4 Reasons to Go Overboard for a Sailing Holiday

Why a sailing holiday stack up so well over a cruise, resort or villa?

Imagine the scene. You have been looking forward to your two-week holiday in the sun all year, and there you are in your luxury hotel surrounded by noisy families at the pool or having to jostle with other tourists every time you go out. Not exactly what you were hoping for.

It does not have to be this way. For the same price, or even less, you could be luxuriating on your yacht with a G&T listening to the gentle sound of waves lapping against the bow and with just your friends or family for company. Bliss!

In our opinion, sailing beats a hotel, villa or even a cruise holiday. It offers the best of all worlds and does not have to be expensive. Not entirely convinced? Well, here are four good reasons we reckon will change your mind.

The ultimate holiday

Freedom

When so much of our time is governed by schedules, deadlines and commitments, a week or two of sailing provides the perfect escape. You can be the master of your destiny and plan your time exactly as you want. You will not just be sailing, either.

Many of our clients like to sail for a few hours in the morning, drop anchor, chill in the afternoon, and enjoy swimming, snorkelling, or spending an idle afternoon sunbathing on board.

You can be as spontaneous as you wish as long as you know where you will dock at night. Here are some sample itineraries for sailing holidays in Corfu and Sardinia. As you will see, you will not be rushed off your feet!

Adventure

We have all seen those massive ads in the Sunday papers offering ten days cruising down the Danube, around the Mediterranean or island hopping in the Caribbean. These holidays are popular and offer a very comfortable way to travel.

But in reality, you will only get to scratch the surface of the destinations you stop at. Cruise ships are massive and can only dock at major ports; plus, there is always limited time to explore, so you see the main tourist attractions.

However, if you are on your own yacht, you can slip easily into small harbours or secluded coves away from the hordes and discover your own piece of paradise.

Also, many places on coastlines are only accessible by boat, so you will get access to places you couldn’t go to if you were staying onshore. You will find your own favourite special places on any of our holidays, but here are some examples from our guides to Greece and the Caribbean to whet your appetite.

Getting away from the crowds

Holidays should be about being with the people you love, family or friends and having memorable experiences together. A sailing holiday creates the perfect setting for creating these moments, whether a family get-together to celebrate a special birthday or take time out with your mates.

If you book a skippered yacht, you may share your boat with the crew, but you won’t know they’re there half the time. They understand you will want privacy and leave you to enjoy yourselves while they get on with getting you to where you want to go.

Check out this blog about a family week-long trip around Croatia on a chartered yacht to give you an idea.

Sailing does not have to cost the earth

There was a time when yachting seemed a closed world which belonged to crusty old sailors at one end of the scale or wealthy millionaires at the other. Well, times have changed!

Sailing is an affordable holiday option; you don’t need any sailing experience. Prices can range from £300-400 per person – depending on your group size and choice of boat, and we work with highly experienced skippers and crews, so you do not need to worry about knowing your yardarm from your bulkhead!

Sailing is also environmentally friendly. You will mainly use the wind to propel you along rather than the fuel. Of course, it’s essential to respect your environment, dispose of any rubbish responsibly when you reach a port, and never throw anything aboard.

Read our advice on provisioning for a sailing holiday for more advice.