When & where to sail

The Côte d’Azur is the spiritual home of Mediterranean charter. From Saint-Tropez to Monaco, the coast pairs deep-water anchorages with the season’s most prestigious events. July and August bring reliable sunshine and warm water, but also the highest demand — the most sought-after yachts are booked months ahead. June and September reward those who plan: the same coastline, lighter crowds, and softer rates.

The Amalfi Coast, Capri, the Aeolian Islands and Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda form one of the richest cruising grounds in the Med. It rewards a yacht with range — mornings in a quiet cove, afternoons in Positano or Porto Cervo. High summer is hot and busy; late June and September offer the same beauty with more room to breathe and gentler conditions.

The Balearics offer the Med’s longest practical charter season and its most varied character — the energy of Ibiza, the calas and sailing waters of Mallorca, the quiet of Menorca. Short hops between islands make it forgiving and flexible. The water is among the clearest in the Med, and the season stretches comfortably from May into October.

Greece is the sailor’s Mediterranean — more islands than any charter could exhaust, from the wind-swept Cyclades to the gentle, green Ionian. The Meltemi wind shapes the summer in the Aegean, thrilling for those who want to sail, worth planning around for those who don’t. The season runs long and rates are often gentler than the western Med.

Croatia’s Dalmatian coast packs over a thousand islands into a compact, sheltered cruising ground — short passages, historic harbours like Hvar and Dubrovnik, and consistently calm water. It has become one of the Med’s most popular charter regions for good reason: it’s easy, beautiful and reliably fine through the summer.

The Leewards are the heart of Caribbean charter — St. Barths at New Year, Antigua’s harbours and sailing heritage, the short hops between islands in warm trade winds. The winter season runs from December through April, peaking around the holidays when St. Barths becomes the centre of the yachting world. Steady trades make it some of the finest sailing anywhere.

The British Virgin Islands are the most forgiving, accessible cruising ground in the Caribbean — line-of-sight navigation, protected waters and anchorages a short sail apart. It’s ideal for relaxed charters and families, with the same warm winter trades as the wider Caribbean but calmer seas. The season mirrors the region: December through April is prime.

The Grenadines are the Caribbean at its most unspoiled — Tobago Cays, Mustique, Bequia — a string of islands south of the hurricane belt with a longer, quieter season. Fewer crowds, exceptional snorkelling and a more remote, authentic feel than the northern islands. The season stretches comfortably from December into May.