Frequently Asked Questions Who is Hot Liquid? Where is Hot Liquid? Do you only run RYA sailing courses in Gibraltar? Who are the RYA? What is the best way of getting to Gibraltar from the UK? Why Sail in Gibraltar? What is the climate in Gibraltar? How do I get to Queensway Quay Marina when I arrive in Gibraltar? What currency does Gibraltar use? Are the courses classed as tidal? Where will we sail to? I would like to spend a weekend in Gibraltar before or after my course. Do you have any hotel information? Can I be contacted whilst sailing? Can I book and pay for a course online? Do I have to complete a sailing course or can I just come along for the experience? Will I need a Passport? What yachts do you use? Will I sleep on board overnight? How do I know that the boat is safe? What should I wear on my RYA sailing course? What else should I take on the course? Are there toilet & shower facilities on board? What is the lower / upper age limit? How many people will be on board? Do you cater for vegetarians or other specific dietary requirements? Do you accept payment by credit & debit cards? I cannot open some of the pages on this website. Do I need travel insurance? Do your offer dinghy sailing courses? Do you offer Motorboat or Powerboat courses? Do you offer sailing lessons for Catamarans or other Multi-hulls? Who is Hot Liquid? Hot Liquid Sailing is an RYA Training Centre offering the full range or RYA Theory and Practical courses form our Solent based head office in Southampton and practical courses in Gibraltar throughout the year. We work hard to provide our clients with the highest quality, professional and thorough tuition. Delivering high teaching standards in order to keep sailing a fun and safe pursuit whilst giving our students that little bit extra to promote good seamanship skills. Where is Hot Liquid? Hot Liquid’s head office, RYA Training Centre and training yachts are based at Shamrock Quay Marina in Southampton. Our Gibraltar courses are operated out of Queensway Quay Marina in Gibraltar. Do you only run RYA sailing courses in Gibraltar? No, our head office including our RYA Training Centre is based in Southampton. From our base in Southampton we offer the full range of RYA practical courses in the Solent and theory courses in our classroom. Who is the RYA? The RYA are the Royal Yachting Association; they are the governing body for recreational water sports in the U.K. They also set the course syllabus, issue certificates and guidelines for Training Centres to follow. RYA certificates are internationally recognised. For further information please see their website: Royal Yachting Association. What is the best way of getting to Gibraltar from the UK? We recommend flying direct to Gibraltar airport which is a simple 10 minute walk or a couple of minutes in a taxi to the marina. Flying from London Gatwick click on www.britishairways.co.uk, tel: 0844 493 0 787 or www.easyjet.com, tel: 0905 821 0905. If flying from Luton airport look at www.flymonarch.com, tel: 08700 405040. Why Sail in Gibraltar? Gibraltar is considered one of the best sailing areas in the Mediterranean due the fact that it is in tidal waters, the only port in the Mediterranean that is! Gibraltar is renowned for its warm wind and clear blue sea which makes for ideal sailing conditions almost permanently. Marinas in and around Gibraltar offer the common Stern-to mooring which makes this a perfect training ground for any novice skipper or crew looking to bareboat or flotilla charter in the Mediterranean in the future. What is the climate in Gibraltar? Temperatures can rise well above 30°C in summer. Gibraltar has an average of 300 days sunshine a year and the climate is Mediterranean. The sub-tropical sun of North Africa is tempered by gentle sea breezes in summer. In January, daytime temperatures are usually around 16ºC to 18ºC and it is quite possible to top up a tan. Rainfall is mostly limited to early or late in the year. How do I get to Queensway Quay Marina when I arrive in Gibraltar? It is a simple 15 minute walk from the airport or a few minutes by taxi. Upon booking your course we provide further details for getting to the marina. What currency does Gibraltar use? The official currency is the Gibraltar Pound (GIP). UK notes and coins are also accepted and have the same value, but Gibraltar Pounds are not accepted in the UK. Are the courses classed as tidal? Yes. Although in the Mediterranean Sea, Gibraltar is in tidal waters. Where will we sail to? Our RYA sailing courses start from Gibraltar, visiting some beautiful and historic towns and ports along the coast. Overnight stops are included in neighbouring ports in Spain and Morocco. I would like to spend a weekend in Gibraltar before or after my course. Do you have any hotel information? Please click here to see a list of local hotels.. Can I be contacted whilst sailing? GSM mobile network is active in all ports and messages can be passed on through our UK office. Most marinas now host wifi hotspots. Can I book and pay for a sailing course online? Yes. To book online simply select the course you require from our Event Calendar, click on the “book online” link and follow the instructions. Do I have to complete a sailing course or can I just come along for the experience? You are welcome to sail with Hot Liquid by joining an existing sailing course to gain further experience or extra tuition between courses or simply a few fun days on the water under the guidance of a professional skipper. Will I need a Passport? Yes you will need to travel with your passport. There is no Visa requirement if travelling from the UK or Spain. What yachts do you use? Our primary training yachts are Bavaria 36s which can accommodate up to 8 people, although for personal comfort and safety our RYA training courses have a maximum of 5 students. Will I sleep on board overnight? Yes. Our sailing courses are fully residential and bedding is provided. Sleeping on board is all part of the adventure of yachting and also an important aspect of the course. How do I know that the boat is safe? Our training yachts are Maritime & Coastguard Agency coded for commercial use. This means that they are inspected annually including a full service of all safety equipment. The yachts also undertake a full out of the water inspection every 5 years. What should I wear on my RYA sailing course? You should wear comfortable, sensible casual clothing. It is important to bear in mind that you will be spending your time outdoors. Upon booking your course we provide further details including a recommended list of items to bring with you. What else should I take on the course? Hot Liquid does not provide bedding for hygiene reasons so a sleeping bag and pillow are required. You will receive a Joining Instructions document which includes a list of recommended items to pack for your course upon booking. Are there toilet & shower facilities on board? Our training yachts are equipped with showers and toilets, however these are only to be used when the yacht is underway. Every evening involves an overnight stop at a marina which provides these facilities ashore. What is the lower / upper age limit? There is neither an upper or lower age limit however children under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by an adult. Many of our clients start sailing in their retirement years, so as long as you are healthy you will be able to join one of our sailing courses. How many people will be on board? Our training yachts can accommodate 8 guests, but for personal comfort and to keep within the RYA’s guidelines we have a maximum of 5 students on board. Do you cater for vegetarians or other specific dietary requirements? Yes we do cater for vegetarians and other dietary requirements. Simply let us know in the relevant section of our Sea School booking form and we will take care of your catering requirements. Do you accept payment by credit & debit cards? Yes. We accept all debit cards and most major credit cards. I cannot open some of the pages on this website. If you are having trouble opening some of our PDF files on this website please download a copy of Adobe Reader by clicking here. Alternatively contact Hot Liquid for another file format or to discuss your query. Do I need travel insurance? Although travel insurance is not essential we recommend that you have it. You may find that your existing travel insurance will cover your sailing course. If you don’t have any travel insurance you may find these links useful; GH Insurance or Bishop Skinner. Do your offer dinghy sailing courses? Unfortunately Hot Liquid only provides yachting courses within the RYA Sail Cruising scheme. To find an RYA Dinghy Sailing Centre please contact the RYA by clicking here. Do you offer Motorboat or Powerboat courses? Unfortunately Hot Liquid Sailing only provides yachting courses within the RYA Sail Cruising scheme. Please click on either RYA Motorboat Training or Powerboat Training to find courses & further information. Do you offer sailing lessons for Catamarans or other Multi-hulls? Unfortunately we do not offer multi-hull sailing courses. If this page has not answered your question please call 02380 211914 or click here to contact Hot Liquid.