Press Release
06-02-2008: For the man who has everything but time – SailTime Membership is the best 40th birthday present!
What do you buy the man who loves sailing, but cannot spend as much time as he would like out on the water? How can you fulfil the dreams of a man who wants a yacht, but has no time to spare maintaining one and does not want the additional worries? Jo Lewis found the perfect solution when she came across SailTime on the Internet. She secretly bought a year’s membership to SailTime, the UK’s leading sailing membership company, and then presented it as a complete surprise to her husband John on his fortieth birthday!
John Lewis, an already qualified RYA Day Skipper, and his wife Jo recently moved back to the UK after three years in Australia where they kept a Compass 28 on Sydney Harbour. Jo said, “John really missed not having a yacht to sail anymore, but realistically with a demanding job and two young children we just don’t have the necessary time to spare maintaining and sailing our own yacht.” SailTime Membership solves the problem and the couple are enjoying Membership on Legolas – a Beneteau 343 that sails from the Lymington SailTime base, only an hour from where they live.
SailTime, the UK’s leading sailing membership company, offers the concept of fractional sailing to everyone, from novices to experienced sailors, giving them the regular use of a brand new yacht at a fraction of the cost of owning one independently. Members belong to a specific base, and have a share in a sailboat moored there, with typical costs in the region of £499 per month including vat.
The SailTime monthly Membership fee – usually less than the marina fees alone – covers all maintenance, insurance, servicing and berthing fees for the boat. The yachts are available all year round with the exception of a two-week maintenance period in winter when they are taken out of the water. Each boat is shared by a maximum of seven members and one owner-member. And for those who are not so experienced, RYA training can be provided.
Notes to editors:
• The monthly Membership fee for a brand new Bénéteau 343 Océanis Clipper is from £599 including vat. There are no other costs for Members - SailTime pays for all the marina fees, maintenance, insurance and running costs.
• SailTime members can utilise other SailTime bases in the USA, Caribbean, South of France and Netherlands
• Members are required to join for an initial 12 months, after nine months there is a rolling 90 day notice period.
• SailTime Members check on and off the yachts using the SailTime E-ttendant™, which guides them through a series of safety and equipment checks. Members pay a £1,750 initiation and training fee (which includes vat) for a two-day course which includes use of the online calendar and E-ttendant™, training on the specific yacht; navigation, electronics and general layout of the boat, and orientation day-sail.
• Members place £1,000 as a security deposit against any minor damage a Member causes to the boat. SailTime refund this £1,000 at the end of the membership.
• The yachts are available all year round, with the exception of a two week maintenance period between January and February when they are taken out of the water.
For more information about SailTime please visit www.sailtime.co.uk or contact Jonathan Duffy at SailTime UK: Tel +44 (0)2380 574727, Mob +44 (0)771 774 0257
More press information is available from Alice Driscoll or James Tuck at ADPR: Tel +44 (0) 1460 241641 or Fax: +44 (0)1460 242719 or by email alice@adpr.co.uk or james@adpr.co.uk
February 2008 (PR 90 SailTime Birthday Member)