Best Yachting Destinations of the World:

Cote d'Azur

One of the most exclusive holiday locations in the world, the Cote d’Azur is also know as the French Riviera. Famous resorts such as St Tropez and Cannes are popular with the rich, famous and those wishing to sample the luxurious lifestyle, and the Cote d'Azur also offers the finer things in life. You can dock at Monaco and take a taste of the life for yourself.

Balearic Islands

Ibiza is probably the most well-known island in the area, but the rest of the Balearics are Mallorca, Menorca and Formentera, between them boasting some of the most attractive and secluded beaches in the Mediterranean, making them ideal destinations for yacht cruisers looking for peace and relaxation on European coasts. In addition there are a variety of water sports, luxury hotels, busy bars and restaurants, and a vibrant nightlife reachable from the harbours.

The Adriatic

The coastline of Croatia in the Mediterranean across the Adriatic from eastern Italy has few peers, with its 1,800 islands and many reefs and rocky coves; it’s a sailor’s paradise! Add to that many of the finest examples of Roman architecture to be found and you have a stunning Dalmation coast to explore. When you have docked the seaside resort towns of Dubrovnik and Split will keep you occupied, as will Porec, with its stores, boutiques and winding streets, plus, of course, the ever-popular bars and restaurants.

The Caribbean

Imagine white sandy beaches and crystal clear blue seas, blessed with sun all year round, and you’re imagining the Caribbean. It’s a popular spot for tourists and holidaymakers, with hundreds of stunning destinations to suit all budgets and lifestyles. When travelling to the region by yacht, make sure you stop off at some of the many islands, including Antigua, Barbados and the Bahamas.

Phuket

The region of Phuket - also known as the 'Pearl of the South' - in Thailand is in Andaman Sea in the Indian Ocean. It consists of coves and bays and is famed for its tasty seafood and picturesque beaches. Yachting enthusiasts love Phuket, which is popularly considered to be the prime yachting destination in Asia, and it is host to the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta - the largest sailing event in Asia, attended by hundreds of visitors from all around the world. It is also pertinent to note that there are a number of other water-based activities in the Phuket area, such as speed boating, deep sea fishing, surfing, snorkelling and scuba diving.

French and Italian Riviera

Stroll down the narrow alleyways of Eze with their delightful cobblestones and picturesque Provençal shops, and then have dinner at the Château de la Chèvre d’Or with its views of the Mediterranean. The Côte d’Azur is a marvellous destination for a cruise.

The large number of ports means that the travelling time between stops enables a relaxing itinerary to be constructed. If you head east to the Italian coast, the long crossing from Monaco to Portofino or San Remo can be made overnight. You can discover some local secrets such as the antique and flower markets on the Cours Saleya in Nice, or the Provençal food market of Forville in Cannes. Or what about the unspoilt Porquerolles Islands and their Marine Reserve or the five villages of the Unesco world heritage site of the Cinque Terre: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza (with its excellent local wine) and Monterosso.

Or you might like just to lie back and luxuriate in the sun, with your yacht anchored off one of the Caps or a beach club at St Tropez. Royalty Yachts can book you a table at a top restaurant on the coast. It could be the Oasis in Cannes; the LeMoulin de Mougins; Alain Ducasse’s Louis XV at the Hotel de Paris; or La Terrazza at Hotel Splendido in Portofino.

Kvarner Gulf, Istria, Croatia

If you start your cruise from Venice, then don’t be in too much of a hurry, because you don’t want to miss the Istrian Peninsula as you cruise down to Dubrovnik and the Dalmation Coast. The Kvarner Gulf sits in between the eastern flank of the Peninsula and the mainland of Croatia, and in here are a number of interesting islands, including Cres, Krk, Rab and Losinj - all hosts to lively and colourful medieval towns, working fishing villages and private coves. Rab is an alluring pine-clad island, with a picturesque old town and many secluded lagoons and bays.

Antarctica

Sailing Antarctica will give you an experience of a lifetime that you cannot surpass. Last Border will take you sailing around icebergs, through narrow mountain passes, among whales and seals, right to the limit of the Earth.

Antarctica, the southern most continent, is truly a land of records. It is the highest, windiest, driest, and coldest continent, with the most dynamic glacial activity. In such harsh conditions, the quantity of wildlife will astound you as you marvel at their lack of fear.

The Antarctic Peninsula offers the opportunity to have an amazing experience, sailing through narrow channels between steep mountains with ice caps and glaciers. Visiting breeding penguin colonies, seals and whales along the way. Truly a land of spirit, visiting the Arctic is a cultural and wildlife experience not to be missed. Haunted by explorers past, roamed by the great white bear, and navigated by your yacht, Last Border will take you to see the very best that this region has to offer.

Popular Destinations

The warmth and consistent trade wind breeze, coupled with the beautiful beaches and scenery make the Caribbean a popular sailing location. Indeed, many charter sailing yachts are either based in the Caribbean or sail there during the winter months. The area also plays host to famous social yacht races such as the St Barts Bucket Regatta and the Antigua SuperYacht Cup. The Caribbean offers famous cruising locations in the Leeward and Windward Islands, as well as the Virgin Islands, St Marten, Anguilla, St Barts, Antigua and the Grenadines.

Another popular destination for sailing yacht vacations during the summer months is the Mediterranean Sea. Here, there is a huge selection of yachts available, larger than any other area worldwide. As well as every type of sailing yacht imaginable, the Western Mediterranean can give you locations such as the South of France (Riviera), Sardinia and Italy, each offering beautiful scenery, culture and food. Mediterranean wind is typically not as consistent and settled as provided by the Caribbean trade winds, but the beauty and cultural experiences of the Western 'Med' more than make up for reduced time under sail.

The other end of the Mediterranean, the Eastern 'Med', tends to have more wind for sailing yachts. The area includes Croatia, Greece and Turkey; this part of the Mediterranean is more relaxed, but there are some amazing sights and experiences to be found, with literally thousands of islands to sail around.

Further afield, other sailing vacation locations include the Bahamas, New England, the Pacific North West, the South Pacific, the Seychelles and Maldives, as well as South East Asia, and Australasia. Each one can offer the luxury yacht vacationer something unique from a landscape point of view and also weather conditions.