Experience?

Nice idea but it could turn out to be a nightmare.  The Broads idea was much better.  On the Broads you can get off, go to a pub or resturant, and you are unlikely to meet life threatening situations like strong tides, strong winds, rocky lee shores, reefs and tricky harbour entrances. Bear in mind you could experience all those hazards at once.  Also the type of boat you sail is likely to be smaller and thus more easily handled and more responsive.  In fact only someone with little experience is likely to ask the question you have asked.

So I'd say the Broads is has to be the answer and this is what it can look like out of season. 

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/stewart.robertson1/BroadsApril 08#5190697774209363362

Broad sailing is great - probably the most exciting sail I have ever had is running down Meadow Dyke not knowing if anything was going to appear around the corner! Short tacking up river is a real challenge, but as a learning experience, probably not something you will do or actual much use in the Caribbean (sunsail would have a heart attack and the rocks/reefs will be much harder than the reeds at the rivers edge).

If yachting is a posh form of caravanning, broads sailing is like camping - the boats are cramped and conditions a bit less pleasant. That said, parking up by a pub is great and a lot easier than worrying about the tide and the tender. Putting the mast up and down to go under bridges is an interesting engineering excercise, but again not much use for your holiday.

Swallowtail boats are the nicest looking and kept in immaculate condition, but he would not let a novice out - Easton westwood or whoever cater for that market.

Sunsail used to do a 2-day flotilla training course, seem to have dropped it now (probably from bitter experience). I think a skipper is not a bad idea, but probably does not fit with your idea of an idyllic honeymoon.

A spot of dinghy sailing is probably not that great a help - you will spend more time working our your hands in tacks and where to put your weight - not relevant in a yacht. The biggest challenge I find in yachts is the motoring bit - they really do have a mind of their own.

HTH FWIW

Don't get me wrong, the broads are great - but as a once in a lifetime (hopefully! ) honeymoon venue, it doesn't really compare to the Carribean does it!

Hi Spenge,

My wife and I, honeymooned on a Sunsail flotilla holiday in St Vincent and the Grenadines. We chartered a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 35 just for the two of us and had a great time. St Vincent requires probably the highest skill level for any flotilla holiday, but if you have any experience in sailing boats you'll have no difficulties. The only RYA qualifications I have are Powerboat Level 2 and Club Safety boat to allow me to be part of my clubs Rescue team, and I have Competent Crew which I got as a freebie from the Joint Forces Sailing Association when I was in the University Air Squadron. I have however been sailing for over 25 years, and have sailed and raced in various yachts upto 32ft.
I wrote down my experience and this was more than adequate for Sunsail.

As it turned out my wife and I were probably the most experienced boat in the flotilla and never had any problems while the lead boat generally nannied the others who in the main had just completed yacht masters and the like just before booking.

So if you know your arse from your elbow, and know how to sail and anchor a 35ft boat, let them know your experience level and go for it.

If however you are a beginner, with little sailing experience I would head to either Port Solent or Largs and get yourself on a course with Sunsail.

Paul

I did my Day Skipper course in the Summer (If you call it that).

I started sailing yacht sailing at 16, with a friend, went out on say 4 trips, the most was a 7 day trip locally doing some night hours etc. I managed to build up the hours then. I then moved on to Dinghy Sailing gaining loads of time on the water. I did my Day Skipper Theory over 20 weeks (2 hour sessions) last winter. I then went on to do the course in August.

I found the theory hard to master because I hadn't done a lot of costal pilotage but knew a little bit from what I had done. The sailing and rigging etc I was fine with, could tack/gybe etc.

One of the things you will have to do is Man Over Board, Moorings, and Marina movements, OK this can be taught but if you haven't done it before can take a lot of practise.

 

What would I advise - Forget the Yacht Charter, either choose to do a Dinghy Holiday where you can get off the boat after an hour or forget the sailing part entirely and have 2 weeks sitting on a beach. After all, you are on honeymoon!