Innehållsförteckning för Charter Guide 2023 från Sailing Today

Welcome to our annual Charter Guide, aiming to make it easy to plan and enjoy the perfect holiday afloat. We have information for new charterers and those more experienced, we cover destinations all over the world and we talk to some of the leading charter companies, to get the inside line for you on the 2023 season. We also aim to be a publication worth keeping hold of. You may not be chartering this year or next, but if you’re looking for ideas and inspiration, options to ponder as you plan longer-term, the following 35 pages should provide plenty of food for thought. Charter has been booming since travel restrictions were lifted and people grabbed the chance to get afloat in the sun while they could. That looks set to…

With some of the finest sailing in Europe, northern France is a popular destination for experienced sailors. When the rules allow, Brittany is a magnet for British sailors, thanks to its multitude of harbours and anchorages, many of which offer fantastic opportunities ashore to sample the delights of the regional seafood, cider and crêpes. In southern Brittany, Quiberon Bay is littered with charming places to anchor or tie up on the quayside. The Morbihan inland sea is a fantastic cruising area too, and the region is home to many prehistoric sites, as well as plenty of scenic bays, creeks and coves. From the spectacular fjords and remote islands of Norway to the pretty traditional Swedish villages in the south, Scandinavia is also an emerging destination for discerning sailors. From the…

The Adriatic boasts more than 1,000 miles of delightful coastline, and with fascinating history and culture to uncover, it’s no surprise that places like Croatia and Montenegro are attracting so much interest from charterers. Beyond its palm-fringed shores and the backdrop of lush mountain scenery, little Montenegro is filled with ancient architecture and associated history. The medieval coastal towns of Budva and Sveti Stefan are jewels of the Adriatic, and the convoluted coastline means there are innumerable secret and unspoiled bays and anchorages to discover. Montenegro’s Boka Bay World Heritage Site is a sunken canyon that’s the largest natural harbour in the eastern Mediterranean; 65 miles of coastline twists inland from the Adriatic on the southern edge of the Dalmatian coast. Croatia has much to offer too, and although there’s…

Yacht charter in the Caribbean is living the dream. Warm trade winds whisk you from one palm-fringed paradise to the next, sailing through vibrant blue waters with turtles and dolphins for company, before relaxing with an exotic cocktail at one of the many beach bars… does life get any better? The Virgin Islands (British and US) comprise small groups of palm tree-fringed tropical islands with generally line-of-sight navigation, and some of the most idyllic anchorages in the Caribbean. Located in the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands offer dependable steady trade winds, sheltered waters and short passages, which make for stress-free sailing for less-experienced crews. The Leeward Islands (the top half of the Lesser Antilles chain) are well-served with European-style marinas and have bases for many of the well-known charter companies.…

The beautiful Balearics have long been a favoured destination for British holidaymakers, and the islands of Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera are at the heart of Spain’s charter industry, with many of the country’s charter companies based there. Located approximately 60 miles from the Spanish mainland, the Balearics are arguably best appreciated by yacht. Away from the bustle and crowds of the main tourist resorts there are literally hundreds of small bays and anchorages to enjoy. It’s not quite the wilderness, as plenty of other boaters will be enjoying the scenery too, but the vibe is one of tranquilty and relaxation. That’s unless you happen to moor in one of Ibiza Town’s marinas, from where you can sample the vibrant nightlife which has made the island (in)famous. Alternatively, find your…

From the isolated creeks of the east coast to the jaw-dropping scenery of the Scottish islands, the UK offers plenty of varied sailing to inspire the stay-at-home charterer – and for many people now chartering in home waters is more attractive than ever before. With its tides and tidal streams, there’s no doubt UK waters are more challenging for inexperienced sailors, but planning and successfully executing an inshore passage together is half the fun. The Solent and south coast is the main sailing hub, blessed with lovely anchorages, rivers and marinas and supported by a large number of charter companies based around Hamble, Lymington, Cowes (Isle of Wight), Portsmouth and Gosport. However, you can find yachts to charter in almost any marina in the country, with a quick internet search.…

Turkey lies at the point where east meets west. The finest sailing here is down south around Marmaris and Bodrum. Here you can enjoy miles of coastline that, at times, seems cluttered with Roman and Byzantine ruins. Sailors have been chartering yachts in Turkey for several decades now and it has a network of charter bases and flotillas. If you are looking to extend your cruising season to the absolute maximum, this is probably the place to go, as you are so far south that you generally get a couple more weeks of reliable sunshine compared to Greece. The favoured starting points of Marmaris and Bodrum give opportunities for plenty of island hopping, while Gocek and Fethiye let you explore Turkey’s coastline. Regardless of where you sail in Turkey, expect…

“Sailing holidays continue to gain popularity as a different way of experiencing the world” Yacht charter became the holiday of choice after the pandemic, with people grabbing the chance to get afloat while they could and savouring the experience all the more for its self-sufficiency and socially distanced nature. Adverse economic headwinds don’t seem to be slowing the market yet, so far having the effect of encouraging people to book early, seeking the best deals, rather than forego their planned holiday afloat in the sun. The large number of people who came into the boating sector over the pandemic is also expected to buoy the market through 2023 and beyond. And yacht charter, while being a distinct luxury, is not something that ever falls off the bucketlist. If you’ve had…

There are many wonderful cruising grounds in Italy, but most of the charter activity is in the south, in places like the Tuscan islands of Elba, Capraia, Pianosa, Giglio and Montechristo. Head down to the Bay of Naples and the dazzling islands of Capri and Ischia are a short hop away, as well as the ports of Positano and Sorrento. They’re glamorous but very expensive in high season. The Maddalena Archipelago on Sardinia’s north-east corner offers great coastal sailing and scenic anchorages, while the best areas of Sicily for chartering are the northern coastline and the Aeolian Islands just off it. Don’t ignore the Adriatic, where you can pick up a local charter yacht and enjoy the coastline up as far as Venice and Trieste – experiencing a grand arrival…

Greece was at the sharp-end of the flotilla and charter culture in the 1970s, and it’s still a much-loved favourite. And no wonder, because not only does Greece boast a range of sailing conditions and opportunities to suit all levels of experience and pockets, but it does so in a region of stunning coastlines, translucent turquoise anchorages, great food and epic culture. When travel restrictions allow, Greece is also extremely well-served by budget airlines – in fact it has more than a dozen international airports – and there are easy connections to all the major charter bases. With around 6,000 Greek Islands and more than 9,000 miles of coastline, there’s always somewhere new to visit even for island-hopping regulars, and the industry is so well-established in the region that it’s…

Travel restrictions allowing, long-haul charters are popular with holidaymakers seeking new and exotic experiences. Charter companies have set up bases in far-flung placess, and local charter operations are easier to find online too. Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia offer spectacular cruising with magnificent peaks, cliffs and luscious green hillsides, while beautiful lagoon anchorages offer dazzling white beaches for swimming and snorkelling. Although Bali currently has few large charter bases, it has over 13,000 tropical islands to explore with local companies, while Thailand’s 2,000 miles of coastline with its mix of quiet bays, hidden beaches and vibrant harbours is a newly discovered treat for many. Explore the west coast with a one-way trip from Phuket in Thailad to Langkawi, Malaysia – there are few navigational challenges in the emerald-clear Andaman Sea, while…