yacht charter and
sailing schools
SCOTLAND’S CRUISING GROUNDS
are amongst the finest in the world, offering
a wonderful variety of land and seascape
which combine to make a truly unforgettable
sailing experience. Scottish charter
companies offer visiting sailors a choice of
bareboat or skippered sailing holidays on
both sail and power boats, as well as informal
tuition and more formal training on a range
of RYA accredited courses.
5Bareboat charter is the most popular
type of charter available and offers
experienced and/or qualified sailors a cost
effective way for a group of friends or
family to cruise Scottish waters at their own
pace. The majority of charter companies
are located in the Firth of Clyde or on the
Argyll coast, and it is also possible to charter
from companies located on Skye, Orkney
and the east coast. A wide variety of boats
are available, including new and nearly new
boats from most of the major European
manufacturers as well as some more mature
boats of a higher pedigree. Most companies
are members of the Association of Scottish
Yacht Charterers, which offers a five-star
service to their customers. The majority
of charter operators are small to medium Skippered charters are available on a wide Isle of Skye Yachts charter fleet at their home
sized family run businesses which offer a variety of boats, with some of the companies base of Armadale © Isle of Skye Yachts.
personal and friendly service. The different that offer bareboat charters providing the
companies will also often work together to services of a skipper for all or part of the etc, and that the condition of this equipment
accommodate larger groups, and will pull charter period, allowing the charter group is regularly checked. Furthermore, it
together when incidents occur. to choose the boat that best suits their provides a means by which different vessels
needs rather than their abilities. This type are categorised as to the distance they may
A typical charter will last for a week, with of skippered charter also enables a group be sailed from a safe haven. Most charter
the changeover day usually being a Friday of competent sailors who may be new to boats are Coded to Category 2, which
or Saturday. Multiple week bookings are Scottish waters to gain a gentle introduction means that they can sail on passages of
welcomed by all companies, and offer the for the first few days of their trip, and then up to 120nm, ie up to 60nm from a safe
visitor the opportunity to venture further complete their cruise on a bareboat basis. haven. Others may be Coded to Category
west and north to more remote waters. They may also offer a newly qualified skipper 1, allowing them to undertake passages of
Long weekend charters are also available and/or crew the opportunity to venture forth up to 240nm, whilst a few are Category 0
from some companies, particularly during with the support of a more experienced which allows oceans to be crossed. All of
the less busy times of the season, and are skipper to guide them if necessary. The the cruising waters described within this
often popular with Scottish sailors who are charter group are usually expected to brochure are reachable in a boat which is
able to escape to the water after a busy arrange the provisioning of the boat and Coded to Category two. Crews wishing
week at work. Some charter companies are cater for the skipper, and also to allow space to venture further afield to the Faroes or
also able to offer boats for racing charter on for the skipper to sleep on board. Norway will, however, need to find a boat
events such as the Scottish Islands Peak Race which is coded to Category 1.
or West Highland Yachting Week - insurance One significant difference between
requirements are, however, beginning to Scottish charter companies and those A number of charter companies are
limit the availability of such boats. found further afield is that all charter boats also recognised RYA Training Centres. This
operating in UK coastal waters have to be allows them to offer a full range of RYA
‘Coded’ by the Maritime Coastguard Agency. courses in addition to both bareboat and
This means that a vessel has to have a certain skippered charters. Visitors wishing to learn Amel Maramu ketch ‘Clova’ on charter from
standard of safety equipment on board, such to sail on cruising yachts may do so on a Argyll Yacht Charters © Christine Spreiter.
as lifejackets, liferaft, flares, fire extinguishers specific course, or combine their tuition
www.sailscotland.co.uk
Charter & Sailing Schools.indd 3 11/12/09 14:13:02
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