26 SAIL TO THE CHANNEL ISLANDS
Why be ships in the night when you can get on board the same boat and sail away across the channel? Universal Yachting runs sailing course weekends for couples and small groups wanting a private adventure (four-day sail from £399 per person; universalyachting.com). The three-cabin skippered yacht leaves from Southampton and takes guests across the Channel to Cherbourg, arriving in time for a candlelit dinner on terra firma. Day two sees the boat party head through the Alderney Race to the island of Guernsey, where there is time to unwind before the return voyage. The emphasis is on having a fun and relaxing weekend, and participants can be as active or as passive onboard as they desire – learning the ropes from the friendly skipper or sitting back on deck and enjoying the shifting view, G&T in hand.
ARRIVE The boat departs from Hamble-le-Rice in Southampton, Hampshire. Hamble-le-Rice is an hour from the M3 from London, and just off the M27 from Portsmouth.