Whether you’re a bunch of novice dinghy or yacht sailors or you already know your way around a yacht and the finer points of dinghy sailing,a family sailing holiday is an experience you'll never forget. And there are loads of great ways to enjoy sailing together on holiday.
Fancy taking a few dinghy sailing lessons at one of our Beach Clubs? Or how about staying aboard your own yacht as you join one of our flotillas to explore the beautiful Greek islands?
We round up the destinations that make it to the top of our list for family sailing holidays.
Learning to sail a small dingy is a great way to get started. Tuition is inclusive on your Neilson holiday so what better time to learn the ropes? The beauty of dinghy sailing is that it’s so easy to pick up, with just a few basics to cover with our instructors before you can set sail. Then it’s out onto the water to experience the exhilaration of the wind in your face as you speed across the waves.
Children aged up to 13 can sail a dinghy with a parent or guardian, while children aged 14 and above can join in the adult group tuition sessions. Or why not sign your little sailors up for our Hot Shots kids’ club where they can immerse themselves in all things watersports, including the RYA Youth Sailing Scheme.
While you can have a go at dinghy sailing at all of our Beach Clubs (except for Cosmos Beachclub, where it’s all about windsurfing), we’ve got a couple of beginner favourites:
How’s this for a dream family sailing holiday? Our stay and sail holidays give you one week to enjoy Beach Club life with its fun inclusive activities, plus another week sailing your very own yacht around the stunning Ionian coast as part of a Neilson flotilla.
The first week of the holiday will be spent at Vounaki Beach Club, Paleros. Vounaki sits on the shores of mainland Greece with the island of Lefkas just across the clear waters of the Ionian Sea, this Beach Club is a real sailing mecca. The winds tend to rise from gentle beginner-friendly breezes in the morning to a steady force 3-4 in the afternoons, giving intermediate and experienced sailors plenty of room to play.
Join one of our flotilla holidays and set off on a family adventure that will see you discovering a new destination every day, as you explore the gorgeous unspoilt Ionian coastline and its islands. This stunning part of the world is a sailor’s dream with hidden sandy coves, rich marine life, white-washed villages and picture-perfect islands to explore. You’ll skipper your own yacht, sailing as part of a group of boats with the Neilson crew leading the way.
If the idea of skippering your own yacht is daunting, you could choose a skippered flotilla holiday. Every day, you’ll be joined by your own, personal skipper who will show you the ropes and build your sailing confidence, whatever your experience level. Come evening, your skipper will hop over to the lead yacht to sleep, leaving you to relax as a family.
There is a choice of Neilson flotillas, offering a variety of sailing experiences from island-hopping to open-water sailing. All set sail from Vounaki Beach Club on the south Ionian coast.
The following guide explains everything you need to know about dinghy sailing: the terminology, the kit, what to wear and how to get started.
When it comes to choosing a dinghy, our beachie team will help you based on your experience, but before you get out there, here’s a quick run-through of our most popular boats and what experience level they’re best for.
Not only are our beachclubs brilliant fun for sailing, we offer Royal Yachting Association (RYA) tuition and qualifications, and even better, the tuition is included in the holiday! Our sailing instructors are RYA-qualified and tuition follows the RYA level 1 and 2 courses.
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