5245_BB_SailLeisureMOCKV11

A family cruising holiday had
always been on my wish list. We hadn’t yet
enjoyed such a holiday with our two
daughters, aged 16 and 19, and we wanted to
do so before they headed off on their own
adventures.
I wouldn’t say Turkey was first on our
list of possible destinations. But the South
African school holidays fell within the
manic tourist season in Greece, and many
people said Turkey was not only beautiful, it
was also much friendlier to our SA rand.
Rounding up friends to join us wasn’t a
problem. After all,
who’d say no to a chance to escape the
miserable Cape Town winter? We invited
good friends with whom we’d shared many
holidays, and
our teenage children get on well with young
adults of our friends’ age. These friends
were non-sailors who’d never been on a
cruising holiday, but they’re adventurous
and keen to try new things.
When looking for a boat, The Moorings
seemed the logical port of call. The South
Africa office is based in Cape Town, and
they offer a full service in boat selection and
itinerary planning. Quotes and rates are now
based on a low, fixed dollar rate in ZAR, so
when splitting the cost between two families
or four couples, it’s actually quite
reasonable. Just consider what a hotel room
can cost a family of four for a week, and a
boat offers you the added value of giving you
freedom of movement in paradise.
A wonderful selection of beautiful boats,
ranging from mono-hulls to catamarans, is
on offer. We decided on a cat, as we liked the
idea of the generous space. The beautiful
new Leopard 48 has always been
a favourite of mine. But what I look for in a
boat − big outdoor living area, large outside
saloon area, spacious galley, generous cabin
space and luxury en-suite heads − and what
a seasoned and experienced
SAIL+LEISURE 35