Offshore Sailing Passage from Plymouth to Portugal

SETTING THE SAILS

This offshore sailing passage is a great way to get into ocean sailing and experience life onboard for days at a time. Setting sail from Plymouth we will sail to Fowey or Falmouth for a familiarisation and crew shake down, before heading out down the English channel and across the Bay of Biscay.

This 3 or 4 day passage brings us to the Rias of Northern Spain, known for fine seafood, tapas and Rioja. After exploring for a few days we head down the Portugese coast to Cascais. Ports en route may include Camaret-sur-Mer, A Coruña and Baiona depending on the weather and timings.

Sailing with Skyelark can be as hands-on or as hands-off as you like, but we think part of the fun of a sailing holiday is to get as involved as you can. The crew will guide you in exactly what to do, even if you’ve never stepped foot on a boat before. Skyelark is a modern yacht, fitted with all the mod cons, winches and navigations systems.

There are currently no voyages scheduled. Please get in touch with the VentureSail team to find out what’s available, or if other upcoming voyages might be suitable.
Call us in the Office on 01872 487288 or email [email protected], and we will be happy to help you find your next adventure!

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Skyelark

Guest berths: 8 Rig: Sloop

Skyelark is a luxury Oyster 62 sailing yacht, built for elegance and speed whilst maintaining the utmost comfort for her guests both below decks and while under sail.

Designed and built as a competitive pedigree to match her beautifully drawn lines and sumptuous interior she has had many successes in ocean races and regattas.

Her sloop rig and modern design mean sailing with her can be done with just two people and she is an excellent boat to learn the ropes during your sailing holiday.

Below decks, private cabins are beautifully appointed and a well thought out layout means she is suitable for a variety of travellers; single sailors, couples or private charters of family or friends. Skyelark has a spacious saloon and a generous galley where the crew will prepare healthy and home-cooked meals after a days sailing. with full air conditioning, Webasto heating and quiet flush heads, staying abord Skyelark is more akin to a hotel than a boat!

On deck there is a large, safe and family-friendly cockpit, a lounging deck and transom seats. There is always somewhere comfortable to be, either for socialising or some quiet reflection.

A  removable bimini over the cockpit keeps the sun or the rain out, and if the weather is inclement at anchor, then a full cockpit enclosure keeps everyone snuggly warm, whilst maintaining the alfresco views.

Oyster 62’s are known to circumnavigate with young families on board or sail to the Arctic reaching 80 degrees north. Oyster 62 ‘s offer the perfect package of speed, elegance, luxury and easy, safe comfortable cruising – Skyelark is certainly one of the finest examples. She spends her summer sailing the UK, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly with voyages around Scotland and the Hebrides before sailing winters in the Caribbean.

Take a look inside!

Deck plan

More about Skyelark

Skyelark is part of our luxury fleet and as soon as you step onboard you will feel the high quality finish and standard throughout the boat. From the comfortable cockpit seating area on deck for al fresco dining under the stars to the well appointed stateroom ensuite cabin, Skyelark’s design has been well considered to ensure luxury and comfort are at the forefront of her sailing experience.

Fitted with all the mod-cons, guests are welcomed to get involved with the sailing of Skyelark if they wish but the easy winch system and racing rig mean she is designed to be operated with a small crew. So if sitting back and enjoying the views is top of your list, you’ll be well looked after aboard. On her expedition sailing voyages, guests are encouraged to get involved to fully experience life at sea.

All meals are cooked aboard so you can be sure to be very well fed, with both healthy and cooked choices for breakfast, delicious lunches and a varied menu of home-cooked food for dinner.

Read more about life onboard Skyelark here.

Travel insurance notes

As this is an active adventure holiday, we advise that everyone has the appropriate personal accident travel insurance whilst onboard in addition to standard travel insurance which would cover you in the time between making your booking and departing for your adventure. These policies can sometimes be combined so please check with your travel insurance provider.

Please read more information on our Insurance guidelines page.

FAQ

• Are all meals included?

  Yes, all food and drink is included in your ticket price* *On 10 day Caribbean voyages, 4 meals (lunch or dinner) are to be eaten ashore to get the full Caribbean experience.

• Are there any added extra's?

  No, unless you go ashore. Excursions are not included.

• Are drinks included?

  Yes.

• Can you cater for dietary needs?

  Yes, please ask at the time of booking.

• What language is spoken onboard?

  English

• Do I need to tip the crew?

  Tips are not mandatory but are welcomed by the crew!

• What are the sleeping arrangements?

  3x Twin, 1x Double and 1x VIP cabin if req.

• How many toilet/showers does she have?

  3 bathrooms, all with showers.

• Is there WIFI?

  No, but you should easily be able to reach 3G/4G from the shore.

• Can I charge my phone/Camera?

  Yes

• Are there life jackets provided?

  Yes

• Are Waterproofs provided?

  No

• Do I need sailing experience?

  No, absolutely not! Just a lust for adventure.

• Will I be sea sick?

  Everyone reacts differently but we recommend if you are at all worried to take some medication 24 hours before departure.

• Is bedding included?

  All bedding and wash towels are included. Please bring a swimming towel if you wish to swim ashore.

Travel Planning

From: Plymouth

To: Cascais

To see where the ports are, along with your likely sailing area, please view the sail area & highlights.

PARKING

There is ample parking in Oban if you arrive by car. Secure parking can be found at MacQueen Bros, or you could try the Tesco carpark and pay for 24 hour parking on arrival using the Your Parking Space app.

BY RAIL

Oban station is a 5-10 minute walk from North Pier. Trains run 6 times a day to Glasgow Queen Street Station where there are good travel links to the rest of the UK.

BY AIR:

Glasgow and Edinburgh Airport both require taking a train from Oban which takes approximately 2-3hours. Flights go direct to Stansted Airport.

STAY IN OBAN:

There are plenty of places to stay in Oban. Try Witchwood House, The Scot or Perle Hotels Oban.