Frequently Asked Questions

About Mr Toad and Your Day

  • Mr Toad is based at Berthon Marina in Lymington, Hampshire, on the edge of the New Forest. We can also collect you from Poole, Southampton, Portsmouth and other points along the South Coast. We will confirm the exact boarding location and directions with you when you book.

  • Mr Toad is a brand new Sunseeker Manhattan 55, a 55 foot luxury motor yacht. The boat has a spacious flybridge with a bar, three ensuite cabins, a full galley, air conditioning throughout and a Sonos sound system across every deck. On board you will also find a Seakeeper gyro stabiliser for a smoother ride, a hydraulic swim platform with a shower, a jet boat tender, underwater lights for evening swims and smart TVs in the saloon and cabins.

  • Mr Toad welcomes up to 12 guests for a day charter, with plenty of room to relax on deck, on the flybridge and in the saloon. For overnight and multi day charters she sleeps 6 guests across three ensuite cabins.

  • Most guests choose to experience a full day charter of up to 8 hours, typically starting around 10:00am and returning between 5:00pm and 6:00pm. Timings are flexible and every itinerary is shaped around you, whether that is a leisurely lunch at anchor, a coastal cruise or somewhere in between. Just tell us the day you have in mind. Overnight and multi day charters are also available.

  • Your day begins around 10:00am, when you are welcomed aboard by your skipper and crew and given a short safety briefing. Chilled champagne and nibbles start things off, with bacon baps or pastries for anyone who prefers a traditional beginning. From there we cruise into the Solent towards a destination chosen with your skipper based on the day's conditions, with wine, beer and soft drinks flowing throughout. You might anchor for a long lunch on board, dine at a waterfront restaurant, swim off the platform or simply soak up the sun on the flybridge, before a relaxed return in the early evening.

  • Your charter includes Mr Toad, her skipper Arran and onboard crew, fuel for the planned route, all safety equipment and use of the swim platform, towels and sun cream. Food and drink is included and tailored to the occasion, from a champagne reception and premium platters to a fully catered lunch on board or a reservation at one of our favourite waterfront restaurants.

  • None at all. Mr Toad is fully skippered by Arran, who is highly qualified and hugely experienced, with an onboard crew looking after you throughout the day. All you need to do is step aboard and enjoy the water.

  • The Solent is one of the finest cruising grounds in the UK, and your skipper will suggest the best options for the day's weather and tides. Favourites include the dramatic chalk stacks of The Needles and the coloured sands of Alum Bay, the tranquil Beaulieu River and Buckler's Hard, the sailing capital of Cowes, Yarmouth and Bembridge on the Isle of Wight, historic Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth, Ocean Village in Southampton, the River Hamble, and beachfront dining spots such as The Hut at Colwell Bay.

  • Yes. Mr Toad has a hydraulic swim platform with a built in shower for easy access to the water, a jet boat tender for reaching secluded beaches or simply having fun, and underwater lights for evening swims. Towels and swim platform setup are included.

  • It is unlikely. Mr Toad is fitted with a Seakeeper gyro stabiliser that dramatically reduces the boat's movement, keeping her steady and comfortable at anchor and under way. The sheltered waters of the Solent are also far calmer than the open sea. If you are prone to motion sickness, let us know and we will plan the day with your comfort in mind.

FOOD, DRINK AND CELEBRATIONS

  • The day starts with a champagne reception and nibbles, with bacon baps or fresh pastries on arrival, followed by wine, beer and soft drinks throughout. For lunch you can choose premium seafood and beef platters served at anchor with a choice of desserts, or a booked table at one of our favourite Isle of Wight or Solent restaurants. We work with trusted local caterers, so sushi, canapes and other special requests can also be arranged.

  • Yes. Dietary requirements are never a problem with a little notice. Tell us about any allergies or preferences when you book and we will make sure everyone is well looked after.

  • Absolutely. Milestone birthdays, anniversaries, proposals and family celebrations are what Mr Toad does best. Tell us what you are marking and we will quietly take care of the details, from the timing to the finishing touches.

  • Yes. Mr Toad makes a memorable setting for away days, client hospitality and small team celebrations, a world away from a meeting room and only a short journey from it. We can help shape the day around your objectives, whether that is entertaining clients or rewarding a team.

REGATTAS AND EVENTS ON THE SOLENT

  • Yes, and it is one of the most spectacular days of the year to be on the water. Cowes Week fills the Solent with hundreds of racing yachts, and Mr Toad gives you a front row seat with champagne in hand. These dates are in high demand, so we recommend enquiring well in advance to secure the boat.

  • Yes. Mr Toad is the perfect grandstand for a regatta. We can position her to watch the fleets start and round the marks, then anchor somewhere comfortable so you can enjoy the spectacle from the flybridge or deck with lunch and drinks. Your skipper knows the racecourses and will find you the best vantage point while keeping a safe distance from the competitors.

  • Cowes Week is one of the oldest and largest sailing regattas in the world, held on the Solent off Cowes on the Isle of Wight each summer, usually in early August. It brings together hundreds of yachts and thousands of sailors across several days of racing, with a lively atmosphere ashore and on the water. It is a highlight of the British sporting and social calendar.

  • Cowes Week traditionally closes with a spectacular fireworks display over the water. Watching it from on board Mr Toad, drink in hand, is one of the best seats in the house. As this is an evening event we would arrange it as a twilight or overnight charter, so do get in touch early to plan it.

  • The Solent hosts a packed calendar of sailing events. The Round the Island Race each summer sends thousands of boats around the Isle of Wight in a single day and makes for wonderful viewing. There are also classic yacht regattas, offshore race starts and other Cowes events throughout the season, plus the Southampton International Boat Show in September. Tell us what you would like to see and we will build a day around it.

  • As early as you can. Cowes Week, the Round the Island Race and other marquee dates are the busiest of the year and Mr Toad books up quickly for them. If you have a particular event in mind, enquire well ahead so we can hold the date for you.

PLANNING, COMFORT AND ACCESS

  • Comfortable clothes, soft soled shoes and a warm layer for later in the day, as the water is always a degree or two cooler than the shore. Sunglasses and sun cream are wise in summer, though we keep sun cream and towels on board. Everything else is taken care of.

  • Your skipper watches the forecast closely and will always put your comfort and safety first. If conditions are not right on the day, we will work with you to adjust the route or timing, or rearrange for another date.

  • The main season runs from spring through to early autumn, roughly May to September, when the Solent is at its best and the events calendar is busiest. Late spring and early autumn can be beautifully quiet, while high summer brings the regattas and the liveliest atmosphere. We are happy to advise on the right day for what you have in mind.

  • Yes. Mr Toad is a wonderful setting for a family day out, with plenty of space, calm sheltered waters and the swim platform and tender to enjoy. Life jackets are provided and the crew will keep an eye on younger guests. Let us know the ages in your party and we will plan accordingly.

  • We know the family dog is part of the day for many guests. Please ask us when you enquire and we will let you know what we can accommodate for your charter.

  • Boarding involves steps at the marina and on board, but the main deck and saloon are spacious and comfortable. If any of your guests have mobility needs, tell us when you book and we will talk through the day and do our best to make it work smoothly.

  • Yes. Mr Toad sleeps 6 guests across three ensuite cabins, so the day does not have to end at sunset. Whether you would like a night anchored off the Beaulieu River or a longer cruise, we will put together a multi day itinerary that fits.

  • We do. A twilight cruise with drinks and canapes as the sun goes down is a lovely way to mark an occasion, and works beautifully for events such as the Cowes Week fireworks. Get in touch and we will tailor the timing to you.

  • Yes. As well as the Solent's many destinations we can head further afield, for example to Lulworth Cove or along the Jurassic Coast, particularly on multi day charters. Tell us where you dream of going and we will see what is possible.

BOOKING, PRICING AND PAYMENT

  • A full day Bespoke Charter with lunch served on board is £4,900, and a full day with lunch ashore at a recommended restaurant is £4,500. Both are for up to 12 guests and include the skipper and crew, fuel, a champagne reception, drinks throughout the day and catering. Overnight and multi day charters are quoted individually with prices starting from £9,900 - get in touch and we will put together a tailored price.

  • Both are full day charters of up to 8 hours with the same boat, crew, champagne reception and drinks. With Lunch on Board (£4,900) you enjoy premium seafood and beef platters served at anchor, with no need to set foot on land unless you want to. With Lunch on Land (£4,500) we suggest and book a table at one of our favourite Solent or Isle of Wight restaurants and time the day around it.

  • Send us an enquiry through the website, email trelawney@luxurysouthcoastcharters.co.uk or call 07785 308255 with your preferred date and the occasion, and we will come back to you promptly with availability and a tailored quote. Full details are set out in our booking agreement.

  • Once we have confirmed your date we will guide you through booking and payment. The full terms, including any deposit and balance arrangements, are set out in our Day Charter Booking Agreement, which we will share with you when you book.

  • If the weather is unsuitable on the day, we will work with you to adjust the plan or move to another date rather than sail in conditions that would spoil your experience. Our full cancellation terms are set out in the Day Charter Booking Agreement provided when you book.

  • Every charter is run to minimise Mr Toad's impact. We cruise at her most fuel efficient speed, recycle all waste, use accredited environmental contractors, keep her hull clean and efficient, and anchor only in designated areas to protect the seabed.

  • It is an optional way to give something back when you book. From £150, your contribution supports the restoration and research of seagrass meadows in UK waters through our partner Ecologi. Seagrass is one of the sea's best natural carbon stores, and the contribution is funded in your name.

SUSTAINABILITY