6 of the most scenic places to learn how to sail

21.08.2023 - 17:11 / nationalgeographic.com

Standing at the helm, skimming carefree through the surf and mooring whenever you please — sailing offers the freedom to go wherever the winds take you. And while the thought of hoisting sails may initially sound complex, there are plenty of places where beginners can learn the ropes and watch the experts at work. Here are some of the best.

Best for: complete novices

The Ionian is the ideal archipelago for first-time sailors, as it offers friendly winds, short distances between islands and plentiful moorings in harbours and bays. Start in Corfu and you’ll breeze downwind via seven islands in seven days, including little Paxos with its waterfront tavernas; Antipaxos with its turquoise anchorages; Lefkas, with its olive trees, cypresses and turquoise islets; and laidback Kefalonia to disembark. Board a stable catamaran with Fleewinter, and you’ll have a talented chef in the galley to take care of any leisurely lunches after impromptu swims. Charter with friends or book a single cabin, and the crew will be on hand to give you tutorials.

How to do it: Fleewinter has eight-day sailings, departing May to October.

Best for: adventure

While most sailing holidays promise a relaxed time, Rubicon 3 offers adventure. Trips are as much about excitement as they are about learning how to sail a tough, 70ft former ocean-racing yacht — there are plenty of ropes to pull, and everyone aboard is expected to join in with the crew, including complete beginners. Morocco is a memorable destination for a first experience afloat; this trip sets a course south from Spain via Tangier, capital Rabat, the fortified city of El Jadida and Safi, famous for its pottery. In this region, almost unvisited by other yachts, the welcome is as warm as the breeze. Day-long passages here aren’t just an opportunity to perfect helming, they’re practise before the finale — a 24-hour ocean passage to the Canaries.

How to do it: Rubicon 3 has 12 days from Cadiz, departing in November.

Best for: tropical isles

It’s the backpacker dream with a difference: an island-hopping circuit from Phuket through Thailand’s Andaman Sea, without the ferries or near-constant packing and unpacking. More than that, you can learn to sail while discovering the region’s extraordinary scenery, where longtail boats buzz over emerald seas, and islands rise like dragon’s teeth from the depths. This itinerary with G Adventures visits classics like Khao Phing Kan (aka James Bond Island for its appearance in The Man with the Golden Gun), but it’s the secret swimming spots only accessible by yacht off Ko Yao Yai and Koh Khai Nai that feel special. Throughout, sailing conditions are gentle — ideal for beginners. Your skipper will use wind power when possible and be around