solent yacht charter

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Bareboat charter

For the experienced sailor wanting the freedom to cruise at their own pace, our UK bareboat yacht charter is for you.

Every Friday we release our much reduced ‘late offers’ for the following week. View our latest offers here or follow us to see them on facebook.

Yacht Care Services / Managed Yacht Charter

We offer one-off yacht care services and annual packages for yacht owners, as well as a choice of Managed Yacht Charter packages to suit you.  

We offer RYA practical sailing courses, theory courses, and other sailing tuition, sailing on one of the comfortable boats from our fleet or private tuition on your own yacht.

Hamble Point Yacht Charters offers an unrivalled selection of superb sailing yachts and motor boats for bareboat or skippered charter in the Solent.  Click here to view our yachts.

Corporate Sailing Days

Chartering one or more yachts for a corporate sailing day is a unique and effective way to thank your best clients or suppliers and to strengthen relationships for future business development.

Skippered charter

Hire a yacht with a professional skipper and relax for your trip or request an instructor and enjoy some tailored tuition or support.

See all our latest news and articles here

Book today and set sail Hamble Point Yacht Charters offers a fleet of beautiful sailing and motor yachts available for charter in the Solent.

Whether you are looking to hire a yacht for a day, weekend, week or longer, for a bareboat charter, skippered charter or a corporate sailing event, we have a sailing or motor yacht to suit you.

Outstanding Yachts Hamble Point Yacht Charters are the leading independent charter fleet operator in the Solent offering a fleet of 20+ yachts between 32 – 52ft, from a variety of manufacturers including Hallberg-Rassy, Dufour, Beneteau, Dehler, Jeanneau and more.

All of our yachts are superbly equipped, expertly maintained and freshly cleaned before your charter. They are unbranded, so you can feel like a true sailor during your charter.

Unbeatable Location We are ideally located in the picturesque Hamble village, with a wide choice of restaurants and pubs to make the most of your sailing trip.

Hamble Point Marina, just outside of Southampton is easy to access by car, offers free on-site parking and is the nearest marina to the centre of the Solent, the main sailing area on the UK’s South Coast, so you can spend more time sailing and less time motoring.

Unique Service Our friendly on-shore support team will ensure your charter experience runs smoothly and you can take advantage of the unique level of service from Hamble Point Yacht Charters

Late-check in available on a Friday, so you can set off early on Saturday without waiting for a handover. (Arrive before 7pm for guaranteed evening handover)

All of our yachts are coded and insured for sailing beyond the Solent – so for longer charters you can explore the UK South West, the Northern coast of France or take a trip to the Channel Islands.

Unlike other companies, we allow night sailing.

Our yachts are unbranded so no-one will know you are on charter and you can fully immerse yourself in the sailing experience.

You can even bring your dog! (additional cleaning charges apply)

We are passionate about delivering an enjoyable and straight-forward charter experience, and we are delighted to hold several Customer Service Award , one being from the British Marine Leisure Boating as well as a 5-star rating on Trip Advisor and the latest Certificate of Excellence.

If you are not yet one of our regular customers, come and see for yourself or sign up for our e-newsletters for special offers and updates on new yachts joining our fleet.

Our services include: Bareboat Yacht Charter, Skippered Yacht Charter, Skippered Motor Yacht Hire, Corporate Sailing, Yacht Management and an RYA Sailing School… Everything you require to make your UK South Coast Solent yachting or boating both enjoyable and exhilarating!

Select Yacht ABRAXAS ACCOMMODATION APHRODITE SPIRIT APPALOOSA BLUE OTTER BLUETOOTH CLOUD NINE EVENT FRANTIC GAELFORCE GRAND CRU GULL JAZZ JUKEBOX KASARA LOXLEY B MAVERICK MISCHIEF OF HAMBLE PETRUCHIO RED KITE REUNION SEAFIN SHORT STOP SILENTIA SOUTHPOINT II SPIRIT SPLASHPROOF TIME TO BOND TUITION TUITION1 TUITION2 WATERPROOF WEATHER BIRD

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WHAT CLIENTS SAY

As a family, including our 4 year old Labrador, we recently chartered a 'bareboat' yacht from Hamble Point Charters for 7 days to cruise the Solent. The company were fantastic from our first enquiry to handing back the boat. The yacht was clean and well presented. A great week and we will happily use them again!

We have just had another wonderful week on a yacht we chartered from Hamble Point Yacht Charters. We have sailed several of their boats, this time it was a lovely 35 foot Bavaria. Chartering from HPYC is always an easy choice for us: the boats are well maintained, support is excellent, and the staff are always super friendly and helpful. On top of that, Hamble Point is such an ideal starting location for sailing around the Solent.

This is truly a 5 * service. The team really looked after us both ashore on arrival and also while at sea. We were a relatively inexperienced crew but always felt the team ashore had our backs. Thoroughly recommended.

I just wanted to say Thank-you very much for the weekend charter. It was exactly what we were after (albeit cold!) plus Andy was an awesome teacher and great company. We’ll definitely be keen to book again soon!

We had a fabulous four days. Marina is ideally placed for the Solent, boat was in great condition, well equipped and a joy to sail. We were well briefed and the shore side team including the dog very friendly.

We charted one of the sailing yachts for a fantastic weekend cruise in the Solent. The boat was in superb condition and well equipped, the staff was very helpful explaining how things work on the yacht and there was also a video available with all the important information. 10/10 would recommend!

Had a fantastic week chartering Blue Otter, Alex was incredibly helpful and sent loads of information and date checking prior to booking. There was a handover video and both the handover and return were really smooth. The boat was lovely and well maintained and Lee was really helpful in recommending places to visit (and helping identify the steering issue as an autopilot takeover - doh!). Definitely will be back and would fully recommend!

Just back from a lovely week in the Solent. Great service from HPYC from first inquiry through to return handover. Very straightforward to deal with, and the yacht was in excellent condition. We've chartered from many companies in the UK and abroad and the attention to detail (and flawless inventory!) was second to none. Everything about the yacht and equipment had clearly been well looked after and was in immaculate condition. Great service, will use again.

Always very friendly service, and well-maintained yachts. Easy check-in and checkout. Will be back... 

We had a great time and were very happy with everything. Your team were genuinely friendly and were very helpful when we needed it. Is a big contrast to many charter companies I have dealt with in the past.

Watching the sun go down with a glass of bubbly on the deck of a sparkling yacht was unbelievable. What a treat, and a much needed change of scenery in these troubled times. We will be back for sure

Fab service, nothing too much trouble, including my daft questions. I'll be a repeat customer for sure!

We had a great time sailing with Lee for a few days at the beginning of September. Hamble Point Yacht Charters supplied us an impeccable 45 ft Hanse yacht, which was handled with complete mastery by Captain Lee.It was a privilege to sail with Lee, who is clearly a highly skilled professional taking great pride in his work ... but who is also a fantastic character with a great sense of humour and plenty of fun stories to keep the whole family entertained. He balances the serious side of safety and learning about sailing with a whopping dose of amusement and good cheer. We sailed the Solent in some decent seas, visited Bucklers Hard on the banks of the Beaulieu River and learned lots about British nautical history. Our boys started somewhat of a fishing trend catching bass off the back of the boat in Portsmouth and we would love to sail with Lee again in the future.The man truly knows his stuff, maintained the boat impeccably and went to every effort to ensure that we had a great time. Many thanks to “Shippers” and Hamble Point Charters. We’ll be back.

Chartered bareboats with HPYC on numerous occasions most recently in Sept 2020. Always helpful and accommodating. Highly recommend.

We had a fantastic weekend sailing on Loxley B. Boat in super condition and spotlessly clean, Alex. and the team very thorough and always on hand to answer any questions. A great experience. We will be back. Thank you!

Complimentary Early Boarding this August!

• access_time Aug 6, 2024

Make the most of the remaining Summer and set sail earlier than usual. All new charter bookings for August will receive complimentary early boarding at 1 pm. * Charter bookings made for the August Bank Holiday Weekend will also receive a free of charge day sailing on Monday 26th August (so 3 days sailing for … Continue reading Complimentary Early Boarding this August!

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Enjoy four days of sailing without the hustle and bustle of the weekend crowds.

Browse our yacht charter fleet.

2 pm Monday to 10 am Friday

Give our friendly team a call on 02380 457110 or e mail 

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• Bareboat Charter
• Skippered Charter
• Round the Island Race
• Mile Builder
• Boat Handling
• Corporate Entertainment
• Team Building
• Single Berth Sailing
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• Where to Sail
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Sailing The South Coast Since 1985

Firstaway Yacht Charter Solent

Get away from it all, supporting your passion for sailing.

Bareboat Yacht Charter

Charter a yacht in the Solent , a fantastic cruising area. Gleaming, well maintained yachts and a friendly shoreside team. We are a leading UK boat charter operator.

Skippered Yacht Charter

Charter a yacht with one of our expert skippers or instructors on board. Learn as much or as little as you like. Get fully involved or enjoy the luxury of watching the world go by whilst the skipper takes care of everything.

Choose from a perfect variety of sailing yachts . All lovingly maintained and kept spotlessly clean by our shoreside crew.

Firstaway Yacht Charters Southampton

Firstaway Yacht Charters offers a range of loved and well maintained boats for bareboat and skippered yacht charter from the Solent.

Based in Shamrock Quay Marina in Southampton, with yachts here, and in Town Quay Marina in Southampton and on the River Hamble we are perfectly placed for South Coast and Solent sailing.  Visit places such as Beaulieu in the New Forest, Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight, Cowes - also on the Isle of Wight and perhaps the yachting capital of the World (?), Newtown Creek, Portsmouth Harbour, Bembridge, Wooton Creek plus others.   For cruising further afield there is the West Country, France or the Channel Islands.

In addition to bareboat and skipper charter we team building activities and corporate sailing events, for all levels of sailing experience.

We also have options to book individual berths on boats in yachting races like Round the Island Race and the Rolex Fastnet Race.

We have very close ties with First Class Sailing, an RYA sailing school, so if you want to brush up on things like boat handling skills or you just want to get some more miles as skipper or as crew before your Solent yacht charter then we can help.

More Than Just Solent Yacht Charter

From Sailing Adventures in Norway and racing across the Atlantic, to Boat Handling weekends and Yacht Management. In addition to bareboat charter and skippered charter we have lots of other options to offer on a wide variety of boats.

Sailing Opportunities

Sailing training, sailing adventures, yacht charter management, sailing courses.

If you need to brush up on your boat handling skills, want to get more sailing experience and miles in under the helpful eye of an instructor, need a VHF license or just want to take a sailing course, be it theory or practical, then our sister company First Class Sailing Ltd is the perfect choice to help build your skills and confidence for sailing yachts.

Also based in Shamrock Quay, Southampton they are an RYA Recognised Training Centre.  They run the full range of RYA sailing courses including the shorebased theory courses - Day Skipper Theory Course, Coastal Skipper & Yachtmaster Theory Course and Ocean Yachtmaster Theory course; all the practical courses - Competent Crew, Day Skipper, Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Prep; and the full range of 1 day supplementary courses - VHF Radio, Sea Survival, Diesel Engine Maintenance and First Aid.

Solent Sailing

The Solent is a fantastic place to sail.  One could say the Solent stretches from Portsmouth and the forts just south of Portsmouth to the start of the Needles Channel.  Within this area there are numerous places to pull into port and explore, each with something different to offer.  Two big ports, charming market towns, the bustling Hamble River, the beautiful Bucklers Hard up the Beaulieu River in the heart of the New Forest, anchorages positioned to let you watch the world go by.  They are all within a stone's throw (short sail) of each other meaning you can visit several South Coast locations during your charter, making it popular for a day, a yacht weekend or a week. Due to the popularity of sailing on the Solent, many people are searching online for terms such as yacht hire Solent , yacht rental Solent , boat hire Solent , boat rental Solent , and, if you're local, yacht charter near me . There is also a huge variety of craft in the Solent.  It is not uncommon to see high performance racing yachts in Cowes, oil tankers, fishing boats, day boats, sailing school boats, round the world luxury cruising yachts, round the world racing yachts, old gaffers, classic keel boats, kite surfers, windsurfers, big expensive power boats, smaller expensive power boats, sailing dinghies in Gosport, ribs of all shapes and sizes, cruise ships, a hoover craft and high speed ferries.  All within a day.  Yet the Solent does still offer peaceful hideaways to get away from it all. There are few real physical obstructions to boats within the Solent.  There is the odd ledge There is the Bramble Bank just to the north and east of Cowes but that is about it.  There is a shipping channel one must be aware off and local bylaws that one needs to adhere to. Solent tides are interesting, and it is necessary to have a good awareness of what the tide is doing at all times.  Due to the shape of the land and the Isle of Wight the Solent gets 'double highs'. Just beyond the Solent on the South coast there is Poole and Weymouth to the west, Bembridge, Langstone and Chichester Harbours to the East.

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Customer Testimonials

Brilliant Day on the Water

Fantastic days sailing with friends on a wonderful boat. It certainly helped that we had 3 very experienced sailors with us, would highly recommend Firstaway sailing if you want a day on the water in the Solent. - Clive B

Firstaway Yacht Charters

Thanks Sally and Eric for great service and a brilliant day with Firstaway Yacht Charters. Excellent first experience of sailing. Skipper Eric was great and let us all take a turn at the helm. A great way to celebrate special occasions. Boat was clean and well maintained with good facilities too. Would recommend Firstaway to anyone wanting to take a trip sailing. - R & A Jenner

May Bank Holiday Charter of Cascadeur

We were 7 onboard this Jeanneau 12.5 m and while there wasn't much wind, with what little there was we managed 7 kts. Cascadeur is a great charter boat - roomy, clean, well equipped. Eric and Sally were very helpful and clearly know their stuff. - Peter R

Highly recommended

Wonderful people. Sally in particular couldn't have been more helpful. The skippers were professional and experienced, but also good fun and made the whole experience very enjoyable. Thanks all! - Sam N

Day trip with great skipper

Excellent company, with a very well appointed boat (Zara). Nothing was a problem to them, despite me chopping and changing a lot. Our skipper - Gavin - was fantastic. Knowledgable, friendly and great company. I would certainly use this company again. - ASQC

Amazing Trip. Highly Recommended!

I arrived with no expectations and ended up having an amazing time on "Elissa" The Skipper was super friendly and got us involved with the sailing. Overall was a phenomenal experience and I highly recommend to anyone considering!! 5 STARS - Virginia Water

Fantastic Service, Again, Thank You!

Firstaway run a great charter business: their yachts are in very good condition, always well prepared, properly cleaned; nothing is too much trouble; friendly and professional. I have been chartering from Firstaway for nearly 20 years and would always recommend them and never look elsewhere! - Mackeaj

Great experience in Solent with Firstaway

I chartered with Firstaway 3 days a Gib'Sea 37ft yatch. Very well kept and clean. excellent service and assistance, very easy checkin-checkout process. we did some 60 miles chilling around the Solent, Yarmouth harbour was also an excellent experience. highly recommended. - Tommaso M

An exciting day

A beautiful day on the water around the Solent... I was slightly anxious as I don’t have webbed feet but Eric and Sally were great hosts and competent sailors... now looking forward to my next seafaring adventure. - Karen

Yacht Charter Enquiries

Endeavour Building, Shamrock Quay, William Street, Southampton, SO14 5QL

023 8023 6000

[email protected]

• 02392 511789
• [email protected]

UK Solent Yacht Charters & Sailing school. Skippered Sailing , Bareboat Sailing, Racing, Classic Power.   33-44ft sailing yachts

Solent Skippered Yacht Charters

Skippered yacht charters for family, friends, stag or hens for clients who prefer a skipper onboard

Solent Bareboat Yacht Charters

Bareboat yacht charters: Weekends, midweek or longer for clients suitably experienced or qualified

Solent Corporate Yacht Charters

Corporate yacht sailing day or longer for leisure, teambuilding, fun racing or to reward your staff

Solent RYA sailing school

Practical RYA sailing courses per yacht or per berth basis

JPK 1010 Solent race charter

Skippered race charter for Solent regattas

Solent Classic Power Charters

Days out in a true British classic Fairey Huntsman 31

We offer skippered sailing charters (rentals) for less experienced crews our team of professional skippers are available for those who prefer extra local knowledge and sailing expertise onboard for your holiday aboard.

We also specialise in friends / family sailing &   Stag & Hen Weekends onboard our yachts for up to 12+2 people for day sailing. Our skippers have in-depth knowledge of the Solent and beyond so depending on your needs, they know where to go! Please contact us for further information on suitability of our yachts for charter.

Our UK Solent based bareboat charter yachts are available for weekends, week days or longer for sailing holidays. Our yachts include our 8 berth  Beneteau Oceanis 37 , 11 berth  Elan Impression 434 &  Jeanneau 43

The normal required qualification for bareboat charters is a Day Skipper practical with good miles and Yachtmaster practical for offshore sailing but sometimes clients who have been sailing a few years without formal qualifications are permitted to charter our yachts..

Corporate sailing yacht charter in the UK is increasingly proving to be a great way to entertain clients or to motivate and reward staff. We have various sizes of yacht, the largest taking 12 clients plus the skipper and mate if required.

Our options include a leisurely sailing cruise to a fine restaurant, yacht club or historic waterside pub.  A yacht sailing team building and motivation day or just having fun with a group of colleagues racing one of our matched fleet of sailing yachts around the Solent.

Are you are a beginner or are ready to take the coveted RYA Yachtmaster™ exam? We only use experienced instructors to deliver all our sailing school courses.

Our modern yachts will help you get more out of your time on the water.

5 day RYA Training courses run all year round on board our  Beneteau 37  (which has radar) and  Jeanneau 43  yachts.

The latest sailing addition to our fleet a very competitive JPK 1010 available for skippered race charter for the Solent regattas, Round the Island, Little Britain !

New to our fleet for 2023 our stunning classic huntsman 31 aft cockpit for discerning clients requiring timeless style..

Available for day charters for both corporate and families our classic Fairey powerboat will bring a smile to your face!

Est 1999..... Why Four Seasons Yacht Charter & Sailing Sea School?

• Haslar Marina in Gosport: Ample free parking & 5 minutes from the Solent
• Short walk to Gunwharf Quays shops, bars & restaurants
• Close access to direct trains from Waterloo & Victoria stations
• Dinghy, AIS, TV, UK sockets & USB charging on all yachts. Radar on most
• All yachts RYA coded 60 miles from land & Seastart insured
• Non charter company branded yachts
• Highly experienced, Helpful, Knowledgable staff
• Children’s auto life jackets available on request & junior foulies available
• Individual Marina berths with minimal tide running through
• Full public and employers liability insured
• Sailing School Solent

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Late notice spaces available for selected courses - click here for details

Enquire about a Charter

Get in touch with us and we can recommend the best yacht to suit your needs.

We will beat any quotation for bareboat yacht charter on a like-for-like basis – Please contact us for details.

Yacht Charter

We are now able to offer finance on all yacht charters (subject to acceptance).

Commodore Yachting are proud to offer yacht charter to suitably qualified/experienced sailors** who want to do their own thing in the great location that is the Solent. You can charter our yachts for any length of time, with weekend and week-long charters being very popular, enabling you to get out into the Solent or further afield and really maximise your sailing experience.

On our charters you’ll get a superbly maintained Bavaria yacht from our wide-ranging fleet, with sizes ranging from 36-44’ (10.9m to 13.4m), all of which have multiple cabins and bunks on board so you won’t be short of space for crew. With very competitive charter rates, you can tailor a charter to suit your requirements without it costing the earth.

You’ll get a fully maintained, insured, fuelled and watered yacht, all ready and waiting to go when you arrive. After we’ve welcomed you to Commodore Yachting and helped you on board with your bags, we will give you a comprehensive handover orientation to ensure you are fully-versed and familiarised in how the yacht operates. We will give you a guide to safely exiting and entering Premier Gosport Marina, how and where to stow fenders, where the mooring lines are kept and any other information which you will need to fully enjoy your chartering experience! We will also spend as much time as you need to answer any questions you may have, before you depart on your adventure.

As you’d expect with Commodore Yachting, not only do we offer you quality first class yachts, but also the backup and support to compliment them. As standard we give comprehensive backup and support with our 24/7 support phone line, ensuring that should the worst happen we are always here to respond to your call immediately.

All our Yachts are covered by Seastart marine breakdown assistance, giving you peace of mind that should the worst happen, we’ve got you covered.

So what are you waiting for? Book-up a yacht and get out there! The adventure starts here!

Sorry, but due to previous issues we are unable to allow customers to bring pets aboard our charter fleet.

Yachtsman Insurance

We would advise ALL our charter customers to ensure they have suitable holiday insurance in-place to cover their yacht charter holiday. Yachtsman’s insurance is available from a variety of souces like Topsail Insurance and can cover things like damage waiver, cancellations and personal effects cover.

Yacht Charter – Collection Times, Hours of Use, Return Times

We offer our yachts for charters, either skippered or bareboat on the following time basis:

• Day Charter – Collect 8am – Return 4pm
• Weekend 2-Day Charter – Collect 5pm Friday* – Return 4pm Sunday
• Mid-Week 5 Day Charter – 10am First day to 12pm  (Mid-Day) last day (Monday-Friday)
• Full Week 7 Day Charter – 10am First day to 12pm (Mid-Day) last day (Monday-Sunday or Saturday to Friday)

* Friday evening collection is between the hours of 5.00-7.00pm only. If you are going to arrive later, we will switch on the interior lights in the boat and the handover will be done from 8am the following day. You will not be permitted to leave the marina until handover is complete. We can sometimes do handovers earlier, but this is subject to the boat being made ready in time – Please contact us on the day of charter for updates and please do not arrive early without checking with us first, as we may have to turn you away.

The boats must be returned and handed over to us by the stipulated time on the last day of charter, fuelled, cleaned (we do offer a cleaning service at extra cost – £125/boat) and all your kit off the boat ready for us to carry-out maintenance and sanitising cleaning (for Covid-purposes) ready for the next customer.

We can sometimes tailor specific handover times to suit customers, but this is strictly subject to arrangement with us and availability of boats which may be on courses/charters with other customers.

Terms and Conditions can be found here Terms & Conditions Of Charter – Commodore Yachting (commodore-yachting.com)

Our fleet yachts

Melbourne Star

The smallest yacht in our fleet at 36′ (10.97m), Melbourne Star is very user-friendly and easy to sail, yet she packs all the big features that her larger sisters have along with three double cabins. New sprayhood and stack-pack fitted in 2023.

Mayan Star is our 2015 model Bavaria 37′ (11.27m) cruiser. With her fresh modern looks, twin wheeled helm and contemporary interior she’s always popular and in demand. New stack-pack fitted in 2023.

Elizabeth Star

Elizabeth Star is one of our matched-pair Bavaria 38′ cruisers. With great sea handling manners she’s a joy to sail when hopping around the Solent or going further afield. New sails, sprayhood & stack-pack fitted July 2023.

Victoria Star

The sister ship to Elizabeth Star, our Victoria Star (38′) is a joy to sail and still has all the big facilities, features and comfort you’d expect from a modern yacht. With impeccable sea-handling, she’s the perfect Solent or cross-channel cruising yacht. New sails, sprayhood & stack-pack fitted July 2023.

Adelaide Star

One of our matched pair 44′ (13.42m) Bavaria cruising yachts, Adelaide Star has ample room on board for that channel crossing, or for undertaking longer passages when exploring the south coast of the UK and further afield. With new 75hp Volvo Penta engine, sprayhood and stack-pack fitted in 2023.

Emerald Star

Sister ship to Adelaide Star, our Emerald Star is the perfect yacht to spend a long holiday charter on, exploring all the sights that the Solent has to offer, along with being more than capable on longer passages. With new 75hp Volvo Penta engine fitted in 2023. New sails & sprayhood fitted July 2023.

We need your charter yacht!

We are looking to increase our charter fleet with new yachts for our customers. Do you have a coded charter yacht thats being managed by another charter company, but not quite giving you the returns you were promised? You need to talk to us!

* Please contact us for details of what qualifications you’ll need. As a minimum we require RYA Day Skipper Practical (Gained in UK waters) although we appreciate not everyone has paper qualifications, so if you can safely demonstrate your sailing abilities under our watchful eye, then we are happy for you to charter our vessels subject to a satisfactory deposit being paid.

** Our yacht charters are solely for the use of private recreational sailors/families and for private tuition courses/experiences run by ourselves. We unfortunately cannot allow 3rd party commercial entities to run training courses on our vessels. Failure to disclose this at the time of booking will mean the forfeit of any deposit paid.

By submitting this form, you consent to us contacting you by both email or phone with regards to your enquiry.

Customer reviews

A fantastic weekend of sailing, almost 130 NM in all, with a relaxed, but fully engaging skipper. Great set up and brilliant on the admin. Thanks Stef, Tom et al!

I did a weeks coastal skipper course getting ready for my yacht master and I have to say it was one of the best training weeks I’ve had - our training instructor was superb, exactly the sort of person that you want. He could inspire, provide discipline and impart knowledge as well as let you learn through your own mistakes. Tom and Steph run an excellent operation there and I highly recommend it. They’re flexible and very helpful when it comes to your journey into being a qualified sailor.

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One of the largest privately-owned Superyachts available to charter on the Hamble River in the Solent

Welcome to Solent Superyacht Charters

Solent Superyacht Charters is a luxury motor yacht charter company, offering unique and unforgettable excursions in the stunning waters of southern England.

Step aboard the Lucky Ash, one of the largest privately owned yachts available to charter on the Hamble River in the Solent. Featuring sumptuous furnishings, a whole range of modern facilities and room enough for up to 12 guests, you can simply sit back with a glass of champagne and watch the world go by.

The Solent offers excellent sailing, marina facilities and beautiful coastlines to explore. It’s the perfect backdrop for family celebrations, corporate events or a romantic treat for you and your loved one.

Whatever you have in mind for your day on the water, our team can make it happen for you.

Solent Superyacht Charters

Qualified skipper and experienced crew.

A commercially qualified skipper and experienced crew will be on hand at all times to ensure all your needs are catered for; we can even arrange additional transport, dining reservations and on-board entertainment to make your time with us extra special.

Professional, high-level service

With Solent Superyacht Charters, you can expect professional, high-level service with a warm, personal approach.

To find out more about our services or to discuss your requirements, get in touch and call our friendly team today on  +44 (0)7836 204105 .

Aboard Lucky Ash – Solent Superyacht Charters

Solent Superyacht Charter Reviews

Find solent superyacht charters on tripadvisor we have many more excellent ratings, privacy overview.

Solent Leisure Charters

Welcome to Solent Leisure Charters, the premier choice for luxury yacht charters in the Solent. Our passion for sailing is matched only by our commitment to providing you with an unforgettable experience.

Contact us below to book your dream experience today: 

Destinations

Our Service

Explore the Solent and beyond with our expert crew. Our yacht charters can take you to Cowes, Yarmouth, and beyond. Whether you're looking for a romantic evening, family day out, or a corporate event, we have the perfect destination for you. We've covered many events in and around the Solent including The Bournemouth Air Show, Cowes Week and The Little Britain Challenge Cup so there is a high chance you have seen Clueless and the team in action already! Contact us today for more information regarding destinations, we are happy to help!

Solent Leisure Charters offers an array of maritime experiences. Our Full Day Charter provides a complete day of exploration along the stunning Solent coast. For those with limited time, our Half Day Charter offers a shorter yet exhilarating escape. If you seek romance or tranquility, our Sunset Cruise is perfect as the sun sets over the serene waters. Whether you have a day to spare or just a few hours, Solent Leisure Charters invites you to create lasting memories on the picturesque Solent waters, tailored to your desires.

Nicole Blake

“ Had a great day out celebrating a birthday. John and Danni were super hosts on their lovely boat and even the weather was good!  Can't wait to do it again!. "

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Sailing Yacht For Sale Bavaria 38 2003 8 berth £49,950 ono

Team building.

• Race Participation

Mile Building

Cross channel, berthing practice.

• Flotilla Experience
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Why Solent Yacht Charter with Hurst Point Yachts?

• Best prices due to low overheads
• Operate from 5 star marinas
• Great customer service
• Most experienced and entertaining skippers
• First Class reviews
• 100% safety record
• Exciting itineraries
• Yachts maintained to highest standards

Hiring from Lymington and Hamble gives you access to a great many renowned south coast yachting destinations. Spectacular scenery can be found at Alum Bay and the Needles lighthouse at the far western end of the Isle of Wight. The Lymington and Beaulieu rivers are navigable up to the quays and marinas. Creeks such as Newtown and Wootten provide idyllic locations where you can drop anchor for drinks. Cowes has the Medina River and the Folly Inn. Osborne Bay is another great anchorage giving views of Osborne House. A trip to the west allows the magnificent Jurassic coastline of Dorset and the beautiful beach at Studland to be in reach of a day return sail. Whilst there pop into Poole Harbour, the worlds second largest. Pick up a mooring buoy and row over in the inflatable to Brownsea Island, home to red squirrels.

Solent yacht charter from the Lymington marina base

This is an award winning 5 star marina with brand new top of the range showers both in the main building and close to the yachts. Celebrity bar with outdoor sun terrace over looking the marina basin provides a great venue to start and end your charter. Located right on the Edge of the New Forest National Park which you will pass through on your way to us. A 20 minute trip down river sees you out into the Solent with the Isle of Wight a short sail away.

Hamble marina base

Walk into the the famous old yachting village of Hamble where you will find atmospheric pubs and great food. The marina has all the facilities you will need. Very short trip to the mouth of the river finds you in Southampton Water with the Solent only a short distance further. Ideally located for a day sail to Portsmouth to the east or Yarmouth to the west with Cowes a short sail cross tide to the south.

Bareboat Solent Yacht Charter

Yachts with up to 12 berths. Only Day Skipper certificate required for Solent charter (*conditions apply) Here are the bareboat charter yachts with a link to the more detailed desktop site with prices.

Stag and Hen Sailing Weekends

A stag or hen weekend provides two days on a sailing yacht visiting various bars, bays and restaurants in the Solent with two nights on board. Full details can be found on the stag party sailing website with a link to the more detailed desktop site with prices.

Corporate Yacht Charter

Corporate hospitality and entertainment, branding and team building are ideally achieved on sailing yachts and we have many past customers who have added to our reviews page. Further details are on the Corporate Events website with a link to the more detailed desktop site with prices.

Big Birthday Celebrations

Sailing is a great way to celebrate a milestone birthday, usually 40th, 50th, 60th or 70th. We can take up to 13 people on the sailing yachts or 10 on the motor yachts. A sample of what is on offer can be found on the 50th birthday charter website with a link to the more detailed desktop site with prices.

Skippered Yacht Charter

Skippers are selected based on their ability to entertain and educate and ensure you have a fun time on the water. They all know the waters extremely well and will choose an itinerary with you to get the best out of the day. Skippered yacht charter details here with a link to the desktop site with prices.

Berthing is one of the things that worries new potential skippers and indeed there is plenty of scope for damage especially when the wind is up. But there are techniques to minimise the risk and give you confidence. We will show you how to handle berthing both on the leeward and windward side of pontoons, rafting up against other yachts, and how to berth in a gap just slightly longer than your yacht with the tide running strongly.

Sailing works wonderfully with team building objectives especially when in race mode. Winning depends on each team member fullfilling his or her task correctly each time. Further Team Building details here with a link to the more detailed desktop site with prices.

Race participation

The Round the Island Race with approximately 1800 yachts takes place in late June. Cowes Week occurs first week in August. Rub shoulders with olympic sailors and celebrities at these world class events. Accommodation is onboard the yachts in the marinas close to the music venues. Race participation website with a link to the more detailed desktop site with prices.

You need 800 logged sea miles for the Coastal Skipper Certificate of Competence or 2500 for Yachtmaster Offshore. We can generally maintain 6 or 7 knots under sail so provided we travel with the tide and take the distance from the GPS (distance travelled over the sea bed) rather than the log (distance travelled through the water), we can achieve up to 100 nautical miles in a day.

You may have your own yacht and have a longing to cross the Channel for the first time but want to experience the crossing on a skippered boat first. The crossing from the Needles to Alderney is 60 nautical miles and we usually do this in around 9 hours, arriving in time for an evening ashore before returning the following day. But we can also carry on down to Guernsey, a further 4 to 5 hours. Sark and Herm are close by, enchanting islands. Jersey is a few more hours further south and we have visited all of these island in a five day charter.

Flotilla Training

Holidays such as Briish Virgin Islands flotillas often require some pre joining experience as a condition of booking. We can provide the one or two days required and provide you with a RYA training logbook certifying the hours and sea miles gained.

Copyright 2003-2024 Hurst Point Yacht Charters Limited Yacht Charter Solent All rights Reserved

• Fleet & Prices
• Jeanneau 37
• Jeanneau Sun Fast 37

Solent Yacht Charter

Hamble School of Yachting offers many sailing courses, but also doubles as a yacht charter company, Hamble Yacht Charters. We are based on the Hamble river with easy access out into the Solent. The Solent is a great place to start your yacht charter. We are lucky enough to have a variety of locations accessible at most states of tide. The Solent is a well sheltered sailing ground and a safe environment, making it a perfect location for your yacht charter.

We have a wide range of charter yachts which are ideal for families and couples. We also offer skippered charter for those looking to improve in a relaxed atmosphere, or for those simply content to enjoy the luxury of being piloted by their qualified skipper. All boats are comprehensively equipped and comply with all the safety requirements. At the commencement of both skippered and bareboat charter each boat receives a complementary 'starter pack' of tea, coffee, sugar, milk, tea towels and all cleaning materials. Equipment such as wet weather gear can be hired at minimal cost. The minimum requirement for a bareboat charter is the Day Skipper with a VHF radio licence.

High Season: April to September Low Season: October to March Security Deposit £1000.00 Skipper Hire: £295 Per Day

Charter Times

7 days a week - Friday/Sunday 1800 to Friday/Sunday 1600 Weekends - Friday 1800 to Sunday 1600 Mid week - Monday 1000 to Friday 1600 Day sail - 0900 to 1700

If you have any questions about yacht charter or would like to make a booking please call us on: 02380 452668 or email: [email protected]

[email protected]

Our luxury sail boat charter yacht’s are a great way to experience the Solent’s perfect sailing conditions. Our experienced RYA Captain’s will take care of the skippering so you can sit back and relax. Enjoy the fresh air and freedom provided by our Solent Yacht Charters today.

• Corporate Days
• Stag & Hens
• Family Days
• Celebrations
• Anniversaries
• Round Island Race

Our yacht charters can be tailored around your requirements. Embarkation points are from Hayling Island and Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth (both 1.5 hours from London). Experience sail boat charter from White Storm.

Day, evening and weekend yacht charters

Mca licensed for 10 guests, bespoke dining tailored to your requirements, cowes week and racing events, stand up paddle boards included.

The Solent Yacht Charters

• Inspiration

The Solent Yacht Charters has 5 Photos

Related Locations

• Europe Yacht Charter

Featured Yachts in Solent

Latest solent yachting news.

New to charter: Sunseeker luxury yacht ...

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For the very best in Solent yacht charter cruising, the 20 miles off the coast of mainland England, is the place to be. The Solent stretches for around 20 miles and is one of the busiest stretches of water in the world. It’s also a hub for water sports like kitesurfing, surfing, jet skiing and wakeboarding. During your voyage here, set sail for the Isle of Wight and drop anchor in Cowes Harbour. Located off the south coast of England, the Isle of Wight has been a popular tourist destination for many years.

There are glorious beaches like Alum Bay Beach, Totland Bay and Bembridge Beach, fabulous shops and many outdoor activities to enjoy such as cycling, walking and horse-riding.  Top visitor attractions include a fantastic steam railway, Robin Hill Adventure Park and the Isle of Wight Zoo.  There’s also a good range of gourmet restaurants, cafes and traditional English bars on the island.

South Hampshire borders on the Solent coastline. This 20-mile stretch of water begins in Barton-on Sea then onto the New Forest, Southampton, Gosport and Portsmouth.  Priory Bay and Osborne Bay are popular places to drop anchor for superyacht charterers. There are lots of opportunities for recreation and fun here. Historical attractions can be found all along the coastline including nature reserves, activity centres and country parks like Wellington County Park and Queen Elizabeth Country Park.

The Solent is also famous for hosting the international sailing event, Cowes Week, attracting visitors from around the world. The King Henry VIII Navy Warship, the Mary Rose sank in the Solent. In 1982, the ship was raised off the seabed and is now displayed in the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Did you know that, one day every summer a cricket match is played in the middle of the Solent?  This is possible when a strong receding tide creates a temporary island on Bramble Bank. Why not plan your yacht charter vacation to see this natural phenomenon for yourself? If the weather’s right, the Solent is blessed with beautiful beaches like Hill Head Beach, Lepe Beach, Weston Hard Woolston Beach, ideal for wind surfing.

• Fact File: Europe
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Solent Yacht Charter Enquiry

Let us know if you would like more detailed information about renting a yacht in Solent .

Yachting Destinations In and Around Solent

In close proximity to Solent are a number of exciting sailing destination.

Yachts for Charter in Solent

34m Sailing yacht Spirit 111 hits the ...

Top 15 Superyachts with Helicopters

Prestige London and The London Yacht, ...

Alfa nero | from eur€ 812,000/wk.

68M LUXURY YACHT | From EUR€ 800,000/wk

TATIANA | From EUR€ 775,000/wk

80M CUSTOM MEGA YACHT | From EUR€ 775,000/wk

Amaryllis | From US$ 770,000/wk

Limited Edition 242 | From US$ 750,000/wk

77M WORLD EXPLORER YACHT | From EUR€ 740,000/wk

HUNTRESS | From US$ 725,000/wk

ELEMENTS | From EUR€ 720,000/wk Special

EMIR | From EUR€ 700,000/wk

LADY VERA | From EUR€ 700,000/wk

LAUREN L | From EUR€ 695,000/wk

Charter Yacht Disclaimer

This document is not contractual. The yacht charters and their particulars displayed in the results above are displayed in good faith and whilst believed to be correct are not guaranteed. CharterWorld Limited does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information and/or images displayed. All information is subject to change without notice and is without warrantee. A professional CharterWorld yacht charter consultant will discuss each charter during your charter selection process. Starting prices are shown in a range of currencies for a one-week charter, unless otherwise marked. Exact pricing and other details will be confirmed on the particular charter contract. Just follow the "reserve this yacht charter" link for your chosen yacht charter or contact us and someone from the CharterWorld team will be in touch shortly.

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Welcome to Yacht Charter Solent

Welcome to Yacht Charter Solent, we provide free information on all the yachts available for yacht charter in the Solent, along with all the yacht charter companies, corporate yacht charter event suppliers, sailing training schools, bareboat yacht charter companies and more in the Solent and Hamble area. Our goal is to provide all the hobbyists, wannabe sailors, professional crew, seasoned yachties, holidaymakers and revelers with great information about everything that's happening in the Solent right now. A one stop resource for all the yachts on charter in the Solent for bareboat yacht charter, skippered yacht charter, corporate sailing events, sailing tuition, yacht racing and yacht chartering hosted in the Solent, all year round.

We invite you to enjoy what the Solent has to offer, with all the amazing sailing events that take place here, we believe that you'll have the time of your life. We'll provide you with all the information and resources that you could possibly need in order to charter your own yacht, book a corporate event, join as crew, participate in a yacht race or sailing regatta with information for Sailing GB, Sunsail, Sailing Logic, Britannia Events, Hamble Point Yacht Charters, all long established providers of some of the Solent's best sailing events on offer.

A yacht charter is a great way to get involved in sailing with the Solent being hailed as the world centre of yachting and sailing events and it's right here in the United Kingdom an hour and a half drive from the capital London. We have catalogued all the best Yacht Charter resources in the Solent, feel free to enjoy one of the most popular place in the world for sailing & yachting.

Once you're here, rest assured that when you're done soaking up the sailing atmosphere and enjoying the idyllic bays, beaches, creeks and estuaries on offer, there will always be more to experience . From corporate events with Sailing GB , to chartering your own yacht with Hamble Point Yacht Charters , or learning to sail with Sunsail, we'll make sure that you have access to the most highly rated yachts and facilities whilst you're here.

So take a minute, browse the list of all the yachts on charter in the Solent and enjoy all that the Solent has to offer here with our listings of all the Yacht Charter and corporate yacht charter event companies in the Solent. If you feel a bit unstuck feel free to get in touch with us at [email protected]

02394 350505

Learn to Sail The UK's Leading Sailing School

2024 dates now available to book including our Youth Sailing Academy

Summer Flotilla August 2024

Our new 2024 itinerary includes a visits to the perennial favourites of Cowes, Yarmouth and Lymington

Cowes Week 2024 27th July - 2nd August

Cowes Week is one of the UK's biggest regattas in the world, offering seven days of high calibre competition and Prometheus Sailing is the Official Charter Partner of the regatta

UK Staycation Sailing

The Solent offers exceptional staycation sailing opportunities. Enjoy famous destinations, such as Cowes, Yarmouth, Lymington and Beaulieu River, fantastic sailing conditions and an amazing choice of pubs and restaurants.

Worldwide Charter

Book your sailing holiday with Prometheus Sailing, a trusted partner of Sunsail, The Moorings and other leading international charter companies.

Teambuilding and Hospitality

Prometheus offers a range of teambuilding days, corporate hospitality and industry regattas for your clients or team. Our event managers provide a turnkey solution for all aspects of your charter.

Latest News

Prometheus Sailing Expands UK Charter Fleet

How Can a Charity Fundraise Through Sailing?

YachtsandYachting.com Racing Series Launched for 2024

What our customers say.

I would like to mention Rob, who has offered exceptional service. I also want to mention your skippers who are extraordinary and a credit to Prometheus. Looking forward to sailing with you next year!

Our skipper - Colm - was also incredibly professional, friendly and experienced. A really great and excellent experience overall! We will definitely book again.

Our skipper and first mate were fantastic. We were on the spectator boat and we had the right amount of learning without it being too overwhelming as we all had little to no experience.

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Charter Solent

Motor Boat Charter in the Solent

We launched a brand new Princess F55 flybridge for the 2023 charter season.

The newest motor boat of its kind available for charter on the south coast featuring full Gyro stabilisation to make your time on board even more enjoyable. Massive internal and outside space, full climate control, beautiful natural materials and styling from a British boat builder with a worldwide reputation.

As well as high speed capability her ultra stable platform also allows us to offer environmentally friendly full displacement charters. Sip drinks as the Solent glides by and have a great day out without compromising your corporate environmental commitments.

Alongside our new Princess F55 we still have our original Princess P50 Mk3 flybridge available for charter. Operated by us since new she is much loved by charter guests and offers generous accommodation both inside and outdoors. For charters of more than 12 guests the 2 boats can be hired as a pair.

Each charter includes a commercially endorsed skipper with local knowledge and a hostess. As well as ensuring your safety the Skipper and crew are there to look after you and will share their local knowledge to make sure your time with us is truly memorable. We operate throughout the Solent / Isle of Wight area.

We are happy to advise on an itinerary or you can tell us where you want to go. There are no timetables to adhere to and no other guests to please so relax and enjoy yourself. For more than 10 years now we have operated corporate events, family gatherings, casual days out, special celebrations and even experience days prior to buying a boat.

The 2024 season calendar is starting to fill up fast so please don’t delay getting in touch if there is a particular date you had in mind.

First Charters

First Charters are the original Solent charter specialists for “First” yachts since 1982, our London office gives us the personal edge for our many City clients. They tell us we’re first for hands-on experience and enthusiasm too. For racing or cruising... it makes sense to contact us first!

First Charters Regattas

At First Charters we have seen a remarkable growth in the number of prestige yachting events now open for corporate involvement has been . New graphics technology means the opportunity for strong yacht branding is unprecedented and huge numbers of companies are now participating. Events & Regattas...

Corporate Hospitality

With trains from London taking hardly more than an hour, your guests will find it easy to join you for some leisurely yachting. They can steer and trim the sails, or relax and let the First Charters team look after them. Either way, you’ll host a memorable and stylish occasion for your guests. Corporate Hospitality...

Solent Yacht Charters

A bespoke skippered Solent yacht charter is a great way to celebrate a special occasion or simply to treat yourself to a well earned break. You can set the pace: a workout to windward or a gentle cruise up the Beaulieu River. Whatever your taste, First Charters will make it a superb day to remember. Day Sailing...

Management Training

In today’s business world, team integration is often a key objective. Boat based training gains its power from the dynamics of on-board life. Working with top training consultants, First Charters can deliver a programme to suit your specific management goals. Contact Us...

First Charters put you first!

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View “Beam” specifications

Corporate and private

Total coordination.

• Beneteau Oceanis 31 - Holly Blue
• Elan 344 - Lenora
• Bavaria 36 - Hayley Louise
• Bavaria 36 - No Optimist
• Jeanneau 36i - Nordic Mist
• Jeanneau SF37 - Nomad 1
• Jeanneau SF37 - Menai III
• Bavaria 39C - Summer Breeze
• Bavaria 47 - Southpoint II
• International Yacht Charter
• Sunseeker 60 - Snark
• Prestige 46 - Kings Ransom
• Sun Odyssey 44i - Hurricane
• Targa 56 - Explorer
• Bavaria 54 - Grand Cru
• Jeanneau SO37 - Seraphim
• Special Events
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Holly Blue - Beneteau Oceanis 31

Contact and Availability

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SOLENT SAILING

Skippered yacht charters and mile building mentoring from solent sailing call 07768 360420   for our latest prices and mile building dates.

C ONFIDENCE BUILDING MILE BUILDER WEEKEND IN THE SOLENT - THREE PLACES AVAILABLE - 6th to 8th SEPTEMBER - SOLD OUT

DATE: 6th, 7th and 8th September

EVENT: Confidence Building Mile Builder Weekend in the Solent

PRICE: £300 per person , which includes: RYA Qualified Skipper, Safety Equipment, Fuel, and Snacks Onboard

Are you a newly qualified Day Skipper or Competent Crew and want to progress? This weekend is great to brush up on old skills and build miles, confidence and experience.

For more information or to make a booking, please call 07768 360420

WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER WEEKEND AVAILABLE:

MILE BUILDER WEEKEND IN THE SOLENT

TWO PLACES AVAILABLE - 20th to 22nd SEPTEMBER

Click Here To Book Your Place >

TESTIMONIALS

“A wonderful week sailing in the Solent and around the Isle of White on Galaxy with Hugh and Pete… As a novice yachts man, I was given every opportunity to act as helmsman and was fully immersed in all sailing. Without doubt when time allows I will be booking further sailing trips on Galaxy, with Hugh and Pete!”

Jamie P Flanagan

“Great sailing weekend from Lymington. Thanks for sorting everything Hugh.”

“ahh missing the ocean thanks for a great time xx”, admin office.

All Rights Reserved | Solent Sailing | Site: CWGD

Welcome Onboard!

Explore The Solent in our Luxury Axopar 28 Cabin Boat

Our Axopar 28 Cabin Boat

Axopars in recent years have become some of the most sought after boats, not just in The Solent but across the world. A true head turner.

With easy access to The Solent we have our stunning Axopar 28 available for both skippered and bareboat charter.

We can offer half day and full day charters on board our luxurious Axopar 28 Cabin Boat.

No expense has been spared when specing this Axopar. Equipment includes:

• Electric windlass in bow, Engbo midi 201 + remote control

• Heater Webasto AT3900

• Lighting package

• Underwater lights

• Search Light

• Side Rails

• Targa arch with rod holders and roof rails

• Waterski pole

• Freshwater system + 45l tank

• Harbour cover for aft deck, Sunbrella Plus Red 

• Shower on aft deck

• Sundeck cushions for aft deck, Niroxx upgrade.

• Shore power 230v with 20ah charger

• Twin Garmin Chart Plotters

• Sonar module Garmin GSD

• Radar GMR18 18 HD

• Communication Garmin VHF 115l

• Audio upgrade 1: 4 x speakers + 2ch amplifier

• Premium Package, Niroxx (upholstery)

• Complete Esthec package – platinum/white (decking)

• Toilet Package, electric flush

• Top loading refrigerator, Dometic cm 42l

• Teak table in cabin

• Daycruiser aft cabin

• Bow thruster, side-power SE40

• Trim tabs with joystick

Why Choose us? This is what some of our customers had to say...

Please contact us with any queries or booking requests using the one of the methods below or completing the online form.

We are based in:

Port Solent Marina

United Kingdon

023 9396 0397

[email protected]

Thanks for submitting!

Areas to explore, southampton | portsmouth |  the solent | cowes  | hamble | lymington | yarmouth.

‭023 9396 0397‬

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©  2018 - 2024 by Solent Boat Charter

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• Places - European, Western and Northern Russia

YEKATERINBURG: FACTORIES, URAL SIGHTS, YELTSIN AND THE WHERE NICHOLAS II WAS KILLED

Sverdlovsk oblast.

Sverdlovsk Oblast is the largest region in the Urals; it lies in the foothills of mountains and contains a monument indicating the border between Europe and Asia. The region covers 194,800 square kilometers (75,200 square miles), is home to about 4.3 million people and has a population density of 22 people per square kilometer. About 83 percent of the population live in urban areas. Yekaterinburg is the capital and largest city, with 1.5 million people. For Russians, the Ural Mountains are closely associated with Pavel Bazhov's tales and known for folk crafts such as Kasli iron sculpture, Tagil painting, and copper embossing. Yekaterinburg is the birthplace of Russia’s iron and steel industry, taking advantage of the large iron deposits in the Ural mountains. The popular Silver Ring of the Urals tourist route starts here.

In the summer you can follow in the tracks of Yermak, climb relatively low Ural mountain peaks and look for boulders seemingly with human faces on them. You can head to the Gemstone Belt of the Ural mountains, which used to house emerald, amethyst and topaz mines. In the winter you can go ice fishing, ski and cross-country ski.

Sverdlovsk Oblast and Yekaterinburg are located near the center of Russia, at the crossroads between Europe and Asia and also the southern and northern parts of Russia. Winters are longer and colder than in western section of European Russia. Snowfalls can be heavy. Winter temperatures occasionally drop as low as - 40 degrees C (-40 degrees F) and the first snow usually falls in October. A heavy winter coat, long underwear and good boots are essential. Snow and ice make the sidewalks very slippery, so footwear with a good grip is important. Since the climate is very dry during the winter months, skin moisturizer plus lip balm are recommended. Be alert for mud on street surfaces when snow cover is melting (April-May). Patches of mud create slippery road conditions.

Yekaterinburg

Yekaterinburg (kilometer 1818 on the Trans-Siberian Railway) is the fourth largest city in Russia, with of 1.5 million and growth rate of about 12 percent, high for Russia. Located in the southern Ural mountains, it was founded by Peter the Great and named after his wife Catherine, it was used by the tsars as a summer retreat and is where tsar Nicholas II and his family were executed and President Boris Yeltsin lived most of his life and began his political career. The city is near the border between Europe and Asia.

Yekaterinburg (also spelled Ekaterinburg) is located on the eastern slope of the Ural Mountains in the headwaters of the Iset and Pyshma Rivers. The Iset runs through the city center. Three ponds — Verkh-Isetsky, Gorodskoy and Nizhne-Isetsky — were created on it. Yekaterinburg has traditionally been a city of mining and was once the center of the mining industry of the Urals and Siberia. Yekaterinburg remains a major center of the Russian armaments industry and is sometimes called the "Pittsburgh of Russia.". A few ornate, pastel mansions and wide boulevards are reminders of the tsarist era. The city is large enough that it has its own Metro system but is characterized mostly by blocky Soviet-era apartment buildings. The city has advanced under President Vladimir Putin and is now one of the fastest growing places in Russia, a country otherwise characterized by population declines

Yekaterinburg is technically an Asian city as it lies 32 kilometers east of the continental divide between Europe and Asia. The unofficial capital of the Urals, a key region in the Russian heartland, it is second only to Moscow in terms of industrial production and capital of Sverdlovsk oblast. Among the important industries are ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, machine building and metalworking, chemical and petrochemicals, construction materials and medical, light and food industries. On top of being home of numerous heavy industries and mining concerns, Yekaterinburg is also a major center for industrial research and development and power engineering as well as home to numerous institutes of higher education, technical training, and scientific research. In addition, Yekaterinburg is the largest railway junction in Russia: the Trans-Siberian Railway passes through it, the southern, northern, western and eastern routes merge in the city.

Accommodation: There are two good and affordable hotels — the 3-star Emerald and Parus hotels — located close to the city's most popular landmarks and main transport interchanges in the center of Yekaterinburg. Room prices start at RUB 1,800 per night.

History of Yekaterinburg

Yekaterinburg was founded in 1723 by Peter the Great and named after his wife Catherine I. It was used by the tsars as a summer retreat but was mainly developed as metalworking and manufacturing center to take advantage of the large deposits of iron and other minerals in the Ural mountains. It is best known to Americans as the place where the last Tsar and his family were murdered by the Bolsheviks in 1918 and near where American U-2 spy plane, piloted by Gary Powers, was shot down in 1960.

Peter the Great recognized the importance of the iron and copper-rich Urals region for Imperial Russia's industrial and military development. In November 1723, he ordered the construction of a fortress factory and an ironworks in the Iset River Valley, which required a dam for its operation. In its early years Yekaterinburg grew rich from gold and other minerals and later coal. The Yekaterinburg gold rush of 1745 created such a huge amount of wealth that one rich baron of that time hosted a wedding party that lasted a year. By the mid-18th century, metallurgical plants had sprung up across the Urals to cast cannons, swords, guns and other weapons to arm Russia’s expansionist ambitions. The Yekaterinburg mint produced most of Russia's coins. Explorations of the Trans-Baikal and Altai regions began here in the 18th century.

Iron, cast iron and copper were the main products. Even though Iron from the region went into the Eiffel Tower, the main plant in Yekaterinburg itself was shut down in 1808. The city still kept going through a mountain factory control system of the Urals. The first railway in the Urals was built here: in 1878, the Yekaterinburg-Perm railway branch connected the province's capital with the factories of the Middle Urals.

In the Soviet era the city was called Sverdlovsk (named after Yakov Sverdlov, the man who organized Nicholas II's execution). During the first five-year plans the city became industrial — old plants were reconstructed, new ones were built. The center of Yekaterinburg was formed to conform to the historical general plan of 1829 but was the layout was adjusted around plants and factories. In the Stalin era the city was a major gulag transhipment center. In World War II, many defense-related industries were moved here. It and the surrounding area were a center of the Soviet Union's military industrial complex. Soviet tanks, missiles and aircraft engines were made in the Urals. During the Cold War era, Yekaterinburg was a center of weapons-grade uranium enrichment and processing, warhead assembly and dismantlement. In 1979, 64 people died when anthrax leaked from a biological weapons facility. Yekaterinburg was a “Closed City” for 40 years during the Cold Soviet era and was not open to foreigners until 1991

In the early post-Soviet era, much like Pittsburgh in the 1970s, Yekaterinburg had a hard struggle d to cope with dramatic economic changes that have made its heavy industries uncompetitive on the world market. Huge defense plants struggled to survive and the city was notorious as an organized crime center in the 1990s, when its hometown boy Boris Yeltsin was President of Russia. By the 2000s, Yekaterinburg’s retail and service was taking off, the defense industry was reviving and it was attracting tech industries and investments related to the Urals’ natural resources. By the 2010s it was vying to host a world exhibition in 2020 (it lost, Dubai won) and it had McDonald’s, Subway, sushi restaurants, and Gucci, Chanel and Armani. There were Bentley and Ferrari dealerships but they closed down

Transportation in Yekaterinburg

Getting There: By Plane: Yekaterinburg is a three-hour flight from Moscow with prices starting at RUB 8,000, or a 3-hour flight from Saint Petersburg starting from RUB 9,422 (direct round-trip flight tickets for one adult passenger). There are also flights from Frankfurt, Istanbul, China and major cities in the former Soviet Union.

By Train: Yekaterinburg is a major stop on the Trans-Siberian Railway. Daily train service is available to Moscow and many other Russian cities.Yekaterinburg is a 32-hour train ride from Moscow (tickets RUB 8,380 and above) or a 36-hour train ride from Saint Petersburg (RUB 10,300 and above). The ticket prices are round trip for a berth in a sleeper compartment for one adult passenger). By Car: a car trip from Moscow to Yekateringburg is 1,787 kilometers long and takes about 18 hours. The road from Saint Petersburg is 2,294 kilometers and takes about 28 hours.

Regional Transport: The region's public transport includes buses and suburban electric trains. Regional trains provide transport to larger cities in the Ural region. Buses depart from Yekaterinburg’s two bus stations: the Southern Bus Station and the Northern Bus Station.

Regional Transport: According the to Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT): “Public transportation is well developed. Overcrowding is common. Fares are low. Service is efficient. Buses are the main form of public transport. Tram network is extensive. Fares are reasonable; service is regular. Trams are heavily used by residents, overcrowding is common. Purchase ticket after boarding. Metro runs from city center to Uralmash, an industrial area south of the city. Metro ends near the main railway station. Fares are inexpensive.

“Traffic is congested in city center. Getting around by car can be difficult. Route taxis (minivans) provide the fastest transport. They generally run on specific routes, but do not have specific stops. Drivers stop where passengers request. Route taxis can be hailed. Travel by bus or trolleybuses may be slow in rush hour. Trams are less affected by traffic jams. Trolley buses (electric buses) cannot run when temperatures drop below freezing.”

Entertainment, Sports and Recreation in Yekaterinburg

The performing arts in Yekaterinburg are first rate. The city has an excellent symphony orchestra, opera and ballet theater, and many other performing arts venues. Tickets are inexpensive. The Yekaterinburg Opera and Ballet Theater is lavishly designed and richly decorated building in the city center of Yekaterinburg. The theater was established in 1912 and building was designed by architect Vladimir Semyonov and inspired by the Vienna Opera House and the Theater of Opera and Ballet in Odessa.

Vaynera Street is a pedestrian only shopping street in city center with restaurants, cafes and some bars. But otherwise Yekaterinburg's nightlife options are limited. There are a handful of expensive Western-style restaurants and bars, none of them that great. Nightclubs serve the city's nouveau riche clientele. Its casinos have closed down. Some of them had links with organized crime. New dance clubs have sprung up that are popular with Yekaterinburg's more affluent youth.

Yekaterinburg's most popular spectator sports are hockey, basketball, and soccer. There are stadiums and arenas that host all three that have fairly cheap tickets. There is an indoor water park and lots of parks and green spaces. The Urals have many lakes, forests and mountains are great for hiking, boating, berry and mushroom hunting, swimming and fishing. Winter sports include cross-country skiing and ice skating. Winter lasts about six months and there’s usually plenty of snow. The nearby Ural Mountains however are not very high and the downhill skiing opportunities are limited..

Sights in Yekaterinburg

Sights in Yekaterinburg include the Museum of City Architecture and Ural Industry, with an old water tower and mineral collection with emeralds. malachite, tourmaline, jasper and other precious stone; Geological Alley, a small park with labeled samples of minerals found in the Urals region; the Ural Geology Museum, which houses an extensive collection of stones, gold and gems from the Urals; a monument marking the border between Europe and Asia; a memorial for gulag victims; and a graveyard with outlandish memorials for slain mafia members.

The Military History Museum houses the remains of the U-2 spy plane shot down in 1960 and locally made tanks and rocket launchers. The fine arts museum contains paintings by some of Russia's 19th-century masters. Also worth a look are the History an Local Studies Museum; the Political History and Youth Museum; and the University and Arboretum. Old wooden houses can be seen around Zatoutstovsya ulitsa and ulitsa Belinskogo. Around the city are wooded parks, lakes and quarries used to harvest a variety of minerals. Weiner Street is the main street of Yekaterinburg. Along it are lovely sculptures and 19th century architecture. Take a walk around the unique Literary Quarter

Plotinka is a local meeting spot, where you will often find street musicians performing. Plotinka can be described as the center of the city's center. This is where Yekaterinburg holds its biggest events: festivals, seasonal fairs, regional holiday celebrations, carnivals and musical fountain shows. There are many museums and open-air exhibitions on Plotinka. Plotinka is named after an actual dam of the city pond located nearby (“plotinka” means “a small dam” in Russian).In November 1723, Peter the Great ordered the construction of an ironworks in the Iset River Valley, which required a dam for its operation. “Iset” can be translated from Finnish as “abundant with fish”. This name was given to the river by the Mansi — the Finno-Ugric people dwelling on the eastern slope of the Northern Urals.

Vysotsky and Iset are skyscrapers that are 188.3 meters and 209 meters high, respectively. Fifty-story-high Iset has been described by locals as the world’s northernmost skyscraper. Before the construction of Iset, Vysotsky was the tallest building of Yekaterinburg and Russia (excluding Moscow). A popular vote has decided to name the skyscraper after the famous Soviet songwriter, singer and actor Vladimir Vysotsky. and the building was opened on November 25, 2011. There is a lookout at the top of the building, and the Vysotsky museum on its second floor. The annual “Vysotsky climb” (1137 steps) is held there, with a prize of RUB 100,000. While Vysotsky serves as an office building, Iset, owned by the Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company, houses 225 premium residential apartments ranging from 80 to 490 square meters in size.

Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center

The Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center (in the city center: ul. Yeltsina, 3) is a non-governmental organization named after the first president of the Russian Federation. The Museum of the First President of Russia as well as his archives are located in the Center. There is also a library, educational and children's centers, and exposition halls. Yeltsin lived most of his life and began his political career in Yekaterinburg. He was born in Butka about 200 kilometers east of Yekaterinburg.

The core of the Center is the Museum. Modern multimedia technologies help animate the documents, photos from the archives, and artifacts. The Yeltsin Museum holds collections of: propaganda posters, leaflets, and photos of the first years of the Soviet regime; portraits and portrait sculptures of members of Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of various years; U.S.S.R. government bonds and other items of the Soviet era; a copy of “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich” by Alexander Solzhenitsyn, published in the “Novy Mir” magazine (#11, 1962); perestroika-era editions of books by Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Vasily Grossman, and other authors; theater, concert, and cinema posters, programs, and tickets — in short, all of the artifacts of the perestroika era.

The Yeltsin Center opened in 2012. Inside you will also find an art gallery, a bookstore, a gift shop, a food court, concert stages and a theater. There are regular screenings of unique films that you will not find anywhere else. Also operating inside the center, is a scientific exploritorium for children. The center was designed by Boris Bernaskoni. Almost from the its very opening, the Yeltsin Center has been accused by members of different political entities of various ideological crimes. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00am to 9:00pm.

Where Nicholas II was Executed

On July, 17, 1918, during this reign of terror of the Russian Civil War, former-tsar Nicholas II, his wife, five children (the 13-year-old Alexis, 22-year-old Olga, 19-year-old Maria and 17-year-old Anastasia)the family physician, the cook, maid, and valet were shot to death by a Red Army firing squad in the cellar of the house they were staying at in Yekaterinburg.

Ipatiev House (near Church on the Blood, Ulitsa Libknekhta) was a merchant's house where Nicholas II and his family were executed. The house was demolished in 1977, on the orders of an up and coming communist politician named Boris Yeltsin. Yeltsin later said that the destruction of the house was an "act of barbarism" and he had no choice because he had been ordered to do it by the Politburo,

The site is marked with s cross with the photos of the family members and cross bearing their names. A small wooden church was built at the site. It contains paintings of the family. For a while there were seven traditional wooden churches. Mass is given ay noon everyday in an open-air museum. The Church on the Blood — constructed to honor Nicholas II and his family — was built on the part of the site in 1991 and is now a major place of pilgrimage.

Nicholas and his family where killed during the Russian civil war. It is thought the Bolsheviks figured that Nicholas and his family gave the Whites figureheads to rally around and they were better of dead. Even though the death orders were signed Yakov Sverdlov, the assassination was personally ordered by Lenin, who wanted to get them out of sight and out of mind. Trotsky suggested a trial. Lenin nixed the idea, deciding something had to be done about the Romanovs before White troops approached Yekaterinburg. Trotsky later wrote: "The decision was not only expedient but necessary. The severity of he punishment showed everyone that we would continue to fight on mercilessly, stopping at nothing."

Ian Frazier wrote in The New Yorker: “Having read a lot about the end of Tsar Nicholas II and his family and servants, I wanted to see the place in Yekaterinburg where that event occurred. The gloomy quality of this quest depressed Sergei’s spirits, but he drove all over Yekaterinburg searching for the site nonetheless. Whenever he stopped and asked a pedestrian how to get to the house where Nicholas II was murdered, the reaction was a wince. Several people simply walked away. But eventually, after a lot of asking, Sergei found the location. It was on a low ridge near the edge of town, above railroad tracks and the Iset River. The house, known as the Ipatiev House, was no longer standing, and the basement where the actual killings happened had been filled in. I found the blankness of the place sinister and dizzying. It reminded me of an erasure done so determinedly that it had worn a hole through the page. [Source: Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, August 3, 2009, Frazier is author of “Travels in Siberia” (2010)]

“The street next to the site is called Karl Liebknecht Street. A building near where the house used to be had a large green advertisement that said, in English, “LG—Digitally Yours.” On an adjoining lot, a small chapel kept the memory of the Tsar and his family; beneath a pedestal holding an Orthodox cross, peonies and pansies grew. The inscription on the pedestal read, “We go down on our knees, Russia, at the foot of the tsarist cross.”

Books: The Romanovs: The Final Chapter by Robert K. Massie (Random House, 1995); The Fall of the Romanovs by Mark D. Steinberg and Vladimir Khrustalëv (Yale, 1995);

See Separate Article END OF NICHOLAS II factsanddetails.com

Execution of Nicholas II

According to Robert Massie K. Massie, author of Nicholas and Alexandra, Nicholas II and his family were awakened from their bedrooms around midnight and taken to the basement. They were told they were to going to take some photographs of them and were told to stand behind a row of chairs.

Suddenly, a group of 11 Russians and Latvians, each with a revolver, burst into the room with orders to kill a specific person. Yakob Yurovsky, a member of the Soviet executive committee, reportedly shouted "your relatives are continuing to attack the Soviet Union.” After firing, bullets bouncing off gemstones hidden in the corsets of Alexandra and her daughters ricocheted around the room like "a shower of hail," the soldiers said. Those that were still breathing were killed with point black shots to the head.

The three sisters and the maid survived the first round thanks to their gems. They were pressed up against a wall and killed with a second round of bullets. The maid was the only one that survived. She was pursued by the executioners who stabbed her more than 30 times with their bayonets. The still writhing body of Alexis was made still by a kick to the head and two bullets in the ear delivered by Yurovsky himself.

Yurovsky wrote: "When the party entered I told the Romanovs that in view of the fact their relatives continued their offensive against Soviet Russia, the Executive Committee of the Urals Soviet had decided to shoot them. Nicholas turned his back to the detachment and faced his family. Then, as if collecting himself, he turned around, asking, 'What? What?'"

"[I] ordered the detachment to prepare. Its members had been previously instructed whom to shoot and to am directly at the heart to avoid much blood and to end more quickly. Nicholas said no more. he turned again to his family. The others shouted some incoherent exclamations. All this lasted a few seconds. Then commenced the shooting, which went on for two or three minutes. [I] killed Nicholas on the spot."

Nicholas II’s Initial Burial Site in Yekaterinburg

Ganina Yama Monastery (near the village of Koptyaki, 15 kilometers northwest of Yekaterinburg) stands near the three-meter-deep pit where some the remains of Nicholas II and his family were initially buried. The second burial site — where most of the remains were — is in a field known as Porosyonkov (56.9113628°N 60.4954326°E), seven kilometers from Ganina Yama.

On visiting Ganina Yama Monastery, one person posted in Trip Advisor: “We visited this set of churches in a pretty park with Konstantin from Ekaterinburg Guide Centre. He really brought it to life with his extensive knowledge of the history of the events surrounding their terrible end. The story is so moving so unless you speak Russian, it is best to come here with a guide or else you will have no idea of what is what.”

In 1991, the acid-burned remains of Nicholas II and his family were exhumed from a shallow roadside mass grave in a swampy area 12 miles northwest of Yekaterinburg. The remains had been found in 1979 by geologist and amateur archeologist Alexander Avdonin, who kept the location secret out of fear that they would be destroyed by Soviet authorities. The location was disclosed to a magazine by one his fellow discovers.

The original plan was to throw the Romanovs down a mine shaft and disposes of their remains with acid. They were thrown in a mine with some grenades but the mine didn't collapse. They were then carried by horse cart. The vats of acid fell off and broke. When the carriage carrying the bodies broke down it was decided the bury the bodies then and there. The remaining acid was poured on the bones, but most of it was soaked up the ground and the bones largely survived.

After this their pulses were then checked, their faces were crushed to make them unrecognizable and the bodies were wrapped in bed sheets loaded onto a truck. The "whole procedure," Yurovsky said took 20 minutes. One soldiers later bragged than he could "die in peace because he had squeezed the Empress's -------."

The bodies were taken to a forest and stripped, burned with acid and gasoline, and thrown into abandoned mine shafts and buried under railroad ties near a country road near the village of Koptyaki. "The bodies were put in the hole," Yurovsky wrote, "and the faces and all the bodies, generally doused with sulfuric acid, both so they couldn't be recognized and prevent a stink from them rotting...We scattered it with branches and lime, put boards on top and drove over it several times—no traces of the hole remained.

Shortly afterwards, the government in Moscow announced that Nicholas II had been shot because of "a counterrevolutionary conspiracy." There was no immediate word on the other members of the family which gave rise to rumors that other members of the family had escaped. Yekaterinburg was renamed Sverdlov in honor of the man who signed the death orders.

For seven years the remains of Nicholas II, Alexandra, three of their daughters and four servants were stored in polyethylene bags on shelves in the old criminal morgue in Yekaterunburg. On July 17, 1998, Nicholas II and his family and servants who were murdered with him were buried Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg along with the other Romanov tsars, who have been buried there starting with Peter the Great. Nicholas II had a side chapel built for himself at the fortress in 1913 but was buried in a new crypt.

Near Yekaterinburg

Factory-Museum of Iron and Steel Metallurgy (in Niznhy Tagil 80 kilometers north of Yekaterinburg) a museum with old mining equipment made at the site of huge abandoned iron and steel factory. Officially known as the Factory-Museum of the History of the Development of Iron and Steel Metallurgy, it covers an area of 30 hectares and contains a factory founded by the Demidov family in 1725 that specialized mainly in the production of high-quality cast iron and steel. Later, the foundry was renamed after Valerian Kuybyshev, a prominent figure of the Communist Party.

The first Russian factory museum, the unusual museum demonstrates all stages of metallurgy and metal working. There is even a blast furnace and an open-hearth furnace. The display of factory equipment includes bridge crane from 1892) and rolling stock equipment from the 19th-20th centuries. In Niznhy Tagil contains some huge blocks of malachite and

Nizhnyaya Sinyachikha (180 kilometers east-northeast of Yekaterinburg) has an open air architecture museum with log buildings, a stone church and other pre-revolutionary architecture. The village is the creation of Ivan Samoilov, a local activist who loved his village so much he dedicated 40 years of his life to recreating it as the open-air museum of wooden architecture.

The stone Savior Church, a good example of Siberian baroque architecture. The interior and exterior of the church are exhibition spaces of design. The houses are very colorful. In tsarist times, rich villagers hired serfs to paint the walls of their wooden izbas (houses) bright colors. Old neglected buildings from the 17th to 19th centuries have been brought to Nizhnyaya Sinyachikha from all over the Urals. You will see the interior design of the houses and hear stories about traditions and customs of the Ural farmers.

Verkhoturye (330 kilometers road from Yekaterinburg) is the home a 400-year-old monastery that served as 16th century capital of the Urals. Verkhoturye is a small town on the Tura River knows as the Jerusalem of the Urals for its many holy places, churches and monasteries. The town's main landmark is its Kremlin — the smallest in Russia. Pilgrims visit the St. Nicholas Monastery to see the remains of St. Simeon of Verkhoturye, the patron saint of fishermen.

Ural Mountains

Ural Mountains are the traditional dividing line between Europe and Asia and have been a crossroads of Russian history. Stretching from Kazakhstan to the fringes of the Arctic Kara Sea, the Urals lie almost exactly along the 60 degree meridian of longitude and extend for about 2,000 kilometers (1,300 miles) from north to south and varies in width from about 50 kilometers (30 miles) in the north and 160 kilometers (100 miles) the south. At kilometers 1777 on the Trans-Siberian Railway there is white obelisk with "Europe" carved in Russian on one side and "Asia" carved on the other.

The eastern side of the Urals contains a lot of granite and igneous rock. The western side is primarily sandstone and limestones. A number of precious stones can be found in the southern part of the Urals, including emeralds. malachite, tourmaline, jasper and aquamarines. The highest peaks are in the north. Mount Narodnaya is the highest of all but is only 1884 meters (6,184 feet) high. The northern Urals are covered in thick forests and home to relatively few people.

Like the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern United States, the Urals are very old mountains — with rocks and sediments that are hundreds of millions years old — that were one much taller than they are now and have been steadily eroded down over millions of years by weather and other natural processes to their current size. According to Encyclopedia Britannica: “The rock composition helps shape the topography: the high ranges and low, broad-topped ridges consist of quartzites, schists, and gabbro, all weather-resistant. Buttes are frequent, and there are north–south troughs of limestone, nearly all containing river valleys. Karst topography is highly developed on the western slopes of the Urals, with many caves, basins, and underground streams. The eastern slopes, on the other hand, have fewer karst formations; instead, rocky outliers rise above the flattened surfaces. Broad foothills, reduced to peneplain, adjoin the Central and Southern Urals on the east.

“The Urals date from the structural upheavals of the Hercynian orogeny (about 250 million years ago). About 280 million years ago there arose a high mountainous region, which was eroded to a peneplain. Alpine folding resulted in new mountains, the most marked upheaval being that of the Nether-Polar Urals...The western slope of the Urals is composed of middle Paleozoic sedimentary rocks (sandstones and limestones) that are about 350 million years old. In many places it descends in terraces to the Cis-Ural depression (west of the Urals), to which much of the eroded matter was carried during the late Paleozoic (about 300 million years ago). Found there are widespread karst (a starkly eroded limestone region) and gypsum, with large caverns and subterranean streams. On the eastern slope, volcanic layers alternate with sedimentary strata, all dating from middle Paleozoic times.”

Southern Urals

The southern Urals are characterized by grassy slopes and fertile valleys. The middle Urals are a rolling platform that barely rises above 300 meters (1,000 feet). This region is rich in minerals and has been heavily industrialized. This is where you can find Yekaterinburg (formally Sverdlovsk), the largest city in the Urals.

Most of the Southern Urals are is covered with forests, with 50 percent of that pine-woods, 44 percent birch woods, and the rest are deciduous aspen and alder forests. In the north, typical taiga forests are the norm. There are patches of herbal-poaceous steppes, northem sphagnous marshes and bushy steppes, light birch forests and shady riparian forests, tall-grass mountainous meadows, lowland ling marshes and stony placers with lichen stains. In some places there are no large areas of homogeneous forests, rather they are forests with numerous glades and meadows of different size.

In the Ilmensky Mountains Reserve in the Southern Urals, scientists counted 927 vascular plants (50 relicts, 23 endemic species), about 140 moss species, 483 algae species and 566 mushroom species. Among the species included into the Red Book of Russia are feather grass, downy-leaved feather grass, Zalessky feather grass, moccasin flower, ladies'-slipper, neottianthe cucullata, Baltic orchis, fen orchis, helmeted orchis, dark-winged orchis, Gelma sandwart, Krasheninnikov sandwart, Clare astragalus.

The fauna of the vertebrate animals in the Reserve includes 19 fish, 5 amphibian and 5 reptile. Among the 48 mammal species are elks, roe deer, boars, foxes, wolves, lynxes, badgers, common weasels, least weasels, forest ferrets, Siberian striped weasel, common marten, American mink. Squirrels, beavers, muskrats, hares, dibblers, moles, hedgehogs, voles are quite common, as well as chiropterans: pond bat, water bat, Brandt's bat, whiskered bat, northern bat, long-eared bat, parti-coloured bat, Nathusius' pipistrelle. The 174 bird bird species include white-tailed eagles, honey hawks, boreal owls, gnome owls, hawk owls, tawny owls, common scoters, cuckoos, wookcocks, common grouses, wood grouses, hazel grouses, common partridges, shrikes, goldenmountain thrushes, black- throated loons and others.

Activities and Places in the Ural Mountains

The Urals possess beautiful natural scenery that can be accessed from Yekaterinburg with a rent-a-car, hired taxi and tour. Travel agencies arrange rafting, kayaking and hiking trips. Hikes are available in the taiga forest and the Urals. Trips often include walks through the taiga to small lakes and hikes into the mountains and excursions to collect mushrooms and berries and climb in underground caves. Mellow rafting is offered in a relatively calm six kilometer section of the River Serga. In the winter visitor can enjoy cross-mountains skiing, downhill skiing, ice fishing, dog sledding, snow-shoeing and winter hiking through the forest to a cave covered with ice crystals.

Lake Shartash (10 kilometers from Yekaterinburg) is where the first Ural gold was found, setting in motion the Yekaterinburg gold rush of 1745, which created so much wealth one rich baron of that time hosted a wedding party that lasted a year. The area around Shartash Lake is a favorite picnic and barbecue spot of the locals. Getting There: by bus route No. 50, 054 or 54, with a transfer to suburban commuter bus route No. 112, 120 or 121 (the whole trip takes about an hour), or by car (10 kilometers drive from the city center, 40 minutes).

Revun Rapids (90 kilometers road from Yekaterinburg near Beklenishcheva village) is a popular white water rafting places On the nearby cliffs you can see the remains of a mysterious petroglyph from the Paleolithic period. Along the steep banks, you may notice the dark entrance of Smolinskaya Cave. There are legends of a sorceress who lived in there. The rocks at the riverside are suited for competitive rock climbers and beginners. Climbing hooks and rings are hammered into rocks. The most fun rafting is generally in May and June.

Olenii Ruchii National Park (100 kilometers west of Yekaterinburg) is the most popular nature park in Sverdlovsk Oblast and popular weekend getaway for Yekaterinburg residents. Visitors are attracted by the beautiful forests, the crystal clear Serga River and picturesque rocks caves. There are some easy hiking routes: the six-kilometer Lesser Ring and the 15-kilometer Greater Ring. Another route extends for 18 km and passes by the Mitkinsky Mine, which operated in the 18th-19th centuries. It's a kind of an open-air museum — you can still view mining an enrichment equipment here. There is also a genuine beaver dam nearby.

Among the other attractions at Olenii Ruchii are Druzhba (Friendship) Cave, with passages that extend for about 500 meters; Dyrovaty Kamen (Holed Stone), created over time by water of Serga River eroding rock; and Utoplennik (Drowned Man), where you can see “The Angel of Sole Hope”., created by the Swedish artist Lehna Edwall, who has placed seven angels figures in different parts of the world to “embrace the planet, protecting it from fear, despair, and disasters.”

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons

Text Sources: Federal Agency for Tourism of the Russian Federation (official Russia tourism website russiatourism.ru ), Russian government websites, UNESCO, Wikipedia, Lonely Planet guides, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, National Geographic, The New Yorker, Bloomberg, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Yomiuri Shimbun and various books and other publications.

Updated in September 2020

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