Destinations: Read the Coastline

A framework, not a ranking

Brochures tend to describe sailing areas in superlatives. A more useful approach is to ask the same three questions of each one. First, how sheltered is the water, and from which directions does the prevailing wind blow? Second, how far apart are the harbours and anchorages, and does that spacing allow a relaxed day or demand a long one? Third, what is there to do ashore, and how much of your holiday do you want to spend on land rather than under sail? The answers rarely make one coast “best”; they make one coast right for a particular crew and season.

Dalmatia: islands in close order

The Croatian coast between Zadar and Dubrovnik is a maze of long limestone islands lying parallel to the mainland. Brač, Hvar, Korčula and Vis are each only a few hours apart, which means most days can include a swim stop, a lunch anchorage and an evening in a town with centuries of Venetian-era architecture. Split, built around the Roman Diocletian’s Palace, and walled Dubrovnik give the coast its historic anchors. Farther north, the Kornati National Park offers a stark counterpoint: bare, pale islands with little shade and few settlements.

The trade-offs are well known among regular visitors. Popular harbours fill early in high summer, and the bora — a cold, gusty north-easterly — can arrive with little warning and blow hard along the coast. The maestral, a steadier north-westerly sea breeze, is the more typical summer companion and the one most crews plan around.

The Ionian: a gentle classroom

On Greece’s west coast, Lefkada, Meganisi, Kalamos, Ithaca and Kefalonia sit within short distances of each other. The so-called Inland Sea between Lefkada and the mainland is sheltered, and the summer wind pattern is often described as calm mornings followed by a north-westerly breeze that builds in the afternoon. That rhythm suits crews who like to swim early and sail later. Ashore, Fiscardo on Kefalonia and Kioni on Ithaca are typical of small harbour villages where stern-to mooring on a town quay is part of the experience.

British Virgin Islands: trade winds and line of sight

The BVI are often recommended for first charters because the islands are close together and generally visible from one another. Tortola is the main base, and the Sir Francis Drake Channel provides a relatively protected corridor. The Baths on Virgin Gorda, Norman Island and Jost Van Dyke are classic stops, and Anegada, a low coral island to the north, demands more careful navigation because of its surrounding reef. Planning here revolves around the Atlantic hurricane season from June to November.

The Turquoise Coast: ruins at the water’s edge

Between Göcek and Kaş in south-west Türkiye, pine-covered hills drop steeply into deep coves. The Gulf of Fethiye contains many small bays where yachts commonly anchor with a line taken ashore to a tree or rock. The Lycian Way long-distance trail runs along this coast, and ancient sites such as the sunken ruins near Kekova can be seen from the water. Distances are short, but the deep water close to shore means anchoring technique matters.

Corsica, Sardinia and the Bonifacio Strait

The granite coasts of southern Corsica and northern Sardinia meet at the Strait of Bonifacio, around 11 km wide at its narrowest. The La Maddalena archipelago is a protected national park on the Sardinian side, and the clifftop town of Bonifacio is one of the Mediterranean’s most dramatic harbour approaches. The strait funnels the wind, so it rewards confident crews who watch the forecast closely.