Sailing opportunities
If you want to make the most of your weekend, there's no better way than going sailing. Fresh air, good food, new places to see, new people to meet. We make it easy with our Charter-a-Berth mile-building cruises. You don't need anyone to go with, you don't need any special knowledge and you don't need any special clothing. We keep sailing all year round and autumn is a great time of year, so here's what we have to offer you in the next few months:

9/10 Oct - cruise to Weymouth - £299
One of our most popular cruises, but quite challenging for a weekend. Weymouth is a great destination being a picturesque and lively seaside town. Infamous as the port where the Black Death entered England, but now better known for the parties taking place on a Saturday night. On the way we cruise out past the Needles across Poole Bay, along the Jurassic Coast negotiating the infamous St Albans ledge. Hopefully we will be able to anchor for a late lunch in Worrbarrow Bay (voted one of the top 10 anchorages in the country). On Sunday there may be time to visit Portland Harbour (where the 2012 Olympics will be held) before setting course for home. And with the prevailing winds from the southwest, this often leads to a spinnaker run all the way. If there's time we'll stop again on the way back and anchor for tea before planning to arrive back around 5pm.

23/24 Oct & 13/14 Nov - gamble cruises
It's a bit of a gamble because you never know what the weather will throw at us in late October and November, so there are several plans possible. We may go across the Channel to Cherbourg, Alderney or Fecamp or if the weather is unsuitable we can stay in the Solent or head further west to Poole. Whatever the destination, you'll get a great deal from the trip, helping to crew the boat - helming, trimming sails and watch keeping. And if the weather does turn into a blow, you might find out what a yacht can do with three reefs and a gale! Just £199.

1 Jan 2011 - London Boat Show - £399
Cruise to London over 5/6 days. Departing on Saturday 1 January (not too early to allow for hangovers!), we aim to arrive in London on Thursday 6th in time for the start of the London boat show on the 7th. You can stay for a further two nights on the boat and make the most of your day at the show before making your way home. We also offer the opposite trip, so come and stay with us (its cheaper than a London Hotel), get a full day or more at the show and then help us sail the boat back departing on Friday 14th. Either way its a great mile building opportunity covering over 180 miles, seeing some great scenery and dealing with some serious sailing challenges. Best of all its just £399 either way for up to 8 days on board.

The Fastnet 2011
This is the time to start thinking about taking part in one of the world's greatest yacht races. We've already completed our first qualifying race to Cherbourg last month, but there are still plenty of time and places are available. But don't think of it as just one race, it is a complete campaign that will improve your sailing skills and confidence immeasurably. One of our crew from last year is now a trusted skipper that we would be pleased to have working for us.
Firstly there are two training weekends in March and April where we familiarise you with the boat, remind you of the sailing basics and practice using spinnakers. We also introduce the idea of working the boat in a watch pattern 24 hours a day.
Then there are the Royal Offshore Racing Club (RORC) races starting with the Cervantes Trophy at Easter. In total we enter all 6 RORC races before the Fastnet and give you the choice of joining us when it suits you.  You'll need to get 300Nm of race experience before the Fastnet which can be done in two races, but we do have to allow for the weather and its safer to work on the basis that you'll need three. There's also the option to join more if you'd like.
We realise that its a big investment in money as well as time, but the cost has been frozen at the 2009 price of £2,500 and we don't expect it all at once - you pay as you sail and if you change your mind at any time you can drop out and owe us nothing more.
Our race priorities are to complete the course safely and enjoy ourselves on the way. No packet food or sitting on the rail for hours on end, you'll be more likely to enjoy a home made meal, watch a DVD and then get a good few hours sleep in a warm berth before taking your turn on watch.
And here's a puzzle for you using a plotter shot from last year's race showing us half way across the Celtic Sea doing just over 6 knots close hauled on port tack. Looking back at our track on screen and the direct line from Land's End to the Fastnet, can you see what mistake we made? Send us your suggestions by email and we'll tell you the answer next time.