The map will show you that The Solent is a 35 mile stretch of sea on the south coast of England between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. What it can't show you is that The Solent offers an exhilarating and unique sailing experience.

By virtue of its amazing diversity of history, sailing conditions, culture and scenery, The Solent provides a stunning sailing venue for yacht enthusiasts, and it can be as relaxing or exciting as you want to make it. Surrounded by areas of outstanding natural beauty and rich in maritime history, the "home of yachting" is world-renowned and truly unique.

Although the Romans apparently walked across the Solent at low tide, you need a boat of some kind these days, and what an amazing variety of "boats" you will see on any given day. The Solent hosts the home port of the Royal Navy, and is a major shipping route for container ships, cruise ships and both local and European ferries and hovercraft. In addition, you have an armada of yachts, catamarans, dinghies, jetskis, windsurfers and kitesurfers. Where else in the world can you have such a variety of vessels to look at or race with ? If that isn't enoough, just sail into Portsmouth Harbour and check out the Historic ships.

Chartering or hiring some kind of boat is the most practical way for the majority of people to sail in the Solent, and as you would expect from the "home of sailing" everybody is catered for. You may want to go fishing or you may want a corporate team-building exercise. You may want a white-knuckle rib ride or you might prefer a romantic cruise. It may be for a Solent stag party or a special family holiday. Whatever your objectives, budget and desires, there will be a yacht charter in the Solent avaliable.

The Solent has the largest concentration of yachts in the UK, and it follows therefore, that it also has the greatest number and variety of charter yachts available for hire at any given time. The range of boats availiable for hire is as diverse as the reasons people might hire them for from a basic rib to an unadulterated luxury yacht, and prices can start from as little as £20 a person. So whatever type of Solent yacht charter you require, the likeliehood is that it will be available.

You can choose between a skippered Solent yacht charter (where a skipper is provided for the duration of the charter) or a bareboat charter, where (subject to having sufficient sailing qualifications) you can "skipper" the yacht yourself. You can choose whether your yacht is wind or motor powered, and you can choose the scale of home comforts and facilities between fairly basic and unadulterated luxury. We would naturally be happy to advise on any aspect of your charter.

If you are thinking about a family sailing holiday for the first time, then it is recommended that you try a weekend Solent charter first of all, and if it is successful then book a longer sailing holiday the next time. Not everyone in the family may enjoy sailing as much as you do, and although the idea of sailing with the family for a whole week may sound appealling, it may just be too long for some members of the family, and then you could have a mutiny on your hands. Test the (Solent) waters with a weekend charter first, and then decide if their appetite for a full week has been well and truly whetted.

Similarly with families above, the same weekend trial first is recommended for friends if they haven't shared cramped accommodation together before.

Although there are a great number of marine events between the Spring and Autumn in the Solent, they are very popular times for corporate yacht charter, so you can expect to pay more for a yacht charterduring these events, and will need to book earlier. Like anywhere else, it boils down to simple supply and demand, and you may prefer to avoid these events for those reasons. The biggest and most famous event is Cowes Week (during the first week of August), but there are many other regattas, there is the annual International Boat Show, visits from Tall Ships and many other special and one-off events, and you need to take them into consideration when planning your visit.

Whenever you come though, whatever for and whoever with, always remember that man does not live by sailing alone. He needs entertainment, food, drink & shopping, and he (and she) can find scope for these in abundance in Portsmouth, Southampton, and the many other harbours, marinas, towns and villages that surround the Solent. The best meal or drink you'll ever have will be at the end of a great day of sailing. The attractions and features in the Solent itself are endless and addictive, and on top of that, you are only a couple of hours sailing from Dorset's Jurassic Coast, or twelve hours sailing to Cherbourg in France.

A Solent Yacht Charter awaits you ! Bon Voyage.