Sailing vacations in the UK

“Our sailing vacations are about creating experiences, but they are also about building a community,” observes Nicolas Borchers, one of the skippers at our partner Naleia Yachting. “Many of our travelers are still in touch with each other years after their first trip together.

“Naleia started simply, with a group of like-minded friends who loved to sail and an idea that we would organise these trips and everyone would play a part on board. The trips have always been cross-cultural and cross-generational, with participants aged from 20 to 80. So Naleia grew from there, and now we have some people who have done seven or more trips. They keep coming back and meeting up with old friends.”

Sailing vacations have that rare quality of bringing together a group of people – often complete strangers to each other – and allowing close bonds to form very quickly. It is not unusual, as Nicolas points out, to make long-lasting friendships if you’re all part of the crew: keeping close quarters, sharing experiences and responsibilities with your fellow passengers, and coming to depend on each other.

Most UK sailing vacations explore the west coast of Scotland and the Inner and Outer Hebrides, where the waters teem with marine wildlife. These trips typically see you either joining a handful of other passengers on a fully crewed boat for walks, photography and whisky tasting, or chartering a vessel privately for a family or group of friends.

However, there are plenty of people out there who would like to either learn the ropes or improve their skills and knowledge by pitching in with onboard duties. Beginner sailing vacations tend to be found in the calm waters of Greece or Croatia. But for those looking for something with a little more technical challenge and excitement, there is the option of crossing the Channel between England and France, navigating the busiest shipping lane in the world.

“We don’t run this trip every year, because there aren’t so many people ready for this level of sailing or want it,” says Nicolas. “But it’s one of my favourites among all of our vacations. It’s a great atmosphere and a great way to develop sailing abilities and approach a higher level.”

Your day-to-day life on a UK sailing vacation depends on the type of trip you opt for. On a Scotland wildlife cruise, for instance, you might circumnavigate the Isle of Mull in search of basking sharks, porpoises, dolphins, eagles, seals and minke whales – so nothing too exciting there, then – with binoculars always at the ready.

Your ship might carry kayaks you can borrow or you might sail with an expert photography teacher who can help you improve your compositions. You might stop off at a distillery here and there, take a stroll on a beach, wander a few local shops in a town such as Tobermory – essentially, have a relaxed time of it.

“Everyone is busy for a lot of the time while crossing the Channel,” says Nicolas. “And then a lot of the time we’re doing nothing, just watching the coast go by. We often stop to check out land, and one of the aims with the cross-Channel trip is to explore the Channel Islands. Exploring is a big part of our sailing vacations. We always set aside time in harbours to do something, whether it’s to climb a mountain or hire scooters for a day.”

Your daily tasks will be handed out by an experienced skipper, with everyone expected to pitch in as and when necessary. You might take the helm, keep watch at night, plot the route using charts, or simply make a round of teas for everyone. Everything is done collaboratively, under the watchful eye of your skipper.

These are small ship sailing vacations, so there will usually be 6-11 passengers in total. Sharing a cabin with another person is the norm, although you can often pay a supplement to have it to yourself. It’s worth noting that the bed arrangements vary – if you’re crossing the English Channel by yacht, for example, your cabin may have a double bed or two singles. Living arrangements are compact, even cramped at times, but you’ll get used to them quickly. Bathrooms are shared, although water is limited.

The types of vessels available on UK sailing vacations range from handsome tall ships and ex-passenger ferries and lifeboats to ocean-faring sailboats that have tackled the Pacific, Antarctic and African coastlines. They’re comfortable, practical and reliable. Everyone comes together in communal areas, whether that’s on the outdoor decks or in a roomy saloon, which will have a fully equipped galley kitchen for preparing meals. There will be a small fridge on board, so you can chill your evening wine, and if you’re taking your teenagers sailing around Scotland, you can reassure them that they can charge their devices throughout the trip.

“Summer is definitely the best time to go on a UK sailing vacation, given the British weather!” says Nicolas. “In terms of winds, you reliably get westerlies, but in summer there is less chance of the gales that can force you to stay in harbour. That is one of the big challenges with crossing the Channel, as you don’t have much of a time window. It’s important to state beforehand that because the weather is unpredictable, there is a risk that we won’t manage the crossing, so we might sail around the coast instead. But then isn’t that flexibility the joy of sailing anyway?”

In Scotland, the sailing season spans from April to October; the winter seas are too rough and obscure wildlife. Summer is midge season in Scotland, and your skipper will keep you on the move at dusk to avoid them.

“April is often fantastic here,” says Julie Dubois Marshall, Managing Director of our partner St Hilda Sea Adventures. “Spring is in the air, the flowers are growing, and the puffins arrive at the end of the month. Everything is coming back to life after the cold. Most Aprils recently have been really warm too.”

As for what to pack: “I’d recommend that guests bring lots of layers. These are such fantastic trips and really enjoyable if you’re well equipped. We can get all four seasons in one day, even in the middle of summer, so lots of layers that you can or remove as you warm up or get cold is perfect.”