Flotilla holidays - are they for you?
Chris Hogan, 16th November 2015, Boat
Flotilla holidays might not be for everyone but for some the idea of a semi-guided yachting holiday might be less daunting than chartering a yacht with little or no support. What are they like and are they right for you?
What is a flotilla holiday?
It's a group charter yacht holiday where you and other sailors join up with a lead yacht provided by a tour operator. You're in control of your own yacht in a group of perhaps eight to a dozen others. The group then tours the area from a set base, making overnight stops at towns, ports or even just coves or beaches.
You can take your yacht wherever you want, within reason, but equally you can choose to stay with the group. You can then use the lead boat to do the bulk of the navigation, learn from their expertise of the area (not just afloat) and use them for help if and when you need it.
What are the benefits?
The benefits of being with a flotilla are many. You have access to expertise and can follow a planned itinerary, meaning you'll never turn up to a marina and discover you've no berth, or find yourself still at sea when you'd rather have been moored up and had dinner two hours ago.
Many flotillas will emphasise the learning aspects of sailing with a group, taking you through the day's itinerary every morning with hints and tips on navigation and other aspects of sailing. Some offer specific training towards your ICC or RYA qualifications.
Family friendly - or not
Flotillas are also good for families with children as there'll be other children to hook up with. Conversely you might want a holiday without children in the group, in which case there are adult-only flotillas.
You'll also have a yacht that you can walk straight onto and start sailing. If you wanted to sail in the Med, for example, you'd either have to transport your own yacht out there ahead of your holiday or charter a yacht, with or without crew, and set it all up.
And the downsides?
Of course a bareboat charter is fine for seasoned sailors who have the confidence to set out on their own. They would resent the idea that they had to follow someone else, even if that was optional.
Other yacht fans might cherish the solitude that comes from sailing on their own, without feeling duty bound to socialise with the same group of people every night. You might simply want to have your own adventures.
Try it out - let us know
For many people the idea of having a bit of a safety net might encourage them to try a flotilla holiday before setting out on their own charters. We've found a few companies offering flotilla holidays - you'll find the links in the references section below.
All these companies offer holidays throughout the Mediterranean unless specified. Please note that we have no links to these companies and including them in the list below implies no recommendation.
If you've had a flotilla holiday and enjoyed it, or even if it was a complete nightmare, why not email in and let us know what happened?
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