, responding to pan pan call outs from other craft and being flexible to meet the requirements of our guests.
Was your booking postponed in 2024?
We sail in all weather EXCEPT when high winds make it dangerous. When this happens, we may need to postpone your booking to keep you and our boats safe. If your booking was postponed in 2024, please make sure you give yourself plenty of time to re-book your date for 2025.
What is planned for 2025?
Our sailing schedule for 2025 is now live and can be viewed on our website.
Whether you are a regular sailor or have never tried it, we will have a package just for you. Many of our longer sailing experiences and courses are scheduled on demand, so if you cannot see a suitable date, please get in touch and we will do our very best to help.
Before booking, be sure to check the “Additional Information” section for restrictions to avoid booking something that is not suitable for you or is not going to offer what you need. If in doubt, just call or drop us an email to check.
With Devon and Cornwall on our doorstep, we believe you have the best sailing destinations all within easy reach.
Bareboat Charter
We are now taking bookings for bareboat charters in 2025. A 20% deposit will secure your date with the balance due 8 weeks before you sail. Take a look at our Bareboat Charter page and then get in touch to confirm availability.
Take our Sailing Quiz and Win a Gift Voucher
Test your sailing knowledge and have the chance to win a sailing voucher worth £132! You will need to complete the quiz on our website then enter your name, email address and phone number to be entered into a prize draw.
Remember – the quiz is just for fun! It is not too challenging and you do not have to score 100% to be in with a chance to win. You will not be contacted unless you have won.
The closing date is 31st December 2024. A name will be randomly selected on 1st January 2025 and we will contact you by email and telephone call if you are the lucky winner.
Sailing Gift Vouchers – the Perfect Christmas Gift
If you are in possession of a gift voucher, we recommend visiting our sailing schedule to book a date as soon as possible to avoid disappointment as our day and weekend sails get booked up quickly, particularly during the summer months.
