IN OUR EXPERIENCE...

A FEW DAYS AT ANCHOR IS PART OF THE FUN

We are a family of four: Bruce, Abi, Skye (7) and Savannah (5), with a Warrior 40 based in Gosport. One of our highlights last season was our dawn sail from Yarmouth to Worbarrow Bay and two days at anchor, giving the kids the chance to swim in the sea, go paddle boarding, sail our Tinker dinghy, and explore the cliffs and rock pools looking for fossils. We could see them learning new skills and growing in confidence from the freedom and independence. Abi Kavanagh

LIFE DOESN’T GET MUCH BETTER THAN SAILING JUST THE TWO OF US

A lot has changed since I first took my daughter sailing nine years ago. My daughter is no longer a baby but a spritely nine-year-old who seems to have already entered her teens. I’m also no longer married and it’s just the two of us. Ella enjoys going down to the boat as much as she enjoys going out on it. Our time together is special; if we motor to Cowes on a hot afternoon, buy an ice-cream, walk along the front then go out for pizza, life doesn’t get much better, for either of us. Graham Snook

I’M 18 AND CAN NOW SKIPPER ON MY OWN

I have sailed all my life with my family in our Cornish Crabber 24 and more recently on Rhùm, a Beneteau Oceanis 361. Now I’m 18, I can skipper Rhùm with my mates without the family. My younger brother and I have been treated to lots of adventures. We spent many weekends onboard, as well as a week or two at a time in May and August. I love entering new harbours. Going into Poole Harbour for the first time, where we explored the creeks and islands, was a real highlight. Olly Perkins