Staycations have never been so popular! With widespread travel restrictions still in place, many Brits are cancelling their summer plans abroad – if they even bothered to make any in the first place – and holidaying at home in the UK instead. And while the weather can be temperamental at times, the UK has so much to offer, even for local travellers.
If you’re longing for a unique holiday experience, hiring a private yacht charter and spending the day out on one of the UK’s many rivers and lakes, or perhaps even sailing down the English Channel, could be just what you’re after. While most holidaymakers look to iconic destinations like the French Riviera, the Seychelles and Croatia when planning a sailing trip, the UK has a lot to offer. It is an island, after all. Whether you’re travelling solo, as a family or with a grsoup of friends, there are plenty of boats and vessels for you to choose from.
So, ditch your passport and get fully ‘on board’ with a UK staycation with a difference. Here’s everything you need to know about renting a sailboat charter in the UK this summer:
What boat can I hire?
Depending on what your requirements are in terms of budget, size of boat or length of charter and number of passengers, rest assured there are lots of vessels out there for you to choose from. Click&Boat, the leading boat rental company, has over 40,000 boats docked around the world, with many of them available to hire in destinations across the UK.
There are so many different luxury boats you can charter, from motor yachts and catamarans to speedboats, rowing boats, sailboats and more.
Whichever kind of boat you choose to charter, it should come with all the equipment you’ll need for your sailing adventure. However, it always pays to carry some spare yacht rope with you for mooring and anchoring. Ropes Direct offers an extensive and reliable range of yacht, dinghy and marine ropes at at reasonable prices.
The best boating destinations in the UK
The Lake District
One of the most popular tourism destinations in the UK, the Lake District is renowned for its beautiful lakes and bodies of water. This also makes it a popular destination to rent a sailboat charter; Lake Windermere – the largest lake in the district – is renowned for sailing.
Southampton
Southampton is actually the UK’s top sailing destination and it’s easy to see why; the city is brimming with marinas and harbours full of private yachts to rent, giving you plenty of opportunities to explore the beautiful south coast or sail across the English Channel to France.
Isle of Wight
If competitive sailing is more your thing, head to the Isle of Wight for plenty of events that’ll enable you to put your skills to the test.
Cowes Week Regatta is the biggest sailing event in the UK, not to mention being a staple feature of the British sailing calendar. Throughout the space of just one week, over 1,000 boats compete in up to 40 races per day!
The cost of a private yacht charter in the UK
If you need to stick to a tight budget when planning your staycation adventure, don’t worry; hiring a boat isn’t always as expensive as you might think! There are plenty of boats to suit your needs, from sailboats and catamarans, to yachts and motorboats.
An average sailboat charter can cost anywhere from £70 a day (for a smaller modeL), up to £800 (for a luxury boat). For a week-long sailing holiday, you’ll need to charter a larger boat or motor yacht to accommodate you. These can be pricer, costing between £1,200 to £11,000 per week, dependent on what kind of boat you opt for.
If you can’t quite stretch to hiring a one of these, and you’re not dreaming of a far-flung destination like the Seychelles, you could also consider a canal boat holiday instead.
Have you ever been on a yachting holiday? Leave a comment below to let me know how it went!