Family sailing holidays aboard crewed luxury yachts.

Sailing can be a great family holiday; a Dream Sailing crewed yacht charter allows the adults (especially mum!) to relax totally, whilst the youngsters get all the fresh air and activities they can keep up with. There really is something for everyone, whether they prefer to water ski or relax and enjoy a good book, and your itinerary can be planned to mix sophisticated resorts with ‘back-to-nature’ anchorages.

When “the children” are in their late teens or twenties, keeping the annual family holiday going can be a struggle. Many guests have found our yachts to be the perfect place to get everyone together and make sure they want to come back again next year! “We no longer have arguments around the breakfast table about where to go or what to do each day” commented one of our regular guests.

For younger children it’s an unforgettable experience: swimming, playing on the inflatable ringo or taking the helm, and where else would they get the chance to see wild dolphins swimming alongside! Some have been known to lock themselves in their cabin when it’s time to leave at the end of the holiday!

Charter a crewed yacht mum – a few words of encouragement from some of our youngest guests…

"I really enjoyed my time staying on Kallista...I loved it when I swam in the middle of nowhere! I also think I've got my sea legs now!!! Bye bye." Victoria (9).

"Thank you for a great week. I loved playing on the ringos. I loved it at Bastide Blanche hanging off the side on the boom and I loved it so much being raised half way up the mast. I hope to come again." Chris (10).

"...I particularly enjoyed sailing when we were heeling and also enjoyed wakeboarding and going on the ringo. PS. Thanks Matt for teaching me how to wakeboard!" Cole (15).

That said, the age of the child is a key factor. Generally speaking, we’ve found that very young children find the environment of a yacht too restrictive, and quickly get bored whilst sailing. They can also be rather nervous, and quite rightly so since a yacht can be a

dangerous place for small children, with powerful electric winches and lots of things to fall over, to say nothing of having the ocean on all sides. Clearly, this means that their parents also find it hard to relax and enjoy the holiday. For these reasons we do not accommodate children under the age of five.

If you’re thinking of introducing your children to sailing, here are a few basic guidelines to help make sure everyone, including yourselves, has a great time:

• Consider the child’s personality. Those who are particularly self-assured, with an adventurous, outdoor nature are likely to take to sailing more naturally. If you’re a little uncertain about how they’ll react, try starting with just a few days on board combined with a more conventional holiday ashore.
• Before you sail, your skipper will discuss any concerns about safety that you may have, together with any specific precautions you may wish to take, such as putting the children in life jackets. He will also give a safety briefing to all guests, and the children in particular will be warned about the things they should take care about. It’s therefore important that our young guests are capable of doing what they’re told.
• Choose an appropriate itinerary that doesn’t involve long periods of time sailing. Instead, fit in plenty of stops for swimming and water sports, as well as some opportunities to visit sandy beaches. We always help guests to plan their itineraries and can advise on suitable cruising areas and places to visit.
• We always do our best to accommodate the eating habits of youngsters without this being to the detriment of providing sophisticated dining for their parents. Whilst this can sometimes be a tall order, we normally manage to achieve a good balance. However, it’s important that you give us as many details as possible in advance about what your children will and won’t eat, so that your meals can be planned and the yacht provisioned accordingly.

Finally, please bear in mind that whilst the crew will do everything possible to ensure that your children are safe and have a great time, they must be under the supervision of an adult member of the party at all times.