If your idea of sailing doesn’t necessarily involve thirty-degree air and sea temperatures, but you’re drawn to more adventurous experiences, our discovery cruise in Scotland might be just for you.
Deep fjords lined with steep cliffs, lush green landscapes, fewer tourists, but also a greater chance of challenging conditions – including working with tides and currents – all shape the character of an area every good skipper should have in their logbook. On top of that, you can sail through a canal with locks, and any lover of good whisky will appreciate a visit to one of the local distilleries.
| Skill | What you will learn |
|---|---|
| Navigation | planning around tides and tidal streams |
| Pilotage | passing through the Crinan Canal and its locks |
| Passages | passages between islands and mainland in more demanding conditions |
| Weather | dealing with changeable northern weather |
You can book a place on board as an individual, or join our flotilla with your own boat and crew. In that case you are responsible for your boat and crew yourselves, but you have an experienced NYS instructor who plans each leg for you and helps wherever needed. Ideal for sailors with skippering experience who would rather not tackle Scottish waters alone.
Mile-building cruises are a core part of sail training at NYS Sailing School, an RYA Training Centre. We choose each destination for what you will learn there – and Scotland, with its tides, currents and quiet waters, belongs in every good skipper’s logbook.
Previous experience is an advantage. The cruise is led by an instructor and suits those looking for more adventurous sailing.
Yes. The miles are logged and count as tidal miles towards the requirements for further RYA courses and exams.
Yes, the route includes the Crinan Canal with its locks.
A passport and a UK ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation).
It starts in Largs. The nearest airport is Glasgow (GLA).