Do you know someone who has sailed a bit or would like to have a go, then this is a sailing experience that’s guaranteed to raise a smile.

Give them the chance to crew an Ocean Race Yacht, on this fast-moving, exciting day out. With a real hands-on focus participants have the opportunity to try all aspects of sailing one of these famous yachts, from taking the wheel and steering the 60ft yacht as she speeds past the other yachts in the Solent or trying winching as we put the yacht through its paces.

It's action packed and fun as all the crew work together to get the most out of one of these powerful and fast yachts.

After meeting our crew in the morning participants are shown to their yacht where there is a short safety brief before slipping lines and motoring out into open water. Then it’s all hands on deck as we hoist the giant sails and set sail towards the Solent. There will be plenty of opportunity to put any existing sailing skills into practice and learn new ones as we put the yacht through its paces. Lunch is normally served under sail, racing style, before we cruise back to Southampton.

Our best-selling sailing experience, this gift promises a great day out for both experienced and novice sailors alike!

Useful notes:

Where we sail: On the Solent, from Southampton in 2010 (Hamble in 2011)

Event time: 10am to 4pm

Maximum participants: 12

Dates on Friday, Saturday or Sunday: Aboard yacht Clipper 60 Taeping April to November.

Dates on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday: Aboard yacht Whitbread 60 Blueprint 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 and a short ladder on Taeping, if you think you might need assistance to move around, we would ask you book with someone who can give you a helping hand.

Most frequently asked question about this sailing experience:

This trip is available on both C-60 Taeping and W-60 Blueprint, what is the difference between the two yachts?

W-60 Blueprint finished second in a professional round the world yacht race and C-60 Taeping was a participant in an amateur round the world race. Therefore the systems, design and sail plan of W-60 Blueprint are more powerful and advanced than those on C-60 Taeping. W-60 Blueprint also has a very open plan deck incorporating “coffee grinders” (the upright winching system most famously seen on America’s Cup Yachts), whereas C-60 Taeping has a cockpit you can sit in.

The great thing about this gift is that the recipient can choose which they prefer with more experienced sailors normally preferring W-60 Blueprint midweek and novice sailors choosing C-60 Taeping at weekends.