Sail to France and back on a Weekend Channel Hop
Build miles with a sail over to France and back in a weekend. These weekend Channel Hops offer a great opportunity to build miles (circa 120) whilst getting the experience of sailing across the Channel and all that a passage of such nature entails including night sailing.
You will get open sea experience along with experience of crossing the shipping lanes at night and by day.
There is the opportunity for 2 people – one on the outbound trip and one on the return – to have a go at skippering a passage over 60 nautical miles.This is needed if you intend to go for your Yachtmaster Coastal or Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence one day.
Another prerequisite to taking the Yachtmaster Offshore is to have 5 passages over 60nm. So even if you do not wish to have a go at skippering a passage across the Channel will still go towards the YMO requirements.
Proposed Itinerary
Depart Southampton on the Friday evening. Arrive Cherbourg Saturday afternoon, dinner ashore, precise destination to be governed by forecast, leave later that night/early Sunday for UK or other destination if doing the 3 day trip. Arrive back at Southampton on Sunday late in the afternoon or Monday afternoon if doing the 3 day Channel Hop.
The crossing is obviously dependent on the weather and the final decision will be made by the instructor. Occasionally the forecast would prevent this trip. We will offer an alternative program should this happen with every effort to sail a decent length passage elsewhere.
If the conditions don’t allow us to leave the Solent we would look to ensure you get plenty of sailing in the testing conditions that prevent the passage but in safer more sheltered local waters. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer a refund or transfer to a later date if the itinerary changes due to the weather conditions.
Sail to France and back on a Weekend Channel Hop
During your sailing trip you’ll sleep on board the yacht. There’s typically three double cabins and two single berths which provide accommodation for eight people. However, there’s only ever a maximum of 4 students on board, plus the instructor. You can book a whole boat with up to 5 students.
Sometimes two people have to share the saloon or a cabin. The saloon is a large airy space with the two single berths or a large double. The cabins can have a dividing cloth to separate the space in half. You would never have to share with someone of the opposite sex.
You can expect to get away by 5/5.30pm on the final day of your trip. If you are catching a train we recommend you do not book a ticket in advance as we can’t guarantee you will get away at 5pm on the dot. It could be earlier or a little later.
