Sailing Spook
Sailing Spook
5
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About
Exhilarating Solent Sailing and Accommodation Relaxing Yachting day trips, Luxury Mini Breaks and UK holidays sailing on the Solent. Based in Lymington, New Forest within the Beautiful Solent Sailing Spook provide Skippered day sailing, Luxury overnight accommodation, Great value Mini breaks and bespoke Sailing holidays in the Solent and beyond.
Lymington, Hampshire, England
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
188 reviews
Excellent
186
Very good
2
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Clare S
London, UK1 contribution
Mar 2025 • Couples
This was our second Sailing Spook experience, and it was just as fantastic as the first. Russ welcomed us like old friends and looked after us all weekend. The weather was clear but cold, with a nice breeze, which made for enjoyable sailing. Russ encouraged us to get involved as much as we wanted, winding winches and taking the helm, and explained everything so clearly that we learned a lot in just two days: points of sail, holding a course, channel markers etc. It was great to meet the other crew members, such lovely people, so the whole weekend was very sociable and great fun. We hope to return.
Written 19 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marc C
3 contributions
Mar 2025 • Solo
Went out with Russ for 2 days, up to Southampton and back. Russ is an excellent and knowledgeable captain, learned a great deal and had a wonderful time, this is the second time I have been out with him and would go again. Highly recommend if you are looking to learn how to sail or even just sit back and enjoy the voyage and experience
Written 19 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LuluTheTraveller
Kent, UK18 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
We stayed two nights on Spook 2 and went sailing for a full day. The whole experience was fantastic - Russ and Amanda did everything to ensure we had everything we needed and were great hosts. My boyfriend loved getting the chance to really join in and have a go at sailing the boat. Lymington is a delightful and picturesque place too, with so many good dinner choices on offer. I cannot recommend this experience highly enough and we really hope to go back some time.
Written 30 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lauren T
4 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
Thank you Russ and Amanda for a brilliant couple of days on Spook. We had an amazing and memorable adventure - sailing for the first time around the Isle of Wight. It made celebrating our wedding anniversary extra special. Thank you for your wonderful hospitality and making us so welcome ☀️😎⚓️⛵️
Written 3 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard H
Leicestershire, UK10 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
We have recently returned from an excellent 7-day trip from Lymington to Salcombe and back, with Russ and Amanda on Sailing Spook to celebrate a birthday with a large number! We encountered a range of weather and sea conditions ranging from the mirror flatness of the river Dart to the large continuous waves off Portland Bill, all of which added to the experience (thank you Storm Betty), but nothing Spook or Russ couldn’t handle.
The trip took us passed Hurst Castle, the needles, the view from the sea of Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door which are amazing, then a dash through the start of Betty to Portland Marina where we stayed for 2 nights due to the weather so had a day out in Weymouth.
Then storm chasing to Dartmouth, a gentler sail to Salcombe then back to Brixham. Sailing out of Brixham at 5am into the sun rise is an amazing view, which was surpassed 8 hours later by the sight and sound of a pod of dolphins playing across the bow of Spook on a gentler return, past Portland Bill, and the Shambles.
Then a trip into Poole Harbough taking in the views of the houses on sandbank, the numerous islands and mooring up for the night next to a brand new Sunseeker 90 and Medallia a high-tech yacht due to take part in the upcoming 2024 global challenge.
The last day was spent going from Lymington to the Solent forts and stopping off at Osbourne Bay for lunch (and a swim for a couple of our more adventurous crew mates) then a leisurely sail back to the marina.
We can thoroughly recommend this boat and its skipper; everything is planned for, and nothing is too much trouble in giving us (the temporary crew!) a trip to remember.
The trip took us passed Hurst Castle, the needles, the view from the sea of Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door which are amazing, then a dash through the start of Betty to Portland Marina where we stayed for 2 nights due to the weather so had a day out in Weymouth.
Then storm chasing to Dartmouth, a gentler sail to Salcombe then back to Brixham. Sailing out of Brixham at 5am into the sun rise is an amazing view, which was surpassed 8 hours later by the sight and sound of a pod of dolphins playing across the bow of Spook on a gentler return, past Portland Bill, and the Shambles.
Then a trip into Poole Harbough taking in the views of the houses on sandbank, the numerous islands and mooring up for the night next to a brand new Sunseeker 90 and Medallia a high-tech yacht due to take part in the upcoming 2024 global challenge.
The last day was spent going from Lymington to the Solent forts and stopping off at Osbourne Bay for lunch (and a swim for a couple of our more adventurous crew mates) then a leisurely sail back to the marina.
We can thoroughly recommend this boat and its skipper; everything is planned for, and nothing is too much trouble in giving us (the temporary crew!) a trip to remember.
Written 12 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Euan S
5 contributions
Jun 2023 • Friends
Whatever you’re after - whether it be an intense offshore adventure or a lazy day cruising around the Solent with great mates sipping rosé - Russ is your man! For our group it was certainly the latter. Russ and his crew handled the all sailing, delivered a wonderful lunchtime spread and allowed our party of five to enjoy a well-earned rest from the chaos of fatherhood. No matter what you’re after Russ will go the distance to ensure you have a fun and memorable experience with plenty of great banter along the way. Thoroughly recommended and can’t wait for the next outing
Written 26 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard H
Leicestershire, UK10 contributions
Jun 2021
At long last my Christmas present for 2019 happened, once I contacted Russ direct everything started to run smoothly and extremely professionally. Dates, time of arrival and activities discussed only changed if weather dictated.
Overnight stays on the boat before and after the trip helped make it a more relaxed adventure, no rushing about, lazy breakfast on deck, wine and beer in the evenings and pleasant company.
The wind in the morning was not very strong so we motored towards Osbourne Bay, being chased down by HMS Portland for the first half of the trip. Then of the starboard side we spotted something floating in the water, Russ decided to turn the boat and investigate, it turned out to be a seal eating a sizeable fish (would have made most fishermen jealous), it was oblivious to us and just lay on its back munching away.
We then moored in Osbourne Bay for lunch looking up over the beach towards the house up on the hill, the sun was warming us up nicely but still the wind stayed low. Once we started our return trip the wind started to build up slowly, and we tacked back and forth across the Solent all afternoon, getting up to a respectable 7knts, this boat handles nicely and just cuts through the waves.
Would we recommend this to everybody, no way we want to keep it to ourselves 😊. Thank you, Russ and Roger, for a fantastic day out, we will defiantly see you again next year.
Richard and Jacqueline
Overnight stays on the boat before and after the trip helped make it a more relaxed adventure, no rushing about, lazy breakfast on deck, wine and beer in the evenings and pleasant company.
The wind in the morning was not very strong so we motored towards Osbourne Bay, being chased down by HMS Portland for the first half of the trip. Then of the starboard side we spotted something floating in the water, Russ decided to turn the boat and investigate, it turned out to be a seal eating a sizeable fish (would have made most fishermen jealous), it was oblivious to us and just lay on its back munching away.
We then moored in Osbourne Bay for lunch looking up over the beach towards the house up on the hill, the sun was warming us up nicely but still the wind stayed low. Once we started our return trip the wind started to build up slowly, and we tacked back and forth across the Solent all afternoon, getting up to a respectable 7knts, this boat handles nicely and just cuts through the waves.
Would we recommend this to everybody, no way we want to keep it to ourselves 😊. Thank you, Russ and Roger, for a fantastic day out, we will defiantly see you again next year.
Richard and Jacqueline
Written 18 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Konrad C
London, UK2 contributions
Sept 2020
We sailed with Russ and his team on a day trip to the Isle of Wight. We couldn't recommend the experience more highly. From the initial phone call to the day itself Russ made every effort to understand what we wanted, creating a fully bespoke experience. We sailed with a young child who was brilliantly looked after and fully involved in a wonderful day out.
Russ clearly knows the area like the back of his hand, took us to great spots to sail, eat, sightsee and swim. We'll be coming back.
Russ clearly knows the area like the back of his hand, took us to great spots to sail, eat, sightsee and swim. We'll be coming back.
Written 30 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nick A
London, UK17 contributions
Aug 2020
Just got back from the most awesome and epic 7, yes 7 day sail adventure with Russ and Andy.
If you’ve been out with them before, for a day or longer, then you’ll know how much fun that means! If you haven’t been out for sail on Sailing Spook 2 before, then you’re really really missing out and should do something about it as soon as you can :) cannot recommend them highly enough!
So, we left Lymington on the Friday morning, first night on Portland Island, then into Torquay, down as far as Salcombe, then back via Dartmouth, Lyme Regis, and last night in Swanage and back to Lymington, epic!
Russ and Andy will look after you so well, they make everything look really easy, but they work really hard to make it seem that way.
From breakfast and lunch, sometimes on the go, sometimes mooring up, depending on days schedule, they will always spoil you, or let you spoil yourself! They encourage you to make the boat your home.
Evenings on shore, cozy pubs, a ‘couple‘ of drinks, great food and great company. Ending the night with a round of Whist on board the luxurious boat, with a night cap to toast another wonderful day.
Sailing itself? get involved if you want to, helming, sail trimming, or just watch the sea and sky, and even the curvature of the earth! And dolphins! Did I mention dolphins! I know Russ and Andy plan a lot, but even they couldn’t plan schools of dolphins coming to visit us 3 days running!
So, if you’ve sailed on Spook before and are thinking of going again, or thinking of going for the first time, don’t hesitate, you will not regret it.
Back now a few days and want to go again, very soon.
If you’ve been out with them before, for a day or longer, then you’ll know how much fun that means! If you haven’t been out for sail on Sailing Spook 2 before, then you’re really really missing out and should do something about it as soon as you can :) cannot recommend them highly enough!
So, we left Lymington on the Friday morning, first night on Portland Island, then into Torquay, down as far as Salcombe, then back via Dartmouth, Lyme Regis, and last night in Swanage and back to Lymington, epic!
Russ and Andy will look after you so well, they make everything look really easy, but they work really hard to make it seem that way.
From breakfast and lunch, sometimes on the go, sometimes mooring up, depending on days schedule, they will always spoil you, or let you spoil yourself! They encourage you to make the boat your home.
Evenings on shore, cozy pubs, a ‘couple‘ of drinks, great food and great company. Ending the night with a round of Whist on board the luxurious boat, with a night cap to toast another wonderful day.
Sailing itself? get involved if you want to, helming, sail trimming, or just watch the sea and sky, and even the curvature of the earth! And dolphins! Did I mention dolphins! I know Russ and Andy plan a lot, but even they couldn’t plan schools of dolphins coming to visit us 3 days running!
So, if you’ve sailed on Spook before and are thinking of going again, or thinking of going for the first time, don’t hesitate, you will not regret it.
Back now a few days and want to go again, very soon.
Written 18 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lauren G
6 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
I bought this experience as an anniversary gift for my husband in October last year but due to gale force winds that day, we weren’t able to sail. Russ was so great about it and accommodating with dates for us to reschedule. We set sail yesterday and what a fantastic experience it was. The crew, Russ, Roger and Amanda were so welcoming and made us feel right at home. They kept us topped up with hot drinks, cold drinks, snacks and a delicious lunch. Russ is extremely knowledgable and you feel completely safe when at sea. We were allowed to get involved as much or as little as we wanted to, which was fab. We both had a go at the helm, amongst other things. Russ and Roger answered our constant questions and seemed happy to impart their wisdom, knowledge and experiences to us, which we were very grateful for. We stayed overnight and our cabin was surprisingly comfortable and we slept very well. We ate dinner at The Haven restaurant which is a stone’s throw from the yacht and is really fantastic (make sure you book in advance!) The toilets and shower block in the marina are really clean and modern. So in summary I would highly recommend Sailing Spook. It has given us a great introduction to sailing and we will definitely be back again for more sailing adventures!!
Written 23 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband is concerned about getting sea sick....anyone got any input about that?! Thanks!
Written 29 June 2020
Yes would like more information on this please. Thank you.
Written 18 March 2020
Hi Sue,
Sorry for the delay in responding. We operate day trips and 2/3 day Mini breaks all year up and down the beautiful South Coast. The yacht has 4 double ensuite cabins and is spotlessly clean and the sea air is lovely and fresh and healthy, We are operating normally at present and expect this to remain the case.
Our Prices are around £87 per person per day for a sail and £33 for overnight accommodation if required. There are discounts for groups and multi day bookings. We have no minimum numbers for a booking. Our itineraries are very flexible but we usually sail from around 9.30am to 5.00pm ish with a stop for lunch somewhere along the way. Common places we visit are Cowes Isle of Wight, Beaulieu, The Jurassic Coast and Beautiful Poole Harbour, Chichester and many more.
our website SailingSpook has lots of details and I am very happy to have a little chat at anytime on 07738 238002
Please do come for a sail, Best Regards Russ (Owner)
Written 19 March 2020
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