Channel Islands and Normandy Cruise

From our base in Hamble near Southampton, the French coast and the Channel Isles are just a day-sail away. Normandy and the Channel Isles are a lovely cruising ground and our Skipper has been sailing this coast for over 25 years so knows it pretty well. 

Day 1: Join the yacht on the river Hamble mid afternoon where you will be welcomed by the skipper and crew, you will meet the other guests and be shown over Annabel J and given a short safety briefing. You will be issued with foul weather gear and a life-jacket and shown where to stow your gear. We will then set sail into the Solent to a tranquil anchorage for the night. Unlike modern yachts, your sailing holiday on Annabel J is very much a hands-on experience and you will be fully involved in steering, navigating, hoisting and trimming her sails. The 1st day of your sailing holiday will conclude with supper and refreshments and a briefing on the next day's voyage.

Day 2: Will start very early as you head off for you first day's off-shore sailing. The main aim of this day will be to have fun getting to know how to sail the boat and will be spent sailing along the coast or across the Channel and covering the many evolutions required to handle her powerful rig. In spite of her large sail area, Annabel J has very few winches - but remember, these boats used to be handled by a man and boy! Meals will be taken afloat with the aim to arrive at a destination in the evening. During the sailing holiday you will take part in watch keeping, navigation, sail trimming preparing meals and all aspects of running the ship. After a rewarding channel crossing you will arrive in the Channel Isles or one of the many picturesque Normandy ports such as St Vaast.

Day 3: You will have time to walk ashore before setting off along the coast to our next destination. We will aim to catch the tide for a beautiful sailing trip to the Channel Islands where you can explore the delightful Islands of Guernsey and Alderney with its beautiful beaches or hire a bicycle and explore further afield. You might even see one of these islands colony of puffins. If the weather and tides are favorable we may sail south to the wonderful Brittany Coast and explore the beautiful ports of Treguier and Paimpol.

Day 4 & 5: Further Channel Isles and French ports will be discovered and more sailing skills learnt. There will always be a balance between the sailing and sight-seeing.

Fresh seafood is the specialty of these ports and the evening can be spent discovering the delights of the restaurants or, why not return to the yacht and chill-out with some local wine and food on the deck, just watching the world go by..

Day 6: The time has come to reach for home and we will probably enjoy a night passage as the aim would be to arrive home in the morning on the last day. For those who have not sailed at night before, you will find the experience very exciting as you identify the navigation marks and ships by their light signals. Annabel is equipped with the latest navigation aids including a RADAR and AIS and you will be shown how they are used to assist in the navigation of the ship. By now sailing Annabel will be second nature and you will be reefing and trimming her sails like an old hand.