1st time Charter, bareboat or flotilla?

[Daz65]

Hi, am looking to charter in the med for 1st time this summer, not sure whether to go it alone or flotilla. The missus has this idea that a flotilla would be like a sailing version of butlins, but I wonder if it would be the way to go for 1st timers.

Regards,

Daz

[RealSquirrels]

the alternative could be like a sailing version of 'the perferct storm'

[TTwiggy]

Maybe a silly question, but I assume you have an ICC?

[Daz65]

Yes, both wife and I are qualified sailors.

Daz

[TTwiggy]

Daz65 said:

Yes, both wife and I are qualified sailors.

Daz

Best to go it alone then surely? I mean, there's not even any tides to worry about

[TeeRev]

We have done quite a few flotillas as a couple in the Med and have also bareboat chartered in the Caribbean with other couples, both types of holiday have their attractions and it depends what you are looking for.

All of the flotillas that we have been on have been very sociable with good lead crews that certainly didn't act like redcoats but provided help and advice when needed. Flotillas also have a wide range of characters on them and that's all part of the fun of it, you soon find like minded people to hang around with. Having said that on every flotilla we always go off freesailing by ourselves for a day or two and the flotilla skippers have never had a problem with us doing that so long as they know you are competent.

If it's just the two of you or you have kids then I'd recommend a flotilla, if you are going with others then bareboat and do your own thing. This year we're planning on a Turkish flotilla in June with a couple that we have bareboated with in the past but to give each other more freedom we will have separate boats, of course that will allow us to race each other and will provide much food for discussion over dinner in the evenings.

If you join the Yachting World forum and enquire on there you will get a lot of good advice.