No….. There are days, even weeks when the sun shines and the seas are a brighter blue than anything you might find in the Caribbean. But…. It does rain sometimes. One of the best features on Provident is the deck house. This allows you to enjoy the amazing scenery without getting drenched. We also have a brilliant new heating system which means that you can, if you wish, indulge in an exhilarating soaking on the foredeck, safe in the knowledge that a welcoming saloon, a hot tea and cakes or your cosy cabin await below. With our heated drying area you can get your gear dried out and back on in no time. Then go and do it all again.

Provident has four separate twin cabins. They are quite cosy but with plenty of space for a good night’s sleep and enough room for your stuff. All the cabins have USB charging points and LED lighting. All the cabins have heating and there is a separate place for drying wet gear so you won’t need this in your cabin.

We will give you your own cabin by default but if the boat is full and you don’t mind sharing we may ask you to share with another solo traveller of the same sex. If you prefer to have your own space we might ask you to consider one of the micro cabins in the saloon.

Really good food is very much at the heart of our voyages. Although we’re not into five courses of deconstructed cheesecake with micro-herbs assembled with tweezers. The food on board is hearty, healthy(ish) and wherever possible, local. Our contacts with local providers could well see us pulling lobster or langoustine straight out of the sea or calling in at South Rona for some of Bill’s island reared venison. Typically we’ll offer a good breakfast with porridge and some form of cooked indulgence. Hot drinks and snacks mid-morning. A simple lunch of home-made soup or sausage rolls or a delicious seafood sandwich. More tea and cakes in the afternoon and a delicious evening meal followed by a proper pudding.

Absolutely. At least half our meals will be vegetarian for everyone as we’re trying to keep healthy and do our bit for the planet; if you would prefer any level of plant based or other diet just let us know when you book.

Again let us know your requirements and we’ll do whatever we can to accommodate you.

We have a stock of beer and wine on board which will be available at modest prices to enjoy with food. We also carry a stock of the finest whisky sourced from the areas we sail to so we will be happy to share a dram and give you some waffle…. I mean tasting notes.

So, we are not a “dry” boat but we rarely drink while underway and consumption of alcohol at any time is at the discretion of the skipper.

There are two separate “heads” in the main guest area and another just below the main steering position in the crew cabin. The guest loos are the new electric type that have replaced the older hand pumped contraptions found on most boats. One of the loos also has a shower so there will be no problem getting spruced up for dinner.

No. But being open to new experiences helps.

As her name suggests, Provident has a proud tradition of providing sailing experiences to all sorts of people. We aim to continue with this and will always do whatever we can to welcome you on board. Being on a boat can be quite physical. Probably the biggest limiting factor will be the steps leading from the deck down to the saloon. The companionway has plenty of hand holds which can be a big help. If you feel ok about tackling this then there’s no problem. If you’re not sure, give us a ring and we can have a chat. We have quite a bit of experience sailing with people with physical challenges and with a bit of imagination we hope we can find a way to make this work.

Even some of the competitors in the Volvo Ocean Race get seasick sometimes. Although they tend to be charging about the Southern Ocean for weeks at a time. If you are unlucky enough to be feeling a little off-colour we’ll do our best to keep you comfortable. But better still… we’ll do all that we can to keep you feeling sunny side up in the first place. For one thing Provident is a big, heavy and stable ship. Better than a modern plastic-fantastic at absorbing the waves. The way a boat is sailed and where we go makes a big difference too. One of the best things about the West of Scotland is the choice. If things are looking a bit bouncy on the open water we can head up any number of amazing sea lochs. If the waves are sideways-on while we head for a particular island? No problem, we’ll go somewhere else. The choices are endless. We also have lots of experience with various sea sickness remedies and the ultimate secret weapon is to get you steering the boat. As if by magic, the process of taking the wheel allows the brain to reassemble the world and this can have you feeling good again in no time.