Family Flotilla Holidays: Where to Go, Which Yacht, and Top Tips
Family guide · Flotilla holidays
Few holidays bring a family together like a week afloat: swimming off the back of the boat, spotting dolphins from the bow, and arriving in a new harbour every evening. Family flotilla holidays give you that adventure with the reassurance of an experienced lead crew close by.
This guide covers where to go with children, which yacht to choose, how to keep everyone safe and happy on board, and our top tips for a family sailing holiday everyone will remember.
In short
Family flotilla holidays work best in sheltered waters with short daily passages, such as Lefkas and Kefalonia in Greece’s Ionian Islands. Choose a yacht with a cabin for each couple or pair of children, fit safety netting for younger children, and plan short sailing legs with plenty of swim stops. If nobody in the family has sailing qualifications, you can add a professional skipper. Yachts on our Lefkas flotilla start from £1,684 a week.
£1,684
per yacht a week on our Lefkas flotilla
10nm
average daily sail on the Lefkas routes
£100
safety netting for the whole charter
7
roughly the age children can start to help sail
On this page
Why a flotilla?
Why flotillas are perfect for families
A flotilla gives your family the freedom of your own yacht, with a lead crew who plan the routes, brief you every morning, and help you moor each evening. In the school holidays, you’ll often find other families on the same flotilla, so children quickly make friends.
Short, easy days
Short passages leave plenty of time for swimming, snorkelling, and exploring ashore.
Support on hand
The lead crew is always close by to help with mooring and any technical problems.
Friends for everyone
Sociable evenings and other families on board make it easy for children and parents to make friends.
No experience? No problem
Add a professional skipper and the whole family can relax or learn as they go.
Where to go
Where to go on a family flotilla holiday
Every flotilla area has its own character. These are our answers to the questions families ask us most.
Your questions answered
“We have young children. Where won’t be too much for them?”
Choose short distances and lighter winds. Our Lefkas and Kefalonia flotillas in the Ionian are ideal, with sheltered water and plenty of time to relax.
“We’re still building our confidence. Where should we start?”
The Ionian is the classic choice, with light morning breezes and islands close together. The Saronic Gulf and Split are good next steps.
“Our teenagers want more wind.”
The Dodecanese and Sporades enjoy the fresher summer meltemi, perfect for older children who love to sail.
History, quiet coves, and a stay ashore
“We love history.”
Sail through the Corinth Canal on our Saronic flotilla, explore Diocletian’s Palace in Split, or visit the Knights of St John’s fortifications in the Dodecanese.
“We want to get away from it all.”
The Sporades are greener and quieter, with secluded coves to discover. In Turkey, the Fethiye flotilla explores sheltered bays on the Turquoise Coast.
“Can we add a stay on land?”
Yes. Pair the Lefkas flotilla with a week at Nikiana Beach Club, or the Saronic flotilla with a few days in Athens.
Choosing a yacht
Which yacht is right for your family?
The right yacht depends on how many of you there are and how much space you’d like. As a rule, give each couple or pair of children their own cabin.
| Yacht size | Cabins | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 31 to 34ft | 2 | A couple with one or two younger children; easy to handle and moor |
| 34 to 38ft | 3 | Families of four to six who want a little more privacy |
| 39 to 42ft | 3, often with an ensuite for parents | More space and comfort, with an extra pair of hands to help sail |
| 44ft and over | 4 or more | Two families or three generations sailing together |
Every flotilla yacht comes with a dinghy and outboard, ideal for trips ashore and exploring bays. For more detail on layouts and mainsail types, read our guide to how to choose a yacht for your sailing holiday.
Safety
Keeping children safe on board
A few simple measures help everyone relax and enjoy the sailing.
- Lifejackets and buoyancy aids: make sure each child has one that fits, and agree when they must be worn. Many parents wear theirs more often when children are on board.
- Safety netting: for younger children, ask us to fit netting around the guardrails, from £100 for the charter.
- Simple rules: for example, children stay in the cockpit unless an adult is with them.
- Brief the crew: explain each manoeuvre before you start, so everyone knows what’s happening.
- A second pair of hands: make sure another adult or older child knows how the yacht’s safety equipment works.
Happy sailing
Top tips for family sailing
Plan it together
Involve everyone in choosing the destination and the yacht. Beginners will enjoy gentle conditions much more than a windy first week.
Give everyone a job
Steering, handling the jib sheets, getting the fenders ready, or throwing a mooring line. Ask for volunteers and swap roles during the week. See who does what on board.
Put the screens away
Agree that phones and tablets go in a dry bag while you sail. Dolphin and turtle spotting, binoculars, and a ride in the bosun’s chair soon take their place.
Be patient
Explain each task, check it’s understood, and let children practise, whether it’s tying a fender or using a winch safely.
Keep the days short
Leave around 10am and sail in short legs, with stops for lunch and a swim. Your lead crew will suggest the best bays.
Spark their imagination
Pirates, hidden coves, and treasure islands: a little fancy dress goes a long way on a sailing holiday.
Young sailors
What’s a good age for children to start sailing?
There’s no right or wrong age: families sail with babies, toddlers, and teenagers alike. Babies and toddlers need safety netting, a well-fitting lifejacket, and constant supervision. From around seven years old, most children can take an active part in sailing the yacht, and many love taking the helm.
Extra help
Skippers and sailing courses for families
If nobody in your family has sailing qualifications, a professional skipper can sail the yacht for you, from £1,295 to £1,695 a week. You can get as involved as you like, and many children learn a great deal from watching and helping. Read more about skippered flotilla holidays.
Want to build your own skills? Our first-timer’s guide to flotilla holidays explains the experience you need, and how to become a qualified yacht skipper covers the qualifications.
Book early for the school holidays
School holiday weeks are the most popular, so booking early gives you the best choice of flotilla and yacht.
Plan your holiday
Plan your family flotilla holiday
Ionian Lefkas flotilla
Our classic family flotilla
Two easy routes from Nikiana, with yachts from £1,684 a week.
Skippered flotillas
No experience needed
Let a professional skipper sail while the family relaxes or learns.
Common questions
Family flotilla holidays: your questions answered
Are flotilla holidays suitable for families?
Yes. You sail your own yacht on short daily passages, with a lead crew on hand to help, and in the school holidays there are often other families on the same flotilla.
Where is the best family flotilla destination?
Our Lefkas and Kefalonia flotillas in the Ionian are ideal for families, with sheltered water, light morning winds, and islands close together.
What size yacht do we need for a family of four?
A two-cabin yacht of 31 to 34ft suits a couple with two younger children. For more space, choose a three-cabin yacht of 34 to 38ft.
Can young children go on a sailing holiday?
Yes. Babies and toddlers need safety netting, a well-fitting lifejacket, and constant supervision. From around seven, children can help sail the yacht.
Do we need sailing experience for a family flotilla?
To skipper the yacht yourself, you should hold an ICC (International Certificate of Competence) or equivalent. The RYA Day Skipper Practical course makes you eligible, and we can arrange the ICC assessment. In Croatia the skipper also needs a VHF radio certificate, such as the RYA SRC. If you don’t have them, you can add a professional skipper from £1,295 a week.
Ready to sail?
Start planning your family sailing holiday
Tell us when you’d like to travel, how old the children are, and how much sailing experience you have, and we’ll suggest the right flotilla and yacht.
Call or email us
Monday to Friday 09:00 to 19:00 · Saturday 09:30 to 17:00
Book with confidence. Seafarer has run flotilla holidays since 1995, and every payment you make to us is financially protected: ATOL licence 9511 for holidays with flights, ABTOT member 5660 for holidays without.
