The Jersey Sailing Trust has a useful collection of elegant yachts that are available to anyone who would like to experience the wind over water under sail.
Yachts of the same design have crossed the Atlantic. Indeed this particular yacht has cruised the English Channel since about 1974. Not that she is old but she is in a class of her own with fine wooden steering wheel and teak deck.
In the last two years the yacht has introduced scores of people to sailing offshore of Jersey and she still has new places to visit.
A typical weekend with Raddedas would be a "first light" or early morning departure from St Helier to Granville arriving in plenty of time to explore the town and its many restaurants. The option to sleep on board is always open and the following morning breakfast with fresh croixants is a very tempting thought along with the "cafe life" just watching the French go by. Alternatively the yacht could anchor in the peaceful channel next to the main island of Chausey and walk the coastal path past the lighthouse and the rock that looks uncannily like a elephant. The voyage home is often accompanied by pods Dolphins and spectacular diving Gannets.
Alternatively the yacht may leave on the Friday night heading for St Peter Port to arrive in time for breakfast with a little shopping and lunch. The crew then has the option to stay in the marina over night or cruise eastwards towards Sark passing the other islands of Herm & Jethou. Lunch in Sark is usually preceded by a strenuous walk up the Harbour Hill or the cliff path from Dixcart Bay past one or two hotels and bars.
For those who are not quite sure of their sea legs or the steadiness of their stomach, the summer evenings and the sun setting on the ocean horizon are beautiful memories that are best savoured with friends and only a little wine.
The cost for these pleasures? Well individuals need to be subscribing members at £15.00 per month and they can book themselves on to any voyage or cruise they wish. Once they have made their choice there will be a modest charge of about £40.00 per day/night. ( The overnight voyages to France or the other islands are counted as two days.) There has to be a minimum crew of five for these voyages to ensure that costs are recovered.
Corporate groups can subscribe for the exclusive use of the yacht at an annual membership of £500.00. Corporate sailing groups will need to bear in mind that they will need a approved/qualified skipper and the Trustees can assist by recommending suitably experienced members.
The yacht is equipped with lifejackets, emergency life raft, VHF radios, global positioning system, radar, flushing toilet, gas cooker, cool box and probably most reassuring of all...a reliable diesel engine.
In addition to the 36ft offshore yacht there are the three racing yachts called the Jersey Etchells: Naqapan, Ecrola and Bacchanal. These are light fast and easy to sail without the risk of capsizing. These yachts are normally racing around the bay out side St Helier Harbour and many crew members have learned to sail in this type of yacht and gone on to enjoy the offshore cruising once they have learned the basic skills of sailing.
Where shall we go today?
