Europe’s excellent yachting destinations

Destination Guides

World’s beautiful yacht sailing locations? Chartering a luxury yacht through jaw-dropping locations is certainly one of the greatest thrills a person can experience – there’s no question that having your hair tussled by warm summer breezes on still turquoise oceans is something truly special. But, with so many gorgeous options around the world to visit, choosing the right one can be tough. Should you tour the Mediterranean, stopping in at quaint islands along the way, or visit some of the world’s whitest beaches in virtually unknown spots off Thailand? There are countless locations that demand to be visited, so to help shed light on what might be the perfect destination for you and your crew, read on to learn a little bit more about some of the most special places the world has to offer.

A sailing holiday around France covers some of the most famous Mediterranean beaches and European port towns. The French Riviera is one of the most sought-after yachting destinations in Europe – with many well-known towns, cities, and beaches along this coast. Some of the best destinations here for a cruising holiday include Corsica, Saint-Tropez, Cannes, Nice, Lorient, and many more. These are places that attract the rich and famous – so you can expect plenty of luxuries to be enjoyed in the towns. The French Riviera is one of the most popular destinations in Europe for a sunny sailing holiday. This is thanks to the magnificent beaches, picture-perfect towns, azure waters and calm sailing routes.

This is a much more touristy option but the Balearics still make a beautiful European sailing destination, and you can avoid the crowds if you know-how. The cluster of Spanish islands include Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca and Formentera; all major holiday spots known for their sun-drenched beaches and sparkling blue waters. Also include a few stops to the pretty, unspoilt towns of Deia in Mallorca and the secluded Ibizan bay of Cala Llentrisca.

High season refers to the most popular weeks of the year for yacht charter, whether it’s the winter period in the Caribbean or the height of summer in the Mediterranean, booking in high season requires early planning, determination and a big budget. In addition, planning a yacht charter to coincide with a major event will also be reflected in the price with marine spots for elite events often booking up early. Allow plenty of time when making enquiries to ensure a star studded, well prepared arrival. Find additional info on Intersail Club. Three different 30-metre charter yachts may vary in cost by as much as 75,000 Euros. Ask your broker to explain the differences. One yacht may have a larger and more experienced crew or a big-name chef, another yacht may be a little tired, another may not be in a prime location. It’s important to understand why the prices are higher or lower.

Sailing tip of the day: Overlaying radar on the chart helps to interpret the display! The biggest problem most of us face when interpreting radar is lack of familiarity. We go about our daily business most of the year, then come aboard, hit the fog and turn it on. Unfortunately, unlike GPS, AIS and the rest, radar is more of a conversation between the operator and the instrument, so it’s not surprising we have trouble interpreting the picture. When I’m motoring, I, therefore, make a practice of keeping my radar transmitting even in good visibility and running an overlay on the chartplotter to keep me familiar with its drawbacks. The image above, for example, clearly shows that what the radar sees may not stack up with what the chart is telling me. Note how the trace seems mysteriously to end halfway up the coast. So it does, but that’s because the echo returning from high cliffs in the south gets lost when the land falls away to lower-lying estuarial terrain. The echo ends either because the flat shoreline isn’t providing a good enough target, or because the coast falls below the scanner’s visual horizon.