Making the move from beachclub to flotilla

You’ll find yourself on some of the world’s most beautiful coastlines at all of our beachclubs. And from inspiring sunrise to romantic sunset, the water is much more than a backdrop - it’s at the heart of our clubs in Spain, Italy, Sardinia, Croatia and Greece. The secret bays and island hideaways we search out give you the perfect view as you end the day with a cocktail, and also provide excellent, family-safe waters to try your hand at sailing.

You’ll soon be skipping across the waters in your own dinghy on a Neilson sailing holiday. The peaks of the Paklenica National Park can be your perfect backdrop if you choose to start your sailing journey at Alana Beachclub, in Croatia, one of our best sailing locations. 

There's something for all levels, and absolute beginners are very welcome, even experts can add some finesse to their technique with our highly-trained instructors. Spend enough time on the water and we can even include a full certification course from the Royal Yachting Association (RYA). If you already know the ropes or fancy more freedom, the waters of our sailing areas are your free-sailing playground. 

Kids can learn too, taking a junior RYA course (for a supplement), or sailing with an adult until, at 14, they’re welcomed into adult classes. 

As you and your family start to get the hang of the water, using the best kit from top manufacturers, perhaps you’ll take the plunge into our regattas to find out if there’s a Ben Saxton or Nicola Groves in the family.

The speed and fun of a dinghy is a natural way to start sailing. Our stay and sail holidays are perfect as a next step regardless of whether or not you've sailed before, these holidays come with all the training you’ll need to enjoy the experience with nothing more than a ferry crossing on your sea-going CV. 

From single-sailor dinghies, you’ll take the step up to an eight-berth yacht that’s the perfect setting for a full-on family-and-friends adventure.  

The set-up is simple – and adaptable. The first week makes a Neilson beachclub your playground as you enjoy the full range of activities on offer - from dinghy sessions to tennis coaching. During this first week, you can also take the ‘intro to yachting’ course that gives even first-time sailors - including youngsters - everything they need to sail out with confidence on week two. Experienced sailors can polish up their credentials with an International Certificate of Competence course.

In week two, you cast off on a week of planned routes that take you from port to port. You’ll stay close to the wonderful Ionian coast of Greece. White beaches and fishing villages give way to olive groves and vineyards that climb the hills beyond. There’s no better place – and few more beautiful – to bring some dreams to life.  

Flotilla sailing puts you in charge of your own destiny, in a comfortable yacht, in one of the most revered sailing destinations on earth. 

You’ll cast off from one of our Ionian coast beachclubs, the turquoise waters yours to navigate as part of a flotilla of Neilson sailors, led by a staffed boat that’s never more than a radio call away. Your route is planned, and takes in everything that makes this such a special place - but how you travel it is largely up to you. 

There are four routes to choose from. South Ionian cruises from Vounaki Beachclub are perfect for beginners. Stiffer breezes and longer passages in open waters make the north Ionian route more suited to those with some experience. Whatever path you take on this ultimate sailing experience, you're sure to enjoy the journey.

Neilson yachts are from 32 to 40 feet in length and made by Bénéteau and Dufour. Racing sailor Michel Dufour founded the company that bears his name in La Rochelle back in the 1960s, and Bénéteau has a similar pedigree and a global fan base. 

As with everything Neilson does, this progression is just a suggestion - a framework around which you can design the holidays that suit you and your family. Most people, of most ages, will be able to jump in at any stage of the voyage from dinghy lesson to flotilla skipper and have a wonderful time. 

Wherever you are in your sailing journey, or if you’re yet to start it, we’re sure that with Neilson you can plot a course that will help you develop a real passion for this rewarding way of travelling.