Sailing Holidays Ltd is the largest British owned and operated sailing holiday company. We've been in operation for 30 years now, and are proud of our family based culture that has introduced sailing to thousands of people over the years.

Sailing Holidays Ltd began life in 1976 as Flotilla Sailing Club. I (Barrie Neilson) joined the company in 1979 as a flotilla engineer and subsequently worked as flotilla skipper for six years from 1980 to 1985 in Greece, Florida and the former Yugoslavia. In 1983 Heidi came out on holiday and decided that I needed sorting out; between us we decided to have a go at sorting the company out.

We put a proposal to the then owner, Tom Keen, to take over responsibility for the business and this was accepted. We altered the name to Sailing Holidays Ltd in 1987 to more accurately define what the company did and sprang into action with eleven Jaguar 27 yachts. Sixteen years later, we have 140 yachts in Greece (100) and Croatia, all of which are run as flotilla sailing holiday yachts.

We are now the only non-corporate flotilla specialist in the United Kingdom and our clientele remain 95% British (the other 5% are colonials!). Our niche is operating the best maintained boats in the industry on two week flotillas around some of the most beautiful islands in the world. They are also within only a 2 3 hours of flying time from the UK.

Our holidays are highly addictive and our average customer has enjoyed between four and five holidays with us in the different areas. Our longest standing client has been on more than 50 of our holidays (two a year!) and our next longest twenty-nine holidays! Several have gone on to buy their own yachts and cruise the world but most have to work for a living and our job is to make each fortnight special.

We are still fully involved with all aspects of the business (stress? what stress?) and enjoy our own holidays every year. Our children, Amy and Alice, especially enjoy the family atmosphere on the school holiday flotillas (its not easy getting them out of the water)! We remain as un-corporate as you can get, preferring to remain in personal touch with our clientele. We know no better way to give your brain a break!

Cheers!
Barrie Neilson Sailing Holidays