Learn to Sail with GirlsforSail
At GirlsforSail we love to introduce women to the amazing sport of sailing in our safe and supportive and FUN environment.
As a beginner you will have lots of questions so we are here to help answer them all! To start with, we have focussed on why you would choose to start sailing and why sail with us. These are the keys questions we have discussed with our customers over the many years we have been doing this -
ITS FUN!!! - Sailing is a great way to get away from everything in your normal life. Being out on the water with the fresh air and great friends, there's nothing better. It's a great new way to meet people, in a different environment to what you're used to. Sailing takes you to places that you can't always access from the land, seeing places from a different view is incredible. Of course after a long day on the water there's nothing better than meeting up with everyone in the pub for a well deserved drink!
ITS EASY - Honestly. Remember when you first got in the car and thought 'how will i ever work out the clutch and the looking in the rear mirror, indicating and looking ahead - phew. Thats a lot to do!!!'
Now you do all of that and put your mascara on!!
Sailing is a piece of cake. You just have to get used to doing all the bits individually and then you put it all together as it becomes familiar. Experience is all you need and we will help you get started in a calm, relaxed manner and then coach you at your own pace encouraging you all the way as you develop.
YOU GET FIT!!!! - It's a fantastic way to get fit, as well as enjoying yourself! Amazing but true! Who wants to be stuck inside at a gym on a lovely day, when you could be out with you're friends sailing and laughing - scientific studies show that laughing also burns off calories!!! Seriously .....do you remember those toning tables that were around in the 80's...well a boat acts in the same manner - you are constantly moving on the boat even though you won't notice this as you will be too relaxed! When we crossed the Atlantic we ended up losing pounds of weight and we nearly had six packs!
IT'S VERY SOCIABLE!!! You really do meet the most amazing people on and off the boat. As all of you girls will be very like minded, we tend to find really amazing friendships are formed on the water. You only have to look on our facebook page to see how the groups continually meet and branch out doing other activities after becoming firm friends.
Off the boat, there happens to be a very unbalanced ration of males to females...probably about 10 men to every woman. We have been desperately trying to change this ratio and encourage more women to come sailing. It's called a win win! The guys love to talk a good sailing yarn in the evening and if its to a lady rather than the hairy chaps he has spent the day with - even better! So, its great fun. We have a lovely feminine environment most of the time and some lovely gentlemen to mix with socially in the evenings.
ITS GREAT VALUE if you look at any weekend break you will find that the cheapest B&B is now around £50 per night. We charge on average £59-£99 per day for all events (except racing). So, for £99 you get a bed, breakfast, lunch and an amazing days activity with some fantastic people. When you sail for a weekend, you forget about work or worries you may have. All that for just £99.
So, we have a question for you .....Why WOULDN'T you do it?!!!
Why do you only sail with girls?
GIRLS ARE GREAT - Oh, how we love boys, we just don't want to sail with them!! OK, maybe we do, but first, we want to learn in our own gentle way. With nice cups of tea, clean smelling heads, calmness and no shouting!
We have some really great fun aboard because we are just girls together - all ages are mixed together from 16 to 76 (and aiming higher!!) all with a desire to learn and just have some fun aboard. We like to do things well, properly and be able to ask questions. We are generally not as strong as you guys so when we all race together, we don't get to do the jobs the boys can do because they are physically stronger. So our aim is to enable you to learn more in a "hands on" fashion, so when you do go sailing with the guys, we are much better! Girlsforsail is all about learning technique - that's one of the reasons why the best solo RTW sailors are women - they are excellent at managing their tools. It's a fact that if you learn how to use the equipment available on the yacht properly, you will be able to be very competitive. Oh, and if we make mistakes (which is part of learning), that's cool too! Girls - don't worry if your friends don't want to learn with you, lots our ladies come on their own, you'll be just fine with us, it's a great way to make new friends!
Do I need sailing experience?
No! - We have opportunities for those with no experience to enjoy sailing - and to learn about the sport without pressure. Our boats have a 'no shouting' policy and our coaching style is female oriented to guide beginners through the basics. Certain events suggest previous knowledge, but this is not essential and we will take you through that when you enquire.
Who can come with me?
Any female will enjoy every aspect of a girlsforsail holiday. On our overseas regatta holidays we recommend that you are over 18 because it balances the age group in the team, but really anyone who is big enough to use a winch and see over the wheel will enjoy one of our events, especially the courses. We have no maximum age, but this is a physical holiday and a basic level of health is required. We are proud to say that we have encouraged ladies who spring around the yacht at just under 70. Helen Tew sailed across the Atlantic on her own in her 80's so why should age stop anyone doing anything! Go girls!!
So what does the boat look like?
One of our favourite yachts is our Elan 37, Diamonds Are Forever! She's a comfortable cruiser/racer and has cosy berths, a galley and heads (bathroom!) - this is her internal layout 
So, do I need to be fit?
Classify fit! This is not an athletic holiday. However, there are physical demands and so a basic level of fitness does make the experience more enjoyable. Limitations focus more on height and weight which we will explain further when you contact us. However, all persons taking part in girlsforsail events should be in good health and have a reasonable basic level of fitness. Please just let us no if you are unable to swim less than 25 metres, although being unable to swim should not deter you from sailing....we will keep you on the yacht and out of the water!
What type of people come on your holidays?
Women from all walks of life have travelled with us, including business women looking for a challenge and housewives looking to escape their husbands! Some are quite competitive, others simply want to experience the beauty of the ocean and the calm of the outdoors. All of them want an opportunity to learn about something we love in a relaxed, calm & safe manner.
Which holiday should I go for?
Give us a chance to discuss your experience, your interests and your budget and we will be happy to recommend a way to enjoy sailing without any hassle. See our guide to the right event in our 'about' section for more information.
How far in advance should I book?
The more time you give yourself, the more choice you will have. If you are thinking of making a trip and are not sure - just call us and we will be happy to advise you. Regatta places and the ARC/Fastnet are always limited so book these well in advance. Also, if you are going overseas remember the flight prices fluctuate greatly the nearer to the event you book. If you want to sail at Xmas, book no later than mid Sept for a flight thats reasonable.
Do the boats come with linen?
That depends on the event. We tend to ask the individuals to bring their own sleeping bags, liners and towels etc so that you are individually comfortable and warm. The details are in the event literature, by event.
What safety equipment do you have?
The yachts are fully equipped with all regulation safety aids as laid out by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and the marine governing body of the country we are sailing in. They include lifejackets, safety harness, first aid kits, flares, life rafts, VHF radios, GPS and full navigational equipment. Our skippers are all fully RYA qualified and experienced in the use of all safety equipment - your safety is always our first priority.
What equipment should I bring?
When you confirm your booking, we will provide you with a list of recommended equipment for your specific trip. However, consistently we advise that you bring a pair of deck shoes and wet weather gear, if you have it. If not, wet weather gear is available for hire at (£5 per day per set: please reserve when you book your holiday). Layers of clothing are best, so no need to go out and spend lots of money. We recommend a high factor water based sun cream during the summer events to ensure protection against the sun is maximised. Otherwise, little else is needed. If in doubt, please take a look at the information sent to you when you book.
I'm still a little confused, what should I do?
Please contact us with any queries you have, however trivial you may think them. We are here to be as informative as we can and to provide you with as much detail as you feel you need.
Courses
The courses that we provide for starter sailors range from Day Sails to RYA Competent Crew courses.
Day Sails
This is a day starting and finishing in Cowes, Isle of Wight. This is perfect if you've never really sailed before would like to give it a go but can't find the time for a full weekend and you're not 100% sure of it.
Get Started Weekends
These are great fun, get a group of you together or come and meet new people and learn to sail in a relaxed environment. You can experience living on a boat and the lifestyle it provides. It's a fantastic weekend to get away from all those meetings and emails.
RYA Competent Crew
You can start filling in your logbook by completing the syllabus to your RYA Competent Crew and can start working you're way up the RYA scheme through to Yachtmaster.
Caribbean Sailing
After sailing around the South Coast of England in Summer, maybe you don't fancy sailing in Winter? Or maybe you would just like to get away from a cold English winter, why not come out to the Caribbean and try sailing out there? Bikini sailing, with lunch time stop overs to snorkel and plenty of rum punches!
Why not get in touch and we can advise you on how to get started?