Relaxing the hard way
Italy is famous for its wonderful food, so can you get fit – and still feast – on a holiday there? CHRIS WILTSHIRE certainly thinks so
OUR sailing instructor’s disarming smile and laidback demeanour gives little hint of the drama that is about to unfold. “I hear there’s a wind line coming, but you’ll be fine,” he assures us as we gather for the start of Neilson’s weekly regatta, bedecked in red buoyancy aids, faded T-shirts and lashings of sun cream.
Wind line? I look around at my fellow competitors for signs of concern.
I’m sure “wind line” hasn’t been discussed at our daily intermediates class at Airone, the new Neilson resort in Calabria. It’s no big deal.
Within minutes, the 20 or so of us are bobbing along on the shimmering sea, trying to catch the breeze.
But when the weather suddenly turns, a gust of wind hits my sail and catches me off-guard, forcing me to duck under the swinging boom.
Then the ripples of water develop into waves. The wind line, a stretch of darker water which had been spotted from the beach lookout post, has arrived.
But it comes with much bigger waves than the race marshals had anticipated.
The race is swiftly called off and I turn for home, wrestling with a wind that has dramatically switched from force two to force five, gusting to force six.
Minutes later, I’m back on terra firma, relieved to have avoided a complete soaking and elated to have taken part in such a thrilling afternoon’s action.
I check the time and dig out the rather soggy daily sports schedule from my back pocket. Excellent! There’s still time for beach volleyball and tennis before sundowners.
My wife, Carole, gives a resigned sigh. “Can’t you take it easy just for a minute?” she asks.
The Neilson motto ‘Relax as hard as you like’ springs to mind. Not only is it fun, but it’s a brilliant way to shape up my ageing frame and keep off the pounds, even if the daily supply of pasta, pizza and panna cotta makes it a losing battle.
Fortunately, I’m surrounded by plenty of like-minded people who relish a challenge and love a spot of competition.
At the week’s first briefing, barely a handful of hands go up among the 200-plus guests when asked if they are new to Neilson holidays. It’s a remarkable testament to a brand that knows what its clients like and consistently delivers.
Most have been to other summer resorts, in Greece (of which there are seven), Sardinia and Croatia, and are keen to see how Airone, which lies in the toe of the foot of Italy, shapes up.
A strip of pine woodland separates the white sandy beach from an impressive pink hotel and villa complex, giving the large pools shelter from onshore winds.
Four new tennis courts – at certain weeks of the year run by former professional Mark Petchey – plus table tennis tables, a basketball court and the renowned kids clubs are all in easy walking distance.
Dozens of road and mountain bikes are freely available at the cycle centre, with the latest GPS devices helping guests navigate the medieval villages and rolling hills surrounding the resort.
And a large, airy sun deck on top of the hotel offers space for daily Zumba, Pilates and yoga lessons, with spectacular views across the region.
It’s an idyllic spot to warm up for the day’s action.
As someone who throws themselves into activity holidays a little too literally, I’m delighted to see a plush treatment room is available to massage my aching limbs and, no doubt, my battered pride.
All of the resorts have their own quirks and idiosyncrasies, but the high quality food is a given. The buffet restaurant shuts on three evenings a week, encouraging guests to head into nearby villages to sample the local cuisine, although the huge pizzas cooked beside the club bar prove too tempting for us to venture far.
We leave with many new friends and memories, but the highlight is re-acquainting myself with the delights of sailing and getting shipshape again.
Thanks to the encouragement and patience of the instructors, I come within a smidgen of completing my Royal Yachting Association Level 2 exam – something I had no intention of pursuing before I arrived.
I learn afterwards that it would cost me the best part of £600 to complete the course back home, but it’s all part of the service at Neilson.
It’ll give me the perfect excuse to return to Airone.