Sailing with Children
Our reservations team can recommend the best yacht and sailing area for your family's requirements and we provide junior harnesses, lifejackets and safety netting where needed. Upon arrival on your yacht our lead crews are happy to assist, offering guidance on cabin allocation and safety tips with children in mind. Most days on flotilla for children will involve a fun challenge from the lead crew to keep your little ones occupied during the day's sailing and often further events will be organised around their needs once on shore.
Learning to Sail
Children aged between 13 and 15 can join their parents on a Private Introduction to Yachting or Brush Up course. This is a great opportunity for the family to learn an exciting new skill together, having lots of fun and adventures along the way.
Top Tips for Families on Flotilla
The following are some proven ideas from other families and Neilson staff.
- The forepeak cabin is usually the smallest so is a good size for the children and as you generally anchor stern to each evening, it will be furthest away from the quayside.
- When parking the boat for the first couple of times it can be a good idea to have your children below deck whilst you master this under the watchful eye of your skipper. Give the children a job so they feel involved.
- Your flotilla mate will give your children lots of things to do during the day and usually encourages the children to meet up, with a few parents once you have parked up for the early evening in your new port of call.
- Once your confidence and that of your children increases then it's great to get them involved in sailing the boat and taking part in the fun.
- As well as there being lifejackets for everyone we also have
buoyancy aids that small children can wear all the time while on deck
for added security.
- If with very small children, it can be a good idea to ask them
to stay in the cockpit at all times whilst the boat is under sail. If
the boat is leaning over then it can be a little harder to walk along
the top decks.
- If moving around the outside of the yacht then please ask them
to walk and not run, as there can be plenty of things to catch little
toes on.
- We can equip our yachts with netting - this is a mesh net that
attaches along both sides of the yacht, making it safer for them to move
around the boat.