Are you a newly-qualified Day Skipper looking for hands-on experience? A Coastal Skipper candidate hoping to put theory into practice? A keen sailor seeking sea miles? Rival Sailing’s mile-builders may be for you!
Our mile-builder trips are skippered by a RYA Cruising Instructor & Yachtmaster Offshore on board long-range cruising yacht East End Endeavour. Please visit this page for more details about our Rival 41C yacht. All crew members will have ample opportunity to brush up on boat handling, passage planning and pilotage, navigation, safety procedures, victualling – and delegation, if you want to try stepping up as “skipper” for a day.
Mile-builder cruises are usually run over 7 to 10 days, and can be combined with the Coastal Skipper course for a small additional fee. If you can only spare a few days, why not consider joining one of our 2- to 5-day RYA courses? If you’re not looking for a qualification at this time, you’ll still be welcome to book a (non-accreditated) sailing refresher.
We don’t provide an itinerary for mile-builder trips as all passages are planned according to crew capabilities and/or requirements as well as the current conditions, i.e. wind speed and direction, sea state, general weather. A watch system often operates for part of the time to allow the crew of 3-5 persons to take in at least one longer passage of 60+ NM. Mileage varies but on average around 150-300 miles will be covered over 7 days, sometimes within the Firth of Clyde and sometimes crossing over to Northern Ireland or heading round the Mull of Kintyre towards the Inner Hebrides. In between stints at sea, there will be some time to explore ashore and rediscover your land legs!
Frequent destinations on 7 to 10 day trips include the coast of Northern Ireland or the Inner Hebrides, such as Gigha, Jura or Islay. Even in favourable weather, rounding the Mull of Kintyre, where the Firth of Clyde meets the North Channel, can offer a challenge. The Crinan Canal provides a safe and scenic alternative in adverse weather conditions and can be an attractive planned “add-on” option for crews.
Longer mile-builders of 10+ days are more suitable for sailing further north west to the Small Isles of Eigg, Canna, Muck and Rum, and the Outer Hebrides. When conditions are favourable, sailing south to the Isle of Man or down the coast of Ireland can be a great alternative.
Mile-builder cruises (and refreshers) are based on a daily rate of £105 per person (e.g. £735 pp for 7 days, £1050 pp for 10 days). Costs are inclusive of food for making breakfast, lunches and dinners on board; snacks; non-alcoholic drink; fuel and berthing fees. Please note that the food budget is capped at a daily rate of £15 per person due to unsustainable rising costs, while berthing will include limited nights in a marina and more on a mooring/anchorage. Any additional costs for food on board/meals ashore or extra nights in a marina will be agreed and shared amongst the crew. We can also provide foul weather gear (sailing jacket and salopettes) in unisex adult sizes XS to XXL at no extra cost.
Add-ons: Coastal Skipper certification can be included for an additional admin fee of £35 per person. A planned trip through the Crinan Canal can also be included for an additional fee.
Join in one of our advertised mile-builders – or check our sailing calendar for available dates to book a private mile-builder with a group of like-minded friends (4-5 persons). We take bookings by email and are always happy to discuss your requirements so please contact us if you’d like more details.
Please note that all sailing activities and destinations are subject to favourable wind and sea conditions for the crew’s comfort and safety.