Best Sailing Destinations for Beginners

Boats are like automobiles – both give their captains unparalleled freedom. Like cars, once you’ve learned to pilot a yacht, the world is your oyster. You can go anywhere the Seven Seas will take you – and with 70% of the Earth’s surface being ocean, that’s a lot of places.
 
But before you can do that, you’ll need to get the sailing thing down pat. Where you live might not be the best place to learn – if your home waters have strong currents, big tidal variations, or other nasty surprises, it’ll be a baptism by fire.

So why not learn how to sail whilst on holiday? There are destinations around the globe with excellent weather, calm seas, and tame currents. And when you’re not putting in work, there will be plenty to see & do onshore.

Below, we’ve put together some of the best sailing destinations for beginners. Let’s get into it.

Croatia

With hundreds of gorgeous islands lying off its Dalmatian Coast, Croatia is one of the world’s most sought after sailing destinations. But its beauty isn’t its only asset – it’s also very friendly to first-time sailors.
 
With more than 300 days of sunshine per year, bad weather rarely ruins excursions. Many sailing routes offer line-of-sight navigation, and with gentle currents, low tidal variations, and excellent water visibility, the waters of Croatia are forgiving to novices.

When you aren’t sailing with Oyster yachts, enjoy world-famous beaches, ruins that date back to the Roman Empire, and nightlife that rages until daybreak.

The British Virgin Islands

The Caribbean has a well-deserved reputation as a paradise on Earth. But with 7,000 islands scattered over one million square miles, sailing conditions can vary dramatically from one part of this archipelago to the other.

The time of year matters as well – November to July is when you’ll want to plan your sailing holiday. Outside this period, tropical storms and hurricanes pose too much of a risk. 

But where should you go if you’re a beginner? In our opinion, the British Virgin Islands are best for novice sailors. The currents here are slow, and the islands often shelter routes from the massive swells of the open ocean. If you sail here, keep an eye out for Richard Branson – and be sure to wave if you see him!  

Whitsunday Islands, Australia

If you into sailing, there’s a decent chance you love snorkelling or diving. On this planet, there is no better place to do either than at the Great Barrier Reef. The Whitsundays are an above-water extension of this system, boasting some of the world’s most stunning white-sand beaches.
 
Now, you might not think that “easy sailing” and “Great Barrier Reef” could belong in the same sentence, but you’d be wrong. The Whitsundays is rated as a Level 1 sailing destination, as few hazards could give a novice trouble.

Build up your sailing skills, enjoy one of the world’s most stunning coral reefs – now that sounds like an amazing holiday!

Learn How to Sail in Stunning Destinations Worldwide

Don’t set yourself up for disappointment in your home waters. Rather, travel to where the waters are tame, and you can build up your confidence whilst enjoying some truly fantastic travel destinations.