skippered yacht charter lymington

Skippered Yacht Charter

Hire Professional skippered yacht charter services in the Solent on the UK south coast.

Exclusive private crewed cruises, boat hire from lymington.

We offer skippered yacht charter packages on the UKs south coast, that is to say the Solent and the Isle of Wight. Our hire boat charter, gives you access to a great many renowned south coast yachting destinations. Spectacular scenery can be found at Alum Bay and the Needles lighthouse at the far western end of the Isle of Wight.

Saturday 20th April 2024  Sail to Iconic Studland Bay  Only £50pp

Skippered yacht charter from the lymington marina base.

This is an award winning 5 star marina with brand new top of the range showers both in the main building and close to the yachts.

Solent Boat and Yacht Hire from the Hamble Marina Base

Walk into the the famous old yachting village of Hamble, during your visit you will find atmospheric pubs and great food.

Why Skippered Yacht Charter with Hurst Point Yachts?

Hen & Stag Weekends

A stag/hen weekend provides two days on a sailing charters yacht visiting various bars, bays and restaurants in the Solent with two nights on board. Above all each yacht has a well qualified and experienced skipper.

Days Out For Birthdays

Sailing is a great way to celebrate a milestone birthday, for example 40th, 50th, 60th or 70th.

Family Days Out

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“Thanks again for a great hen weekend back in June. We had a great time, and I don’t think any of the girls will forget sailing home in a gale in a hurry!”

“I wanted to thank you for the great time that we had last weekend out on the water. Jonathan really enjoyed the whole experience – it was really lovely to see all of his knowledge come flooding back!”

“We all just wanted to say thanks very much for a great weekend. We had a fantastic time and it made my hen weekend a very memorable experience. We can’t stop talking about it!”

“Just a quick email to thank you for a really cracking day. We all thoroughly enjoyed it and you were a brilliant host – you have even inspired dad to enrol on a dinghy course when he gets back home!”

Skipper Sam says ‘do you have what it takes to become a yacht skipper?’ Have a look at the RYA licence requirements.

• Great for smaller groups
• includes lunch or dinner
• An exclusive yacht up to 8 people
• Up to 10 people
• A full day onboard your exclusive yacht
• Give them an experience they'll remember!

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Escape Yachting

Top-rated and award-winning sailing company.

We offer you a relaxing sailing experience. See the English coast and the Isle of Wight on a day trip or weekend on the Solent, from Lymington in the New Forest. Discover new destinations with our wonderfully relaxing all-inclusive sailing holidays in the Caribbean, Croatia, Canada and the Channel Islands!

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Skippered Yacht Charter | Caribbean | Croatia | Channel Islands | Solent

“Sailing Is Clean and Quiet, the Perfect Antidote to the Rush of Daily Life.”

Our Aim Is to Provide You With a Fun and Stress-Free Trip.

Contact us today for your day out, holiday or corporate event

Find our base at Lymington in the New Forest: Lymington Yacht Haven, King’s Saltern Road, SO41 3QD

If you don’t see anything that suits you, please get in touch and enjoy a bespoke voyage instead!

Email us: [email protected] Call us: 01590 615389

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01590 615389 [email protected]

Lymington Yacht Haven King's Saltern Road SO41 3QD

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Welcome to Ocean Yacht Charters based at Yacht Haven, Lymington

Ocean Yacht Charters is a family owned and managed yacht charter company which operates from Lymington Yacht Haven.

Our modern well equipped yacht ´Slow Gin´, a Beneteau Oceanis 523, is available for charter from picturesque Lymington, Hampshire.

Skippered by one of our highly experienced Yachtmasters, 'Slow Gin' is comprehensively equipped with modern navigation and safety equipment and has an extensive inventory as well as being MCA Coded for Category 2 operation.

All you need to bring is your own personal gear. So whatever your level of experience, whether you're looking for a relaxing break or a real sailing adventure for a week or more, we are confident that you will find Ocean Yacht Charters and the delights of Solent and UK south coast hard to beat.

Thank you for a wonderful day on board "Slow Gin". All of the team had such a great time, I would highly recommend this trip for any group, Ben is an exceptional, experienced and knowlegable skipper, who is great fun and makes everyone feel welcome.

"We pledge to beat any like for like quote for yacht charter in the Solent."

Why Choose OYC?

• Skippered Yacht Charters
• Corporate Days
• Create your own itinerary
• Relaxing breaks
• Luxury Accommodation onboard
• 8 berth in 4 double en-suite cabins
• Experienced Yachtmasters Skipper
• Professional Sevice
• Picturesque starting points

'Slow Gin' is a modern Beneteau Oceanis 523, which can accommodate 11 guests (plus skipper) during the day, and 8 overnight.

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Skippered Charters

Whether you're looking for a relaxing break or a real sailing adventure, Ocean Yacht Charters and the delights of Solent are hard to beat!

We give you the freedom to create your own itinerary, and share our inside local knowledge of the best beaches, creeks and harbours.

Contact Ben today!

• 07904 052498

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SOLENT SAILING

Skippered yacht charters and mile building mentoring from solent sailing call 07768 360420   for our latest prices and mile building dates.

TESTIMONIALS

“A wonderful week sailing in the Solent and around the Isle of White on Galaxy with Hugh and Pete… As a novice yachts man, I was given every opportunity to act as helmsman and was fully immersed in all sailing. Without doubt when time allows I will be booking further sailing trips on Galaxy, with Hugh and Pete!”

Jamie P Flanagan

“Great sailing weekend from Lymington. Thanks for sorting everything Hugh.”

“ahh missing the ocean thanks for a great time xx”, admin office.

All Rights Reserved | Solent Sailing | Site: CWGD

​ Y​acht Charter

The salamander sailing adventure.

YACHT CHARTER

Welcome Aboard

SALAMANDER OF LYMINGTON

 Get in Touch 2 Get on Board

THE SALAMANDER SAILING ADVENTURE

Experience Sailing To Lymington, Beaulieu, Buckler’s Hard, The Hamble, Southampton, Portsmouth, The Solent, Yarmouth, Newtown, Cowes, Isle Of Wight, The South Coast and the Caribbean between December and May

We will be happy to discuss any ideas you might have for your bespoke sailing adventure, day sail, weekend break, short break or holiday – so that you and your guests can experience a special time on board our luxury charter yacht salamander of lymington, whether in lymington, beaulieu river, buckler’s hard, the river hamble, southampton water, portsmouth, yarmouth, newtown river, cowes, isle of wight, studland bay, poole., a salamander charter - the best of sparkman & stephens and nauticat teak lined comfort.

A Salamander Charter - The Best of Sparkman and Stephens and Nauticat Teak-Lined Comfort on board Salamander of Lymington

A Salamander Charter - The Best of Sparkman and Stephens and Nauticat Teak-Lined Comfort on board Salamander of Lymington © Paul Wyeth Marine Photography for Yachting World

There are many stunning sailing areas and destinations to choose from. Bespoke fine dining can be enjoyed either on board Salamander at anchor in a beautiful anchorage with stunning idyllic views or ashore in a destination hotel / restaurant. The Salamander Sailing Adventure has inside knowledge and connections with the leading hotels and restaurants in the New Forest, in the towns, villages and cities bordering the Solent and on the Isle of Wight. Let us arrange an unforgettable day out for you, your family and friends or your work colleagues. 

HOW MANY GUESTS ON BOARD SALAMANDER OF LYMINGTON ?

Salamander can entertain up to 12 guests.  Three crew will be provided, normally including a world circumnavigator skipper and two further crew, including a dedicated full-time Steward / Stewardess.

For the ultimate in luxury Salamander Sailing Adventures suggest Salamander is most comfortable when dining with 6 to 8 guests on board, when guests can sit around the same table. If 12 guests wish to dine the lower saloon with its own table can be used. 

For extended cruising, ie in excess of 24 hours, Salamander of Lymington is MCA safety coded to comfortably accommodate 6 guests on board.

WHAT IS THE TYPICAL CHARTER DAY SCHEDULE ON BOARD SALAMANDER OF LYMINGTON ?

We will be happy to discuss any ideas you might have for your particular adventure to try to ensure that you and your guests experience a special time on board Salamander of Lymington. No Charter Day is the same, but a  typical schedule for a day sail could be as follows:-

09:00 - you will be greeted on board Salamander by the skipper and crew, including your steward or stewardess. Your party will be offered coffee and pastries and a brief introduction to Salamander Sailing Adventures and her circumnavigation of the world. Then after a safety briefing and introduction to the layout and facilities on board, the crew will prepare your guests and Salamander for departure.

Salamander will depart at approximately 10:00 and proceed to her destination, either under sail or motor, or a combination of both as the weather and tides permit.

Refreshments will be available throughout the day. Anyone who wishes to take an active part will be encouraged to get involved when it is safe to do so. Previous sailing experience will not be necessary. Alternatively you can simply sit back and enjoy your company and the views.

Lunch on board Salamander at anchor, prepared from fresh local seasonal produce, when possible, or ashore by prior arrangement.

During the afternoon there will be the opportunity for a further sail or motor.

Arrival back in Lymington will be around 16:00, which will give those with onward travel arrangements, plenty of time.

Alternatively, your Adventure might on return to port go on to include afternoon tea in the pilot house saloon, followed by a champagne sundowner on deck, when you will be able to relax and recount your day’s sail, followed by a meal specially arranged for you on shore at a well-known restaurant.

We can also arrange local accommodation for you if you wish.

The Salamander Sailing Adventure - Salamander of Lymington - Great day sailing in the Solent and the English Channel © Paul Wyeth Marine Photography

The Salamander Sailing Adventure - Salamander of Lymington - Great day sailing in the Solent and the English Channel close to the Needles Isle of Wight © Paul Wyeth Marine Photography

The Salamander Sailing Adventure - Salamander of Lymington - Great day sailing in the Solent between the New Forest and the Isle of Wight © Paul Wyeth Marine Photography

TESTIMONIAL - WHAT DO THE SALAMANDER SAILING ADVENTURE GUESTS SAY ?

"We caught up with the Salamander after it had crossed the Bay of Biscay and passed through the Straights of Gibraltar. We boarded her at anchor in La Herrudura and sailed with Chris and Sue to Penon del Santo where we had a fabulous fish lunch in a relaxed beach restaurant. We were amazed at the beautiful restoration work they had done on the boat and the thoughtful fitting out with latest technology. Their generous hospitality and tales of derring do made our 2 day stay all too short."  

JW - London

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CORPORATE EVENTS

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LYC look forward to creating a memorable experience for you and your guests

Yacht charter – lyc – lymington yacht charter decades of experience.

We are proud to have provided our services for well over twenty five years. In that time, our fleet , the range of events we offer and our Sea School have grown to position us as a UK leading supplier.

We are Lymington Yacht Charters. We love what we do. Our clients return to us year after year.

Yacht Charter

Ever-Expanding Range of events

We’ve been organising team activities and corporate events since the eighties! We know that events need to be creative, original, and challenging. We have nearly a hundred for you to browse though online right now – but that’s just the tip of the iceberg!

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, just ask! The chances are, whatever your event requirement, we’ll have the tools, people and know-how to make it a success!

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Featured events, our promise we will beat any other solent yacht charter quotation.

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LYC Events King’s Saltern Road Lymington Hampshire SO41 3QD

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Enquire about our event or yacht today.

RYA Sailing Courses & Yacht Charters

Charlie Sailing is now fully up and running and looking forward to some fantastic sailing in 2024. We are taking bookings into September but have good availability and will spend a few weeks in the summer operating out of Plymouth Yacht Haven for those wanting to explore the West Country.

RYA Course Weeks available:

18 – 22 March 2024 – now taking bookings.

Mile Building &  Experience Charter 

Please contact for information

West Country Cruise Weeks

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Based in Lymington, Charlie Sailing is a well-established, family-run sail cruising company. Click here to learn more about us!

BOOK YOUR SAILING ADVENTURE NOW

A major yachting centre on the South Coast, Jemima is moored at the award-winning Lymington Yacht Haven , with the Solent and the English Channel right on our doorstep.

A certified Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Training Centre, we specialise in sailing courses, skippered charter, and tailor-made programmes to suit a wide variety of needs and abilities.

With one boat and one instructor, our aim is to provide high quality and personalised sailing, creating a relaxed, enjoyable and truly memorable sailing experience!

A lively downwind sail across Lyme Bay, demonstrating a very happy Jemima doing what she does best!

RYA Courses

• START YACHTING
• COMPETENT CREW
• DAY SKIPPER
• COASTAL SKIPPER
• YACHTMASTER™
• The ICC Assessment
• The ICC CEVNI Test

Skippered Charters

• SKIPPERED CHARTER
• MILE BUILDING
• SPECIAL OCCASIONS
• CORPORATE ENTERTAINMENT
• YACHT DELIVERY

Reach New Horizons

• INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONAVIGATION
• HOW TO GET OUT OF A TIGHT SPOT

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Sailing Yacht For Sale Bavaria 38 2003 8 berth £49,950 ono

Team building.

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Cross channel, berthing practice.

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Why Solent Yacht Charter with Hurst Point Yachts?

• Best prices due to low overheads
• Operate from 5 star marinas
• Great customer service
• Most experienced and entertaining skippers
• First Class reviews
• 100% safety record
• Exciting itineraries
• Yachts maintained to highest standards

Hiring from Lymington and Hamble gives you access to a great many renowned south coast yachting destinations. Spectacular scenery can be found at Alum Bay and the Needles lighthouse at the far western end of the Isle of Wight. The Lymington and Beaulieu rivers are navigable up to the quays and marinas. Creeks such as Newtown and Wootten provide idyllic locations where you can drop anchor for drinks. Cowes has the Medina River and the Folly Inn. Osborne Bay is another great anchorage giving views of Osborne House. A trip to the west allows the magnificent Jurassic coastline of Dorset and the beautiful beach at Studland to be in reach of a day return sail. Whilst there pop into Poole Harbour, the worlds second largest. Pick up a mooring buoy and row over in the inflatable to Brownsea Island, home to red squirrels.

Solent yacht charter from the Lymington marina base

This is an award winning 5 star marina with brand new top of the range showers both in the main building and close to the yachts. Celebrity bar with outdoor sun terrace over looking the marina basin provides a great venue to start and end your charter. Located right on the Edge of the New Forest National Park which you will pass through on your way to us. A 20 minute trip down river sees you out into the Solent with the Isle of Wight a short sail away.

Hamble marina base

Walk into the the famous old yachting village of Hamble where you will find atmospheric pubs and great food. The marina has all the facilities you will need. Very short trip to the mouth of the river finds you in Southampton Water with the Solent only a short distance further. Ideally located for a day sail to Portsmouth to the east or Yarmouth to the west with Cowes a short sail cross tide to the south.

Bareboat Solent Yacht Charter

Yachts with up to 12 berths. Only Day Skipper certificate required for Solent charter (*conditions apply) Here are the bareboat charter yachts with a link to the more detailed desktop site with prices.

Stag and Hen Sailing Weekends

A stag or hen weekend provides two days on a sailing yacht visiting various bars, bays and restaurants in the Solent with two nights on board. Full details can be found on the stag party sailing website with a link to the more detailed desktop site with prices.

Corporate Yacht Charter

Corporate hospitality and entertainment, branding and team building are ideally achieved on sailing yachts and we have many past customers who have added to our reviews page. Further details are on the Corporate Events website with a link to the more detailed desktop site with prices.

Big Birthday Celebrations

Sailing is a great way to celebrate a milestone birthday, usually 40th, 50th, 60th or 70th. We can take up to 13 people on the sailing yachts or 10 on the motor yachts. A sample of what is on offer can be found on the 50th birthday charter website with a link to the more detailed desktop site with prices.

Skippered Yacht Charter

Skippers are selected based on their ability to entertain and educate and ensure you have a fun time on the water. They all know the waters extremely well and will choose an itinerary with you to get the best out of the day. Skippered yacht charter details here with a link to the desktop site with prices.

Berthing is one of the things that worries new potential skippers and indeed there is plenty of scope for damage especially when the wind is up. But there are techniques to minimise the risk and give you confidence. We will show you how to handle berthing both on the leeward and windward side of pontoons, rafting up against other yachts, and how to berth in a gap just slightly longer than your yacht with the tide running strongly.

Sailing works wonderfully with team building objectives especially when in race mode. Winning depends on each team member fullfilling his or her task correctly each time. Further Team Building details here with a link to the more detailed desktop site with prices.

Race participation

The Round the Island Race with approximately 1800 yachts takes place in late June. Cowes Week occurs first week in August. Rub shoulders with olympic sailors and celebrities at these world class events. Accommodation is onboard the yachts in the marinas close to the music venues. Race participation website with a link to the more detailed desktop site with prices.

You need 800 logged sea miles for the Coastal Skipper Certificate of Competence or 2500 for Yachtmaster Offshore. We can generally maintain 6 or 7 knots under sail so provided we travel with the tide and take the distance from the GPS (distance travelled over the sea bed) rather than the log (distance travelled through the water), we can achieve up to 100 nautical miles in a day.

You may have your own yacht and have a longing to cross the Channel for the first time but want to experience the crossing on a skippered boat first. The crossing from the Needles to Alderney is 60 nautical miles and we usually do this in around 9 hours, arriving in time for an evening ashore before returning the following day. But we can also carry on down to Guernsey, a further 4 to 5 hours. Sark and Herm are close by, enchanting islands. Jersey is a few more hours further south and we have visited all of these island in a five day charter.

Flotilla Training

Holidays such as Briish Virgin Islands flotillas often require some pre joining experience as a condition of booking. We can provide the one or two days required and provide you with a RYA training logbook certifying the hours and sea miles gained.

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Yacht Charter Lymington

Lymington town is nestled in the New Forest on the South Coast with easy access to the Solent. Thanks to its location it is an important sailing town and also has a ferry service direct to the Isle of Wight.

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We are confident that our prices are the most competitive and transparent in the market.

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We have the highest number of verified and vetted boats available on the market.

Similar Locations

Tourism forms a large part of the town's economy and with its large marina development, Lymington wakes up in around April for the sailing season and dozes off into a slumber after the summer season.

Ashore, you will find the unique local culture of the New Forest with its birthrights to locals and traditions almost unknown elsewhere outside of UK Royal Forests that were set up and protected for hunting and as supplies for the Royal Navy in days gone by.

Do be careful on the open roads - many wild ponies and deer lack road sense and can cause a lot of damage to a car hitting them at speed. Cyclists and walkers love the wilderness too, so it pays to drive at a leisurely pace even if in a rare moment you can travel a little more quickly.

Explore Lymington By Renting A Yacht

Effectively the western most sailing port of the Solent, a Lymington yacht charter allows you to access much of the UK water sports capital in just a few moments from leaving the dock.

After leaving the saltmarshes on your yacht charter you are rapidly in open water and can reach the other sailing centres of Cowes, the Hamble River and Beaulieu River in a short sail. The first week of August is traditionally the Cowes Week boating event, and Lymington hots up for the week of racing. Just beware that as well as marina berths you may well have to book tables and pubs as you arrange your itinerary ahead of time.

A luxury yacht charter on a skippered charter basis can allow someone else to take the responsibility while you enjoy your time afloat. On a crewed motor yacht you could end up having guests around after watching a boating event from near the start/finish line - a great networking opportunity for all. Your Solent yacht charter could well be a mix of sailing holiday and business in one hit!

How To Get To Lymington

Car: Lymington is around half an hour from the A31 and access to the national motorway network via the adjoining M27.

Train: There are two train stations in Lymington, Lymington Town and Lymington Pier. Both are on a branchline that connects to mainline Brockenhurst. From there you can head to London (90 minutes) or the West Midlands via Bournemouth (30 minutes to Bournemouth).

Air: Bournemouth Airport and Southampton Airport both have airline connections to much of Europe. They are around an hour by public transport from Lymington.

Marinas In Lymington

There are three major marinas in Lymington that are home to boat charter fleets for your Solent yacht charter. You can bareboat charter or take a skippered yacht charter on a catamaran , monohull sailing yacht or motor yacht out on the out to the Jurassic Coast, Channel Islands or Solent with these as a base. They all have excellent marina facilities. In addtion Lymington Town Quay welcomes up to 100 visiting yachts. You can also moor at a mooring buoy.

Lymington Yacht Haven

Berth Characteristics:

Max Length 60m (197 Feet)

Max Draught: 2m (6.5 Feet)

List additional services: Shore power, water, laundry, WiFi, restaurants and bars, supermarket (nearby), boatyard, boathoist, chandlery, fuel

Lymington Marina

Max Length 25m (82 Feet)

Max Draught: 2.5m (8.2 Feet)

Berthon Marina:

Max Length 45m (150 Feet)

Max Draught 5m (16.4 Feet)

Lymington Town Quay

Max Draught: 2m (6.56 Feet)

Suggested Sailing Routes From Lymington

Where would you like to go on a Lymington yacht charter? Many sailors are happy just to stay within a few miles, such are the delights to be had of the local waters! The Jurassic coastline or the Isle of Wight are less than a day's sail away - though you could reach the Channel Islands on a longer run. Whether on a skippered charter or bareboat charter, on your luxury yacht charter sailing holiday the choice is yours.

The Solent - 7 days: On a seven day trip down the Solent you can see the best of the yachting centres and laidback backwaters too. Chichester Harbour is on the eastern edge of the Solent that is a quiet spot, as is the Beaulieu River just to the east of Lymington. If you want the hustle and bustle of yachties in summer, Cowes and the Hamble River are important spots as is Southampton and Portsmouth. The sailing is excellent - you don't have to travel far for a good time.

Best Times To Hire A Yacht In Lymington

The sailing season runs from late March to mid September on the UK South Coast, though you will see hardier types afloat throughout the year. There can be gales at any time of year, with Westerlies especially fierce along the Jurassic Coast and the Solent. In the peak boat rental season of July and August it can still be fun sailing, though the bars and marinas can be expensive and full.

The New Forest can be extremely busy in July and August. When the Fishbourne ferry arrives several times a day in the summer months this can cause traffic problems. As such a Lymington yacht charter outside of these months may well be recommended.

Sailing Weather In Lymington

April and May: Westerlies prevail but you will often find warm days with brisk sailing conditions of a F4-5. Gales will come through earlier in the year. This is Britain - expect rain!

June-August: In June there will be southerly and westerly gales at times but these tend to die out in July and August with the Azores High moving north and providing settled conditions and light easterlies. Expect temperatures in the high 20s C range with the odd few days at 30C plus. As ever, keep your oilies to hand as even in the height of summer things can change.

September-October: Grey skies and gales start to return. While often in the high teens Celsius in September with some great sailing conditions, the westerly procession of lows start coming up the English Channel and things can get a little uncomfortable by early October.

The main points to consider are what is your budget, have you got the necessary sailing experience and qualifications to manage the boat if it's not going to have a skipper, whom you are taking sailing, where exactly you wish to go and what will the weather be like on the proposed dates of your trip.

There are three main marinas in Lymington - Lymington Yacht Haven, Lymington Marina and Berthon Marina have their yacht charter fleet but you can also moor at Lymington Town Quay as a visitor.

May to August is best for sailing, though the first week of August is Cowes Week and launches the peak sailing season locally where it can be difficult to get a berth or table at a restaurant!

You will typically pay 50% up front on booking the yacht hire and the balance on arrival. You will either pay a security deposit with your credit card on departure or can get insurance covering damage in advance. In some cases (such as the recent Covid situation) charter companies may be more flexible but this depends on the individual charter companies themselves.

If you are at sea and in danger, call MAYDAY on VHF Ch16 or ring the coast guard on your phone if you have reception. If you have a mechanical fault and can make it to or are on a mooring you will be able to phone a help line number given by the boat charter company.

You should consider do you have the experience to handle the yacht charter or boat hire before you book and where do you want to go along with what the weather will be like. Bring warm weather and cool weather clothing if it looks like the weather can be cool as well as warm and remember at sea it can be cool on most evenings.

If you want to sail without a skipper then you will need relevant qualifications like RYA Day Skipper/International Certificate of Competence (ICC)/ASA 104 Bareboat certificate or the US Sailing Certificate. For small 'day boats' or if you choose to have a skippered on board your yacht charter you typically don't require licences.