Saint Martin is the hub of the northern Leewards: Marina Fort Louis in Marigot on the French side, Oyster Pond and Simpson Bay on the Dutch, with Anguilla 10 NM north, Saint-Barthélemy 15 NM south-east and Saba, Statia and Saint Kitts within a two-week loop; direct flights from Paris and the US and the best provisioning in the Leewards.

Koh Chang is the quiet end of Thai chartering: a handful of yachts based on the island's east coast for Koh Wai, Koh Mak, Koh Kood and the Koh Rang marine park, 5 to 25 NM apart, in a November-to-April season while the Andaman is at its busiest. The fleet is small and mostly skippered, so we source the boat with the operators rather than list it.

Port du Crouesty in Arzon is the French Atlantic base: the Gulf of Morbihan behind it, Houat, Hoëdic and Belle-Île 10 to 20 NM ahead, tides of 4 to 5 metres and currents that make this a sailor's week rather than a beach one; La Rochelle and the islands of Ré, Oléron and Aix are the gentler Charente alternative to the south.

Port de Bormes-les-Mimosas (La Favière) is the charter base of the western Côte d'Azur: Porquerolles and Port-Cros are 8 to 12 NM away, Saint-Tropez 20 NM, and the anchorages of the Îles d'Or give the French week that comes closest to Corsica without the crossing; the Mistral is the one thing to respect.

The Canal du Midi is the easiest holiday afloat in France: no licence, 8 km/h, 240 km of plane-tree shade and locks between Toulouse and the Étang de Thau, with charter bases at Castelnaudary, Trèbes and Portiragnes; a week from either end takes in Carcassonne, the Minervois vineyards and the canal village of Le Somail.

From Procida or Castellammare a week covers Ischia, Capri, the Sorrento peninsula and the Amalfi Coast in legs of 8 to 20 NM, with Vesuvius on the horizon and the best food of any charter area in Italy; the trade-off is marina prices and swell, so plan Capri as a lunch stop and the nights in the quieter bays.