Blue Box Experiences

Another great day sailing on the Solent aboard Valerie...

Always nice to hear from guests after trips, especially those we take out from Sail 4 Cancer and Something To Look Forward To
“Thank you so much to Blue Box Experiences, @sail4cancer and @something_to_look_forward_to for the wonderful and memorable sailing experience day. We loved it so much, it gave us something to look forward to and a reason to go on a break away. It was an experience we will treasure x”

Great picture of Valerie sailing on the Solent. 📷 J. Mounter

We have perhaps the best way to cool down in this heatwave - a large gin and tonic with loads of ice served on a vintage motor launch slowly cruising along the gorgeous River Hamble of an evening...?

Yay! No one else is probably as excited as us, but we’ve scored 5 again in our food hygiene rating inspection!

Fantastic sail on the Solent today...

Having fun aboard Valerie this afternoon...

We're looking for someone to join our team to work aboard Betsie Jane on the weekends. The role is primarily working as host / hostess aboard, serving tea and coffee, as well as helping with mooring of the boat, set up and pack up. Might also include working in the coffee shop, serving and washing up etc. Usually 11am till 5pm most Saturdays and Sundays through the summer.
Minimum age 17. Please email CV and cover letter to hello@blueboxexperiences.co.uk if you're interested!
Start date asap.

What better way to while away an afternoon than cruising along the River Hamble enjoying afternoon tea, cake or gin?!
See http://blueboxexperiences.co.uk/betsiejan e/ for more details and live availability on trips to book online!

Valerie sailing last Friday...

Valerie sailing in Southampton Water with the very special ‘Nellie’ SU71. Built in 1862 by Dan Hatcher in Southampton - at 156 years old, she’s one of the oldest boats still sailing. The combined age of Nellie and Valerie is 279 years! Some proper history floating in Southampton Water yesterday afternoon...

Betsie Jane has been making the most of this lovely weather! Afternoon tea in the sunshine - perfect...

Cracking day for a sail on the Solent...

We're getting ready for yet another warm and sunny May Bank Holiday!! Do you have plans yet? We have three opportunities still available to get on the water this coming weekend - and you can even SAVE 30% on list price! Just enter discount code 'MAYBANKHOLIDAY' in the cart!
Valerie Sailing Experience: Full Day Sail, Sunday 26th May Was £229, now £160.30/pp (3 places left)
... Betsie Jane River Cruise: Cake cruise, Saturday 25th May Was £49 now £34.30/pp (4 places left)
Mermerus sailing experiences: Half Day Sail, Saturday 25th May Was £99, now £69.30/pp (5 places left)
Go grab your places aboard now!
http://blueboxexperiences.co.uk
And remember - enter discount code 'MAYBANKHOLIDAY' in the cart to save 30% OFF!
See More

It was a stunning day for an extended Gin Cruise up to the top of the River Hamble this afternoon...

Salt water and sailing boots. Great day to be on the Solent.

Did any one else spot Mermerus and Valerie behind John Craven on Countryfile this evening?! Great piece on the Solent Oyster Restoration Project by Blue Marine Foundation going on under pontoons in the Hamble...

What could be better than spending an afternoon aboard classic motor boat Betsie Jane enjoying afternoon tea! We even do evening gin and jazz cruises along the Hamble too!
From £39 per person or book the whole boat for £300 and bring a group of up to 10 people!
Live availability online here: http://blueboxexperiences.co.uk/betsiejan e/

Valerie doing her thing...

Wonderful day cruising up the Hamble on the Betsy Jane with a super cream tea on board ! Whats not to like! Fabulous! The sunshine helped !

What a brilliant day out! Lots of ways to get involved even for those with no sailing experience like me. Definitely recommended!

We had the best time on the Betsie Jane !When we were arrived the boat was all laid up with home made Scones jam and clotted cream, beautiful home made cakes and tea served in beautiful china.The boat was wonderful,and we enjoyed hearing its incredible history.Couldn't fault the fantastic crew who were so attentive and made sure we were safe and comfortable.The trip up the Hamble was fantastic and would thoroughly recommend it, we will definitely do it again.Thanks guys a fabolous afternoon.

We had one truly exhilarating experience today on Valerie.

I can't thank Blue Box enough. Not only did we get to sail on her we also got to take the tiller and sail her ourselves. We learnt so much.

She is one truly beautiful sailing boat.

Thank you again to the Blue Box team.

Mike and Sarah

We had just the most amazing day with Blue Box experiences. Thank you so much! Fantastic. Plus, thank you for finding the misplaced article - phew!

Thanks to Sam and Paul for a great day's sailing around the Isle of Wight today. We were well looked after and winning most of the way round.

Thank you for the most fantastic, enjoyable, day sailing today on board Valerie. Would love to do this again, such a wonderful experience. What a beautiful sailing boat, the loving care that has gone into Valerie is plain to see. Thank you for all the help and instruction it was fascinating with the ropes, block and tackle.

Thank you for a very special day out aboard Valerie. From the first glimpse it’s easy to see that she’s a real beauty and close-up, the fine detail and attention of the restoration project shine through. We had a superb day out, sailing “the old fashioned way” under handcrafted sails with block and tackle under the instruction of Jono and Dom. Valerie had many admiring glances and a couple of shouts during the day and we felt very proud to be on board. And to top it all – the sun shone all day! Thanks again – we’ll be back.

Thank you Jono and Paul for a magical experience. I am a complete novice and wouldn't let go of anything/anyone to start with (and we hadn't set off yet!) but I was made to feel completely at ease and even had a steer of the boat. A lovely day which I hope to repeat.

Thank you Jono and Dom for the most amazing sailing experience on Saturday. It certainly lived up to all expectations and beyond. A special thank you for your extensive search for the misplaced article from a very grateful wife and relieved husband.

Really fabulous evening on the Betsie Jane Gin Cruise! Fabulous crew, lovely scenery and of course great gin! Will definitely be doing this again! xx

Lovely people, lovely boat Betsie Jane, lovely scenery, great cakes. Wonderful way to have tea. Even if it did rain a bit.

Just had a fab day out, as gift for husband bday, with these guys and really enjoyed every minute of it. Great price for 2 (brought in Sept in 'sale'), organised, down to earth safe and friendly sailing crew with great yachts. Fab weather, could have done with a bit more wind although for first time I didnt mind it being steady!! Thank u Blue Box Sailing :-)

Great trip on Betsie Jane.

Great little find. The coffee is great. It's actually nice to find a cafe that is just about coffee (and other refreshments of course) and cake. Riverside views and very friendly.

Great day as always with Jonno and Don. Definitely coming back in the new season

Fantastic experience. A large group of us ladies did the Betsie cruise on Friday. Excellent staff. Superbly relaxing cruise on such a cool boat. Great afternoon tea & most plentiful. Thoroughly recommended!

Cracking day out. Weather today was perfect. You can get as hands on as you like. I certainly learnt a lot. Great value for money. Would recommend this to anyone who wants to try their hand at sailing for the first time.

An amazing day out, with beautiful yachts, wonderful scenery, and most importantly, very friendly, competent, reassuring crew to keep us novices on track.

I have already rebooked for more Bluebox adventures, and sailing with this fantastic set up has inspired me to start my training for my yacht master licence.

So for me personally, you could say Bluebox do life changing experiences.

Wonderful day cruising up the Hamble on the Betsy Jane with a super cream tea on board ! Whats not to like! Fabulous! The sunshine helped !

What a brilliant day out! Lots of ways to get involved even for those with no sailing experience like me. Definitely recommended!

We had the best time on the Betsie Jane !When we were arrived the boat was all laid up with home made Scones jam and clotted cream, beautiful home made cakes and tea served in beautiful china.The boat was wonderful,and we enjoyed hearing its incredible history.Couldn't fault the fantastic crew who were so attentive and made sure we were safe and comfortable.The trip up the Hamble was fantastic and would thoroughly recommend it, we will definitely do it again.Thanks guys a fabolous afternoon.

We had one truly exhilarating experience today on Valerie.

I can't thank Blue Box enough. Not only did we get to sail on her we also got to take the tiller and sail her ourselves. We learnt so much.

She is one truly beautiful sailing boat.

Thank you again to the Blue Box team.

Mike and Sarah

We had just the most amazing day with Blue Box experiences. Thank you so much! Fantastic. Plus, thank you for finding the misplaced article - phew!

Thanks to Sam and Paul for a great day's sailing around the Isle of Wight today. We were well looked after and winning most of the way round.

Thank you for the most fantastic, enjoyable, day sailing today on board Valerie. Would love to do this again, such a wonderful experience. What a beautiful sailing boat, the loving care that has gone into Valerie is plain to see. Thank you for all the help and instruction it was fascinating with the ropes, block and tackle.

Thank you for a very special day out aboard Valerie. From the first glimpse it’s easy to see that she’s a real beauty and close-up, the fine detail and attention of the restoration project shine through. We had a superb day out, sailing “the old fashioned way” under handcrafted sails with block and tackle under the instruction of Jono and Dom. Valerie had many admiring glances and a couple of shouts during the day and we felt very proud to be on board. And to top it all – the sun shone all day! Thanks again – we’ll be back.

Thank you Jono and Paul for a magical experience. I am a complete novice and wouldn't let go of anything/anyone to start with (and we hadn't set off yet!) but I was made to feel completely at ease and even had a steer of the boat. A lovely day which I hope to repeat.

Thank you Jono and Dom for the most amazing sailing experience on Saturday. It certainly lived up to all expectations and beyond. A special thank you for your extensive search for the misplaced article from a very grateful wife and relieved husband.

Really fabulous evening on the Betsie Jane Gin Cruise! Fabulous crew, lovely scenery and of course great gin! Will definitely be doing this again! xx

Lovely people, lovely boat Betsie Jane, lovely scenery, great cakes. Wonderful way to have tea. Even if it did rain a bit.

Just had a fab day out, as gift for husband bday, with these guys and really enjoyed every minute of it. Great price for 2 (brought in Sept in 'sale'), organised, down to earth safe and friendly sailing crew with great yachts. Fab weather, could have done with a bit more wind although for first time I didnt mind it being steady!! Thank u Blue Box Sailing :-)

Great trip on Betsie Jane.

Great little find. The coffee is great. It's actually nice to find a cafe that is just about coffee (and other refreshments of course) and cake. Riverside views and very friendly.

Great day as always with Jonno and Don. Definitely coming back in the new season

Fantastic experience. A large group of us ladies did the Betsie cruise on Friday. Excellent staff. Superbly relaxing cruise on such a cool boat. Great afternoon tea & most plentiful. Thoroughly recommended!

Cracking day out. Weather today was perfect. You can get as hands on as you like. I certainly learnt a lot. Great value for money. Would recommend this to anyone who wants to try their hand at sailing for the first time.

An amazing day out, with beautiful yachts, wonderful scenery, and most importantly, very friendly, competent, reassuring crew to keep us novices on track.

I have already rebooked for more Bluebox adventures, and sailing with this fantastic set up has inspired me to start my training for my yacht master licence.

So for me personally, you could say Bluebox do life changing experiences.