Stainless Steel Welding

Having just had a rather expensive and not particularly professional weld modification to our pulpit in order to comply with British coding, I sit back and wonder if anybody else has experienced such a high priced service. So in order to get a better picture of the overall boating services in Spain, I thought I would ask if anybody has any recent experiences. Lets have it all, whether it's good, bad or simply missing...

Where did the time go???

It seems unbelievable that its been so long since our last post, with so much social media it seems a full time job keeping on top of facebook, twitter, websites and all the other tag on sites...

On a more positive note the 2015 sailing season is just around the corner for us, El Rubicon was lifted at the end of the year and has benefited from ongoing maintenance, such as new seacocks, rudder bearings and stern gland, there is still a bit more to do but she will be ship shape and Bristol fashion for courses starting on the 8th February.

We have settled in nicely to our new home in Ayamonte and keep on discovering hidden gems that make this area so special, the decision to move the base was not taken lightly so I am pleased to report that it was a good move, there is much more sailing going on down here and with the option to sail in Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar and Morocco there is never a dull moment.

As mentioned sailing courses resume in February and there has never been a better time to join us. The Pound gives more Euro for your money and getting here is straightforward so if you have been considering your first steps aboard with a Competent Crew course or perhaps improving current skills taking them to the next level all you need to do is get in touch and discuss dates and book yourself on the right course.

In true Go-n-sail tradition we have a few special trips planned for this year,.. so if you can be tempted with an unforgettable trip to Cadiz and Seville or maybe our Moroccon Adventure is more your cup of tea, just get in touch and we will take care of the rest.

So to all friends - past, present and future we wish you safe and Happy sailing and look forward to catching up with you on the Ocean waves.

Another year passes by

Its December already, where did the year go?
Well to begin with it started with return flights from the Caribbean and Xmas in the UK, before flying back to Spain to finish El Rubicon's dry docking and prepare her for the coming season which kicked off in March and has remained pretty much non-stop until now. New sails were fitted and our Yachtmaster Fastrack students got to grips with the yacht on the Costas Blanca and Calida before heading out to Ibiza and then onto the Costa de la Luz and Portuguese Algarve before sitting the coveted Yachtmaster Exam.
It was always our intention to relocated the sailing school and now it was time to rename from Mar Menor Sea School to Go-n-sail which avoids tying us to an area. Re-branding done it was time to complete additional research into the area before returning to the Mar Menor and our popular charter season and sailing trips in Mazarron. The summer passed in the blink of an eye and once we had exhibited at the Southampton Boat-Show it was time to set sail again for Ayamonte, our new home.
We are settling in nicely and still very much finding our way round our new area, it continues to impress us and it appears that we have chosen our new venue wisely. One of the immediate problems of finding yourself in a new area is that all previous business contacts go out the window and you find yourself alone. Choosing a place to leave El Rubicon for a couple of months was not easy but we settled on the Nave Pegos or more commonly known Bruces's yard at Faro, which apart from the unusual and very shallow approach seems to tick all the box's for us. We are now taking a month or so off to recharge our batteries before returning to complete our winter routine maintenance and putting the boat back in the water.
We are not expecting to resume sail training before mid February but will be raring to go as demand picks up and the weather warms again, even in the last few days of November we were flying the Crusinig chute as we sailed along the Algarve in the sun, the days are still warm but the nights are somewhat chillier, even still it proves it is possible to sail in Ayamonte year round.
Check our facebook page or sign up for our newsletter to receive special offers and 2014 itinerary, we hope you can join us in the forthcoming year but in the meantime I would like to wish you all a very Merry Xmas and fair winds whatever your destination.

Is summer finally over

It seems strange to be saying this with Xmas just around the corner but summer finally appears to be over. Having spent the last months in little more than shorts and t-shirts we had a rude awakening this week with near freezing overnight temperatures and rather fresh days. The sun is still shining, but with teeth rattling winds from the North it means the shorts have been retired and with a pending trip to the UK are unlikely to re-appear in the immediate future.
Are the cooler temperatures down to Global warming or is it just that we are well into winter who knows, maybe its just that having experienced such fine weather to date, it would seem that we had not appreciated just how late into the year we really are. It goes to prove that you really can sail in this part of Spain year round and despite the cooler temperatures we are currently experiencing the days are still rather pleasant - albeit you need a few extra layers.
So once Xmas is over and done with, why not try something new and join our Day Skipper navigation courses which will be running throughout February and March. By the end of March we are expecting the shorts to re-appear and it is the perfect time to get afloat and learn new skills in time for Spring and Summer 2014.
To find out more about learning to sail in Spain or improving existing skills, please contact us or post a reply on the blog.
It may have turned chilly but temperatures are still far more pleasant than most British Summers...

VHF radio course in Ayamonte (November)

We have a VHF radio course running in Ayamonte on the 23rd November, learn about communication at sea plus find out how the Rescue service use modern technologies to co-ordinate rescues and save lives.

This is so much more than just a radio course and from 1st January 2014 new regulations mean that the course needs to be taught over 2 days and the current 1 day course will cease to exist, so get in early and get qualified before the changes.

To find out more about the VHF radio content  and training day, drop us a line or call Debbie on 00 34 695 326 184 or UK local rate call 0872 426 0837. Cost is 120€ per person plus 30GBP fee payable to the RYA for the licence.

Yachtmaster training takes us into the Algarve

Building up to a Yachtmaster prep week one of the guys needs a few more miles just to make sure they exceed the 2500Nm qualifying miles, so with a favourable forecast and beautiful clear skies we are sailing along the Algarve which is proving interesting for the crew as well as taking them out of their comfort zone as we cruise new grounds. During the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster exam there is quite rightly a lot of emphasis placed on pilotage techniques so what better way to practice this than visit unfamiliar harbours and anchorages whilst also incorporating key skills such as MOB and picking up mooring buoys under sail.

Currently in Vilamoura we plan to take on additional crew before heading to Portimao, Lagos and Albufeira on our return leg to Ayamonte before an intensive final few days of preparation before the big day.

If you think you have what it takes to become a Yachtmaster or are simply up for a sailing adventure, drop us a line to find out more about our sail training course in Spain or adventure holidays.

Good luck to the boys next week

New Ayamonte Sailing Centre is open for business

Having left the shores of La Manga and the Mar Menor behind us, we are now fully open for business from our tidal sailing school based in Ayamonte on the Costa de la Luz or Spanish Algarve as it is better known.
From this unique location on the river Guadiana we are offering the full range of RYA sailing courses and navigation theory along with VHF radio (SRC) and First Aid training.
So if you fancy learning some new skills this winter why not join us for a practical learn to sail week or enrol on one of our Navigation theory courses that will be taking place over the winter months. What better time to learn new skills, meet like-minded people and get trained in time to get maximum enjoyment form the 2014 boating season.
It may be winter but the weather is still pleasant and you really can sail here year round, so just because the shorts have gone away for a few months doesn't mean that you cannot still enjoy the great outdoors, dig out those jumpers and lets go sailing.
To find out more details on our sailing and navigation courses, contact us or call Debbie on 00 34 695 326184 or UK local rate call 0872 426 0837