Awesome Mediterranean yachting places and boat sailing recommendations in 2021 with intersailclub.com? The Ionian Islands are a great choice for a yacht holiday – as the sailing time between islands is short. Sailing here is also well sheltered, with easy holding anchorages. This allows for more time to be enjoyed onshore. The Ionian Islands include the legendary Corfu and Paxos, among 5 other islands. Each destination here is loaded with its own unique charm and drawcards. Between the sheer natural beauty and the wonderful Greek towns – the Ionian Islands is always a favourite cruising ground in this country.
A luxury sailing yacht charter creates the opportunity for an uplifting and memorable escape, with the salt on your skin and the wind in your hair. Delivering access to remote bays and inlets due to a generally shallower draft than a motor yacht, sailing yachts also offer unparalleled tranquillity, with ultimate reliance upon the wind. Romantic, liberating and exciting, a charter on a sailing yacht is the ultimate getaway to fuel your deepest passion for the ocean. From the perfect winds and sailing conditions, to the best hidden bays and secret spots to discover, we have highlighted some of the top global locations to fully relish the opportunity of chartering a sailing yacht.
The Best Time for Mediterranean Yacht Cruises? Summer is the best time to visit the Mediterranean, and it is definitely the high travel season in this part of Europe. The millions of people from all around the world flock to the Mediterranean’s beaches during summer months for much-deserved summer break due to the region’s pleasant climate. The summers in the Mediterranean are sunny and hot, and the sea is warm. However, the best time for Mediterranean yacht cruises is late spring (May-June) or early fall (September-October) when the temperatures and the sea are pleasurably warm, days are sunny, and the crowds in popular destinations are far fewer than in summer.
Sailing around Europe: It’s safe to say, with its hugely diverse cultures and highly varied geography, that sailing around Europe is on innumerable bucket lists. The Greek islands will strike a chord with many, as each set of islands offer charterers something wholly unique. The Ionian on Greece’s west coast is dotted with delightful villages including Kioni on Ithaca or Fiskardo on Kefalonia, while the Cyclades chain to the east boasts gorgeous islands such as Mykonos, Ios and the incredible Santorini. In nearby Turkey, Bodrum on the Gulf of Gokova sees keen sailors flock from all over the world, and for good reason. Here, they experience untouched coves on the water and invigorating nightlife and impressive restaurants on the coast. Those more interested in Croatia will find over 1,100 islands to explore, made all the easier with reliably gentle winds and a myriad of beautiful harbours. If Italy is more your style, the Aeolian Islands just off of Sicily provide considerable environmental variety, including the unforgettable black sands of Stromboli and the hot springs of the island of Vulcano. Find additional details on best mediterranean cruises. Although the uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic is still palpable, you can book your Mediterranean yacht cruise in 2021 with confidence. This year, most of us feel that we need time to relax from day-to-day stress and recharge our batteries more than ever.
Aside from seasons and events, yachts of the same size may also differ in price and this may be down to a vast difference in on board amenities. A yacht which boasts an on board cinema or lavish water toys may have a higher base rate compared with a yacht of minimal amenities of the same size. If it is unclear as to why two yachts of the same size are vastly different in price, ask your yacht broker to explain what the differences are. Once you are clear on what the base price is and why, it is important to discover what costs will be applicable on top and this is dependent on the type of charter contract used. During the charter, the captain will provide a running account of the usage of the funds and, at the end of the charter, the captain will present a detailed accounting along with any unused funds in cash. If the APA balance runs low during the charter, the client is expected to provide the captain a sufficient amount in cash to cover the needs for the remainder of the charter. Since many charterers prefer not to carry quantities of cash, the charter broker can hold an amount and release it to the captain as needed.
Yachting tip of the day: The plotter’s track function can help you in tight harbors! It’s fun to look back over a summer’s cruising by way of the track my chartplotter has recorded. Where the track really comes into its own, though, is piloting out of a difficult harbor into which you have successfully maneuvered. You know you got in OK, so to be sure of a graceful exit—tide permitting where appropriate—you’ve only to follow the same track out again. Be warned, though, that this works only so long as the plotter is set upright. The screengrab shows two versions of the same in-and-out tracks on my Raymarine unit. The coarse setting shown in purple is useless, while the finer, black version leads me straight back out through the drying banks. It’s all down to setting the instrument to record frequent data. In short, to succeed in close quarters, the plot should be set to record at shorter time or distance intervals than out at sea.
When the day is over, a broad offer of hotels and accommodations will be waiting for you, from internationally prestigious establishments to good boutique hotels, from beach resorts offering all-inclusive services to cosy rural villas for those looking for a relaxing stay away from tourist spots. Talamanca beach – a 900m (2,952ft) curve of pale yellow sand giving onto tranquil turquoise waters – enjoys a superb location just a couple of miles outside Ibiza town. As you’d expect, then, this is a touristy beach and is packed during the summer months with visitors from all over the world. But locals come here, too, as much for the lively chiringuitos as for the bathing. Talamanca boasts a fantastic range of beach bars along its length, from Flotante – the Ibizans’ hangout of choice – to the upmarket Harbour Club and the Club Talamanca, the latter of which does a mean pizza. Discover additional info at intersailclub.com.
Many may think the glitzy South of France is a victim of its own popularity but it’s still one of the most beautiful sailing destinations in Europe, if not the world. Start at celebrity haunt Saint-Tropez and make your way along the celebrated coastline stopping off at Cannes, Nice and the millionaire playground, Monaco. If you want to fit in, pack your finest clothes, charter a huge yacht and pose artfully on the deck every time you moor up.