Welcome to Prestige Yacht Charters
Sailing Experience Required
We want to keep our yachts in superb condition so we ask for a good standard of sailing ability and experience on similar boats.
We require 3 years' sailing experience or if you have paper qualifications Day Skipper Practical and two years' sailing experience as a minimum. We know many people have never taken any formal qualifications and still sail to a high standard, so please tell us what you have done when you enquire about a booking.
What you get on your charter
- Your boat is supplied with diesel fuel and water tanks filled, butane gas cylinders, and is fully cleaned ready to sail.
- There are no other extra charges to consider.
- All boats have crockery and cutlery, pots and pans as required for the number of berths on each.
- An operating manual and chart of Lake Windermere are also supplied.
- Lifejackets, liferings, fire extinguishers and fire blanket are supplied as required by local licensing laws.
- The equipment supplied on each boat is detailed in the specification sheet.
- The yachts are kept on jetties at Ferry Nab, Bowness to allow guests to use the shore side toilet and shower facilities. A washing machine and dryer are also available - free of charge.
- Some yachts may operate from swinging moorings from time to time. Please check when booking.
- Car parking is not available onsite, due to restricted space. A public car park is situated 200m from the jetties and is operated by the Lake Wardens at the Public Slipway. This is a safe and secure car park and the cost is £6 per day. On site unloading/loading is allowed, if the vehicle is removed when completed.
- A Security Deposit is required when you take over the yacht. Any damage or losses will be deducted from this deposit on the boat's return. The deposit does not limit your liability if severe structural damage occurs to the boat due to negligence or lack of knowledge. Please read the Terms and Conditions carefully.
- The yachts cannot be used for any commercial activity or sub-let to another party.
- The yachts have a fully comprehensive insurance including public indemnity and third party liability.
What you need to bring:
You need all your personal items for washing, towels and tea towels, all bedding and sailing clothing. Flat soled deck shoes or sailing Wellingtons to ensure the decks do not get black marks on them. If you haven't got them, our friends at Maiden Marine carry a full range at very competitive prices.
Normal charter start times| Type | Start | Finish |
| Weekend Charter | Friday 4pm | Sunday 5pm |
| 5 Day Charter | Monday 10am | Friday 3pm |
| 7 Day Charter | Monday 10am | Sunday 5pm |
Start and finish times can be varied on request and are subject to booking capacity availability. 1 Day Charters are by arrangement and subject to booking capacity availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of yachts are they?
Beneteau Oceanis cruising yachts. All are wheel-steered and in excellent condition. Ages range from 2004 to 2006.
Do you supply tenders?
We do not have tenders for the yachts, although there is a canoe hire shop on site.
Are we liable for any damage above the security deposit limit?
The security deposit is intended to deal with any minor breakages or damage caused by misuse or loss during the charter. If you cause considerable damage to the yacht, due to grounding or rig misuse, you will be liable for the full cost of repair.
When do we get the security deposit back?
The deposit is taken in the form of credit/debit card details at the start of the charter. We do not actually take cash from the account unless we have discussed any loss or breakage with you. Each boat is checked on return and we normally contact you the following day if there is anything wrong or missing.
Do we have to clean and refill the boat when we return it?
Yes the boat has to come back clean and tidy. We don't expect you to refill fuel and water though. Just leave the boat in the same condition as you received it.
What if the boat is returned unclean?
We charge £50 to clean the boat if it is excessively dirty on its return. This will be taken from the security deposit. We are particularly bothered about black marks on the decks due to the wrong footwear being used. Please ensure your crew is suitably equipped.
How big is Lake Windermere?
The lake is just under 11 miles long and 1 mile wide at the widest point.
Does the lake have a current?
The lake is completely land locked and is not affected by tides, so you can sail whenever you want.
Is the pilotage difficult in the shallow and narrow areas?
The lake is well marked with buoys that protect areas of danger. You must always be vigilant when sailing in a new area though and we take you through a chart of the lake before you leave.
What are the weather conditions like?
We are fortunate in that as the lake has no major wave action and we can sail in nearly any weather conditions. We do have strong gusty winds sometimes which can be interesting for those who have not sailed inland before. We normally check weather forecasts daily and will tell you if there is any bad weather coming through.
We do reserve the right to stop you sailing if the weather is extreme, either too much wind or snow and ice.
Is there anywhere to go and moor up?
We do reserve the right to stop you sailing if the weather is extreme, either too much wind or snow and ice.
There are public jetties around the lake, particularly in the middle by Bowness, and in the north basin of the lake. Overnight stays are allowed, although there is a time limit during the day.
Can you visit places around the lake for lunch or dinner?
All the hotels with jetties will take our yachts and are delighted to see guests arrive by boat at any time. Some allow you to stay overnight if you have used their facilities.
Where do we park our car?
You can park your car in a public car park just 200m from our jetties. This is a safe lit car park and is run by the Lake Wardens.
What shore side facilities are there?
We operate from jetties owned by Maiden Marine and they have shower and toilet facilities in their main building. They also have a comprehensive chandlery for all you sailing requirements, although they do not stock any provisions. They also sell and repair boats.
Where are the nearest shops for food?
Bowness is a two minute drive from the jetties and has a number of large stores for provision shopping. There is also Booth's Supermarket at Windermere a further 3 minutes away.
What is Bowness like?
Bowness is a lively inland seaside type resort with plenty of pubs and restaurants. There are also gift and clothes shops aplenty. It does get very busy in summer and we recommend walking in, which takes about 10 minutes.
What else is there to do for a family?
We are based in the largest national park in the UK and have every conceivable outdoor and indoor sport and pastime available close by. You can walk, cycle, canoe, kayak, ride horses, shoot, climb, fly; just about anything you can think of can be arranged locally. There are also many visitor attractions aimed at adults and children - much indoor if the weather is poor.