Minorca, Mark Warner, Sunsail, Neilson
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Sailing Holidays
Forum Discription: Where you go and what you enjoy!
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4821
Printed Date: 10 Aug 25 at 8:16am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Minorca, Mark Warner, Sunsail, Neilson
Posted By: radixon
Subject: Minorca, Mark Warner, Sunsail, Neilson
Date Posted: 30 Oct 08 at 10:07pm
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Looking to book a holiday next year to get away. The last sailing holiday I did was in 2004 to Finikonda with Neilson. Was a great holiday and learnt a lot, been newish to the sport full time. Now I can sail better than last time, I am looking for a centre with advanced sailing kit. Looking through the sites of Minorca, Mark Warner, Sunsail and Neilson it is clear what is available. Minorca have loads of boats including all the RS range where as the others have a few high performance as well as the all rounder boats. For those that have been to Minorca, they boast to have about 170 boats, does it seem crowded there and do you have to wait to go out on a boat? Any other advise? |
Replies:
Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 30 Oct 08 at 10:40pm
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Minorca have a lot more boats than they have clients, especially if you can manage to go outside of the school holidays- if you do this, you'll always be able to sail what you want (wind permitting). Where as the others tend to have a couple of high performance boats on their fleet, Minorca have a shed load. Went there in September. It was fantastic. Superb instruction even for the "advanced" groups.
As an example of kit availability: one windy afternoon, two of us broke 800s. Both boats got ashore, the other lot took out another 800, my crew for the day and I decided to rag the a*** off a 500. If you want advanced kit, there's only the one real choice. |
Posted By: dopamine
Date Posted: 31 Oct 08 at 8:30am
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Very high standard of tuition in Menorca, more of a racing bias but plenty of gentler sailing if you want it, lots of kit too. Does cost more but in my experience worth it, for instance they run one to one sessions every afternoon. Neilson have closed Finicounda, a great pity as we only discovered it this year!
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Posted By: laser4000
Date Posted: 31 Oct 08 at 9:09am
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there's some pretty good sailors (nat/euro champs) than have done spells teachnig at minorca, and yes the kit is very good and there's lots of it, plus you can almost use it as a test cente - i.e. do I wasn to sail 400's, 200's, 700s, 800s, mps, 49er. Lasers they have a full range of rigs too If you're into windsurfing at all then have a go on their formula kit whilst you're out there - it's windsurfing jim but not as we know it!! Enjoy and don't worry about the cost - it makes skiing trips look cheap... |
Posted By: Jon Emmett
Date Posted: 31 Oct 08 at 7:54pm
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Perhaps you had already thought of it but II just went on a windsurfing holiday with club vass (in Dahab) and I would really recommend them.
------------- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Be-Your-Own-Tactics-Coach/dp/0470973218/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312565831&sr=8-1 - |
Posted By: MRJP BUZZ 585
Date Posted: 31 Oct 08 at 8:36pm
Same, I had a great time there ------------- Josh Preater http://www.bu22.co.uk">  BUZZING IS FUN
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Posted By: laser4000
Date Posted: 31 Oct 08 at 9:33pm
but the op wants to go sailing.. |
Posted By: radixon
Date Posted: 02 Nov 08 at 6:07pm
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I remember Jon informing us about his up and coming holiday when at BA Silverwings, whilst waiting for the wind to come! Yes cheers for the recommendation but I need to perfect my windsurfing before commiting to a holiday doing the sport for a week. Looks like Minorca it may be, will look again after Christmas, downside to working in a school though, I have to go when the kids break up! ------------- |
Posted By: Jon Emmett
Date Posted: 02 Nov 08 at 7:53pm
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I have actually never windsurfed whilst not on holiday. I can not think of a better place to learn than Dahab where you only need to wear a pair of board shorts and the water is nearly 30 degrees... so you do not mind falling in!
------------- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Be-Your-Own-Tactics-Coach/dp/0470973218/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312565831&sr=8-1 - |
Posted By: Webmuppet
Date Posted: 02 Nov 08 at 9:46pm
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We went to Porto-Heli in Greece with Neilson in 2004 and 2005 - very enjoyable, nice location, great childcare, limited range of kit (but good quality) but a very long and tedious transfer from Athens. For the last two years we've gone to Minorca Sailing - horribly expensive but superb kit, instruction, childcare and location. The flight times and transfers are excellent. We won't be going anywhere next year due to domestic cutbacks (change of role at work inc.paycut) and it makes you wonder how many of these companies will survive the recession - spending on holidays seems to be one of the first things to be hit when people are feeling the pinch ? Nigel ------------- I am the milkman of human kindness, I will leave an extra pint (Billy Bragg) Graduate 2530 'Galaxy' |
Posted By: neilgb
Date Posted: 03 Nov 08 at 6:56pm
| I think the only problem with most companies is the small sailing area and a bit 'regimented'.....the best fun to be had is at Wildwind, great resort for sailing. Lighter winds in the morning to practice on boats you have'nt sailed before and then in the afternoon.......we were for there two weeks and we never had winds below F4-5, often more........monohulls are not as extensive as some but enough to keep you occupied (laser 2K,3k,4k,5k, 49er,RS400, lasers,SB3) and cats from smaller Hobies to Hobie 16s, Tigers and Foxes. Never done much cat sailing but in those conditions with top tuition (if required)...awesome ! (i'm not on a commision !).....we found the prices were definately cheaper....go for it, its a one off place and great fun...there is a video on youtube of my son coming in on a 3k (not sure how to post it but if you put in wildwind laser 3000 that should work) to give you an idea of the afternoons conditions ! |
Posted By: laser4000
Date Posted: 03 Nov 08 at 10:07pm
and you live in weymouth - what a waste.. can't you borrow some kit and get out there.. |
Posted By: NickA
Date Posted: 03 Nov 08 at 10:22pm
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Shame about Finnikounda, we had two great holidays there. And two pretty good weeks at Gundogan too - also closed. Might find the kit a bit tame these days as the fastest things we ever came across were a ropey RS400 and a broken Buzz. Learning to single hand their 3000s and capsizing a dart 16 were quite fun though Think Neilson have lost the plot. It's all "beach plus" these days. PS: Here's that 3000 at Vass link (they should have had the jib out, lowers off and kicker on mind!)  http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zlCLHFKrvnkPPS: Dahab isn't much good for sailing - too many boards and a restricted area. Nice place though. ------------- Javelin 558 Contender 2574 |
Posted By: Jon Emmett
Date Posted: 04 Nov 08 at 9:04am
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I am seriously considering buying some windsurfing kit but I wanted to try it before I jumped in feet first. Also I understand that the kit you learn in is very different from the kit you use after you are competent. So I may well do some windsurfing whilst I wait for December 12th!!! ------------- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Be-Your-Own-Tactics-Coach/dp/0470973218/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312565831&sr=8-1 - |
Posted By: NickA
Date Posted: 04 Nov 08 at 4:14pm
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They seem to have EVERYTHING on the beach at Dahab. Confusing as hell if you haven't board sailed for a bit. But surely a good opportunity to try everything out. Though I noticed that different companies operating on the beach tended to favour particular manufacturers - so probably hard to get a try of everything in one holiday. Off peak you could probably rent from different outlets, but in the high season it seemed to be week long clients only. ------------- Javelin 558 Contender 2574 |
Posted By: laser4000
Date Posted: 04 Nov 08 at 5:36pm
If you want to 'board test' then go to OTC in el medano - http://www.otc-windsurf.com/ all the kit from all the players - try a different board every day... |