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A
wind’s in the heart
of
me,
a fire in my heels
Marian and Caroline (clearly
wishing they were back in the office!) head towards Skye
At anchor - Night falls over
Loch Drumbuie
A still Morning off Inverie
Caroline & Penny Relaxing
in Chloe's saloon
Sunset over the Sound of Mull
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About
Chloe May
Holidays &
Voyages
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An excellent way to get a general feel for our holidays is
to take
a look at the photos on this site, but here are some frequently asked
questions which might help you further...
| Is
sailing experience necessary? |
No sailing experience is
necessary, though many of our customers are
experienced sailors. If you’re new to sailing, just come equipped with
a love of the outdoors, a sense of adventure, a willingness to muck in
with all aspects of sailing and crewing a ship and a desire to
learn. If you are a complete beginner you will be amazed at how much
you learn within a week, and, who knows, the seeds of a lifetime’s
interest in sailing may be
sown!
| What
if I am
an experienced sailor? |
Don’t worry, your talents as an old salt will not be wasted. There is
always plenty to do aboard a gaffer and you are sure to get the chance
to practice old skills and add new one’s to your repertoire. If, like
many modern sailors, you’ve never sailed a gaffer before then this will
be a salutary and fulfilling experience.
| Do
I need to be physically fit? |
Sailing is a physical activity, so a reasonable level of physical
fitness is important. Having said that, you don't need to be an athlete
or weightlifter. We don’t expect anyone to be
able to lift heavy weights or shin up the mast (unless they volunteer!)
If you do have a medical condition, or a physical weakness, consult
your
doctor and please let us know before you come
| Do
I need any specialised gear? |
No, we provide high quality, breathable waterproof gear, lifejackets
etc. Just bring along warm clothing, a pair of ordinary wellies or
walking boots and a sleeping bag.
| Who
will skipper the boat? |
We use only hand-picked seasoned skippers, who we know can not only
sail safely and efficiently but who have the temperament, experience
and culinary skills to ensure that everyone aboard has a great holiday.
Skippers who fail in any of these departments are not invited back!
| How
many people will there be aboard? |
Chloe will sleep 8 people (at a pinch!) and will easily (and legally
accommodate ten people for day trips).
On day trips you could
therefore be mingling with up to nine
other people
On weekend trips we aim for a
maximum of eight people aboard
(two
professional crew and six guests).
On week long trips eight
becomes rather claustrophobic and we aim to
carry a maximum of seven
people (two professional crew and five guests).
| What
are conditions like aboard? |
If you don’t
fancy the idea of caravaning (to give a rough terrestrial analogy) then
give a sailing holiday some serious thought!
Like most small craft, communal living is the norm, and a certain lack
of space and privacy must be expected. On the up-side Chloe’s
celebrated woodburning stove means that you need never be cold
and she
does have a small (but perfectly formed) separate toilet and ample
standing headroom.
If
you’re not
sure about one of her longer trips why not try a classic weekend first?
If you like what you experience, as a previous customer, you then
qualify for a 10% discount on future
trips!
| What
about food and drink? |
Fresh, tasty food is an important factor in an enjoyable holiday, and
we pride ourselves on the quality of our meals. Don’t expect Cordon
Bleu cuisine, but fresh ingredients form the basis of most
meals and packets and cans are kept to a minimum. Chloe’s well equipped
galley mean that hot drinks and meals of
ample
quality and quantity are always on the go. All food and drink (exluding
alcoholic drink) is included in the price of your trip.
As far as booze goes, alcohol is not allowed whilst sailing, but after
we’re safely anchored, or tied up in port what better way to round off
the day than with a good meal and a tipple? Alcoholic drinks are not
provided aboard, but please feel free to bring your
own
| What
if the weather is poor? |
Any outdoor activity (especially in the UK) runs the risk of the
weather putting a damper on things. It is often the case, however, that
the weather enjoyed even a couple of miles out to sea can be better
than that experience by landlubbers in the same region.
Don’t worry; if the weather does turn poor we simply take on less
ambitious passages, and allow more time for exploration ashore. It also
gives us the excuse to get Chloe’s famous wood burning stove going and
enjoy a dram and a yarn, or simply a quiet read around the saloon
table.
It is reassuring to know that if, by some freak chance, we are caught
out at sea in less than clement weather, then Chloe is definitely the
boat to be in. Her fine sea-keeping qualities and heavy displacement
mean she can handle (and has!) even the toughest conditions and can
look after her crew in both safety and comfort.
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