Start Yachting Argyll
Start yacht sailing - Weekend
See also Scotland by sail Argyll edition
Open for Firends and Families bookings
Start sailing
This is a short intense sailing course ideal for those who want to just have a go at sailng a yacht in a beautiful location. This weekend focuses on the skills of handling the yacht and sailing manoeuvres. It is ideal for those who just want a taste or those who want to have a bit more background knowledge before staying for the sailing adventure week straight after the course.
No need to be a Sailing guru
In fact there is no need to have sailed before. We will help you understand the basics of sailing and get hands on with the controls right from the start.
Gain some great skills
You have two choices in a given time on a yacht: explore or practice. This weekend is about learning and practicing along with the joy of improving your skills.
Scotland is a world class sailing venue
With over 100 islands and huge island populations, boats and sailing are part of Scotlands DNA. There is so much to explore and so many wonderful communities to visit.
For anyone who would...
This trip is a short trip focusing on handling a yacht - it is about the making it go, turn and stop where and when you want it to. The weekend is ideal for those who want a short go of sailng to find out if they like it, those who want to learn about handling a boat for themselves and for those who would like to be confident in sailing with their own needs ahead of joining a longer trip. This short course dovetails with a 5 day adventure sail where planning and journeying aspects are integrated into the trip.
Great food
We love good food so our trips are always well catered. We work on a we buy and everyone mucks in principal.
One of the world's best classrooms
A yacht is a home, vehicle, and adventure.
A crew is a family, team and friendship.
Croabh Haven is fantastically situated: relatively sheltered, quiet but with loads of opportunites to find real scenarios for teaching and learing,
It’s a rugged and beautiful landscape with anchorages, tidal flows and many many islands to navigate amongst.
Roles for everyone
One of the great things about sailing is that every function needs many co-ordinated hands.
The role of a crewmember on a yacht is varied and challenging. One minute someone is needed to steer, while another changes the tension of a rope, while another watches the other boat, while another is making tea, while yet another is plotting our position on the chart. All this action is co-ordinated by the Skippers John or Chris, supporting people to run the boat.
There are roles for everyone, for any ability, additional needs or confidence level.
Life on Board
What to expect
This is a teaching weekend primarily so the emphasis is on learning to independently control the boat and sail effectively.
We expect to cover getting on and off the dock, setting sails according to the conditions, anchoring and dealing with basic emergencies.
The weekend will be light hearted, focused on having fun together and based around people's goals and aspirations.
Important Scotland by Sail Info
Dates and Costs
2 days adventure and 2 nights accommodation
Pickup: Oban train Station 9 October 18:00
Drop off: Oban train station 11 october 19:00
£312 per person in a shared cabin
Private cabin suppliment £50
What is included?
Accommodation in a shared cabin
All meals from Saturday morning evening to Sunday evening
All technical equipment
British qualified sailing instructors
Transport from and to the train stations
Travel light - we provide all you need
What do we actually do
Sail the Scottish Coast
Teach you to manage the boat
Dock, Undock, Use the radio, Start the engine, Get the sails up, Anchor, Walk the plank (not really)
Go for a pint, have a laugh and relax.
Visit remote islands, anchorages and moorings
Feel the boat lift and rush on the breezes
Understand the charts, make a passage plan and use the navigation equipment
Argyll sailing weekend Accessiblity Information
Vision
Suitable for all people able to manage own travel to the pickup point
Suitable for all those who do not need a dedicated guide or can bring their own
We are well staffed for this trip, a lot of help is available for support both on and off travel time
The boat is a great option for visually impaired people to explore without having to constantly relearn the accomodation layout
Great sailing is as much about the other senses than sight - you can feel, hear and sense the boats reactions to make adjustments to sail well.
Cognition
Suitable for those able to self manage without dedicated support or who bring a dedicated helper
Fantastic way to integrate into a team with jobs for all cognitive ability levels
We will help with meals, reminding about medications etc
Participants should be capable of understanding and able to follow rules consistantly - most sailing safety comes from some core rules. If not please bring a dedicated helper.
Mobility
We have a boat, itinerary and systems to meet most mobility needs on our Mobiliy edition sailing trip
This is not a purpose built mobility access yacht - systems and equipment are adapted.
This design of boat requires the abilty to climb down steep open steps and over a wire guard rail about a metre above the ground with a foot hold half way up
You do not need to be able to manoeuvre quickly or dash around
Access to the lower levels, and between cockpit deck areas requires some unassisted walking and could be slippery.
A majority of nights are likely to be under anchor with no shore access
Access to visit land will sometimes be by small inflatable boat.
Auditory
Suitable for people with most auditory impairments that do not require signing to communicate or please bring an interpreter.
A BSL assistant instructor is occasionally available.
We have radios and T-loop transmission units to aid hearing when seperated or the winds hinder hearing.
Booking is easy and straight forward
Just pop some details down and we will make contact, answer any questions and sort out the money.
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