If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to spend a day sailing on the beautiful Inverness Firth, our latest Ladies Only Sailing & Motor Cruising Day was the perfect introduction.
With glorious Highland sunshine, a fresh sailing breeze and plenty of smiles, the day offered a relaxed and supportive environment where women of all experience levels could learn new skills, build confidence and enjoy being out on the water.
A Warm Welcome at Inverness Marina
Our day began at 9:00am at Inverness Marina, where everyone was welcomed with tea, coffee and introductions. It was a great opportunity for the group to get to know each other before heading afloat.
Before setting off, our Chief Instructors, Kath and Mandie, guided everyone through a comprehensive boat familiarisation and safety briefing. We covered:
- Correctly fitting and wearing a lifejacket
- Essential onboard safety equipment
- What to do in an onboard emergency
- Basic boating etiquette and confidence-building tips
By the end of the briefing, everyone felt prepared and excited for the adventure ahead.
Sailing the Beautiful Inverness Firth
The group then split between our sailing yacht and motor cruiser before heading out into the stunning waters of the Inverness Firth.
The yacht crew enjoyed some exhilarating upwind sailing in a fresh north-easterly breeze, learning how the yacht responds to the wind while taking turns at the helm.
Meanwhile, aboard the motor cruiser, everyone experienced helming at planing speed as they cruised towards Chanonry Point Lighthouse before exploring the sheltered waters of Rosemarkie Bay.
Whether sailing or motor cruising, everyone had plenty of opportunities to get involved and develop practical skills with expert guidance throughout.
Picnic Lunch at Anchor off Fortrose
With the morning adventures complete, both boats met and anchored together just off Fortrose.
The gentle sound of the water, beautiful views across the Moray Firth and warm Highland sunshine created the perfect setting for a freshly prepared picnic lunch.
It was a wonderful chance to relax, chat about the morning’s experiences and enjoy the company of like-minded women who all shared a love of trying something new.
Homeward Bound Under the Kessock Bridge
After lunch, we weighed anchor and made our way back towards Inverness.
The return journey took us beneath the iconic Kessock Bridge before arriving back at Inverness Marina, giving everyone another opportunity to take the helm and put their newly learned skills into practice.
Although the famous Moray Firth dolphins remained elusive, a couple of friendly seals surfaced to greet us—adding one final wildlife highlight to an already unforgettable day.
Celebrating a Fantastic Ladies Day
Back ashore, we celebrated a brilliant day with a well-earned glass of Nosecco in the Highland sunshine.
For several of our guests, this was their very first boating adventure. Others came to build confidence and develop their sailing and motor cruising skills.
Whatever their starting point, everyone left with new knowledge, wonderful memories and, judging by the photos, some very big smiles!
A huge thank you goes to our fantastic Chief Instructors, Kath and Mandie, whose friendly, relaxed and encouraging teaching style created an environment where everyone felt welcome, supported and confident to learn.
We’re already counting down to Ladies Day 2027!
Join Our Next Ladies Only Courses
If this looks like your kind of adventure, there’s still time to get involved. We currently have just a couple of spaces remaining on our:
- Ladies Only Powerboat Course
- Ladies Only Sailing Course
Both courses take place at the end of August and are ideal for complete beginners or anyone looking to build confidence on the water in a relaxed, supportive, women-only environment.
Whether you’re looking for a new hobby, planning future boating adventures or simply want to try something different, we’d love to welcome you aboard.
Book Your Place Today
Spaces are limited and our Ladies Only events are always popular.
👉 Book online here: LADIES ONLY SESSIONS
Or get in touch with our friendly team to find out more about our Ladies Only sailing and powerboating courses in Inverness.
We look forward to welcoming you on board soon!
