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Displaying items by tag: Sailing holiday

Good news for Irish sailors planning a Greek sailing holiday. Go-ahead UK firm Wildwind, based in Vassiliki and run by Simon Morgan, is now offering free supplemental flights to London and accommodation at the Hilton Hotel in Gatwick during the early weeks of the upcoming school holidays!

Unfortunately, there are no direct flights from Scotland or Ireland to the local airport in Greece, Preveza. The bulk of Wildwind's charter flights are with British Airways on Sundays leaving London Gatwick at 8 am (arriving in Greece at 1 pm) and returning at 4.35pm (you'll leave from Greece at 2 pm). This means that most of the clients travelling from Scotland and Ireland need to stay overnight in London in order to make the morning outbound flight. Usually, you will have a convenient onward connection on the return portion of your journey.

There are very good low-cost flights to Gatwick from a number of regional airports including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Belfast and Dublin. Wildwind recommends to stay the night in London and have a night on the town at the start of your holiday. They have even made a deal with the Hilton hotel near the airport to offer Wildwind guests discounted rates.

During the period of June 30th to July 20th, Wildwind will pay for both your flight and your hotel accommodation at the Hilton or another hotel of your choice, up to a maximum of £200 per adult and £150 per child, on the basis of reimbursement of expenses for regional travel and overnight accommodation.

More information by calling the Wildwind booking team at 01920 444 091 or emailing [email protected].

Published in Aquatic Tourism
Tagged under

A luxury 'glamping' holiday in France with a choice of watersports right on your door step sounds like an ideal mix for a family watersports holiday in the big sailing region of the Vendee.

Original Camping and Alain Dominique Perrin attracted many foreign tourists last season on the island of Noirmoutier with their concept of glamorous camping, Glamping with plenty of waterports on tap including: Kitesurfing, Windsurfing, Sailing, Jetsking, Kayaking.

The only sport that you can’t practice on the island is surfing because the waves aren’t big enough. 

Canvas and wooden accommodation facing the Atlantic ocean charms water sports enthusiasts as well as lovers of relaxation, beautiful landscapes and pampering.

The site also boasts a Teens and Children's Clubs with 'quadrilingual' staff that, the owners say, has won over parents and children of all ages.

The advertised price for four people for one week starts at €1,199

Published in Sailing Holidays
Tagged under

Every Year Ireland's Search & Rescue Services deliver emergency life saving work on our seas, lakes and rivers.

Ireland's Water Safety Agencies work hard to provide us with the information we need to keep safe, while enjoying all manner of water based activities.

There's no better fun than getting out on the water but being afloat is a responsibility we all need to take seriously.

These pages detail the work of the rescue agencies. We also aim to promote safety standards among pleasure boaters, and by doing so, prevent, as far as possible, the loss of life at sea and on inland waters. If you have ideas for our pages we'd love to hear from you. Please email us at [email protected]

Think Before You Sink - Wear a Lifejacket

Accidents can happen fast on water and there may not be time to reach for a lifejacket in an emergency therefore don't just carry a lifejacket - wear it; if it's not on you, it can't save your life.

Irish Water Safety's Safe Boating Alert:

Check condition of boat and equipment, hull, engine, fuel, tools, torch.

Check the weather forecast for the area.

Check locally concerning dangerous currents and strong tides.

Do not drink alcohol while setting out or during your trip.

Carry an alternative means of propulsion e.g. sails and oars or motor and oars.

Carry a first aid kit on board and distress signals (at least two parachute distress rockets, two red hand flares).

Carry a fire extinguisher, a hand bailer or bucket with lanyard and an anchor with rope attached.

Carry marine radio or some means of communication with shore.

Do not overload the boat - this will make it unstable.

Do not set out unless accompanied by an experienced person.

Leave details of your planned trip with someone ashore - including departure and arrival times, description of boat, names of persons on board, etc.

Wear a Lifejacket at all times.

Keep an eye on the weather - seek shelter in good time.

In Marine Emergencies, call 999 or 112 and ask for Marine Rescue.

Lifejackets Checklist

Ensure Cartridges have not been punctured and are secured firmly.

Ensure all zips, buckles, fasteners and webbing straps are functioning correctly and adjusted to fit the user.

Check that fitted lights are operating correctly.

Ensure that Automatic Inflation devices are fully serviced and in date.

Check that the valve or lifejacket is not leaking.