The great thing about dinghy sailing holidays is the exhilarating freedom of racing across the water with the wind in your hair and the sun on your face. And Beach Club dinghy sailing holidays with Neilson mean you can do this with the bonus of mixing it up with other inclusive activities.
Want to learn to sail in Greece, Croatia or Sardinia as a beginner? On our Beach Club holidays, we teach complete novices to sail, as our resorts are Royal Yachting Association (RYA) training centres. That means you could get your Level 1 or 2 RYA sailing qualification during your trip. Meanwhile, more experienced sailors can learn more from our friendly team of water sports instructors.
Get in touch to speak with our team and book your dinghy sailing holiday to Europe with Neilson today.
The lowdown
Inclusive dinghy sailing in 6 Beach Clubs
Sail in Croatia, Greece and Sardinia
Catamaran sailing In Turkey, Sicily and Mauritius
All Beach Clubs are RYA training centres
Inclusive tuition, clinics and racing
Level 1 & 2 RYA sailing qualifications
Hot Shots club for children
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Inclusive sailing tuition
Sailing tuition is included on your dinghy sailing holiday, there's no need to book tuition or courses before you travel, it's all done once you arrive at the Beach Club.
The team are always helpful and encouraging. There’s absolutely no reason not to give it a go – at least once! Tuition sessions are grouped by ability, so you’ll always be sailing and learning with people of a similar level. After a few pointers on the beach, grab a buoyancy aid and you’re ready to set sail.
If you can already sail, there's no need to join a session (unless you want to). Simply choose a dinghy, let the beach team know and head out into the sailing area. The water sports beach is open every day and will also remain open over lunchtime, so you can sail all day if you want to.
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Beginner sailing tuition
If you're new to water sports and want to learn to sail in Greece, Croatia or Sardinia, we can teach you the basics so you can sail solo in light winds under supervision. We'll cover rigging, launching, landing and sailing in all directions, starting with some beachside theory before you get out in the water.
Wind and weather permitting, if you spend enough time on the water and attend all of the sessions, you could come away with your RYA Level 1 Start Sailing certificate. Just let us know if that's something you want to do.
Beginner sailing tuition is available in all Beach Clubs except Cosmos Beach Club, Neilson x Cook's Club Adakoy, Neilson x Mangia's Torre del Barone Resort and Neilson x The Ravenala Attitude.
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Intermediate sailing tuition
If you have some sailing experience and can sail a triangular course this is the next level for your dinghy holiday.
Intermediate sailors follow the RYA Level 2 Basic Skills course. You'll be taught how to rig and launch, pick up essential safety knowledge (including how to recover from capsizing) and develop your ability to sail in all directions.
You'll come away a competent, light-wind sailor after your dinghy sailing holiday with us. If you want to get your RYA Level 2 certificate, talk to a member of the beach team and they'll let you know what is required. Get yourself RYA Level 1 and 2, and you can sail at any sailing centre back in the UK
Intermediate sailing tuition is available in all Beach Clubs except Cosmos Beach Club, Neilson x Cook's Club Adakoy, Neilson x Mangia's Torre del Barone Resort and Neilson x The Ravenala Attitude.
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Sailing clinics and racing
If you can sail safely and comfortably you can join us for several clinics throughout the week (wind and weather permitting). The clinics typically include sailing with spinnakers, how to race and sailing high-performance craft (catamarans).
Dinghy racing is now so popular that we run a series of events during the week, with mid-week and end-of-week regattas. The racing is aimed at all levels, it's all about taking part and having fun (it's OK to show your competitive side too)!
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Our dinghies
We pick the best kit from Laser, RS and Topper. The exact kit list will vary depending on the different wind and weather conditions at each of the Beach Clubs, but typically you're likely to come across some of the following kit:
Check out the individual Beach Club pages for a guide to the dinghies we plan to have available for your use during your dinghy holiday.
Dinghy sailing holidays for kids
If you’ve got any budding young sailors in the family, they'll love Hot Shots. It's a multi-activity kids' club that's perfect for children who can't get enough of water sports. Under the watchful eye of our beach team, they will eat, sleep and breathe watersports - it could be sailing, windsurfing, paddle boarding or kayaking.
We teach the RYA Youth Sailing Scheme, it’s so much fun, that they won’t realise how much they’re learning. Hot Shots can be booked for a supplement of £250 per week.
Kids don't have to be a Hot Shot to go sailing though. Children aged up to 13 are welcome to sail with a parent or guardian, while children aged 14 and above can join the adult teaching sessions.
For the best conditions and a good variety of kit, we recommend booking a trip to Alana in Croatia, Levante, Vounaki, Messini and Buca in Greece or Baia dei Mori Beach Club in Sardinia. We do not offer tuition at our Neilson x Cook's Club Adakoy, but if you're already a confident sailor, you can enjoy the amazing conditions around the bay on a Catamaran.
All are great for dinghy sailing and a wide range of other water sports. And with our 40 years of experience, we know how to make it one you'll never forget. You can find out more about what customers have said about their trips with us by checking out our Feefo page.
Our British Travel Awards across a range of categories are another indication of the experience you'll enjoy with us. You can book an unforgettable trip with us by getting in touch with the team today.
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What is dinghy sailing?
Excited by the idea of a dinghy sailing holiday but unsure what it's all about? Dinghy sailing is a popular watersport that involves sailing small boats that are controlled using five main commands. These include the sails, the foil, the trim, the dinghy balance, and direction.
You use the power of the wind to move through the water. While some dinghies are built for gathering speed, others are designed for a more relaxed sailing experience. You can sail solo, as a couple, or with up to 5 to 6 people depending on which of our Beach Club dinghies you sail in.
The dinghy boats are lightweight and can be rigged ashore. They can be used for recreational and racing purposes.
You can find out more about what to expect from a dinghy sailing holiday by checking out our beginner's guide.
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Why go on a dinghy sailing holiday?
Dinghy sailing gives people a sense of freedom. It's just you, the boat, the wind and the sea – plus, any crewmates you fancy bringing along for company.
Our Beach Clubs are RYA-recognised teaching centres, so you'll have access to top-class equipment and professional trainers who can show you the ropes. You can grasp the basics in one afternoon of safe, encouraging, and, above all, fun instruction.
Our sailing courses are a great way to get the most out of your sailing holiday. By the end, you'll know the basics of rigging, launching, landing and, of course, sailing out on the beautiful Mediterranean water.
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Does Neilson offer dinghy sailing holidays for beginners?
Yes, we offer the best dinghy sailing holidays for beginners with plenty of support. Our RYA-recognised training centres mean you can access professional support and even work towards a qualification if you want.
In just 1 afternoon, you'll become acquainted with relevant terminology and how to accomplish the dinghy sailing basics. You can embark on a Start Sailing course that runs over 4 sessions lasting 2 hours each.
Beach Club dinghy sailing holidays with Neilson mean you can soak up as much knowledge and expertise as you need because it's all included. Carry on reading below to find out more about our sailing tuition.
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Why choose a dinghy sailing holiday in Europe?
Dinghy sailing holidays in the Mediterranean mean you can soak up glorious weather and brilliant sea conditions while enjoying the food and culture that comes with your chosen destination.
You'll be based on gorgeous strips of coastline facing the Mediterranean, Adriatic or Ionian Sea. Each promises something special, from turquoise waters to ideal wind conditions.
There are no better places to learn to sail than Greece, Croatia or Sardinia. And, fortunately, we have 6 Beach Clubs dotted across these stunning, serene destinations where you can sail dinghies. And if you're already an experienced sailor, you'll be in heaven sailing catamarans on the stunning waters around our Neilson x Cook's Club Adakoy, Neilson x Mangia's Torre del Barone Resort and Neilson x The Ravenala Attitude.
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Dinghy sailing holidays in Greece
You can learn to sail in Greece or get straight out on the water as an experienced sailor at Vounaki, Levante, Messini and Buca Beach Clubs.
With large sailing bays and turquoise waters, nothing beats a dinghy sailing holiday in the seas around the Greek Islands and beyond.
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Dinghy sailing holidays in Sardinia
To enjoy a little Italian food and culture during your dinghy sailing holiday, head to Baia dei Mori Beachclub in Sardinia.
This beautiful island is known for its watersports scene and picture-perfect water. The most consistent wind conditions can be enjoyed in June, July and August.
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Dinghy sailing holidays in Croatia
Situated beside the Adriatic Sea, Alana Beach Club is on a picturesque strip of coastline.
It is set against a backdrop of the Paklenica National Park, which looks amazing from the water and in a large, bay that provides gorgeous clear water sailing conditions during your dinghy sailing holiday to Croatia.
The sailing team were extremely reluctant to allow me to take a dinghy out when there was wind. They were way way too cautious. I'm an experienced transatlantic sailor who enjoys taking the roomier...
The sailing team were extremely reluctant to allow me to take a dinghy out when there was wind. They were way way too cautious. I'm an experienced transatlantic sailor who enjoys taking the roomier pico/zest dinghies when on holiday. However because I was not on a course the first of two windy days I was flatly refused as they allowed 'no plastics' out. On the second day after a fairly indepth interrogation, which included the make of the boat I sail on the Extremely windy SW coast of Ireland I was granted permission to take a laser out. I feel asking for a pico combined with perhaps gender prejudice influenced the sailing team's behaviour. While acknowledging that caution is important and some clients may be foolhardy, I really felt they were way too cautious and wondered were they understaffed and untrained. Overall I really enjoyed my holiday but my sailing experience did mar the experience
The Nielson staff at Buca are very friendly and accommodating to any requests that you may have. The quality and variety of the food in the restaurant is first class with a good selection of local...
The Nielson staff at Buca are very friendly and accommodating to any requests that you may have. The quality and variety of the food in the restaurant is first class with a good selection of local Greek dishes. I personally found the beach staff to be friendly and efficient and also they provided a good level of useful tips for improving my dinghy sailing through attendance at the sailing clinics.
I'm not sure why it has taken us so long to discover Neilson beach clubs, but our week at Baia dei Mori - our first Neilson holiday - met and exceeded all our expectations. We were looking for an...
I'm not sure why it has taken us so long to discover Neilson beach clubs, but our week at Baia dei Mori - our first Neilson holiday - met and exceeded all our expectations. We were looking for an active break combining cycling, dinghy sailing and Italian food. Presumably those items were high on the list of priorities of many of the other guests; one of the many bonuses was meeting so many like-minded people. The Neilson and hotel staff were outstandingly good, without exception. I fully expect we'll be joining the large number of repeat bookers. Strongly recommended.
