Does Sunsail offer sunny sailing?

Sunsail have been around for 30 years, offering a wider choice of destinations and experience than most others - more than 1,200 yachts at 36 bases in 23 countries - including resorts in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the Pacific and Indian Oceans. If you prefer to be land-based, you might opt for one of their Watersports Beach Clubs. But on the high seas you can choose between Bareboat and Skippered Charter, the Flotilla Experience, Coastal Power Cruising, Mile Catchers - or the ultimate in luxury, Sunsail's Platinum package, cruising in the lap of luxury.

Perili is on the Datça Peninsula, a short drive but a million miles away from the unattractive sprawl of Marmaris - rural Turkey much as it was fifty to one hundred years ago. Picture from www.hiddenturkey.com.

As you'd expect, Sunsail's Perili resort has all the essentials - tennis courts, a large swimming pool, a restaurant and more. Entertainment of course includes authentic Turkish belly dancers. But the big difference is the fantastic sailing. With a brilliant bay, a superb spit of beach and Anderson Island (not its official name, but known as that for its Pamela Anderson-shaped features), together with reliable winds and weather, it's my idea of paradise.

I enjoy this retreat not just for its fantastic sailing, but its profusion of wildlife - in the wild and on my plate. While sailing round Cauliflower Rock (like Fastnet, but a tenth of its size and without the lighthouse), I saw some stunning big fish - which looked even better, freshly caught and cooked for dinner! Someone else claimed to see have seen a wild European bear and cub in one of the more remote areas. What other package holiday could offer that?

But enough of my memoirs - these holidays are notably more expensive than you would expect for a non-sailing holiday at a similar location - including if you chartered a boat. You see, most package holiday resorts are geared to majority tastes and sailing tends to be secondary. Nor do they offer tried and tested sailing sessions with local experts to guide you and help develop your skills. On that particular point Sunsail score even higher. They're not just sailing oriented, they're RYA registered - so after an intensive week learning what's what and how to tie a 'Rolling Magnus,' you get a recognised certificate for your efforts.