Child humour

This week one of our younger charter guests asked "what happens if a Salami hits us" I think he meant Tsunami. As to what you do if hit by a killer Salami I honestly have absolutely no idea - any suggestions???

Summer Heat

Daily temperatures seem to be soaring now that summer is well and truly upon us, so far this year the sea breezes have not been as strong as previous years but none the less the sailing has been wonderful. With this in mind it is important to remember a few simple rules, like not taking on too much and ensuring that a long lunch allows for the sun shade to be hoisted and avoid the midday sun. Don't forget to stay hydrated and drink plenty of water, if swimming from the yacht make sure you trail a buoy and if snorkelling take a surface marker to warn other boaters of your presence.
Make sure that any crew joining you bring plenty of suncream, hats and sunglasses and make sure they drink. As many of you already know, when your on the water, it always feels cooler and often people de-hydrate or burn and it could so easily be avoided.
Stay cool, don't attempt too much and enjoy this wonderful climate.

Charter season in full swing

Our 3 hour sailing trips in Puerto de Mazarron are once again proving popular, if you have friends or family visiting this summer and are looking for a special day out, why not come sailing, experience a  boat trips and enjoy a swim in crystal clear waters. We have snorkelling equipment on board for those wishing to explore the underwater World and if you wish to take PADI courses or try diving we can arrange this for you.
Sailing around Mazarron offers a great view of the rugged coastline and gives a very different aspect of this interesting coastal town, its also much cooler on the water allowing you to escape the heat for a few hours. Trips cost 35€ per person, booking advisable, so give Debbie a call and experience what many describe as the highlight of their holiday.

Last chance sailing

We are midway through our last sail training week before taking a break for summer to concentrate on the charter season. This week has been a mixed bag with some great sailing and some unfortunate motoring, having started this course from Mazarron it allowed us to visit the new harbour in Garrucha and those of you with Navionics on your I-pads/phones can read our review on line. We have also stopped at Juan Montiel in Aguilas which is a beautiful marina and deserves to be busier. Due to a lack of wind we have returned to Mazarron instead of our intended destination of Cartagena, the plan is to rest up for a few hours and hope the wind fills in before setting off for a night sail under the moon (just past full), fingers crossed for a clear night and some wind. Also this week we have caught fish and seen whales, we just need a few dolphins now to finish the week off.
RYA sailing courses resume in September, so if you've always wanted to give sailing a go but for one reason or another have never got round to it, now is your chance. Book early and try something new, let the adventure begin and who knows where the wind may blow you. 

Canaries mile-builder and adventure sail

We are planning a sailing mile-builder down to the Canary Islands next May (2013), the trip will depart from our tidal base in Ayamonte and end in Gran Canaria having cruised down the Moroccon Coastline, stopping in Casablanca, Rabat and Agadir. Before doing a similar return trip some 3-4 weeks later, giving the option for people to stay on and cruise the Islands for a week or two. Excellent opportunity to gain quality miles with Yachtmaster Ocean on a well maintained yacht.
Price will be 850€ p.p for a 10 day trips so please register your interest with Debbie or give her a call to find out more 0034 695 326 184

Last chance sailing

We have 1 space remaining on an RYA Competent Crew or Day Skipper course starting on the 1st July. This will be the last sail training course before our summer charter break, missed out on the course, don't worry you can still afloat with our 3 hour sailing trips from Mazarron.
1 space remaining so call Debbie and reserve your place.
Gain RYA qualifications and get afloat in time for summer on our learn to sail week, this special week is available at the great value price of 550€. For more information please call Debbie on 0034 695 326 184 or cheap call from the UK 0872 4260837, so take advantage of low cost airlines flying into Murcia San Javier and join us for a Fun and sunny week afloat.

Homeward bound

El Rubicon is on the final leg of her Tidal sailing adventure, having set sail for Ayamonte and Isla Canela on the 25th March we now find ourselves enroute from Mazarron to the Mar Menor and our home base in Tomas Maestre marina. The adventure has been fantastic, we have sailed in some beautiful areas and met some lovely people. The weather has been testing at times and somewhat cooler than the warm winter climate that we have become accostumed to. Would we do it again - absolutely, in fact we plan to return into Tidal waters next March. So if your looking professional sail training, RYA qualifications, quality sea miles during our sailing mile-building phase and a mini adventure - give Debbie a call to find out more.

Mar Menor access bridge

An update to the bridge opening times, from today the bridge Puente del Estacio which provide access into or out of the Mar Menor will have an additional opening at 22.00 hours, making the first lift 10.00 hours and the final lift of the day at 22.00 hours.
Wishing you fair winds and happy sailing

Adventure sailing at its best

Where do we start - since leaving Ayamonte on the evening tide we have had a real adventure, the winds have been near perfect, sea conditions kind and with Tim and Ed experiencing their first night sail things were looking up. Some truly amazing stars, an early morning boarding by fierce customs officers and goosewinging up the Gibraltar straits all added to the excitement.
With all of us grinning from ear to ear, we visited out favourite Argentinian Tapas bar in La Linea before spending morning exploring Gibraltar and setting sail just after lunch, we knew it was going to be breezy so set 2 reefs in the main and hoisted the working jib, approaching Europa point the winds hit 35 knots plus and we even had to put another reef in the main, once we got El Rubicon settled she rode the waves and rocketed up the coast to Marbella where we have met up with the crews of Andante and Carpe Diem.
With so much having happened in the last 48 hours, the question is what will be tomorrows highlight. Adventure sailing as it should be with never a dull moment, plenty of fun and amazing sailing - to find out more or book your place on our next adventure, call Debbie on 00 34 695 326 184.

Last week in Ayamonte

Our time in Ayamonte is running out, we are into our last sail training week before re-stocking the yacht and heading towards home next saturday. Of course the adventure will not end there, we will be stopping off in Gibraltar and somewhere on the Costa del Sol before reaching Almerimar and a probable stop in Garrucha to view the new marina and say Hi to Mum who lives a 20 minute drive inland. The thought of being back in Cartagena and Mazarron are exciting although we will be sad to leave this wonderful area behind - albeit we will be back!.
Join us for non-tidal sailing courses and gain Competent Crew and Day Skipper qualifications in the Mar Menor area, we have 1 space remaining for the week commencing 1st July - so give Debbie a call or contact us for more info.

Mar Menor Bridge

With summer almost upon us, the sailing world is re-awakening from its winter spell as sailors start to plan their summer adventures, as always the Mar Menor bridge is causing some confusion with its lifting times, at present the opening times are 10.00 hours to 20.00 hours with lifts on the even hours.

Guadiana Adventure

The strong winds subsided and we set off up the river Guadiana that seperates Spain and Portugal, from the moment we cast off the lines in Ayamonte it gave us a sense of adventure that only comes from exploring somewhere new. Passing under the bridge the  river winds it ways North, the scenery is rugged with only a few old farms visible on the river banks. The sound of birds chirping is delightful and we did not appreaciate how noisy they really are until we spent the day on a mooring buoy in Larenjeiras whilst Paul who lives on Uno X fixed our bimini. Paul is an interesting character he does sail and canvas repairs but has also laid a series of mooring buoys available on a monthly basis, he has been on the river for around 12 years having sailed around the World twice and given the chance I believe he would go again.
Slipping from the buoy with newly stitched bimini we headed up river, with welcome shade as the temperature were soaring and the winds eased. Arriving at Alcoutim we were amazed to find space on one of the 3 pontoons, the middle one is reserved for day trip boats bu the other two can be landed on and for 10 euros a night you also get electric and water. There is also a shower and toilet block next to the pontoon and the town is an absolute delight. Very quaint and sleepy it has wonderful walks and the views from the Castle are spectacular.
The birdlife was not as abundant has we had hoped but there was still plenty to see, especially on some of the footpaths that lead down the river beach. Overall it is a great place to spend a few days and detach yourself from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, some cruisers we spoke to have been there for over 15 years - not sure I could stay that long but it is a very beautiful place indeed. especially for those that crave isolation - the only downside was the amount of debris in the upper reaches of the river. Is it a place I would return to - absolutely, to view pictures on the area visit our facebook page

Strong winds delay river adventure

Strong overnight winds have caused a slight delay to our Guadiana river adventure, having seen the forecast we opted for the safety of the marina rather than lay awake all night on anchor watch. A high pressure mid way between the Canaries and the Azores is squeezing the low currently approaching the UK resulting in gusty winds. The wonderful thing that makes cruising so relaxing - you move when the weather is good not because you have to!




The low is due to fill and High pressure will again sit over the UK either later today or tomorrow so with a little luck we will be on our way shortly.



In the meantime we have ben taking advantage of our unexpected stay and sampling the local wines and serrano hams - delicious.

Exploring under sail

Time is becoming even more precious as our tidal sailing adventure comes to an end for this year. We have finally managed to free up some time and are planning to explore the upper reaches of the river Guadiana that separates Spain and Portugal. This area shows whats cruising is all about and with an excellent blend of river/lagoon anchorages and marinas, it is challenging without being too restrictive and tests your skill at every level. This week we are heading up river, there are no charts other than the pilot book despite being able to penetrate upto 25 miles inland. The fishing gear, nature books and camera are primed as we hear that the wildlife is superb,  visit our facebook page for pictures.
Most Sea Schools concentrate on sail training in their local area, our ethos is different, we believe that a sailboat is for exploring and thats exactly what we set out to do, the more places we visit the more we learn and because everything is fresh and exciting our enthusiasm never dulls.
Unfortunately those that could not join us this year have now missed the boat, however just like the tide we will be back, it won't be until next year but this fantastic area is not to be overlooked and with so much still to discover I am looking forward to coming back even more.

Sailing opportunity

Our Tidal sailing adventure is coming to an end and we will be moving El Rubicon back into the Mediterranean and heading for the Mar Menor/ Cartagena very soon. We are offering a very special sailing experience leaving either Ayamonte on Saturday 9th June or Gibraltar on 12th June, this trip is suitable for any level and provides a fantastic opportunity to gain quality sea miles with tuition at no extra cost. The trip is estimated to take 7 days from Ayamonte or 5 days from Gibraltar as we will be stopping off en-route to enjoy the odd night ashore. For more details please call Debbie on 00 34 695 326 184, cost for the trip is 395€ per person. Places are limited and offered on a first come first served basis, so pick up the phone and book yourself a low cost sailing adventure.

Palma Boat Show on hold

One of Spain most important Boat Shows has been put on hold until 2013 due to lack of funding and take up from both exhibitors and pre-show ticket sales. The show which normally runs over the end of April until early May has been postponed for this year with view of revamping the show and organisation to make future events more attractive to all stakeholders.
It really is a sign of the times and concern must now be running through Palma and the Spanish yachting scene in general, booking are down everywhere and when this kind of event is pulled it can only mean that improvement is not just around the corner. It's not all doom and gloom as this with force the authorities and tourism ministers to re-think their attitude to the yachting industry throughout the whole Country and hopefully a few of the bizarre and frustrationg restrictions on Commercial vessels will be lifted.
In the mean time, if you are sailing around the Balearic Islands this season at least the anchorages should be more peaceful and marina berths available at sensible rates.

Tidal Sailing in Spain

Our first week of Tidal sailing from our new Spanish base has come to an end. It has been a great adventure so far and the sailing this week has not dissapointed, trying to suss out our new cruising ground we have visited Ayamonte, Santa Maria at the estuary to Faro and Vilamoura. So far the area has come up to expectations and we were so impressed with Ayamonte that we have moved El Rubicon here for the foreseeable future, we still intend to visit Isla Canela but Ayamonte is a vibrant town with a truly Spanish atmosphere. True to form, like the rest of Spain they like their football here and tonight the town has exloded as Real Madrid took on and defeated their Catalan rivals, effectively giving them the Liga. If you want to visit the real Spain and squeeze in some fine sailing on the way, give Debbie a call +34 695 326 184 and book your place aboard El Rubicon. Hasta Pronto

RYA Courses in Isla Canela

Having arrived into a very windy Isla Canela, we had commited to help some friends in Barcelona so El Rubicon was safely tied up in her new berth and allowed to rest for a week. Having arrived back last night the wind is still blowing with gusto and the week ahead is looking very interesting, we are looking forward to exploring this great new area and cannot wait to slip the lines tomorrow as we start our Tidal sailing courses. The plan is to head up the Guadiana river having negotiated the bar and explore the river before spending the night in Ayamonte with possibly a few tapas ashore, then it will be onto the Portuguese coast to sniff out those special little anchorages every sailor dreams about, whilst we are there, we will also be testing our navigation and pilotage skills and sail up to Faro. If you are interested in RYA sailing courses either as a novice starting with Competent Crew, as a potential Day Skipper looking to take command of your first charge or perhaps those with previous experience can rise to the more challenging levels of Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster. Whatever your level we have a course that will test and improve your skill and confidence levels. So dont miss out, come and explore this wonderful area with us and gain RYA qualification at the same time, it may be windy but the sun is still shining!

Semana Santa in Cadiz

Following some very wet weather and great sailing we have arrived in Cadiz which is in full swing for Easter with an abundance of processions marking the festivities. With streets lined of people and parades the bars at bursting at the seems and the atmoshpere in the old town is quite something.
Stronger winds are forecast towards the end of the week so planning a short day tomorrow before heading to Mazagon, then onto Isla Canela for Friday.

Raining in Gibraltar

Having arrived in Marina Alcaidesa, the weather has deteriorated somewhat and we are recollecting why we do not wish to sail around the UK in these damp conditions. Fortunateley we have plenty to keep us busy and with the laundry already turned around, the food shopping completed and the boat washed down we are now looking forward to the next leg of our adventure. The wind is ironically due to turn Westerly, so fingers crossed it will not hinder us leaving for Cadiz either on Monday or Tuesday. All that remains is to buy some new charts and for the sun to come out and we are off on another adventure, looking forward to this particular leg as we will be back in tidal waters and leaving the Mediterranean for the Atlantic, but more importantly will be arriving in our new sailing base, Isla Canela.

Alcaidesa Marina

El Rubicon is sitting in the new Alcaidesa marina in La Linea under the cloud of Gibraltar. The new marina is ideally situated for a short walk across the border for those looking to acquire some not so duty free goods in Gib or fly into the airport for crew changes. The facilities are good and the staff have all been extremely courteous so far. We are here for the weekend awaiting a crew change, unfortunately we say cheerio to Will but look forward to meeting the new crew and sailing with them onto our new base in Isla Canela, from where we are offering Tidal sailing courses and advanced pilotage training along the numerous estuaries. Join us for some great sailing, company and food. Book today as places are strictly limited to 3 students per practical week giving plenty of opportunity to practice new skills.

Marina prices

Running a sailing school means we get to visit numerous marinas, it always amazes me how much varience there can be in the pricing structures. Since leaving Cartagena on our adventure to the Spanish/Portuguese border town of Isla Canela, we have not paid more than 22€ for the night. Marinas on our usual sailing patch tend to charge far more than that with us rarely managing to pay less than 30€ per night in low season, I ask myself how can the pricing be so different, there is no drop in the level of service or quality of the infrastructure so why are we being forced to pay higher rates. Surely if the tariffs were lowered slightly it might encourage more cruising yachtspeople to visit the Costa Blanca and Calida areas. It makes sense to try and encourage growth and build a long term reputation rather than trying to make a quick buck now at the expense of the area becoming out of favour with cruisers.

El Rubicon arrives in Marbella

El Rubicon is safely tied up in Marina La Bajadilla in Marbella, our trip so far has been testing with strong winds. Taking the decision to leave Sunday night rather than Monday morning certainly paid off, we rounded Cabo de Gata with 40 knots behind us and the winds were due to increase, following a quick stop over in Almerimar we set off again much to the amazement of the marineros. We tucked the thrid reef in and weith the staysail hoisted El Rubicon handled the 30 knots winds and large swell admirably. Our intention was to head for Motril only to be told the harbour was closed due to foul weather, with little option other than marinas on lee shores, we pressed on through the night towards Marbella. It all fell into place as the winds and sea eased as we approached and awaekening this morning we are back to 25 knots across the deck in harbour with water crashing over the sea wall. Looking forward to a well earned paella, a couple of beers and siesta before setting off tomorrow for Estepona or Sotogrande. So far it has been a breezy trip with some great sailing, Will has helmed most of the way and is over the moon with the sailing experience so far, having done this trip numerous times we have never gotton this far so quickly having used around 3 ltrs of fuel, excellent sailing!!!

Yacht Deliveries

We are now offering Yacht and Power boat deliveries by experienced Skippers, we can also arange for smaller boats to be transported by road on a trailor whilst larger boats are sailed to their final destination by our experienced crew. During our deliveries there will be a minimum of 2 Yachtmasters (Skipper and Mate)plus crew subject to journey type and length, so rest assured your pride and joy will be in treated with respect and lovingly cared for whilst in our hands. On delivery, our Skippers will also provide a safety list /recommendation to ensure your vessel remains in tip top condition for years to come. Contact us today for a no obligation quotation 00 34 653 468 472.

Mar Menor Sea School heads west

Our temporary detachment into tidal waters commences this week and El Rubicon is heading West and out into the Atlantic to her new base in Isla Canela. From the 8th of April we are offering all RYA practical and theory courses in Tidal waters, perfect for those learning to sail with Competent Crew or for the more experienced Day Skippers wanting to take their first command. Of course the Ayamonte area is perfect for practicing pilotage techniques and will test higher level sailor looking to earn themselves the coveted Yachtmaster Offshore and Coastal qualifications.
Courses start every sunday night and finish on Saturday, so take advantage of low cost airlines into Faro International airport and join us for a weeks sailing in the Spanish and Algarve sun. Contact us 00 34 695 326 184 for more details and availability.

San Pedro Feria Nautica

Marina Salinas in San Pedro is hosting a used Boat Show or Feria Nautica with various other nautical sector on display, whilst not quite what we have come to expect from a used boat show organised in the UK, but it should be nice to wonder around the boats and speak to those in the know. These types of shows are important to raise awareness of whats on offer in the Murcia Region and they can only succeed with your support, so pop down to the marina, have a coffee and get behind the idea, then maybe one day it will grow into something really worthwhile.

Ibiza to Gibraltar

Our recent adventures have seen us sailing from Barcelona to Ibiza and then onto Gibraltar, some amazing sailing on the way and lots of interesting places were visited. Our mile building trips are an excellent way of gaining quality sea miles and qualifying passages that can be used towards the Yachtmaster qualifications.
Our next adventure is planned for the 25th March when we set sail from Cartagena towards the Straits of Gibraltar, we stil have a couple of spaces avalable so dont miss out and see Spain from a diferrent angle.

Barcelona to Gibraltar

The Costa Brava is renowned for its Tramontana and on arrival in L'Escala it was blowing hard, delayed by 2 days we slipped on Wednesday morning and set sail for Ibiza via Barcelona, blowing hard we had some biggish seas and strong winds providing some exhilirating sailing. Spending the night in San Antonio was a pleasant surprise as most of it was closed down with it being out of season, the marina is fantastic and very well priced. The staff could not have been more helpful and it was a delight to be there, something I thought I would not be saying about San Antonio. Although the prosepect of Friday night in Ibiza sounds amazing, the crew and skipper were feeling the trip so far and opted for an early night as we planned to leave the following afternoon and we had to tidy the boat.
The intention was to make for Cartagena but winds played there part and finally we made for San Pedro having experienced good wind then total calm before the winds picked up again allowing to sail within a mile of the harbour. During the calm of the day we sighted numerous turtles and had a magical encounter with 2 pilot whales. San Pedro provided a great pilotage exercise closing it from seaward and avoiding the fish farms using only a hand bearing compass and the lights. Having identified a safe route around the farms we found that the West Cardinal bouys were unlit so extra caution was needed. Despite arriving late, the crew rested well and were fighting fit the following morning as we made for the Mar Menor and passed under the impressive lifting bridge. Meeting up with El Rubicon and her all femal crew we had lunch then departed once again under reefed sails as we beat our way around Cabo de Palos, the shipping lanes seemed extra busy and provided plenty of opportunity to study the lights and apply the colregs. With the wind easing in the early hours we called into Garrucha to see the new pontoons which give the place a fresh new feel and more importantly allowing  secure stop over when sailing this stretch of coastline, something that until now has been greatly missing. Now heading for Motril the wind is due to increase again this afternoon  to E3/4 just in time for us to take advantage if it and sail round Cabo de Gata.
Night sailing has been wonderful under the full moon and with being slightly offshore the stars have been impressive to say the least, with only a few more days to go until we arrive in Gibrlatar the crew is planning a stop over in Marbella before the final leg.
If you are interested in joining a mile building trip from Cartagena to Gibraltar on the 25th March contact us today for more information.

First weeks sailing

Our first week of the season has been a fantastic and varied week. Unfortunately the winds have been light and the nights rather chilly but that didn't stop some great sailing at times and gave us a chance to fly the spinnaker. Testing the crew on their colregs was more difficult as there were very few other vessels to practice on, so with light winds and few other boats there was plenty of pilotage and compass navigation practice.

Go n sail webpage update

We are in the process of updating the go n sail website, to include a new range of services and boats available for charter, thinking of chartering a yacht in Spain this year, then make sure you pay us a visit. Yacht charters available by the day, week or longer.

If there are any other features that you would like to see on the new site, please let us know.
Don't forget to visit the site and see whats new for this year http://www.gonsail.com/

Yachtmaster Prep week and Exam

Are you ready to earn yourself one of sailing most sought after qualifications? Yachtmaster prep week will take place week commencing the 15th April. Fine tune your skills and sit the coveted RYA/MCA Examination. Improve your chance of success with our policy of only teaching 3 students per yacht, add to that our personal and attentive instructors, dedicated to helping you be the best sailor you can be. Book today only 585€ plus RYA Exam fee

Competent Crew and Day Skipper Courses

Our great value RYA sailing courses will be available in Isla Canela from the 8th April. Learn to sail with our Competent Crew course or Day Skipper can complete Tidal courses from our new base, chosen for its ability to provide navigational and tidal challenges, perfect for giving you all the necessary skills to become a competent sailor. Courses start every Sunday, fly into Faro and join us for a great week sailing in the Sun!

Mar Menor Canal

The Canal which joins the Mar Menor to the Mediterranean is silting up and with this bout of high pressure is leaving minimum depths of 2.1 m in places, including the bouyed channel, making it marginal for many yachts. Proceed slowly and keep a close eye on the depth gauge, fortunately most of the bottom is sand so no real harm should come from a low speed nudge. More worrying is that when mentioning this problem to the Port Authorities there is no definitive plans to dredge due to Government Restrictions, so the problem will only continue to get worse. Sailors looking to access/depart from the Mar Menor should arrive with plenty of time to pass under the lifting bridge, current lift times are 10.00,12.00,14.00,16.00, 18.00 and 20.00 hours.

Mile-builder Cartagena to Gibraltar

We have yacht leaving Cartagena on the 25th March arriving in Gibraltar the 30th/31st March. Limited spaces available. Perfect for qualifying miles and passages towards Yachtmaster, also excellent for Competent Crew and those with adventurous spirits looking for a different way to travel.
Full board with evening meals whilst underway, otherwise eat ashore. Take advantage of cheap flights into Murcia San Javier and fly out from Gibraltar or Malaga. Great experience on fully coded boat with RYA Instructor only 585 €. To book call Debbie 00 34 695 326 184. 

Sailing Taster Days

Back by popular demand, we are offering our Try a Sail days over the weekends during March. So if you've ever sat on a beach in awe of the yachts sailing by and wished that was you, well nows your chance. Come along for the day, get involved with hosting the sails, pulling a few lines and even try your hand at helming. With a bit of luck, you may even like it!

No experience necessary as the purpose of the day is to introduce sailing to novices and give them the opportunity to have some FUN. Booking is necessary so give Debbie a call 695 326 184 and put your name down.

Light lunch provided, cost for the day is 50€ p.p. Departs Tomas Maestre 10.30am on Saturdays and Sundays.

VHF Radio Course

We have a VHF radio operator licence course running on Sunday 4th March. Learn to communicate at sea and how to raise the alarm in the event of serious mishaps. Also get to grips with the phoenetic alphabet and gain an in depth knowledge of safety and rescue at sea.
Practice on our training radios and experience the simplicity of Digital Selective Calling (DSC)

Cost is 120€ p.p plus a 30GBP licence fee payable to the RYA 
Spaces are limited so give Debbie a call on (+34) 968 143 718/695 326 184 to reserve your place

Electronic Navigation

Talking to fellow sailors and students, it is worrying that there appears to be an over reliance on technology. With the accuracy of modern GPS its hard not to rely on it but when I hear of people running aground in areas clearly marked on the charts as shallow, I have to question the logic in putting your confidence (and lives) in the hands of the little electric box. Surely common sense and your own eyes should at least prompt you to double check your position if the shoreline appears closer than it should, even if the gadget tells you, you are fine.
Passage planning and basic navigation should form the backbones of any trip, regardless of where you are and the distance you intend to travel. Solas regulations also require us to record our trip .i.e. fill in the ships log. The answer is simple, plan and monitor your outings on the water, pre-plan, identify hazards, set a safe depth and make regularly entries in the log. Whilst you there, pop a mark on the papre chart and look around to confirm that you are seeing what you should be.
If its been a while since you practiced traditional navigation skills, brush up with a 2 day Basic Navigation or 5 day Day/Coastal Skipper shorebased theory courses. Navigation is like any skill, no matter how competent you were, if you don't practice frequently those skills will slip away. Enjoy the challenges of seamanship and arrive safely at your destination, I am not saying throw the GPS away, but get back into the habit of using depth contours, 3 point fix and landmarks to help you on your way. With a little extra attention and effort we can all stay safe on the water and enjoy letting those everyday stresses slip away. Who know's you may even enjoy the challenges of using the traditional techniques.

ICC course

Spanish Authorities require all boat skippers to carry an ICC licence aboard, so get legal and stay on the right side of the law with our 2 day ICC course running on the 10/11th March. This 2 day course not only helps you comply with Spanish Maritime Regulations but also gives you access to the instructors knowledge and the chance to receive personal tuition. Call us for more details 695 326 184

Sailing Masterclass

Thinking of learning to sail or improve skills and reach the next level. Look no further, our low student instructor ratio of 3:1 on sailing courses guarantees you the very best learning experience. Many sailing schools teach 5 students per yacht which not only makes them cramped but also means that you are only involved part time. With our low student ratio you are involved nearly 100% of the time enhancing your learning experience, helping you get the most from your training provider.
Some schools offer a Sailing Masterclass at premium rates, but with Mar Menor Sea School every class is a Masterclass, our philosphy is simply to provide the very best training available making you a safer and better sailor.

Tidal sailing courses

You can now take your Day and Coastal Skipper courses in tidal waters with Mar Menor Sea School. Courses start in April from our new base in Isla Canela, fly into Faro and the yacht is less than 60 km away. Day Skippers can get to grips with navigation, pilotage and boat handling in tidal marinas. Coastal Skippers will find the nearby estuaries challenging and there is plenty of opportunity to practice blind pilotage and eye-ball navigation. For novices the Competent Crew course can be taken in either tidal or non-tidal waters.  When starting out there is normally enough to take in without worrying about running aground or which way the tide is running.

Mar Menor Bridge Times

Following a week of rather blustery weather, conditions appear to be returning to the normal sailing winds we tend to experience in this area. With our minds now set on getteing afloat again, we checked the Mar Menor access bridge for lifting times and can confirm that they are currently opening on the even hour between 10.00 and 20.00 hours

Biscay Adventure

We have some clients looking to bring their own Westerly Oceanlord from Troon down to the Med. The trip is likely to go ahead in June and they are looking for a couple of experienced hands to help with the delivery through Biscay. This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to gain some offshore experience and travel to the Med in time for summer.
Please email me if you are interested so I can put in contact with the owners

Getting ready for 2012

2012 is hopefully looking like a good year so far, with bookings coming in and enquiries up on last year. Its full speed ahead as we try to get Mar Menor Sea School ready for the coming season, the boat has been lifted and is now on the hard for antifouling and a polish. There a new mainsail to bend on but we are still trying to source a genoa, the existing one is still good but it would be nice to have a complete new suite to play with.
RYA courses start on the 12th February so we have to be ship shape and Bristol fashion for our first guests then.