A Typical Day
We are frequently asked, especially by newcomers to flotilla sailing, what a typical day is like. This is a hard question to answer, as no two days are ever the same. However, this only adds to the attraction of flotilla holidays as every harbour or anchorage has its own characteristics. Every evening will have a different feel and as every sailor in the world can tell you, you never get two day's sailing conditions the same.
All we can do is point out the main components of a day on flotilla. The order in which they arrive depends on many things, not least of all your energy levels!
Morning Briefing
This is your chance to gain the knowledge and experiemce developed by our lead crews over many years. They will recommended places to shop, places to swim, idyllic lunch stops, places to avoid, shallow hard places and places to meet and eat that evening. It's also a great chance to get help with navigation for the day, be it a new co-ordinate to head for, or a simple description of the third island on the left.
Provisioning
This may sound arduous and a chore, but
provisioning is in fact one of the joys of immersing yourself in a foreign country. We're not talking popping down to Tescos more like debating if this one giant tomato will feed the family, waiting for the bread to cool down after emerging from the oven, or selecting a watermelon that will last you and all of the boats on flotilla for a fortnight. Your lead crew will give you first hand guidance on what is available where and help you plan accordingly. Most harbours and villages have cafés and restaurants that will see a flotilla arriving and miraculously be open and fully stocked for breakfast, lunches and evening meals.
Leaving Harbour
Every sailor has stories of the worst harbour ever and nightmares of anchors around propellors and furious fishermen. Frankly we don't go along with this nonsense. Our lead crew won't let you get into trouble and will always use their skill and expertise to extract tangled anchors, un-knit mooring lines and help you on your way. Armed with a full fridge of fresh ice, your lunch and a fully briefed route for the day you can enjoy looking forward to another exciting day afloat.
Lunchtime
You may wish to keep sailing with a sandwich in one hand, the wheel or tiller in the other and a drink propped safely in the corner. Alternatively, anchor in a secluded sheltered bay, enjoy a pre-lunch swim and the range of fresh produce purchased that morning. Follow this with a long siesta; knowing that the only sound you will hear is the whisper of the wind and the gentle lapping of the water against your boat
Arriving at your new destination
The anticipation of sailing into a harbour for the first time is always exciting - How much space will there be? Will we be able to find good shelter? What's the holding like? This is all made so much easier when you see a familiar face from our lead crew guiding you in and ready to take your lines.
Sundown
After a days sailing you always get a deeply relaxing and satisfying feeling when you are safely tied up. It's a great time to recap on the day's adventures, to try and get to the last chapter of your book or have a late siesta before the nights revelry. There's always something special about seeing the sun go down after a days sailing. Perhaps it's a respect for the sea, or perhaps it's the first gin and tonic with fresh pistacios nuts of the evening.
A quick shower, either on board or ashore washes the days salt away and leaves you refreshed and ready for the evening. Don't forget to run the engine for a while if you want to take advantage of your pressurised hot water
Evening
On several nights a week our lead crew will organise a group meal or throw a party. You'll be amazed at the excuses they can come up with for yet another party. These events are a great mixer and help you get to know other sailors on your flotilla but remember, if you want to do your own thing a quiet candellit meal under the stars, an early night with the children on the boat, or a trip to another nearby town you can. It's entirely up to you.