Skippered sailing experiences

Discover the Sussex Coast from the Water

Looking for an unforgettable skippered sailing experience in Eastbourne? Step aboard a beautiful Bavaria sailing yacht at Sovereign Harbour and enjoy one of the most memorable ways to explore the spectacular Sussex coastline.

Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, planning a family adventure, entertaining clients or simply looking for something completely different during your stay, our private sailing trips offer a unique perspective of Eastbourne, Beachy Head and the famous Seven Sisters cliffs.

No sailing experience is required. Your professional skipper takes care of everything while you relax, take the helm if you’d like, and enjoy time on the water.

Sailing off the Sussex coast
Sail from Sovereign Harbour?

Sail from Sovereign Harbour?

Your journey begins at Eastbourne’s impressive Sovereign Harbour Marina before heading out into the English Channel.

Depending on the weather and your chosen trip, you may sail towards:

  • Beachy Head
  • The Seven Sisters cliffs
  • Birling Gap
  • Pevensey Bay
  • The Sussex Heritage Coast

Watching Eastbourne disappear behind you as the white cliffs rise from the sea is an experience few visitors ever enjoy.

A Private Sailing Experience

Every trip is privately chartered for your group, allowing you to enjoy the yacht at your own pace.

Perfect for:

  • Couples
  • Families
  • Groups of friends
  • Corporate entertaining
  • Special birthdays
  • Anniversaries
  • Team building
  • Holiday experiences

Unlike larger boat trips, your charter is completely personal, giving you the freedom to relax and make the most of your time on board.

Sailing to Beachy Head

An Experience for Everyone

You don’t need any previous sailing knowledge.

Whether it’s your first time on a yacht or you’re an experienced sailor wanting someone else to do the hard work, every trip is tailored to your group.

Children love spotting wildlife, watching the marina come alive and helping steer the yacht, while adults enjoy the peace, fresh sea air and spectacular coastal scenery.

Keep an eye out for:

  • Seabirds
  • Harbour seals (occasionally)
  • Dolphins (rare but possible)
  • Historic coastal landmarks

Every trip is slightly different depending on wind, tides and sea conditions.

Your Yacht

You’ll sail aboard a spacious Bavaria cruising yacht, designed for both comfort and performance.

Features include:

  • Comfortable cockpit seating
  • Spacious saloon
  • Toilet facilities
  • Safety equipment throughout
  • Professional qualified skipper
  • Stable, comfortable sailing

If conditions allow, guests are welcome to experience steering the yacht and learn the basics of sailing from the skipper.

For those who simply want to unwind, there’s nothing better than sitting back with the sea breeze, watching the Sussex coastline drift by.

Your Bavaria yacht at Sovereign Harbour
Skipper Matt

Book Your Skippered Sailing Experience

If you’re looking for one of the best outdoor activities in Eastbourne, a skippered sailing experience from Sovereign Harbour offers something truly special.

Whether you want a relaxing afternoon under sail, an exciting adventure on the English Channel or a memorable celebration with family and friends, we’ll help you arrange an experience you’ll never forget.

Contact Exclusively Eastbourne to learn more about availability, trip options and recommended holiday homes close to Sovereign Harbour.

Staying with Exclusively Eastbourne?

Many of our holiday homes are within Sovereign Harbour making it easy to combine your accommodation with a private sailing trip in Eastbourne.

After a day at sea, return to your holiday home, enjoy dinner overlooking the marina or explore Eastbourne’s restaurants, beaches and waterfront.

A sailing experience is the perfect addition to a weekend break, family holiday or longer stay on the Sussex coast.

Exclusively Eastbourne Guest Benefit
Stay with us and receive 10% off all sailing experiences, or 15% off cruises over two hours. It’s an exclusive benefit available only to our holiday guests.

Water's Edge Holiday Home in Sovereign Harbour

How to Book Your Skippered Sailing Experience

Booking your private sailing experience couldn’t be simpler. We keep the process flexible and weather-dependent, ensuring you can book with complete confidence.

1. Plan Your Perfect Day

Get in touch to discuss the type of sailing experience you’d like.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing evening cruise, a full day’s adventure, a special celebration or simply time to unwind on the water, we’ll help design the perfect trip for you.

We’ll also advise on the best itinerary based on your interests and the expected weather conditions. If you’d like to enjoy the thrill of sailing, we’ll aim for a day with a good breeze. If you prefer a peaceful cruise, swimming, anchoring or fishing, we’ll recommend dates offering calmer sea conditions wherever possible.

2. Reserve Your Date

Secure your preferred sailing date with a small, fully refundable deposit.

Charter Length Refundable Deposit
Half Day Charter £75
Full Day Charter £150

We’ll send you a secure online payment link so you can pay easily by credit or debit card, giving you all the additional protection that card payments provide.

3. Seven-Day Weather Update

Around one week before your trip we’ll provide an early update on the expected weather conditions, allowing you to plan ahead and giving you a clearer idea of what to expect.

4. Final Weather Confirmation

Approximately 24 hours before departure we’ll make the final decision based on the latest marine forecast.

  • If conditions are suitable, your sailing adventure goes ahead.
  • If conditions aren’t suitable, you can either:
    • Reschedule your trip to another available date, or
    • Receive a full refund of your deposit.

Your safety, comfort and enjoyment will always come first.

5. Pay the Remaining Balance

The remaining balance is payable three days before your sailing experience, once we’re close enough to have confidence in the weather forecast.

6. Enjoy Your Private Sailing Adventure

Simply arrive at Sovereign Harbour and let us take care of everything.

Your experienced skipper will prepare the yacht, provide a full safety briefing and ensure you enjoy an unforgettable day exploring the beautiful Sussex coastline.

Sailing Experience Prices

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing evening sail, a half-day adventure or a full day exploring the Sussex coast, there’s a sailing experience to suit every occasion.

Weekday Evening Cruise (2 hours) …….. £299

Weekend Cruise (2 hours) …….. £349

Half Day Cruise …….. £499

Full Day Cruise …….. £699

Airbourne (Thu/Fri) …….. £799

Airbourne (Sat/Sun) …….. £899

Flexible Charter Options

Larger groups can make the most of a longer charter by splitting the sailing time into multiple trips:

  • Full Day Charter can be divided into:
    • Three separate 2-hour cruises, or
    • Two half-day cruises
  • Half Day Charter can be divided into:
    • Two separate 2-hour cruises

This flexibility makes our private yacht charter ideal for larger families, multiple groups staying in different holiday homes, corporate hospitality, celebrations or special events.

Exclusive Discount for Exclusively Eastbourne Guests

Guests staying with Exclusively Eastbourne Holiday Homes receive exclusive savings on all skippered sailing experiences:

  • 10% discount on all sailing experiences.
  • 15% discount on any cruise longer than two hours (half-day, full-day and Airbourne experiences).

It’s another great reason to combine your Eastbourne holiday with an unforgettable day on the water.

To book your sailing experience or find out more, simply contact the Exclusively Eastbourne team when making your holiday booking or during your stay.

Our Booking Promise

When you book a Skippered Sailing Experience in Eastbourne, you can do so with complete confidence.

  • Fully refundable deposits if the weather prevents your trip
  • Flexible rescheduling options
  • Safety always comes first
  • Clear communication from booking through to departure
  • Friendly advice to help you choose the perfect sailing experience

Our aim is simple: to make booking your private sailing charter as enjoyable and stress-free as the sailing itself.

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