Our Services

We offer a range of services to cater to your requirements. Whether it’s a relaxing cruise around the Firth of Clyde over a long weekend, or spending 4 full days (and/or nights) sailing to build mileage towards your next RYA qualification, or even learning to sail from scratch, we will endeavour to tailor our service to you.

Skippered Charter

‘Damsis’, with Stephen, is available to charter throughout the year (exc. Dec – Feb). Families and groups of friends have the opportunity to sail our beautiful Scottish waters, doing as little or as much as you like. Bring along your own food and drink (or alternatively, ask us to stock the yacht for your arrival), settle in and get ready to cast off. Stephen will discuss with you the sailing area, ports of call, places of interest, weather and tides, before planning a route to your chosen destinations.

Mileage Building

If you've passed Day Skipper and want to progress to Yacht Master® Coastal or Yacht Master® Offshore, its all about experience and mileage. We run several mileage-building trips throughout the year. Join one of these and expect to cover 150 - 200 nm in a favourable weekend. In the summer, Stephen may choose to go to Northern Ireland or even one of the Inner Hebrides in a four-day weekend. In early and late season, expect to be covering 100 – 150 nm in the Firth of Clyde. (All destinations and mileages are weather and tide dependent). Breakfast, lunch when sailing, 4 evening meals, soft drinks, fruit and snacks are included. Please see our calendar for dates and duration of trips.

Practical sailing courses & Learn to sail

Come aboard and learn the ropes – literally! From complete novice to experienced sailor, there is always something to learn.

If you've never sailed before or have been on board as a passenger, and want to learn how to do it, perhaps before you buy a boat, or before you embark on the RYA qualification ladder, then our ‘Learn to sail’ course could be what you’re looking for. Spend a week onboard “Damsis”, in the capable hands of the skipper. Start with the basics, become familiar with the boat, build up your skills and feel your confidence grow. By the end of the week, sailing with all its ‘confusing’ terms and ‘complicated’ techniques should have become second nature to you. Expect to work hard, but enjoy the rewards when YOU are sailing the yacht. Please see our calendar for dates of courses.

For those wishing to undertake formal RYA training, we offer a full range of RYA sail cruising courses through our recognised training centre "CSC Training". From complete novice to Yacht Master® Offshore, we have a course to suit. Please see our RYA Training page for further details of course content, duration and experience required.

If you're more experienced, perhaps you’re looking to brush up on some skills, learn the manoeuvres and techniques required for RYA practical examinations, or want to see some heavy weather tactics put into practice, then we can put together a day or a weekend around your specific requirements. (If you have your own boat and wish to have ‘own boat’ tuition, this can be arranged.)

Just ‘Cruising’

We know some people don’t want to learn, don’t want to mileage build, they just want to cruise. Just step aboard, relax & enjoy!

If you choose to come on one of our week long summer cruises, you can expect to sail south, perhaps to Northern Ireland, or perhaps head west, sail ‘round the corner’ and cruise the Inner Hebrides, or even a combination of both. You can do as little or as much sailing as you please. Feel free to get involved or just watch the scenery go by.

At the beginning and end of the season, we offer cruising in the more sheltered waters of the Clyde, but this doesn’t mean there is less to see, with beautiful anchorages and ever-changing scenery, you’ll be amazed.

Breakfast, lunches when sailing, soft drinks, fruit, snacks and 4 evening meals are included (in our experience people like to eat out once or twice during their holiday, and this gives you the opportunity to enjoy some traditional Scottish hospitality). Guests can use the galley at all times to prepare snacks, drinks and meals (if they feel like chipping in).

With hundreds of anchorages, harbours and islands to visit, each cruise will be unique. Please see our sample itineraries to discover where we might take you. Once on board, Stephen will be happy to try and include our guest’s requests for sightseeing, exploring, additional stopovers, etc. Again weather and tide permitting. Please see our calendar for dates of cruises.