Core Info

At Devon Sailing Experiences, we are keen personal supporters of “Plymouth Gin” (www.plymouthgin.com), a super premium gin from Pernod Ricard UK (the parent company) distilled here in Plymouth at the Black Friars Distillery. So it is a great pleasure to have the opportunity to help promote a competition that they are currently running that gives people the chance  to win a fantastic prize that captures the spirit of the drink.
The lucky winners will enjoy a weekend of sailing on our modern yachts here in Plymouth with ‘victuals’ and transport provided. Following a successful day sailing, the lucky winners will have the opportunity to ‘debrief’ in the company of a few G&Ts on deck.
We will then whisk them off to be wined and dined in the company of one of our yacht masters – no doubt some tall tales of high seas and great deeds will be provided by the skipper.
Details can be found on promotional bottles or you can enter here:   www.winwithplymouth.co.uk
We pride ourselves on supplying high quality yachting experiences to corporates and individuals alike.  If you have a corporate sailing or individual requirement, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Please Enjoy Plymouth Gin Responsibly.

Sailing in Devon draws to a close for the end of the season as our Jeanneau 36i, Spellbound, is lifted out of the water. Giving her time to dry out and receive routine maintenance ensures that she is in tip-top condition for yacht charters in Devon from March 2016.

To ensure our guests receive the best, high quality experience whilst sailing in Devon, we ensure that all of our yachts receive thorough inspections, maintenance and cleaning. The yachts normally get lifted out of the water around the end of October (as this helps us make the most of any good weather the early Autumn months can offer us to allow our guests to sail as late into the year as safely possible). We often get requests to charter yachts from Plymouth in November, but unfortunately, as boat lifts need to be booked well in advance, we are unable to provide this service at the moment. However, if sailing in the later months become more popular, perhaps Devon Sailing Experiences need to rethink this issue…watch this space.

Next year, Spellbound will be sailing in Devon and Cornwall waters from King Point Marina, Plymouth. Yacht charters from Plymouth were the most popular option that we offered our customers last year, which is why we have chosen to relocate our yachts for the 2016 sailing season.

Our Plymouth-based yachts will be back in the water late February 2016, all serviced, fresh and ready for the next season. It is around February that we will start scheduling day sails around the pre-booked charters. Keep checking our sailing schedule page on our website and Facebook page for the latest information.

Creating differentiation for the Nicholas James Group by sailing in Devon.

Devon Sailing Experiences recently met up with friends from the Salcombe Harbour Hotel & Spa (part of the Nicholas James Group Ltd) to give them the opportunity to take in the views of their stunning hotel from the water, and to enable them to create video and photography assets for the hotel. As part of the partnership, we have teamed-up with the hotel to enable them to create sailing packages add-ons to their product portfolio. Giving their guests the chance to sail in Devon is a unique and rewarding experience for their customers.

Utilising one of our new yachts, ‘Bewitched’ (our luxury 41’ sailing yacht), is perfect for a group of friends marking a special occasion, a romantic trip or an educational adventure. Sailing in Devon is a fantastic experience for anyone, but combining it with a luxury hotel break takes it to another level. Setting off down the estuary, with the wind in your sails, your skipper will effortlessly guide the vessel past the hotel and the stunning backdrops.

Salcombe Harbour Hotel and Spa suggest making a few days of it (see http://www.salcombe-harbour-hotel.co.uk/news/devon-sailing-experiences/ ) where Devon Sailing Experiences will collect you from Plymouth, sailing you over to Salcombe Harbour Hotel & Spa for an overnight stay and use of its luxury facilities. You may choose to book a sail back to Plymouth, or be taken back to Plymouth by Range Rover in time to catch your train home.

We are looking forward to offering this exhilarating and breath-taking experience to other hotel groups in the area. With the dramatic scenery and fresh sea air, you can understand why people fall so in love with sailing in Devon.

A fine spell of weather in October coincided with our first Hen Party Sailing Weekend – and what an experience that was!

Wearing a blindfold (which we were told she had worn since leaving her home 2 hours prior to her arrival at King Point Marina in Plymouth), our hen was led along the pontoon to our 40’ yacht, Bewitched. After removing her blindfold and shoes (sorry, ladies – no heels on board!), she helped the rest of her crew load up the yacht with Prosecco and…. well, not much else, really! What else do you need on a hen party sailing weekend?

After setting sail under the guidance of their experienced skipper (brave man!), a few rounds of games (Cards Against Humanity – look it up, by all means, but please don’t hold us responsible if it causes offence), gangsta rap boat songs and the obligatory photo shoot at the helm, the party dropped the anchor for lunch. October can sometimes be a little cold for sailing, but the sun shone and the ladies were well prepared with their layers of clothing. Besides, the freshly prepared home made chilli-con-carne with rice and sour cream washed down with more Prosecco helped warm everyone up.

Upon returning to land, the sailing hen party hit the first-class shower facilities that can be found at King Point Marina, then they were ready for their evening at The Dock, the fabulous restaurant that overlooks the marina. They didn’t have far to stagger home – staying onboard a cosy, heated yacht 6-berth yacht that they could see from the restaurant window just finished off their celebrations perfectly.

Spellbound, our Jeanneau 36i, hosted the Meet me on the Boat project, which took place 13^th – 16^th September in the sheltered waters of Torbay.

Encounters Arts arranged to charter a yacht and skipper from Brixham for a few days (and an evening) and invited a number of artists along to sing sea-shanties, tell stories, and create artefacts. The outcomes of this exciting and unusual project will be exhibited at Living Coasts, Torquay on Saturday 26^th September.

The work demonstrated by the artists whilst underway goes a long way to show that sailing in September can offer a wonderful experience. You can see that their photographs show clear blue skies, and as the nights begin to draw in early, you can see how it is possible to sit back and watch the small coastal towns light up beautifully.

We have had requests to charter a yacht and skipper for birthdays. We have had requests to charter a yacht and skipper for anniversaries. We have had requests to charter a yacht and skipper for stag or hen parties. Never before have we had a request to charter a yacht for a group of working artists.

Would we take part in such an exciting project again? Oh, yes. Definitely!

Sailing vouchers can now be purchased from the Red Letter Days sailing website.

Red Letter Days is a well-known internet-based company that sells “experiences” from the adrenaline fuelled to the relaxed. Booking a sail with Red Letter Days couldn’t be easier – this link will take you directly to the site: (https://www.redletterdays.co.uk/experience/ref/dseso/a-sailing-weekend-for-two)

And what a fabulous weekend we spent with our latest guests who purchased sailing vouchers through Red Letter Days. The photo says it all. The sky was blue, the early September sunshine warmed the air, and our guests (both groups from different parts of the country) gelled well. Sailing vouchers for special occasions can be booked directly through our website or through Red Letter Days.

“What can I give to the person who has everything?”

Well, it seems that some of our customers has solved that age-old problem for themselves. An increasing number of our guests have found sailing gift vouchers for birthdays and sailing gift vouchers for anniversaries make the perfect present.

And we have sailing gift voucher options to suit all budgets.

Martin was stuck for a birthday present for his younger brother, Shaun. Being an active kind of guy, Shaun had tried most things, but sailing was not one of them. Our day sail options (http://www.devonsailingexperiences.co.uk/sailing-vouchers-and-short-packages/) allow people to get as much hands-on experience as they are comfortable with, so this turned out to be an ideal birthday gift him.

A couple of our other guests, June and Robert, were the first to admit that they are no longer as active as they used to be. However, when June saw the day sail package for 2 could be as active or as relaxing as they liked, she thought it was the ideal special anniversary gift for her husband. She loved the freshly prepared lunch at anchor at Cawsands (which she washed down with a glass of wine) while her husband happily fished off the back of the boat.

Tony was also looking for a special anniversary gift. His wife, Sandy, had hinted at a romantic night away – he wanted an affordable night away. A gift voucher for one of our weekend sail packages (http://www.devonsailingexperiences.co.uk/sail-dartmouth-salcombe/ ) was the solution for both Sandy and Tony. What can be more romantic than spending two nights on a 40’ yacht and admiring the beautiful coastline that Devon offers?

In our opinion, sailing gift vouchers for birthdays and sailing gift vouchers for anniversaries make the perfect gift for the person who is impossible to buy for. With sailing gift vouchers available directly through us or through the Red Letter Days website, buying a special present for a loved one couldn’t be easier.

“I like the idea of it, but have never tried sailing before and I’m not sure how to get into it.”

If this applies to you or someone you know, Devon Sailing Experiences has the perfect opportunity for you.

Roy, who was new to sailing and is now one of our regular guests, first booked a day sail from Plymouth with exactly that thought in mind. He explained that he liked the way that a day sail from Plymouth with Devon Sailing Experiences meant that he could take part in as much (or as little) sailing as he liked. His experienced skipper took full responsibility for the safety of the yacht, while encouraging his enthusiasm to learn how to hoist a sail, take the helm, tack and jibe. That was it for him – from never trying sailing before he was immediately hooked and now regularly checks our sailing schedule (and requests his own dates) to come out with us.

Whilst taking a break in the South Hams, Katherine saw a day sail from Salcombe advertised and brought her 8-year-old daughter along. Both of them were new to sailing and had never tried sailing before. It was ideal for them; their skippered yacht charter enabled then to be picked up from Salcombe first thing in the morning and they returned to exactly the same spot after a fun-filled day on the water (with a lunch stop at a local anchorage). They shared some great action-packed photos with their friends on Facebook.

Day sails are not the only option for those new to sailing. A weekend skippered charter from Plymouth or Salcombe means that our guests have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a sailing experience. Louise and Malcolm booked a skippered weekend charter from Plymouth. They commented on how amazed they were with the level of comfort (Egyptian cotton bedding and towels, on-board heating, entertainment system) and the quality of the yacht (a new 2015 Jeanneau 409).

And you don’t need to invest in any specialist gear to try out sailing. We just ask our guests to bring non-marking footwear (everyday trainers will do), warm and waterproof clothing (everyday clothing for living in the UK)

If you (or someone you know) like the idea of sailing but have never tried it before, why not purchase a voucher for a skippered yacht charter from Plymouth or Salcombe? We have something for everyone. Vouchers are available from the Devon Sailing Experiences website, or they are now available on the Red Letter Days website.

So you have thought about chartering a yacht in Devon or Cornwall. What kind of things do you need to look out for and what are the pitfalls?

Chartering a yacht

First off, you need to know whether you will be allowed to charter, the sailing conditions and the costs (boat insurance etc). In the UK , it is more difficult to sail and more expensive to charter than chartering in the med. Usually you’ll need a minimum of an RYA day skipper ticket – the practical tidal one, not the theory part. On top of that, you will need to have skippered before (probably a few hundred miles worth). It’s worth remembering you are in charge of something that is anywhere from £20K to several hundred thousand pounds so it’s worth being honest with yourself.

If you’re not certain or don’t want the responsibility, you have 2 options:

1) Skippered Charter. You can still do as much of the skippering as you want, but you have the crucial element of having someone to fall back on and take away the anxiety of mooring or problems you may encounter.

2) Refresher training. At Devon Sailing Experiences we can put a yacht master instructor on your boat for the first day or two. This helps with confidence and will also help you learn key skills you may not get with RYA qualifications (RYA training is quite a broad brush with a set criteria).

Booking early

Waiting until July or August to book a yacht charter will mean you’ll be disappointed, or you’ll end up with something that really doesn’t work for you. You’ll be surprised at the number of calls we get in August for August. Ideally, you’ll be booking in Jan/Feb/March to secure the boat that you want. Ask for photos so you know what you’re getting and whether the yacht is kept clean and tidy.

Security deposit 

All charter companies require a security deposit. This usually ranges from £1000 plus and it covers damage (or insurance excess) that you might of caused during your charter. In reality, it won’t cover anything significant but things like gel coat damage would be covered.

Your Yacht Charter

If the cruising ground is unfamiliar, ensure the yacht you are chartering has (at it should do by law) up to date charts and a plotter.

Don’t try to be too ambitious early on – the almanac contains the distances to your destination  but are assuming your VMG is 100% (i.e you are heading directly to your destination without the need for tacking or gybing). Weather plays a big factor on you, your crew and the angle you can sail (or motor) to the destination. If you’re sailing into strong winds, don’t forget that the sea state and the fact you’ll be tacking will add significant constraints to your plans. Have a back-up plan.

Don’t be afraid to stay in the harbour; you’ve sailed to a nice place so why not enjoy it for another day rather than go out in unfavourable conditions.

Finally

Sailing, unlike power boating, is not about getting from A to B as quickly as possible. It’s about enjoying the experience of being out on the water and using the natural elements to drive yourself to the destination …. enjoy it!

For photos of your yachting experience see our partners at marine digi pics 

Salcombe is a great destination for boats  (Salcombe Yacht Charter can be busy so try and book early), whether sail or motor. It is well sheltered from every direction except a strong southerly wind, and even then you can shelter in the “bag” and still get access to the town.

During the summer months, the town is positively buzzing with people of all ages. My husband and I used to regularly visit it as a couple before our little one came along: I love the fact that it offers an “exclusive” style feel with a fabulous range of independent and high street shops. We both love the wide selection of pubs and restaurants. We have stayed on one of Devon Sailing Experiences yachts in Salcombe with our 5 year old, too: there is a choice of pristine beaches to take him to that can be safely accessed with him in the tender, as well as a number of pubs with child-friendly beer gardens.

We first bare-boat chartered a yacht from Devon Sailing Experiences when we were on holiday in the South Hams. I would suggest to anyone, if you’re staying in the South Hams area then why not charter a yacht from or to Salcombe? Weekend packages and skippered day sails on board their 41′ yacht are available, or perhaps bare boat charter on one of their 36’s.

Yacht Charter in Salcombe offers access to bays and anchorages, including a steady day sail to Burgh Island where you can stop off at the ancient Pilchard Inn.

For more information about chartering a yacht in Salcombe or the surrounding area then please drop them an email or phone.  Contact details are at the bottom of the page.