The Round Britain Experience programme consists of the following:

• Leg 1: London - Brixham - 2 weeks
• Leg 2: Shore based in Brixham - 1 week
• Leg 3: Brixham - Padstow - 1 week
• Leg 4: Padstow - Oban - 2 weeks
• Leg 5: Oban - Edinburgh - 3 weeks
• Leg 6: Edinburgh - London - 3 weeks

The Round Britain Experience departs from St Katherine's Dock in London in April and July and the 12-week programme has been designed to provide the best sailing and learning experience of it's kind. Whilst very little can be cast in stone, details of the trip are outlined below.

Each of the legs on the Round Britain Experience has fixed stopover points and excepting weather conditions and the need to provision or fuel the boat, where the yacht sails in between is entirely up to the crew. For each of the legs at sea a new (fresh) skipper steps on board and fixed stopovers enable us to manage this efficiently. It also ensures that the vessel continues to make steady progress towards her final destination and that clients have the opportunity to make arrangements to meet friends or family and to have post or kit delivered to the boat, for example.

Because we offer the opportunity to earn up to 10 RYA qualifications during the passage round the British Isles, each of the skippers who join the yacht is an RYA recognised instructor chosen by us for their experience and their ability to communicate and pass on their knowledge. By providing a new instructor on each leg, clients will benefit from the range of experiences and techniques that this diversity offers. There is no obligation for clients of the Experience to earn any of the qualifications on offer but we firmly believe that the additional achievement adds to the overall experience.

The shore-based week in Brixham is designed to take advantage of our training centre. The courses on offer during this week are Radar, Short Range Certificate (VHF), Sea Survival, First Aid and Diesel Engine Maintenance. Where there is no desire to participate, Brixham is ideally situated for exploring the South West of England. There are additional events that may be organised during this time, for example sailing on a traditional Brixham Trawler, an evening of racing or a visit to the coastguard and lifeboat stations.

The other qualifications are all undertaken at sea. During the first two weeks of the trip boat familiarisation is at the top of the agenda, understanding the victualling of the boat, settling in to the team and the routines that will underpin the next three months and how to crew her effectively. Competent Crew certificates are normally awarded during this leg.

Upon leaving Brixham the order on board changes and clients now skipper the boat under the watchful eye of the instructor. By the time Padstow is reached Day Skipper certificates have normally been awarded. With this qualification the International Certificate of Competence (ICC) can be obtained which enables the holder to charter yachts overseas.

Legs 4 and 5 feature some of the most exhilarating sailing whilst honing and improving skills that have already been learned. New, more advanced techniques will also be taught and clients should arrive in Edinburgh as qualified Coastal Skippers. The Final leg is used to bring everybody up to Yachmaster standard.

It is the aim of the Round Britain Experience, aside from providing the experience of a lifetime, that all of our clients should be up to Yachtmaster standard by the time the yacht returns to St. Katherine's Dock. Those interested in crowning their achievement and attaining their Yachtmaster qualification have the option of undertaking an additional 2-week preparation and assessment programme.

Due to the demand that we are experiencing, it is likely that there will be further additional sailings of the Round Britain Experience during 2004. It is our policy, however, not to advertise any additional sailings until the currently advertised trips are full. Keep an eye on this page for the addition of further 2004 Experiences.

The cost of the 12-week Round Britain Experience for 2006 is £7800. This is an all-inclusive price, full details of which can be found in our brochure. The additional 2-week Yachtmaster programme is £1500.

Berths on the Round Britain Experience can be reserved on payment of a £1000 deposit as long as it is accompanied by a signed, completed booking form.