Bareboat Sailing Experience Guide

Our cruising areas differ in terms of wind strength and sailing conditions and from season to season. Our rating scale on this page shows the minimum sailing experience needed for flotilla and bareboat vacations in each area. This is only a guide. Please call us and we will be happy to advise you.

For your first time:
If you have never experienced a sailing vacation, you might think that planning your first charter will be a confusing process. But in fact, with Sunsail, it can be quite a simple vacation to plan. The questions following will help you design the sailing vacation that is perfect for you!

What sailing experience do I need?
Who should I take on my sailing vacation?
When should we sail?
What type of yacht should we choose?
Where should we go sailing?
Sailing experience comparison chart

What sailing experience do I need?
Generally, we look for you to be able document sailing experience on a yacht of similar size and in similar conditions to those where you would like to charter. For a better guide, the sailing experience levels shown at the bottom of this page should help determine which area will be best for your charter. Grade 1 & 2 destinations will be your best bet, in order to make sure you have the most relaxing vacation possible, and to increase your confidence for future trips.  And you can always consider taking one of our professional J World Captains/Instructors along!

Who should I take on my sailing vacation?
Anyone can enjoy a sailing vacation - families, friends, sailing partners, children. Go sailing with the people you most like to spend time with, perhaps those that you sail with at home. Be sure to discuss the plans with everyone involved and understand what is important to each party member.

When should we sail?
Weather, crowds, costs and availability are different throughout the year in each of our locations. The biggest determination is your own schedule. When can you get the vacation time and when do you want to get away from your own climate? But don't worry, with so many locations, we can offer you the ideal location, no matter when you want to sail.

What type of yacht should we choose?
Use the fleet list to look at the different yacht models available in our fleet. Reserve a yacht berth for each member of your crew. Many of our yachts have saloon tables that convert to provide another double berth, but make sure that whoever is sleeping in the saloon is aware of this before they arrive on the dock. Choose a yacht that will provide everyone with enough space - remember, after a few days, space does become a premium!

Where should we go sailing?
This website is the perfect guide to help you choose from the most desirable cruising areas in the world. Each destination offers a suggested itinerary. As your vacation plans may vary, these itineraries may be altered according to your own intentions as well as the weather. Use the table below to choose a suitable area and click on the base name to visit its information pages.

Sailing Experience Comparisons

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