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Split is the busiest charter hub in the Adriatic: four marinas within 25 minutes of the airport, the deepest bareboat fleet in Croatia and a week of islands that starts one hour after you leave the dock.
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Dubrovnik trades fleet size for scenery: the walled city as a departure point, the Elaphiti islands within an hour, and Mljet, Pelješac, Korčula and Lastovo in a week with fewer boats around you than anywhere north of here.
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Šibenik sits at the mouth of the Krka, between the Kornati and the Split islands, with a modern marina in town and Primošten's Marina Kremik down the coast: a quieter start than Split with the same islands in reach.
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Zadar is the base for the Kornati and Dugi Otok: sheltered water, short passages, the emptiest islands in Croatia and the largest marina in the country ten minutes from the airport.
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Athens is the largest charter hub in Greece: Alimos marina alone holds more yachts than any other Greek base, 30 minutes from the airport, with the Saronic islands of Aegina, Poros, Hydra and Spetses in an easy week and the Cyclades one long day away from Lavrion for crews who want wind.
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The Cyclades are the Greece of the postcards, and the sailing to match: open passages of 20 to 40 NM, the Meltemi from July to September, and islands that reward crews who plan around the wind instead of against it.
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The Ionian is the easiest sailing in Greece: calm mornings, a steady afternoon breeze, sheltered channels between Lefkas, Meganisi, Ithaca and Kefalonia, and villages where you moor on the quay and eat fifty metres from the boat.
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A Sicilian charter means the Aeolian Islands: seven volcanic islands within 15 to 35 NM of the Portorosa and Capo d'Orlando bases, Stromboli erupting after dark, and food that justifies every port stop.
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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.
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The Sardinian fleet sits on the north-east coast between Olbia and Palau: from Portisco, Cannigione or Olbia the La Maddalena archipelago is 15 NM away and the south of Corsica a morning's sail, in water as clear as the Caribbean and with more wind than Croatia.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Mallorca has the biggest charter fleet in the Balearics, most of it in Palma, 15 minutes from the airport: a week runs west to Andratx and Sa Dragonera, then south to the Cabrera national park, under one rule that applies everywhere, no anchor on the Posidonia seagrass.
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Ibiza and Formentera make a week of short hops: from Sant Antoni or Ibiza town the sand anchorages of Formentera are 10 to 15 NM away, the Posidonia meadows of Es Freus keep the water clear and are protected for it, and July and August bring the crowds to match.
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The Canaries are Spain's winter charter: from Marina San Miguel in south Tenerife, La Gomera is 20 to 27 NM across a trade-wind channel, the season runs November to March with 20 to 22 °C afternoons, and the Atlantic makes it a week for experienced crews.
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The Costa Brava is mainland Spain's cruising ground: from Palamós, 40 minutes from Girona airport, the Medes Islands, Cadaqués and Cap de Creus are 15 to 30 NM away, between pine-backed coves, with the Tramuntana as the wind to respect; Barcelona and Sitges add a city start.
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Galicia is Atlantic sailing in sheltered water: from Vigo, the Cíes and Ons islands of the national park are 8 to 15 NM away and four deep rías give a different anchorage every night, with tides of 3 to 4 m, a summer north wind and seafood ashore.
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Fethiye and Göcek hold the largest fleet we list in Turkey, 20 to 50 minutes from Dalaman airport: the Göcek bays make a sheltered week of 2 to 8 NM hops between pine coves and restaurant jetties, with Gemiler and Ölüdeniz a day's sail outside.
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Marmaris opens the Hisarönü Gulf and the Datça peninsula: green inlets, restaurant jetties and village harbours within 10 NM of the marina, the ruins of Knidos at the western tip, and Rhodes 25 NM away for crews who take on the formalities.
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Bodrum is the home of the gulet and the gateway to the Gulf of Gökova: from Bodrum Marina, under the castle and 35 minutes from the airport, a week runs east into a long gulf of pine coves and protected bays, with Greek Kos only 11 NM away.
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The British Virgin Islands combine short inter-island passages, established charter infrastructure and many well-known anchorages, but mooring demand, trade winds and crew experience still matter.
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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.
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Grenada is the southern gateway to the Grenadines: below the hurricane belt, year-round charter, and Carriacou, Union Island and the Tobago Cays within two days. The sailing north is upwind, which is why many crews book a one-way from St Vincent and finish here.
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From Blue Lagoon on St Vincent the whole Grenadines chain lies downwind: Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, Mayreau, the Tobago Cays and Union in one week, with short legs, reef anchorages and the best trade-wind sailing in the Caribbean.
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Le Marin in Martinique is the largest charter base in the Windward Islands: a French-run marina with hundreds of yachts, easy provisioning, and St Lucia, Dominica and the Grenadines within reach depending on how far you want to sail.
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Phuket is the charter capital of Southeast Asia: Phang Nga Bay's limestone islands, Krabi and the Phi Phi group within a week, warm water all year and a dry season from November to April that gives flat seas and light winds.
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Koh Samui is a small charter base with a big cruising ground: the 42 islands of the Ang Thong marine park, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Few boats are based here and almost none of them show up in online search, so we handle Samui by hand: send us your dates and we ask the local operators directly.
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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.
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