Join us on a Highland Adventure this June - all nationalities welcome!

Do you want to gain experience in tidal waters? We’re running a special mile building trip to the beautiful west coast of Scotland in June 2012. We’ve chartered a Dufour Gibsea 43 and will be spending two weeks (2 – 16 June) cruising from Largs, at the mouth of the River Clyde to Badachro, in the Gairloch.

The route will take us through some of the most dramatic and beautiful scenery in the world. The total distance sailed will be 350-400 miles. You can come along for either the first or second week or take the whole two weeks to truly explore this magical sailing area.

You'll join an international crew so there will be interesting discussions on board as well as beautiful scenery and challenging sailing.

We planned this trip in response to requests from students who already have their RYA Day Skipper Practical Non-Tidal certificate but who wanted to gain tidal mileage.

George, our School Principal, sailed for many years on the west coast of Scotland and sings the praises of the area to all who sail with him. It is an ideal training ground for learning the skills required for tidal sailing.

Anyone is welcome to join us but it is especially relevant for newly qualified Day Skippers or Competent Crew who want to build their experience before chartering or taking the next level of RYA course.

What’s included:
• accommodation on board (two people per cabin)
• all yacht expenses – diesel, water, mooring dues
• canal dues for Crinan Canal during first week
• transfer to Inverness at end of second week
• fully qualified skipper / RYA instructor
• food for breakfasts & lunches
• help with arranging travel within Scotland
• help with arranging UK visas, if needed

Not Included:
• Travel to/from Glasgow
• Transfers to/from Largs, and Oban. (We will help to arrange these as cheaply as we can.)
• Linen & bedding. Bring your own or hire a sleeping bag and sheet liner for £15 per week.
• Waterproof clothing. Bring your own or hire good quality Gill breathable sailing outfits for £25 per week
• Evening meals. These will be a mixture of some cooked on board and some taken ashore in local pubs and restaurants. Scotland has very good fresh food, including fish, lamb, beef, and venison. Maybe one night you can try the national dish or haggis or the British favourite ‘fish and chips’.

We can accept payment by credit/debit card and there is no additional charge for this.

Your yacht for this trip will be a Dufour Gibsea 43 with four cabins and two heads. She has three double cabins and one with two bunk beds and is coded for eight people. The instructor/skipper will have one cabin and we will take six crew each week.

During the first week you'll sail from the River Clyde among the islands of Bute, Arran, and the Mull of Kintyre. These are normally fairly sheltered waters and ideal for revising your sailing skills. You'll pass through the pretty Crinan Canal to Argyll. This is a very interesting experience and you’ll spend the night in the canal, where there are a couple of excellent restaurants serving good Scottish food and drinks.

During the rest of the week you will sail in the islands of Argyll, famous for their whisky as well as their spectacular scenery. Among the places you may visit are Islay, Jura, and Colonsay. You’ll finish the week in Oban, on the mainland coast, famous for its seafood and pretty port, as well as its whisky!

The second week's cruising starts in Oban (see map above) and the yacht will head northwest up the sound of Mull. A key destination will be Tobermory, on the isle of Mull, a very attractive small town with brightly painted houses.

You’ll continue north, visiting Mallaig, the isle of Skye, and other beautiful places. The exact ports of call will depend upon the wind and weather at the time. Your final destination is Badachro, in the Gairloch. Transport to Inverness at the finish is included in the price.

In this sailing area you’ll find lochs, mountains, islands and beaches, and a clear, uncrowded sea. You’ll spend at least one night in a marina, the other nights will be at yachting pontoons or on floating moorings in the more remote places. During your week on board you will have plenty of opportunity to learn about tidal sailing. There are several ‘tidal gates’ here at which the strength of the tide is sufficient to prevent progress of even a large sailing yacht if the navigator gets their sums wrong!

For both weeks you should arrange inward flights or train tickets to Glasgow.

If you are leaving after the first week you will return from Glasgow. If you are coming on the second week you can either go back from Glasgow, or from Inverness or Edinburgh.

We can help you make suitable travel arrangements within Scotland to get to/from the yacht