What Practical Planning Information Does Sailing Choices Provide?

Updated

Sailing Choices is an independent sailing-holiday planning site, started in 2012 by an agent with years of experience both afloat and in the offices of UK holiday operators. It is built for the practical questions that come up before you book: where you can fly from, where to moor up, who to book with, what to take, and which type of charter actually fits you. It suits both people who want to assemble their own travel plans and those who would rather have a package — and if you are short on time, the site invites you to call instead of reading.

What the site covers

The homepage frames the whole planning problem in one list of questions, which is a fair summary of what it tries to answer:

  • Which type of holiday: bareboat, flotilla, skippered charter, crewed charter, cabin charter, or a learn-to-sail course
  • Whether you have the right qualifications, or want tuition
  • Where to go, and where you can fly from
  • Places to moor up
  • Who to book with
  • What to take

It also states its editorial stance plainly: the aim is impartial advice without "enhanced holiday brochure pictures and waffle about idyllic tranquil blue bays." That matters if you are trying to compare real options rather than read marketing copy.

Choosing between the holiday types

The site treats the main formats as distinct choices rather than one product with variations. The table below reflects how it presents them; the practical differences are the ones you need to weigh before booking.

Format What it generally means Who it tends to suit
Bareboat You charter the yacht and sail it yourself Experienced sailors with the qualifications the operator requires
Flotilla You sail your own boat in a group with a lead boat People who want independence with support and company
Skippered charter You charter the yacht, a professional skipper runs it Groups without the qualifications to bareboat
Crewed charter Yacht plus crew, often including catering Those who want a hands-off holiday
Cabin charter You book a cabin, not the whole yacht Solo travellers or couples
Learn to sail course Instruction toward sailing qualifications Beginners and those building experience

The site notes that no previous experience is needed to try sailing, which is the key point if you are starting from zero — the format you pick, not your CV, determines whether you can go.

Planning logistics: flights, moorings, and packing

Beyond the boat itself, the site positions itself as a single place to find the surrounding logistics: "from where you can fly from, to places to moor up." Those are the two questions that usually take the most separate searching — matching departure airports to a charter base, and understanding where you can actually stop once you are there. Packing guidance ("what to take") is listed alongside them.

If you already know your format, the homepage offers direct entry points for flotillas, bareboat, and other sailing holidays rather than making you read through everything.

Booking through the site versus booking direct

Sailing Choices describes itself as an independent agent offering yachts from many suppliers and holiday companies, deliberately working only with "quality providers" rather than listing everything available. On cost, the site makes two specific claims:

  • You get the same discounts you would get booking direct with the operators, "sometimes more."
  • Returning customers get extra discount on all the holidays the site offers, not only from the provider they used last time.

It also states that booking through the site won't cost you more and could cost less, and that you get a wider choice than from a single holiday company or yacht supplier. Treat these as the site's own stated terms rather than independently verified pricing — confirm current discounts and any conditions with the site directly before you rely on them.

When to use the site, and when to just call

Use the site's written guidance if you are still deciding between formats, comparing destinations, or working out flights and packing on your own schedule. The site explicitly says it is for both independent planners and package seekers, so there is no assumption that you must book a bundle.

If you are short on time or already know roughly what you want, the homepage suggests calling instead — the operator notes they "can talk faster than I can type." That is the fastest route to a specific recommendation, particularly if your constraints (dates, departure airport, experience level, group size) don't map cleanly onto a category page.