A group of iguanas is called a “mess”. A group of sharks is a “shiver”. A group of rhinoceroses is a “crash”. A group of boats? A FLOTILLA!
As a general rule, a small group of any kind of ship is a flotilla. Typically, they are all the same kind of ship and maybe a part of a larger fleet. A lot of people think of the word in the context of naval flotillas, but in our world, “flotilla” conjures up a very different image.
Basically speaking, a sailing vacation flotilla is when a group of boats (often sailing charter yachts) go on a group vacation together. This typically entails starting at the same location, following the same trip itinerary, and anchoring at the same places overnight. You could even think of it a little like a road trip with a caravan of RVs, but instead of RVs, we’re talking beautiful sailboats and instead of a dusty highway, you’re looking at crystal-clear waters. There are multiple ways to join a flotilla (bareboat, hire a skipper, cabin charter), but the gist is that you’re all in it together!
Sailing Flotillas can be a great way for sailors of varying levels of experience to explore new destinations, learn from each other, and often learn from hired captains or instructors in the flotilla. It can also be a way for sailors to participate in organized events onshore and on-the-water, or to simply enjoy the camaraderie of meeting and sailing with others.
Last year, we did an awesome sailing flotilla in Central Croatia and documented it so that you could see what it would be like! You can’t exactly see how much fun we had, but at least you’ll get an idea of how it’s a mix of structure (so you don’t need to plan quite as much as if you were going by yourself) as well as free-time (we always leave a ton of room in itineraries so each person can have the vacation they want).
It’s a chance to meet new people, have the confidence to explore a new place, and learn a heck of a lot along the way. Want to learn more? Check out our post BENEFITS OF FLOTILLA SAILING to learn more….
We are, first and foremost, sailing education experts. We pride ourselves in turning people simply interested in sailing into safe and competent sailors. After that? We want you to have a lot of fun! Our team members have sailed in countless flotillas and continue to do so, mainly because we have such a great time. We also are sailing charter specialists and are happy to help you book your next sailing vacation. The charter companies we work with have all been vetted by us (we’re picky) and our team is available to give you insider knowledge from our many years of experience.
NauticEd is a fully recognized education and certification platform for sailing students combining online and on-the-water real instruction (and now VR). NauticEd offers +24 online courses, a free sailor's toolkit that includes 2 free courses, and six ranks of certification – all integrated into NauticEd’s proprietary platform. The USCG and NASBLA recognize NauticEd as having met the established American National Standards. Learn more at www.nauticed.org.
The NauticEd Vacations team are Expert Global Yacht Charter Agents – when you book a sailing vacation or bareboat charter through NauticEd, we don’t charge you a fee – we often save you money since we can compare prices from all yacht charter companies. PLUS, we can give you advice on which destination or charter company will suit your needs best. Inquire about a Sailing Vacation or Charter.
Maneuvering a Catamaran
