bareboat yacht charter solent

• Bareboat Charter
• Skippered Charter
• Round the Island Race
• Mile Builder
• Boat Handling
• Corporate Entertainment
• Team Building
• Single Berth Sailing
• History Days
• Charter Management
• Arctic Circle
• Where to Sail
• Weather & Tides
• How to Find Us
• Sailing Dates
• Why Choose Firstaway
• Terms & Conditions

Sailing The South Coast Since 1985

Firstaway Yacht Charter Solent

Get away from it all, supporting your passion for sailing.

Bareboat Yacht Charter

Charter a yacht in the Solent , a fantastic cruising area. Gleaming, well maintained yachts and a friendly shoreside team. We are a leading UK boat charter operator.

Skippered Yacht Charter

Charter a yacht with one of our expert skippers or instructors on board. Learn as much or as little as you like. Get fully involved or enjoy the luxury of watching the world go by whilst the skipper takes care of everything.

Choose from a perfect variety of sailing yachts . All lovingly maintained and kept spotlessly clean by our shoreside crew.

Firstaway Yacht Charters Southampton

Firstaway Yacht Charters offers a range of loved and well maintained boats for bareboat and skippered yacht charter from the Solent.

Based in Shamrock Quay Marina in Southampton, with yachts here, and in Town Quay Marina in Southampton and on the River Hamble we are perfectly placed for South Coast and Solent sailing.  Visit places such as Beaulieu in the New Forest, Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight, Cowes - also on the Isle of Wight and perhaps the yachting capital of the World (?), Newtown Creek, Portsmouth Harbour, Bembridge, Wooton Creek plus others.   For cruising further afield there is the West Country, France or the Channel Islands.

In addition to bareboat and skipper charter we team building activities and corporate sailing events, for all levels of sailing experience.

We also have options to book individual berths on boats in yachting races like Round the Island Race and the Rolex Fastnet Race.

We have very close ties with First Class Sailing, an RYA sailing school, so if you want to brush up on things like boat handling skills or you just want to get some more miles as skipper or as crew before your Solent yacht charter then we can help.

More Than Just Solent Yacht Charter

From Sailing Adventures in Norway and racing across the Atlantic, to Boat Handling weekends and Yacht Management. In addition to bareboat charter and skippered charter we have lots of other options to offer on a wide variety of boats.

Sailing Opportunities

Sailing training, sailing adventures, yacht charter management, sailing courses.

If you need to brush up on your boat handling skills, want to get more sailing experience and miles in under the helpful eye of an instructor, need a VHF license or just want to take a sailing course, be it theory or practical, then our sister company First Class Sailing Ltd is the perfect choice to help build your skills and confidence for sailing yachts.

Also based in Shamrock Quay, Southampton they are an RYA Recognised Training Centre.  They run the full range of RYA sailing courses including the shorebased theory courses - Day Skipper Theory Course, Coastal Skipper & Yachtmaster Theory Course and Ocean Yachtmaster Theory course; all the practical courses - Competent Crew, Day Skipper, Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Prep; and the full range of 1 day supplementary courses - VHF Radio, Sea Survival, Diesel Engine Maintenance and First Aid.

Solent Sailing

The Solent is a fantastic place to sail.  One could say the Solent stretches from Portsmouth and the forts just south of Portsmouth to the start of the Needles Channel.  Within this area there are numerous places to pull into port and explore, each with something different to offer.  Two big ports, charming market towns, the bustling Hamble River, the beautiful Bucklers Hard up the Beaulieu River in the heart of the New Forest, anchorages positioned to let you watch the world go by.  They are all within a stone's throw (short sail) of each other meaning you can visit several South Coast locations during your charter, making it popular for a day, a yacht weekend or a week. Due to the popularity of sailing on the Solent, many people are searching online for terms such as yacht hire Solent , yacht rental Solent , boat hire Solent , boat rental Solent , and, if you're local, yacht charter near me . There is also a huge variety of craft in the Solent.  It is not uncommon to see high performance racing yachts in Cowes, oil tankers, fishing boats, day boats, sailing school boats, round the world luxury cruising yachts, round the world racing yachts, old gaffers, classic keel boats, kite surfers, windsurfers, big expensive power boats, smaller expensive power boats, sailing dinghies in Gosport, ribs of all shapes and sizes, cruise ships, a hoover craft and high speed ferries.  All within a day.  Yet the Solent does still offer peaceful hideaways to get away from it all. There are few real physical obstructions to boats within the Solent.  There is the odd ledge There is the Bramble Bank just to the north and east of Cowes but that is about it.  There is a shipping channel one must be aware off and local bylaws that one needs to adhere to. Solent tides are interesting, and it is necessary to have a good awareness of what the tide is doing at all times.  Due to the shape of the land and the Isle of Wight the Solent gets 'double highs'. Just beyond the Solent on the South coast there is Poole and Weymouth to the west, Bembridge, Langstone and Chichester Harbours to the East.

Sign Up To Our Newsletter

Contact Us to Find Out More

Add Your Boat To Our Fleet

Customer Testimonials

Brilliant Day on the Water

Fantastic days sailing with friends on a wonderful boat. It certainly helped that we had 3 very experienced sailors with us, would highly recommend Firstaway sailing if you want a day on the water in the Solent. - Clive B

Firstaway Yacht Charters

Thanks Sally and Eric for great service and a brilliant day with Firstaway Yacht Charters. Excellent first experience of sailing. Skipper Eric was great and let us all take a turn at the helm. A great way to celebrate special occasions. Boat was clean and well maintained with good facilities too. Would recommend Firstaway to anyone wanting to take a trip sailing. - R & A Jenner

May Bank Holiday Charter of Cascadeur

We were 7 onboard this Jeanneau 12.5 m and while there wasn't much wind, with what little there was we managed 7 kts. Cascadeur is a great charter boat - roomy, clean, well equipped. Eric and Sally were very helpful and clearly know their stuff. - Peter R

Highly recommended

Wonderful people. Sally in particular couldn't have been more helpful. The skippers were professional and experienced, but also good fun and made the whole experience very enjoyable. Thanks all! - Sam N

Day trip with great skipper

Excellent company, with a very well appointed boat (Zara). Nothing was a problem to them, despite me chopping and changing a lot. Our skipper - Gavin - was fantastic. Knowledgable, friendly and great company. I would certainly use this company again. - ASQC

Amazing Trip. Highly Recommended!

I arrived with no expectations and ended up having an amazing time on "Elissa" The Skipper was super friendly and got us involved with the sailing. Overall was a phenomenal experience and I highly recommend to anyone considering!! 5 STARS - Virginia Water

Fantastic Service, Again, Thank You!

Firstaway run a great charter business: their yachts are in very good condition, always well prepared, properly cleaned; nothing is too much trouble; friendly and professional. I have been chartering from Firstaway for nearly 20 years and would always recommend them and never look elsewhere! - Mackeaj

Great experience in Solent with Firstaway

I chartered with Firstaway 3 days a Gib'Sea 37ft yatch. Very well kept and clean. excellent service and assistance, very easy checkin-checkout process. we did some 60 miles chilling around the Solent, Yarmouth harbour was also an excellent experience. highly recommended. - Tommaso M

An exciting day

A beautiful day on the water around the Solent... I was slightly anxious as I don’t have webbed feet but Eric and Sally were great hosts and competent sailors... now looking forward to my next seafaring adventure. - Karen

Yacht Charter Enquiries

Endeavour Building, Shamrock Quay, William Street, Southampton, SO14 5QL

023 8023 6000

[email protected]

• Work with us
• Testimonials
• Yacht Charter
• Charter Fleet
• UK Bareboat Charter
• Skippered Charter
• Day Sailing Experiences
• Corporate Charter
• sailing day
• Events Calendar
• Seasonal Offers

Late Availability

• Standard Equipment
• Cooking Christmas Lunch Aboard
• Offshore Banana Pancakes
• Baked Spiced Salmon with Green Beans
• Chicken Kiev with mustard parsnip mash
• Jo’s Halloumi and butter bean dish
• Moroccan Lamb
• Accommodation
• Optional Extras
• Pet Friendly
• Charter Membership
• Yacht Racing in the Sunshine
• Maintenance Top Tips
• Boat Maintenance- How to care for your boat
• Yacht Service for Owners
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Yacht Charter Ownership & Management in cooperation with Yacht-Match and Italia Yachts
• Buyer Support Programme
• Winter Yacht Maintenance

RYA Sailing School

• Corporate and Social Responsibility
• Booking Info
• Guidance for travelling to and from the UK
• Planning your first cross-channel trip
• What to do locally if storm bound?
• Gift Certificates
• Secondary ports made easy
• Useful Apps
• Places to day sail
• Hamble Point Marina and Area
• Weather and Tides

Latest News

• Environmental Policy
• Coastal Pump Out facilities
• Eco Products
• What changes have we made?

Bareboat charter

For the experienced sailor wanting the freedom to cruise at their own pace, our UK bareboat yacht charter is for you.

Every Friday we release our much reduced ‘late offers’ for the following week. View our latest offers here or follow us to see them on facebook.

Yacht Care Services / Managed Yacht Charter

We offer one-off yacht care services and annual packages for yacht owners, as well as a choice of Managed Yacht Charter packages to suit you.  

We offer RYA practical sailing courses, theory courses, and other sailing tuition, sailing on one of the comfortable boats from our fleet or private tuition on your own yacht.

Hamble Point Yacht Charters offers an unrivalled selection of superb sailing yachts and motor boats for bareboat or skippered charter in the Solent.  Click here to view our yachts.

Corporate Sailing Days

Chartering one or more yachts for a corporate sailing day is a unique and effective way to thank your best clients or suppliers and to strengthen relationships for future business development.

Skippered charter

Hire a yacht with a professional skipper and relax for your trip or request an instructor and enjoy some tailored tuition or support.

See all our latest news and articles here

Book today and set sail Hamble Point Yacht Charters offers a fleet of beautiful sailing and motor yachts available for charter in the Solent.

Whether you are looking to hire a yacht for a day, weekend, week or longer, for a bareboat charter, skippered charter or a corporate sailing event, we have a sailing or motor yacht to suit you.

Outstanding Yachts Hamble Point Yacht Charters are the leading independent charter fleet operator in the Solent offering a fleet of 20+ yachts between 32 – 52ft, from a variety of manufacturers including Hallberg-Rassy, Dufour, Beneteau, Dehler, Jeanneau and more.

All of our yachts are superbly equipped, expertly maintained and freshly cleaned before your charter. They are unbranded, so you can feel like a true sailor during your charter.

Unbeatable Location We are ideally located in the picturesque Hamble village, with a wide choice of restaurants and pubs to make the most of your sailing trip.

Hamble Point Marina, just outside of Southampton is easy to access by car, offers free on-site parking and is the nearest marina to the centre of the Solent, the main sailing area on the UK’s South Coast, so you can spend more time sailing and less time motoring.

Unique Service Our friendly on-shore support team will ensure your charter experience runs smoothly and you can take advantage of the unique level of service from Hamble Point Yacht Charters

Late-check in available on a Friday, so you can set off early on Saturday without waiting for a handover. (Arrive before 7pm for guaranteed evening handover)

All of our yachts are coded and insured for sailing beyond the Solent – so for longer charters you can explore the UK South West, the Northern coast of France or take a trip to the Channel Islands.

Unlike other companies, we allow night sailing.

Our yachts are unbranded so no-one will know you are on charter and you can fully immerse yourself in the sailing experience.

You can even bring your dog! (additional cleaning charges apply)

We are passionate about delivering an enjoyable and straight-forward charter experience, and we are delighted to hold several Customer Service Award , one being from the British Marine Leisure Boating as well as a 5-star rating on Trip Advisor and the latest Certificate of Excellence.

If you are not yet one of our regular customers, come and see for yourself or sign up for our e-newsletters for special offers and updates on new yachts joining our fleet.

Our services include: Bareboat Yacht Charter, Skippered Yacht Charter, Skippered Motor Yacht Hire, Corporate Sailing, Yacht Management and an RYA Sailing School… Everything you require to make your UK South Coast Solent yachting or boating both enjoyable and exhilarating!

Select Yacht ABRAXAS ACCOMMODATION APHRODITE SPIRIT APPALOOSA BLUE OTTER BLUETOOTH CLOUD NINE EVENT FRANTIC GAELFORCE GRAND CRU GULL JAZZ JUKEBOX KASARA LOXLEY B MAVERICK MISCHIEF OF HAMBLE PETRUCHIO RED KITE REUNION SEAFIN SHORT STOP SILENTIA SOUTHPOINT II SPIRIT SPLASHPROOF TIME TO BOND TUITION TUITION1 TUITION2 WATERPROOF WEATHER BIRD

Please leave this field empty.

Please note: when you submit your enquiry, all details which you provide will be treated in accordance with our privacy policy .

Choose your Yacht

WHAT CLIENTS SAY

This is truly a 5 * service. The team really looked after us both ashore on arrival and also while at sea. We were a relatively inexperienced crew but always felt the team ashore had our backs. Thoroughly recommended.

I just wanted to say Thank-you very much for the weekend charter. It was exactly what we were after (albeit cold!) plus Andy was an awesome teacher and great company. We’ll definitely be keen to book again soon!

We had a fabulous four days. Marina is ideally placed for the Solent, boat was in great condition, well equipped and a joy to sail. We were well briefed and the shore side team including the dog very friendly.

We charted one of the sailing yachts for a fantastic weekend cruise in the Solent. The boat was in superb condition and well equipped, the staff was very helpful explaining how things work on the yacht and there was also a video available with all the important information. 10/10 would recommend!

Had a fantastic week chartering Blue Otter, Alex was incredibly helpful and sent loads of information and date checking prior to booking. There was a handover video and both the handover and return were really smooth. The boat was lovely and well maintained and Lee was really helpful in recommending places to visit (and helping identify the steering issue as an autopilot takeover - doh!). Definitely will be back and would fully recommend!

Just back from a lovely week in the Solent. Great service from HPYC from first inquiry through to return handover. Very straightforward to deal with, and the yacht was in excellent condition. We've chartered from many companies in the UK and abroad and the attention to detail (and flawless inventory!) was second to none. Everything about the yacht and equipment had clearly been well looked after and was in immaculate condition. Great service, will use again.

Always very friendly service, and well-maintained yachts. Easy check-in and checkout. Will be back... 

We had a great time and were very happy with everything. Your team were genuinely friendly and were very helpful when we needed it. Is a big contrast to many charter companies I have dealt with in the past.

Watching the sun go down with a glass of bubbly on the deck of a sparkling yacht was unbelievable. What a treat, and a much needed change of scenery in these troubled times. We will be back for sure

Fab service, nothing too much trouble, including my daft questions. I'll be a repeat customer for sure!

We had a great time sailing with Lee for a few days at the beginning of September. Hamble Point Yacht Charters supplied us an impeccable 45 ft Hanse yacht, which was handled with complete mastery by Captain Lee.It was a privilege to sail with Lee, who is clearly a highly skilled professional taking great pride in his work ... but who is also a fantastic character with a great sense of humour and plenty of fun stories to keep the whole family entertained. He balances the serious side of safety and learning about sailing with a whopping dose of amusement and good cheer. We sailed the Solent in some decent seas, visited Bucklers Hard on the banks of the Beaulieu River and learned lots about British nautical history. Our boys started somewhat of a fishing trend catching bass off the back of the boat in Portsmouth and we would love to sail with Lee again in the future.The man truly knows his stuff, maintained the boat impeccably and went to every effort to ensure that we had a great time. Many thanks to “Shippers” and Hamble Point Charters. We’ll be back.

Chartered bareboats with HPYC on numerous occasions most recently in Sept 2020. Always helpful and accommodating. Highly recommend.

We had a fantastic weekend sailing on Loxley B. Boat in super condition and spotlessly clean, Alex. and the team very thorough and always on hand to answer any questions. A great experience. We will be back. Thank you!

Lots of information from office with a friendly service. We selected a one of the cheaper yachts and was please with find everything work and was cleaned and tidy. We will definitely be back

This was the first time we had tried chartering and as experienced racing sailors we didn't know what to expect. Covid has closed down all our events this year so this was a chance to get afloat at least once in 2020. What a great experience and Alex and all the Hamble staff could not have been more friendly or helpful. We had a great three days and we will be back !! We would have no hesitation is recommending Hamble Point Yacht Charters.

Set Sail this August Bank Holiday

• access_time Jul 11, 2024

Enjoy three days of sailing for the price of two this August Bank Holiday. This is a wonderful opportunity to explore the beautiful South Coast scenery, anchor up in some secluded little bays, relax on board, or embark on some local nature spotting. We have a variety of sailing and motor yachts so you can … Continue reading Set Sail this August Bank Holiday

Enjoy three days of sailing for the price of two this August bank holiday weekend!

Browse our yacht charter fleet.

Offer details: 5 pm Friday 22 August 2024 to 5 pm Monday 26 August 2024

Give our friendly team a call on 02380 457110 or e mail 

* Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.

Your Name (required)

Your Email Address (required)

Subject (required)

Message (required) Please leave this field empty.

• Mail: [email protected]
• Call Us: +44 (0) 23 8045 8737

Bareboat Yacht Charter

Being based on the River Hamble and with quick access to the central Solent you can reach all of the popular locations, Cowes, Beaulieu, Lymington, Yarmouth, Portsmouth and Chichester Harbour all in an easy day sail.

Our waters are quite sheltered so even if the weather is not perfect you will still enjoy sailing around the Solent. 

We have the following yacht available – click the link below for pricing & booking information:  

• Dufour 390 – “Frappe La Route” (2022)

Required Yacht Charter Qualifications

To take a bareboat charter in the Solent, we required the skipper to have at least a RYA Coastal Skipper Practical qualification or equivalent experience and at least one other member of the crew to be to Day Skipper Standard or equivalent experience.

We do recognise that not everyone has been formally trained so if you do not hold a sailing qualification please contact us & we can discuss your options.

Location & Sailing Area

Our yachts are based at Mercury Yacht Harbour on the River Hamble which offers easy access out into the Solent.

Our sailing area extends between Chichester and Poole Harbour offering plenty of opportunity to cruise the Solent and surrounding waters of the Isle of Wight.

Please note that we are not able to offer cross channel charters.

Yacht Equipment

All our boats comply fully with the MCA charter requirements and the code of practice for small commercial vessels. Our bareboat charter yachts are maintained by a professional team, you will find each yacht presented to the highest standards and well kitted out with a high level of equipment.  We provide a comprehensive briefing at the start of each charter to ensure that you are completely satisfied in every respect before you get underway. Throughout your charter we are always on hand to help with any eventuality. A good source of information regarding chartering a yacht can be found on the Marine Leisure Association website and the RYA’s website.

• Basic cleaning kit
• Tea, Coffee & Sugar,
• Rubbish bags & toilet rolls

We can also provide:

• Cruising Chute / Spinnaker
• Waterproofs
• Sleeping Bags

At the end of your charter

All we ask is that you return the yacht to us in the same way that you found it. We make no charge for gas but we do ask that you fill-up the diesel and water tanks on your return.

As far as cleaning is concerned if you want to simply step off the yacht at the end of your charter then we do offer a cleaning service for £150.

• Contact us | UK Dufour Dealer
• Solent Yacht Charter Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Policy
• DATA REQUEST
• Dufour Yachts
• Boats For Sale
• Yacht Charter

Universal Yachting Ltd: Mercury Yacht Harbour, Satchell Lane, Hamble, Southampton, Hampshire SO31 4HQ

Call Us: +44 (0) 2380 458737   Mail: [email protected]

• 02392 511789
• [email protected]

UK Solent Yacht Charters & Sailing school. Skippered Sailing , Bareboat Sailing, Racing, Classic Power.   33-44ft sailing yachts

Solent Skippered Yacht Charters

Skippered yacht charters for family, friends, stag or hens for clients who prefer a skipper onboard

Solent Bareboat Yacht Charters

Bareboat yacht charters: Weekends, midweek or longer for clients suitably experienced or qualified

Solent Corporate Yacht Charters

Corporate yacht sailing day or longer for leisure, teambuilding, fun racing or to reward your staff

Solent RYA sailing school

Practical RYA sailing courses per yacht or per berth basis

JPK 1010 Solent race charter

Skippered race charter for Solent regattas

Solent Classic Power Charters

Days out in a true British classic Fairey Huntsman 31

We offer skippered sailing charters (rentals) for less experienced crews our team of professional skippers are available for those who prefer extra local knowledge and sailing expertise onboard for your holiday aboard.

We also specialise in friends / family sailing &   Stag & Hen Weekends onboard our yachts for up to 12+2 people for day sailing. Our skippers have in-depth knowledge of the Solent and beyond so depending on your needs, they know where to go! Please contact us for further information on suitability of our yachts for charter.

Our UK Solent based bareboat charter yachts are available for weekends, week days or longer for sailing holidays. Our yachts include our 8 berth  Beneteau Oceanis 37 , 11 berth  Elan Impression 434 &  Jeanneau 43

The normal required qualification for bareboat charters is a Day Skipper practical with good miles and Yachtmaster practical for offshore sailing but sometimes clients who have been sailing a few years without formal qualifications are permitted to charter our yachts..

Corporate sailing yacht charter in the UK is increasingly proving to be a great way to entertain clients or to motivate and reward staff. We have various sizes of yacht, the largest taking 12 clients plus the skipper and mate if required.

Our options include a leisurely sailing cruise to a fine restaurant, yacht club or historic waterside pub.  A yacht sailing team building and motivation day or just having fun with a group of colleagues racing one of our matched fleet of sailing yachts around the Solent.

Are you are a beginner or are ready to take the coveted RYA Yachtmaster™ exam? We only use experienced instructors to deliver all our sailing school courses.

Our modern yachts will help you get more out of your time on the water.

5 day RYA Training courses run all year round on board our  Beneteau 37  (which has radar) and  Jeanneau 43  yachts.

The latest sailing addition to our fleet a very competitive JPK 1010 available for skippered race charter for the Solent regattas, Round the Island, Little Britain !

New to our fleet for 2023 our stunning classic huntsman 31 aft cockpit for discerning clients requiring timeless style..

Available for day charters for both corporate and families our classic Fairey powerboat will bring a smile to your face!

Est 1999..... Why Four Seasons Yacht Charter & Sailing Sea School?

• Haslar Marina in Gosport: Ample free parking & 5 minutes from the Solent
• Short walk to Gunwharf Quays shops, bars & restaurants
• Close access to direct trains from Waterloo & Victoria stations
• Dinghy, AIS, TV, UK sockets & USB charging on all yachts. Radar on most
• All yachts RYA coded 60 miles from land & Seastart insured
• Non charter company branded yachts
• Highly experienced, Helpful, Knowledgable staff
• Children’s auto life jackets available on request & junior foulies available
• Individual Marina berths with minimal tide running through
• Full public and employers liability insured
• Sailing School Solent

Fairview Sailing

The UK’s Premier Yacht Charter Company

Over 30 years of experience.

Based in Port Hamble Marina on the beautiful and historic River Hamble, Fairview Sailing has been successfully operating a charter fleet for over 30 years, offering a range of first class yachts from 36ft to 50ft in size including a matched fleet of 18 Oceanis 37s.

As well as being one of the most popular charter companies in the Solent, Fairview Sailing can also offer sea school and RYA Training through our partner Sailing Logic . We offer a full range of RYA practical courses as well as Fairview’s own Boat Handling Course .

Discover more & access our latest offers

Whether you just want to go sailing on your own, travel the world, or connect with colleagues, we have the charter for you.

Bareboat Charter

The largest bareboat yacht charter fleet on the Solent

Fairview Boat Club

Join the UK's premier boat club - the most flexible way to enjoy sailing

Corporate Charter

Motivate, reward & inspire with our bespoke corporate events

Latest offers

Don't miss out on amazing savings & exlusive offers

From complete novice to the most experienced sailor

Fairview Boat Club gives you the most flexible and highest quality membership sail and power packages available.

All of your needs are met in one superb offering, which is more flexible and less complicated than others, and delivers more to you as a valued member and all for the exceptional price of just £495 per month.

Latest Offers​

All the latest offers from fairview sailing.

Exclusive Fairview Boat Club offer

Join the Fairview Boat Club in July and pay the annual membership up front to receive an extra £300 worth of points to put towards your sailing.

20% off our Dufour yachts in July & August

Book our Dufour 430 or Dufour 460 in July and August and save 20%

Summer Saver Summer Weekend Offer

Book a weekend charter on 17th & 18th August and receive 4 days sailing for the price of 2**

RYA Training with Our Partners Sailing Logic

If you're looking to get into sailing or powerboating or want to brush up on your practical or theory skills, we can give you the training you need​.

RYA Competent Crew

Course Duration: 5 days

RYA Day Skipper

RYA Powerboat Level 2

Course Duration: 2 days

Fairview News

All the latest news from fairview sailing.

Solent Yacht Charter: Sailing Routes for a Weekend Getaway

If you’re seeking a thrilling yet serene UK sailing holiday, a weekend Solent Yacht Charter offers the perfect setting. Read our blog to find out more.

What Qualifications Do I Need for a UK Sailing Holiday?

Embarking on a UK sailing holiday is a thrilling experience, blending adventure and relaxation. Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or a novice, understanding the necessary

Family Sailing in the UK: Our top tips for sailing in the UK with kids

As the school holidays approach, many families are looking for exciting and memorable ways to spend quality time together. One fantastic option is sailing, offering adventure, learning opportunities, and a chance to explore some of the UK’s most beautiful coastlines and waters. Here are some tips for enjoying family sailing in the UK, including safety tips, activities for kids, and family-friendly sailing destinations.

Fairview Sailing is the Solent’s premier yacht charter company for over 30 years, with a fleet of 30+ yachts ranging from 30 feet to 50 feet.

Quick Links

• 02380 457 023
• [email protected]
• Port Hamble Marina Southampton SO31 4QD

Fairview Sailing Ltd. Port Hamble Marina, Southampton SO31 4QD Registered in England & Wales:  Company No. 4150575

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

The best of Fairview Sailing in your inbox, every month. 

Receive exclusive UK yacht charter information and enjoy access to exclusive special offers, new yachts, competitions and much more. 

T: 02380 016450   |   E: [email protected]

Welcome to Yachtforce

Sailing Events, Corporate Days and Yacht Charter

Based on the Solent and along the South Coast

FEBRUARY CANARIES YACHT SAILING CRUISE / HOLIDAY

Greece Yacht Sailing Holiday 12-19 October 2024 – (7 Spaces)

Sailing Yacht Hire Charter / Cruise – Includes Skipper

Welcome to yachtforce – skipper yacht & bare-boat charter, tuition & sailing events.

Welcome to Yachtforce – Solent, Brighton and South Coast UK skippered and bare boat yacht charter and sailing events.

We are based on the South coast of the UK with charter both with Skipper and bare boat, private Skipper yacht tuition and yacht sailing events mainly from our base at Mercury Yacht Harbour on the Hamble river with direct access into the central Solent. We also operate yacht sailing events, tuition, how to learn to sail courses and charter from other Solent ports and Brighton Marina. We also offer sailing holidays abroad from Lanzarote, Greece and Croatia.

Whether you are looking to charter a yacht with or without Skipper, get involved with some yacht racing, take part in one of our all inclusive sailing experience weekends where we fully cater for your needs, just give us a bell and we can talk through your options or drop us an email. We love to talk…

Latest Offers Here – CLICK

Find Out More

Yacht Sailing Activities:

Yachtforce specialise in skippered and bareboat charter from the Hamble river, on the Solent UK. Whether you want a bareboat yacht charter, a skippered day or weekend yacht charter to brush up some essential skills, then we can help.

Yacht Charter

Whether you are looking for a yachting theory or practical course or just a bit of personal tuition to brush up your skills, Yachtforce has the course to suit you.

Sailing Tuition & Courses

We provide excellent yacht sailing training days, team building, client ⁄ experience Try Sailing days through to managing a corporate entry in some of the most famous yachting regattas in the world.

Corporate Events

Customer and personnel race days are a fantastic way to reinforce relationships. Not all your clients want just a jolly and we have found that to integrate your clients into a team with a focus forges trust and lasting customer loyalty.

Corporate Yacht Racing

Join us aboard the boat for some fantastic yacht racing, meet new people and forge new friendships at some of the premier yachting regattas in the world. We have a wealth of experience in organising enjoyable social yacht racing events.

Social Yacht Racing

Join us & other like–minded people for a weekend yachting social sailing experience as an alternative to a formal sailing school course. Try a sailing day, a 5 day cruise, sail as a spectator or race in some of the most well–known Yachting Regattas.

Social Yacht Sailing

Sailing Yacht For Sale Bavaria 38 2003 8 berth £49,950 ono

Team building.

• Race Participation

Mile Building

Cross channel, berthing practice.

• Flotilla Experience
• View full page with photos

Why Solent Yacht Charter with Hurst Point Yachts?

• Best prices due to low overheads
• Operate from 5 star marinas
• Great customer service
• Most experienced and entertaining skippers
• First Class reviews
• 100% safety record
• Exciting itineraries
• Yachts maintained to highest standards

Hiring from Lymington and Hamble gives you access to a great many renowned south coast yachting destinations. Spectacular scenery can be found at Alum Bay and the Needles lighthouse at the far western end of the Isle of Wight. The Lymington and Beaulieu rivers are navigable up to the quays and marinas. Creeks such as Newtown and Wootten provide idyllic locations where you can drop anchor for drinks. Cowes has the Medina River and the Folly Inn. Osborne Bay is another great anchorage giving views of Osborne House. A trip to the west allows the magnificent Jurassic coastline of Dorset and the beautiful beach at Studland to be in reach of a day return sail. Whilst there pop into Poole Harbour, the worlds second largest. Pick up a mooring buoy and row over in the inflatable to Brownsea Island, home to red squirrels.

Solent yacht charter from the Lymington marina base

This is an award winning 5 star marina with brand new top of the range showers both in the main building and close to the yachts. Celebrity bar with outdoor sun terrace over looking the marina basin provides a great venue to start and end your charter. Located right on the Edge of the New Forest National Park which you will pass through on your way to us. A 20 minute trip down river sees you out into the Solent with the Isle of Wight a short sail away.

Hamble marina base

Walk into the the famous old yachting village of Hamble where you will find atmospheric pubs and great food. The marina has all the facilities you will need. Very short trip to the mouth of the river finds you in Southampton Water with the Solent only a short distance further. Ideally located for a day sail to Portsmouth to the east or Yarmouth to the west with Cowes a short sail cross tide to the south.

Bareboat Solent Yacht Charter

Yachts with up to 12 berths. Only Day Skipper certificate required for Solent charter (*conditions apply) Here are the bareboat charter yachts with a link to the more detailed desktop site with prices.

Stag and Hen Sailing Weekends

A stag or hen weekend provides two days on a sailing yacht visiting various bars, bays and restaurants in the Solent with two nights on board. Full details can be found on the stag party sailing website with a link to the more detailed desktop site with prices.

Corporate Yacht Charter

Corporate hospitality and entertainment, branding and team building are ideally achieved on sailing yachts and we have many past customers who have added to our reviews page. Further details are on the Corporate Events website with a link to the more detailed desktop site with prices.

Big Birthday Celebrations

Sailing is a great way to celebrate a milestone birthday, usually 40th, 50th, 60th or 70th. We can take up to 13 people on the sailing yachts or 10 on the motor yachts. A sample of what is on offer can be found on the 50th birthday charter website with a link to the more detailed desktop site with prices.

Skippered Yacht Charter

Skippers are selected based on their ability to entertain and educate and ensure you have a fun time on the water. They all know the waters extremely well and will choose an itinerary with you to get the best out of the day. Skippered yacht charter details here with a link to the desktop site with prices.

Berthing is one of the things that worries new potential skippers and indeed there is plenty of scope for damage especially when the wind is up. But there are techniques to minimise the risk and give you confidence. We will show you how to handle berthing both on the leeward and windward side of pontoons, rafting up against other yachts, and how to berth in a gap just slightly longer than your yacht with the tide running strongly.

Sailing works wonderfully with team building objectives especially when in race mode. Winning depends on each team member fullfilling his or her task correctly each time. Further Team Building details here with a link to the more detailed desktop site with prices.

Race participation

The Round the Island Race with approximately 1800 yachts takes place in late June. Cowes Week occurs first week in August. Rub shoulders with olympic sailors and celebrities at these world class events. Accommodation is onboard the yachts in the marinas close to the music venues. Race participation website with a link to the more detailed desktop site with prices.

You need 800 logged sea miles for the Coastal Skipper Certificate of Competence or 2500 for Yachtmaster Offshore. We can generally maintain 6 or 7 knots under sail so provided we travel with the tide and take the distance from the GPS (distance travelled over the sea bed) rather than the log (distance travelled through the water), we can achieve up to 100 nautical miles in a day.

You may have your own yacht and have a longing to cross the Channel for the first time but want to experience the crossing on a skippered boat first. The crossing from the Needles to Alderney is 60 nautical miles and we usually do this in around 9 hours, arriving in time for an evening ashore before returning the following day. But we can also carry on down to Guernsey, a further 4 to 5 hours. Sark and Herm are close by, enchanting islands. Jersey is a few more hours further south and we have visited all of these island in a five day charter.

Flotilla Training

Holidays such as Briish Virgin Islands flotillas often require some pre joining experience as a condition of booking. We can provide the one or two days required and provide you with a RYA training logbook certifying the hours and sea miles gained.

Copyright 2003-2024 Hurst Point Yacht Charters Limited Yacht Charter Solent All rights Reserved

• Axopar Solent Charter
• Axopar 28 Charter
• Sailing Yacht Charter
• Solent Destinations

Axopar 28 Cabin Brabus Edition and Bavaria 32 Sailing Yacht -  Bareboat / Skippered Boat Charter 

Based on the Hamble River right in the heart of the Solent we have a stunning Axopar 28 Cabin Brabus line and a Bavaria 32 Sailing Yacht now available for Bareboat or Skippered Charter

AXOPAR CHARTER OF THE 28 CABIN

One of the most unique and head turning boats on the Solent is now available for Charter through Parker Adams Charters. 

EXPLORE THE SOLENT

No where else in the UK has so many special places to visit. The Axopar is based on the Hamble River right in the heart of the Solent.

CHARTER REQUIREMENTS

The Axopar 28 and Bavaria 32 are available as a Bareboat Charter as long as you hold at least a PB2 Qualification or RYA Day Skipper.

AXOPAR BAREBOAT CHARTER  AVAILABLE NOW

Multiple award winning boat available for bareboat charter..

Since  the launch in 2015 the Axopar Brand has gone from strength to strength and has won awards the world over. Parker Adams Charters is proud to have a Mk2 version of one of these outstanding and  unique boats for Skippered or Bareboat charter in the Solent. Bareboat charter with the Axopar 28 is a stunning experience that will create memories for a lifetime. Anywhere in the Solent is available to explore and enjoy! Effortless performance and maximum style!

Book with us today! It will only take a minute

Axopar Bareboat Charter / Skippered Charter – Winter Pricing

Prices below are per day and exclude fuel used, the prices are also based on the charter starting at Hamble Point Marina. Other locations are available upon request. The Axopar is coded for 6 people. Bookings of upto 8 people is available on request with a 50% surcharge. All prices are per day and plus Fuel and VAT

weekday bareboat CHARTER

Weekend bareboat charter, weekday skippered charter, weekend skippered charter.

A handover of the Axopar will be completed by a commercial skipper on the morning of the charter and a competency check will be carried out. A £1500.00 insurance deposit will be required prior to charter and will be returned after the charter. If you would prefer not to pay the insurance deposit an optional £100 daily insurance waiver can be taken out. The boat should be returned full of fuel, if you run out of time to do this we can re-fuel boat after the Charter, the charge for this refueling service is £50.00 plus vat on top of the cost of the fuel. Bare Boat Charter is based on collection at 0900 and must be returned to the mooring by 1700 in the Summer months (April – October) and returned by 1500 in the Winter months (Nov – March) For any person that is not confident or needs to brush up on your skills our professional skipper can offer an one-off extended handover at a cost of £100.00 plus vat (by prior arrangement) Qualifications Bare Boat: RYA Powerboat Level 2 and or a minimum of 2 years experience in a similar craft. We require a copy of passport or photo card driving licence and a utility bill from the same address (3 months old max) A non refundable deposit is taken on the day of booking of 25% and any balance needs to be paid in full 30 days prior to the Charter. We are able to offer the Axopar 28 for Bareboat or Skippered charter within the Solent. Our clients are able to travel in style in the Axopar anywhere in the Solent between Chichester Harbour and the Needles.  A charts of the area are kept on board the boat. We are proud to be members of the Professional Charter Association

AXOPAR BAREBOAT CHARTER AVAILABLE ON THE SOLENT

Axopar 28 cabin brabus line charter.

The Axopar 28 has become one of the most iconic boating sights on the Solent. With long waiting lists to buy new ones and used ones rarely coming on the market chartering an Axopar is a brilliant way to get on the water and turn heads in the summer or winter. The Axopar 28 Cabin is in many ways the person charter boat, low maintenance, easy to moor and drive yet still providing excellent performance and economy. From our base on the Hamble River we will be chartering this special Brabus  Axopar 28 Cabin

Why is the Axopar 28 Cabin one of the best charter boats around?

The Axopar is not only one of the most eye catching striking boats on the Solent but they are practical as well as being performance orientated.

Work or play, the Axopar cannot be ignored.

Whether it is spending the day with friends on the Solent or using the Axopar as a brilliant media boat we have you covered. Ribs are brilliant in many conditions but as a media boat storage is alway an issue together with a dry place to be out of the wind flying a drone, backing up your images or chasing a cruise ship or other filming target in the warm and dry!

We can offer branding opportunities on the Axopar to stand out at any event and provide a great media platform or place to entertain clients.

Taking a group of family or friends out for a day, finding the perfect anchorage, turning on the bluetooth fusion radio and taking swim in a secluded bay can are all in reach with the Parker Adams Axopar

ANNIVERSARY OR BIRTHDAY TRIPS

Do you have a special celebration coming up, the Axopar can take you anywhere in the Solent in style, we make block bookings at the Hut so just speak to us as we may be able to provide you with a Hut booking when no one else can

Axopar 28 Charter Gallery

BAVARIA 32 SAILING YACHT CHARTER AVAILABLE NOW

Enjoy some stunning family memories with our sailing charter yacht .

New to us in 2023  we would like to present our lovely Bavaria 32 Sailing Yacht. She is being chartered from Hamble Point Marina right in the heart of the Solent and is available for memorable family sailing trips. She sleeps 6 people in comfort in the fully heated cabin and comes with new equipment, sails and rigging for 2023. Weatherbird is a lovely example waiting for your family  to enjoy!

© 2024 Parker Adams Charter

...a bad day on the water than a good day in the office...

Skippered charters are ideal for less experienced crew,or those lacking recognised qualifications. Skippered charters cost an additional £140 per day

Salty Dog specialise in providing tailored sailing experiences. We run Team Building Days, Corporate Entertainment and Incentive & Reward Programmes

Experiences

Salty Dog specialises in providing tailored sailing experiences. You may have a special day to celebrate or you just want to have fun on the water with family and friends. From as little as £60per person

Explore the Solent, Isle of Wight and South Coast at your leisure on a Salty Dog yacht Charters include freshly laundered pillow cases, hand towels and tea towels

Special Offers

Meet our yachts.

Katabatic is a Dufour 450. She sails beautifully and is easy to handle. Katabatic is 13.5m/45ft long and sleeps 10 (4 double cabins and a double berth in the saloon) and can accommodate 12 comfortably for day sailing. She comes well equipped with radar, AIS, chartplotter, autopilot and heating. Berthed at Haslar Marina which is located at the entrance to Portsmouth harbour you are just a few minutes away from the Solent.

Great Service, Great Memories!

Our goal is to remove all the hassle from your sailing experience, and to ensure that you meet your goals and have sailing memories to cherish..

We even offer an optional photographic service, we'll capture you sailing on board Katabatic or Antara from our RIB.

Places to go...

Not familiar with portsmouth or the solent ...have no fear, our places to go guide has lots of suggestions & places to explore..

Click your mouse on one of the orange hotspots to find out more about that location. We will tell you a little about it and some general information on the area. You will be surprised how many interesting places there are to visit that are within easy reach of Portsmouth Harbour.

Town Quay, Cowes, Isle of Wight PO31 7RS, UK

West Cowes - the heart of UK yachting, host to the world famous Cowes week in August. Popular both with yachtsman and tourists. Located on the west bank of the River Medina just minutes from the Solent. There are numerous shops, restaurants, pubs and cafes in the quaint pedestrianised high Street. Located 9 nautical miles from Portsmouth Harbour it has to be top of the list for a day or weekend trip.

1 Harbour View, The Duver, Ryde, Isle of Wight PO33 1YB, UK

Entrance to Bembridge Harbour is not only tide dependant but requires careful following of bouys to avoid running aground. If visiting for lunch you need to make sure high water is around about then! Once there though it is sheltered. There are a rich variety of shops, restaurants and pubs in two nearby villages within walking distance. Bembridge Windmil is the only remaining windmill on the island dating from around 1700 and is generally open between April and October.

Studland Bay

Studland Bay, United Kingdom

A visit to Studland Bay normally entails an overnight stay when travelling from Gosport. Once there the bay offers good anchoring and protection from westerlies. The 4km bay has beautiful sandy beaches that get busy in the summer. The Bankes Arms Country Inn is a short walk from the bay and offers spectacular views towards the Isle of Wight.

Poole Harbour

Poole Harbour is one of the largest natural harbours in Europe covering approximately 36 sq kilometres. There are several islands the largest and most famous being Brownsea. Regular boat trips leave from Town Quay in Poole Town to visit it. There are several marinas allowing you direct access into Poole Town.

Gunwharf Quays

Gunwharf Quays, United Kingdom

Just across the harbour from Haslar Marina. Can be reached by the frequently running Gosport Ferry. Famous for its Outlet shops as well as it numerous restaurants and cafes along with it's multi-screen cinema. While there take a trip up the Spinnaker Tower for some breathtaking views across the Solent. Close by is Portsmouth Harbour Station with direct access to London.

Haslar Marina, Gosport PO12 1NU

Haslar Marina, Haslar Road, Gosport, United Kingdom

Home to Antara and Katabatic! As you can see we are a stones throw away from the Solent and all that it has to offer. Haslar Marina has excellent facilities with good car parking available.

Yarmouth Harbour

Yarmouth Harbour, Yarmouth, United Kingdom

With a fair tide it is possible to visit for lunch and be back in a day. Yarmouth should be on everyone's list of places to visit. A beautiful town that is geared up for visitors. Great walks and pubs are all close by. Take a trip on the open top bus to the Needles for spectacular views towards Poole. The Wightlink car ferry from Lymington on the mainland also docks in Yarmouth.

Newtown Creek

2 Coastguard Cottages, Newtown, Newport, Isle of Wight PO30 4PA, UK

A National Nature Reserve it is a beautiful harbour to stop for lunch or anchor overnight. Launch the tender and you will gain access to some wonderful walks and pubs. Access is tide dependent so a lunch time stopover would have to be around high water.

Beaulieu River

New Forest National Park, Dock Lane, Brockenhurst, Hampshire SO42 7YU, UK

Beaulieu River is owned by the Beaulieu Estate , one of only a handful of rivers in the world that are privately owned. The journey up the winding river towards Bucklers Hard is a memorable one. Although a visit is achievable in a day it does depend on high water being around midday.

1 Quay Road, Lymington, Hampshire SO41 3AT, UK

Situated on the edge of the New Forest and at the western edge of the Solent, this thriving Georgian market town is a great place to visit. There are 2 large marinas situated just before the town or if you are in Antara you could chance your luck on the Town Quay near the bottom of the high street. Katabatic is too big for the Quay but you can pick up a buoy and use the tender to get to land.

Chichester Harbour

Roman Landing, West Wittering, Chichester, West Sussex PO20 8AT, UK

An area of outstanding natural beauty, it is a large natural harbour approx. 8 nautical miles from Haslar Marina. Once inside the harbour there is a choice of harbourside villages and anchorages offering good protection. A fantastic place to visit and stop for lunch.

Loved this experience….

Thank you for a very special moment! We were so happy to spend as much time as possible near our boat. Loved this experience! You were an excellent skipper! Thanks a lot!

Get in Touch

Are you human? 3+7=

T: 07974 570837

Email: [email protected].

For any enquiries about chartering Katabatic or to check availability or just to discuss possibilities, please contact Anton.

Why not join our mailing list?

Are you human? 4+4=

© Salty Dog 2023 Website designed & developed by Design Image

• Destinations

Find a Boat

Why book with us.

Competitive prices, Exceptional Service

ONLY Professional Charter Fleets

Rated 4.9/5 on Feefo

Super-low 25% deposit

Yacht & Catamaran Charter in the Solent, UK

We can help you find the perfect yacht or catamaran to sail in the Solent!

Sailing from the Solent

The Solent is the home of sailing, and an epic and historic place to sail - the boats built and sailed from here through the years have had a profound impact on the world – from Sir Francis Drake embarking on conquests, Lord Nelson’s war galleons, to the Titanic (which began her maiden voyage here) and the D-day landings (and much more). Now it is home to the world’s most important Sailing Regatta (Cowes), and the world’s most famous sailing race (Round the Island).

The Solent offers a range of in-land and coastal sailing, with plenty of interesting and historic places to sail to and explore – like Cowes, Beaulieu, Chichester and Yarmouth – and you’ll often be surrounded by magnificent cliffs, amazing beaches and lush rolling green hills. Coupled with reliable winds, predominant sunshine, and pleasant temperatures during the sailing season, the Solent is a fantastic place to charter a yacht! We can help you find and book your ideal yacht or catamaran, with one of our trusted Charter Partners - just get in touch or search in the pink box with live prices and availability !  

 SAILING RATING:  Intermediate / Advanced - England offers excellent wind conditions, but you will also need to have a good understanding of tides and how they can affect your speed and course over the ground to get anywhere (sometimes literally). The season runs from March to November, with the peak season being in July and August (UK summer holiday season).

 MUST-SEE:  Our full suggested itinerary is further down the page, but we'd highly recommend taking in the famous Needles off the Isle of Wight, the nautical village of Cowes, and the splendid Roman village of Chichester, with it’s fantastic cathedral. There’s also the Mary Rose ship at Gosport, or the picturesque Beaulieu, amongst many others!

 WHAT WE CAN OFFER:  We have a great range of yachts and catamarans available for charter from our trusted Charter Partners, all available bareboat or Skippered. We can also arrange a Hostess, Personal Chef and other crew.

 GETTING THERE:  We operate from three marinas in the Solent area, which are within a 40 minutes drive of the local Southampton airport, or within a 2 hours’ drive from London airports. We can organise transfers for you if required – just ask.

 WHY BOOK WITH US?  We only work with the very best professional charter operators , who we have met, know, and trust to give you the same outstanding customer service as you'll get from PlainSailing.com.  

 WHAT NEXT?  Use the pink box to search for yachts or catamarans in England. Sadly we don't currently have live availability and pricing for English yachts, but we'll do our best to get you the yacht you want - if you have any other questions or requests, get in touch via Live Chat, the Contact Form , or by phone.  

The Solent is the home of sailing, and an epic and historic place to sail - the boats built and sailed from here through the years have had a profound impact on the world – from Sir Francis Drake embarking on conquests, Lord Nelson’s war galleons, to the Titanic (which began her maiden voyage here) and the D-day landings (and much more). Now it is home to the world’s most important Sailing Regatta (Cowes), and the world’s most famous sailing race (Round the Island).

The Solent offers a range of in-land and coastal sailing, with plenty of interesting and historic places to sail to and explore – like Cowes, Beaulieu, Chichester and Yarmouth – and you’ll often be surrounded by magnificent cliffs, amazing beaches and lush rolling green hills. Coupled with reliable winds, predominant sunshine, and pleasant temperatures during the sailing season, the Solent is a fantastic place to charter a yacht! We can help you find and book your ideal yacht or catamaran, with one of our trusted Charter Partners - just get in touch or search in the pink box with live prices and availability !  

 SAILING RATING:  Intermediate / Advanced - England offers excellent wind conditions, but you will also need to have a good understanding of tides and how they can affect your speed and course over the ground to get anywhere (sometimes literally). The season runs from March to November, with the peak season being in July and August (UK summer holiday season).

 MUST-SEE:  Our full suggested itinerary is further down the page, but we'd highly recommend taking in the famous Needles off the Isle of Wight, the nautical village of Cowes, and the splendid Roman village of Chichester, with it’s fantastic cathedral. There’s also the Mary Rose ship at Gosport, or the picturesque Beaulieu, amongst many others!

 WHAT WE CAN OFFER:  We have a great range of yachts and catamarans available for charter from our trusted Charter Partners, all available bareboat or Skippered. We can also arrange a Hostess, Personal Chef and other crew.

 GETTING THERE:  We operate from three marinas in the Solent area, which are within a 40 minutes drive of the local Southampton airport, or within a 2 hours’ drive from London airports. We can organise transfers for you if required – just ask.

 WHY BOOK WITH US?  We only work with the very best professional charter operators , who we have met, know, and trust to give you the same outstanding customer service as you'll get from PlainSailing.com.  

 WHAT NEXT?  Use the pink box to search for yachts or catamarans in England. Sadly we don't currently have live availability and pricing for English yachts, but we'll do our best to get you the yacht you want - if you have any other questions or requests, get in touch via Live Chat, the Contact Form , or by phone.  

Why book with PlainSailing.com?

Suggested sailing itinerary, wind & weather conditions, marina details, sample prices   -   solent sailing itinerary  -   wind & weather  -   marina details, 6-day sailing itinerary in the solent.

The Solent is an intriguing place to sail, with dramatic cliffs, fantastic beaches and idyllic towns and villages, all steeped in centuries of nautical history. Throw in brilliant sailing conditions, lots of yachts in the giant marinas in the area, and you can see why they call this the home of sailing - plus practically everyone knows about sailing.

It’s only a six-day itinerary because the odds are that you’ll be busy getting provisions and getting familiar with the boat on the Friday you arrive, and you have to return to the home marina on the Thursday - but you can stay on board for a final night, before disembarking on Friday morning. This itinerary starts in our main marina base of Lymington, but you can obviously also start or end in Hamble (or substitute Hamble for Gosport) and sail the same circular route.  

Today we’re just making a short hop to Hamble-le-rice, or Hamble as it’s better known, which is a short run with the prevailing west-south-westerly summer wind away. Being a short leg means you can get familiar with the boat and give everyone a chance to take the helm - with an optional man overboard drill to act as a useful refresher.

Hamble is actually technically inland, and you sail up the river Hamble to take your pick from one of a number of well-protected marinas. The whole area will be bustling with sailors, and Hamble is a picturesque village with olde style English houses with thatched rooves and cobbled streets. There’s plenty of great places to eat and drink here (many with beautiful settings by the waterside). Sailors have been stopping here for literally hundreds of years, so I am sure the buildings could share a tale or two.  

From Hamble, we’re heading back out to the English Channel (incidentally, the French just call it La Manche or ‘the Channel’) before tacking to port and following the prevailing wind east and along the south coast. Chichester is back inland, so you’ll need to sail north past West Wittering village, and up the Ichenor reach to get to Chichester marina – a natural marina which, with space for over 1,000 berths, is also the biggest in England. Chichester is about a 5km walk away, or a ten-minute taxi ride, but there are beaches nearby if you prefer to relax.

If you have time, and you’re interested, then you can take lunch in Gosport (Portsmouth) on the way where there’s multiple maritime museums. At the very least, it’s worth sailing into the area to have a close look at HMS Discovery (which was the famous English Naval General Lord Horatio Nelson’s very own boat in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 – which he won) or the Mary Rose (Henry VIII’s boat), which was sunk by the French in the Solent in 1545 (and retrieved in 1982).  

To get to Cowes, we need to sail south and out of the Chichester harbour area (an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ and home to many seals) before tacking into the prevailing summer winds. The land on your nose is the Isle of Wight, and Cowes is on the northern tip of this diamond-shaped rock.

To get to a mooring in Cowes you’ll need to get past the Cowes ‘floating bridge’ – a ferry service across the River Medina which has been in operation since 1720, and links the two sides of the village without the need for a 10 mile round-trip. It started as rowing boats, but is now a chain ferry which can also accommodate 20 or so cars. Cowes is a place any sailor will find interesting, and it has some of the finest seafood you’ll ever find.  

From Cowes, we’re crossing the Solent (which is actually the name for the bit of water between England and the Isle of Wight) and sailing inland to visit Beaulieu. Beau Lieu is French for ‘Beautiful place’ and the Abbey and estate here certainly are! You’ll need to moor at Bucklers Hard (an idyllic Georgian village which was also a place where they built ships – including three war galleons which were involved in the Battle of Trafalgar) and then stroll to the village and its wonderful Palace house from there.

Then we’re back down the river and over the Solent again to Yarmouth, another pretty and nautical-obsessed town on the Isle of Wight.  

It’s made more complicated still by the wreck of the SS Varvassi (which ran aground here in 1947 when it was carrying a load of tangerines from Algiers to Southampton) – all 1,800 boats are aiming to squeeze through the 60m gap between the lighthouse and the wreck, but a fair number each year end the race here.

To get there for a closer look, we need to sail into the Solent then head west, tacking up the prevailing wind as we follow the magnificent coastline. Make the turn if you have the time, before setting a course pretty much due west for Poole, back on the UK mainland. Poole is a natural harbour area, and there is a vast amount of water ‘inland’ behind the gap in the coastline. The largest island in here is Brownsea Island, which is where the first ever Scout camp took place in 1907 – Scouting began as a small camp here for young teenage boys and the organisation now spans 216 countries and has over 50 million members!  

It will be hard not to spot Bournemouth beach on your port side, which is the UK’s longest beach, and one of the best – there’s over seven miles of delightful sandy beach, and over five million people visit it each year. They say the water is warmer here, so it might be worth throwing down the anchor for a quick dip if you haven’t yet done so this week.

You’ll sail past Hurst castle as you re-enter the Solent (built by Henry VIII to protect the Solent) which, for a number of years, housed the most powerful guns or weapons in the world! And then it’s back to the marina. Don’t forget to refill the fuel tanks before mooring her up one last time. You’ll be able to stay on-board tonight, so there is still time to check out Lymington and have one last night with the crew before you head back to the real world.

Hopefully the weather has been kind to you, you’ve enjoyed exploring the beautiful Solent, and you’re leaving with better friends than you arrived with. You might already have decided as a crew to come again next year, or maybe you fancy sailing somewhere new? In either case, head to PlainSailing.com to get some inspiration about places to sail from and to read the destination guides. Have a safe journey home, and we look forward to seeing you soon.  

Sailing Conditions

In the Solent the wind is at a steady Force 4 throughout the year, and it arrives almost always from a South-westerly direction, having raced right across the Atlantic before arriving on your sails. Whilst there are occasions where other weather systems will affect the wind conditions (notably when high or low pressures are above the Solent), these usually pass within a couple of days.

The added challenge of sailing out here is that you have to factor in the effect that tides will have on your course and speed over ground, and, in some cases whether you can enter or leave a harbour – so be sure to consider tides as well as checking the wind forecast.

We operate from a number of marinas in the Solent area - Hamble, Gosport and Lymington are all within 20 to 40 minutes drive of the local Southampton airport, or within a 2 hour drive from London airports, and are all fantastic jumping off points for exploring the area.

Charters typically start on a Friday, so if your flights don't quite match, you might need somewhere to stay on-land for a night or two - we recommend Landfall B&B or Royal Southern Yacht Club in Hamble, Spring Garden Guest House in Gosport, or The Bosun's Chair in Lymington.

Hamble Point Marina

Port Hamble

Mercury Yacht Harbour

Haslar Marina

Lymington Yacht Haven

Blogs about Sailing in Solent

 WHAT NEXT?  Use the pink box to search for yachts or catamarans in England. Sadly we don't currently have live availability and pricing for English yachts, but we'll do our best to get you the yacht you want - if you have any other questions or requests, get in touch via Live Chat, the Contact Form , or by phone.

Back to Destinations

Welcome Onboard!

Explore The Solent in our Luxury Axopar 28 Cabin Boat

Our Axopar 28 Cabin Boat

Axopars in recent years have become some of the most sought after boats, not just in The Solent but across the world. A true head turner.

With easy access to The Solent we have our stunning Axopar 28 available for both skippered and bareboat charter.

We can offer half day and full day charters on board our luxurious Axopar 28 Cabin Boat.

No expense has been spared when specing this Axopar. Equipment includes:

• Electric windlass in bow, Engbo midi 201 + remote control

• Heater Webasto AT3900

• Lighting package

• Underwater lights

• Search Light

• Side Rails

• Targa arch with rod holders and roof rails

• Waterski pole

• Freshwater system + 45l tank

• Harbour cover for aft deck, Sunbrella Plus Red 

• Shower on aft deck

• Sundeck cushions for aft deck, Niroxx upgrade.

• Shore power 230v with 20ah charger

• Twin Garmin Chart Plotters

• Sonar module Garmin GSD

• Radar GMR18 18 HD

• Communication Garmin VHF 115l

• Audio upgrade 1: 4 x speakers + 2ch amplifier

• Premium Package, Niroxx (upholstery)

• Complete Esthec package – platinum/white (decking)

• Toilet Package, electric flush

• Top loading refrigerator, Dometic cm 42l

• Teak table in cabin

• Daycruiser aft cabin

• Bow thruster, side-power SE40

• Trim tabs with joystick

Why Choose us? This is what some of our customers had to say...

Please contact us with any queries or booking requests using the one of the methods below or completing the online form.

We are based in:

Port Solent Marina

United Kingdon

023 9396 0397

[email protected]

Thanks for submitting!

Areas to explore, southampton | portsmouth |  the solent | cowes  | hamble | lymington | yarmouth.

Solent Boat Share and Charters

Are you looking to enjoy a bareboat charter in the Solent area?

Thinking of taking a trip to the Isle of Wight, lunch at The Hut, Seal spotting at Newtown Creek, shopping at Gunwharf Quays or visiting other Solent sights?  Or are you looking to enjoy a  day of fishing o r for a boat where you can stay on board overnight? 

Solent Boat Share and Charters have a boat style for you, perfect for the changeable British weather! You can enjoy a half-day, full-day or longer bareboat charter, chose to have a skipper or chose our boat share option to get you on the water in and around Solent Water.

Stella Blue

Fast, reliable & comfortable, bareboat, skippered or boat share.

• Charter area

Blue Moon and Escape can be picked up from Universal Marina on the River Hamble or by arrangement we can drop off at other local marinas. Stella Blue is moored at Warsash.  You can enjoy  trips within the charter area between West Wittering and the Needles.

• Charter requirements

To charter our vessels you will need Powerboat level 2 or equivalent boating experience.

Get In Touch

Email Address

Privacy Overview

02394 350505

Learn to Sail The UK's Leading Sailing School

2024 dates now available to book including our Youth Sailing Academy

Summer Flotilla August 2024

Our new 2024 itinerary includes a visits to the perennial favourites of Cowes, Yarmouth and Lymington

Cowes Week 2024 27th July - 2nd August

Cowes Week is one of the UK's biggest regattas in the world, offering seven days of high calibre competition and Prometheus Sailing is the Official Charter Partner of the regatta

UK Staycation Sailing

The Solent offers exceptional staycation sailing opportunities. Enjoy famous destinations, such as Cowes, Yarmouth, Lymington and Beaulieu River, fantastic sailing conditions and an amazing choice of pubs and restaurants.

Worldwide Charter

Book your sailing holiday with Prometheus Sailing, a trusted partner of Sunsail, The Moorings and other leading international charter companies.

Teambuilding and Hospitality

Prometheus offers a range of teambuilding days, corporate hospitality and industry regattas for your clients or team. Our event managers provide a turnkey solution for all aspects of your charter.

Latest News

Prometheus Sailing Expands UK Charter Fleet

How Can a Charity Fundraise Through Sailing?

YachtsandYachting.com Racing Series Launched for 2024

What our customers say.

I would like to mention Rob, who has offered exceptional service. I also want to mention your skippers who are extraordinary and a credit to Prometheus. Looking forward to sailing with you next year!

Our skipper - Colm - was also incredibly professional, friendly and experienced. A really great and excellent experience overall! We will definitely book again.

Our skipper and first mate were fantastic. We were on the spectator boat and we had the right amount of learning without it being too overwhelming as we all had little to no experience.

DATA PROTECTION

• All details provided by you will be held by us and used in accordance with our Privacy Policy .
• Where you opt-in for Mariner International Travel (UK) Limited trading as ‘Sunsail’ marketing then your data will also be handled by Mariner International Travel (UK) Limited and used in accordance with their Privacy Policy .
• Sunsail UK and Prometheus Sailing may from time to time contact you by post, email, telephone and/or SMS with further information on our latest travel trends and news that interest you.
• At any time you can request not to receive information about our products and services and we will stop sending you information in this way.
• By clicking Submit you confirm that you have read and understood our Privacy Policy and consent to our use of your information.

• Beneteau Oceanis 31 - Holly Blue
• Elan 344 - Lenora
• Bavaria 36 - Hayley Louise
• Bavaria 36 - No Optimist
• Jeanneau 36i - Nordic Mist
• Jeanneau SF37 - Nomad 1
• Jeanneau SF37 - Menai III
• Bavaria 39C - Summer Breeze
• Bavaria 47 - Southpoint II
• International Yacht Charter
• Sunseeker 60 - Snark
• Prestige 46 - Kings Ransom
• Sun Odyssey 44i - Hurricane
• Targa 56 - Explorer
• Bavaria 54 - Grand Cru
• Jeanneau SO37 - Seraphim
• Special Events
• Charter Management
• Charter Management - FAQs
• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• Solent Cruising Guide

No Optimist - Bavaria 36

Contact and Availability

Offcanvas menu.

Charter Solent

Motor Boat Charter in the Solent

We launched a brand new Princess F55 flybridge for the 2023 charter season.

The newest motor boat of its kind available for charter on the south coast featuring full Gyro stabilisation to make your time on board even more enjoyable. Massive internal and outside space, full climate control, beautiful natural materials and styling from a British boat builder with a worldwide reputation.

As well as high speed capability her ultra stable platform also allows us to offer environmentally friendly full displacement charters. Sip drinks as the Solent glides by and have a great day out without compromising your corporate environmental commitments.

Alongside our new Princess F55 we still have our original Princess P50 Mk3 flybridge available for charter. Operated by us since new she is much loved by charter guests and offers generous accommodation both inside and outdoors. For charters of more than 12 guests the 2 boats can be hired as a pair.

Each charter includes a commercially endorsed skipper with local knowledge and a hostess. As well as ensuring your safety the Skipper and crew are there to look after you and will share their local knowledge to make sure your time with us is truly memorable. We operate throughout the Solent / Isle of Wight area.

We are happy to advise on an itinerary or you can tell us where you want to go. There are no timetables to adhere to and no other guests to please so relax and enjoy yourself. For more than 10 years now we have operated corporate events, family gatherings, casual days out, special celebrations and even experience days prior to buying a boat.

The 2024 season calendar is starting to fill up fast so please don’t delay getting in touch if there is a particular date you had in mind.