The Whitbread 60 Experience £179
Sail aboard Whitbread 60 Blueprint, a pedigree round the world ocean race yacht and former monohull speed record holder. Enjoy the thrill of taking the helm of this famous yacht, as we effortlessly power past the other yachts in the Solent. Test your strength on the coffee grinders as we hoist and trim the massive sails or take the opportunity to work on the foredeck. You will also get a chance to sit on the high side and enjoy the way she smoothly cuts through the water as she readily reaches breathtaking speeds."This is a taste of what it's like for the ocean warriors who pit themselves against the worst the oceans can throw at them, sailing at breakneck speeds in the pursuit of a podium position. In its day, this boat was one of the fastest on the planet - this is a rare opportunity to experience life aboard a professional ocean race yacht..."
On arrival you will have an opportunity to look around this unique vessel, which is still in original race condition, before a short safety brief. Then we will slip lines and motor out into clear water where you will have your first taste of the power of this special yacht as you hoist the sails.
You will be actively involved in crewing the yacht throughout the day, taking turns to sample all the roles aboard a professional race yacht. Our crew will be on hand throughout the day to guide you through all the maneuvers and to answer any questions you may have.
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8:30 - 9:00: Meet us in our office in the marina for a tea or coffee whilst everyone arrives.
9:00 - 9:45: Your Skipper and Crew for the day will fit you with lifejackets and take you to the boat for a quick look around before a full safety brief is given and everyone rigs the boat ready for sea. At this stage you will be hands on getting the sails ready, leading the ropes and getting used to the boat.
9:45: Depart the marina and motor down the River Hamble to the Solent where we hoist our sails and get underway.
13:00: Lunch is served under sail after a morning of cruising around the Solent.
15:30: After an afternoon of sailing and boat manoeuvres, we arrive back outside the River Hamble and drop the sails before we motor back up the River to the Marina.
16:00: Depart the boat.
Where we sail: On the Solent, from HYS Marina in Hamble
Event time: 9am to 4pm
Maximum participants: 12
Boat: Whitbread 60 Blueprint
When: Selected Saturdays and Sundays from April to September.
Participants must be at least 12 to come on this day and if they are 12 to 17 they must book with a parent or guardian. There is no upper age limit.
There are a number of steep steps on Blueprint so if you think you might need assistance to move around, we would ask you book with someone who can give you a helping hand.
What is the difference between the Whitbread 60 Experience and the Ocean Race Yacht Experience?
The Whitbread 60 Experience is an hour longer than the Ocean Race Yacht Experience as well as only being available on Saturdays or Sundays. The Ocean Race Experience is also available on W-60 Blueprint but on midweek dates only. Both events are very hands on, although we are normally able to push the yacht a little harder on the Whitbread 60 Experience as nearly all participants have previous sailing experience.
I would just like to say "a big thank you" for a wonderful day's sailing on the Whitbread 60 last Saturday. I must say it was even better than I thought it was going to be, great boat, great day's sailing in fairly good winds, and a very good and friendly crew - both the professionals and the visiting crew.
I found the whole day very enjoyable (apart for the dreaded winching!), and it certainly has made me fully aware of how much work and effort the crews have in a round the world race. The skipper was in great form with good humour and interesting explanations of how things really are when racing. The two other professional crew were very good as well, and many thanks for the flowing coffee during the day. Alan
