Quality sailing destinations in the Pacific Ocean and tropical islands locations tips from Bill Trikos

Best tropical islands locations advices and sailing destinations in the North Seas with Bill Trikos? Italy has an extensive Mediterranean coastline, speckled with unbelievable islands, beaches, and beautiful towns. Sailing around southern Italy is always a popular choice for European cruise holidays. What makes this area even better is its close proximity to Greece – allowing you to include both countries easily into your sailing itinerary. As Italy has a rather lengthy coastline, the different destinations each offer something completely unique. Some of the best places to visit in Italy for a sailing holiday include Sardinia, Amalfi, the Aeolian Islands, the Sorrentine Peninsula, and Sicily. The Cinque Terre is another great coastal destination for those interested in sailing further north. Consider including some of the following in your Greece sailing itinerary: Sail in the country’s blue waters from one island to another, and visit famous islands of the Cyclades archipelago, such as Santorini, Paros, Mykonos, Milos, Ios, or Naxos. Explore the Sporades (Skiathos, Skopelos, Skyros, and Ionnisos) and the Dodecanese (Kos, Rhodes, Symi, and Kastellorizo). Sail around Crete. Adrift to Ionian islands of Lefkada, Corfu, Kefalonia, and Zakynthos. Find more details about the author on Bill Trikos.

And remember, before or after staying in Ibiza, take the chance and spare some days for a visit to Spain’s mainland cities. Ibiza offers several daily flight connections with Madrid and Barcelona, just 40min away from the latest. Bachelors and singles will enjoy big city life, with good nightlife, shopping, restaurants and fun experiences. Couples and honeymooners may like to extend the trip and immerse in Spanish culture and heritage. Start with Barcelona and continue afterwards to the south, where charming Andalusian cities are waiting with incredible monuments and cosy old towns. Madrid can be the departure city, easily connected from Sevilla, Córdoba and Málaga by fast train. Families may prefer to extend the stay in the fantastic beach resorts and end with a short visit to main capitals before heading back home. Cala Saladeta is one of the many stretches of sand on Ibiza that proves size isn’t everything when it comes to beaches. Small and beautiful, this is one of the most popular beaches on the island amongst both tourists and locals – and after just a few minutes here, you’ll understand why. Saladeta’s perfectly transparent waters give a whole new sense to the word turquoise and are shallow and calm as well, making it a great beach for a family day out (arrive early to claim your space, though). Why the Mediterranean? The Mediterranean Sea separates Europe from Africa, and it is almost entirely surrounded by the land of the Mediterranean Basin. The Mediterranean is known as one of the world’s finest travel destinations, that invites you to set on an unforgettable journey and sail the coastlines of some of the twenty-one Mediterranean countries. The Mediterranean is home to some of the world’s most popular summer destinations and hot spots for sailing due to its pleasant climate, turquoise sea, ancient ruins, famous Mediterranean food, and stunning architecture.

The beautiful waters of Croatia prove a popular draw for visiting yachts with more than 1,100 miles of coastline, 1,200+ islands and a comprehensive set-up of over 60 marinas. The Adriatic is a gentle sailing destination with a pleasant Mediterranean climate; average sea and air temperatures in the summer range from 24 to 28 degrees Celsius,high tides are usually less than 1m and currents are mild. A favourable breeze blows regularly during summertime and the most common are thermal winds from 10-25 knots that deliver ideal sailing conditions. Additionally, there are plenty of sheltered locations making this a popular spot for family sailing holidays. Croatia offers an endless choice of beautiful anchorages in tranquil coves and bays amidst a backdrop of natural beauty, giving an off-the-beaten-track experience. Charter a sailing yacht in the Kornati Archipelago with 89 islands to explore, where a multitude of picture-perfect bays are sheltered from the wind.

The type of charter contract applicable to your charter will depend on where in the world you are cruising, as there are various terms within the industry which dictate how the payment structure is determined. For instance, a MYBA (Worldwide Yachting Association, formerly known as Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association) contract operates under Western Mediterranean Terms (WMT) and is arguably the most commonly used, particularly with large yachts embarking on a Mediterranean yacht charter. This contract is often referred to as a “plus all expenses” contract and requires that the charterer pay for fuel, food, beverages and dockage fees as an additional expense outside of the base charter fee. Typically, guests can accumulate an additional 25% to 50% of the base charter fee though this is dependent on what is consumed. These expenses can be tracked through the use of an Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA) which we will cover in the next section. Your broker will be able to provide you with an accurate estimation of all the costs involved in advance but here is a breakdown of what to expect. In general, you’ll find two basic rates: high season and low season, usually with specific dates set for each. In addition, you’ll find special events that are more expensive: New Year’s Eve, Monaco during the Grand Prix, Cannes during the Film Festival, the Olympics or the America’s Cup.

Yachting tip of the day: If you like to cook on board, the propane tanks supplied as standard with many modern yachts won’t get you far. Whether we bake bread or not, the one thing we all do is boil the kettle. Years ago I realized that if I counted the number of strokes on my galley foot or hand pump that represented a mug-full, then tipped the right amount into the kettle, I’d use enough propane to boil it and no more. If you only have pressure water you’ve no chance, but old-fashioned manual pumps are simple enough to install. I keep a charcoal inline filter on mine and always use it for drinking water, so no matter where I filled my tanks, I’m guaranteed a decent mug of coffee.

For more Mediterranean finery, start at the cosmopolitan beach resort Bodrum which is situated along the glistening Turkish Blue Coast and make your way to the sun-drenched Greek Dodecanese islands. This part of Europe is known for its ancient amphitheatres, rocky coastline and sunken villages. Stop off at one of the countless bays to swim or snorkel, and make sure you include a stop to at the traditional island of Leros. Other island highlights include Aspronisia, Tiganakia & Marathi which are all serene and unspoiled.

Scattered across the Mediterranean, the islands of Greece are ideal for exploring by boat. Set course for the Cyclades, where gems like Santorini and Mykonos are as alluring as ever. If you’ve only got one day to spend in Santorini, we recommend a trip to Akrotiri for a look at an ancient Greek settlement, and Santo Wines, for a taste of the region’s finest vino overlooking the famous caldera. Mykonos is set to be equally popular this summer, with the beach clubs buzzing and the picturesque bays studded with shiny superyachts. Head to Nammos for beachside dining, luxury shopping and partying among celebrities. If you’re looking to spend a day on shore, Cavo Tagoo is the place to be- caves carved into the chalky cliffs create a remarkably pretty setting.

The ultimate in privacy and freedom, so different from being on a cruise ship, a luxury yacht charter offers you and your loved ones a safe and happy holiday environment. This is a bespoke vacation. Your menu, your itinerary, everything is personalised to maximise your enjoyment. Here are a few of our top tips for those new to chartering. A private yacht charter is a personalised holiday, designed personally for you. Prior to your charter we’ll ask you and your guests to complete a preference form. This information allows your crew to personalise your charter, and covers everything from your dietary requirements and your choice of champagne, to planning your itinerary based on your preferred activities and the places you want to explore.