Where to Sail: March, April, May

Spring is a time for the optimists among us sailors. Frosts have melted off the foredeck, the gloom of winter is lifting, flowers are coming into bloom, and the weather is heating up.

Now’s the time to dust off the sailing shorts and go on an adventure. From Tonga to Sweden, and the BVI to the Seychelles, some of the world’s most magical sailing areas are beckoning.

Here is our pick of spring’s blooming best yacht charter holidays.

March is the ideal time to nip across the Atlantic and revel in consistent Caribbean trade winds, whether in the BVI or St Marten. Both host famous big regattas this month. Gorgeous cruising in clear water, epic racing, sandy beaches and great nightlife - something for everyone.

British Virgin Islands - Caribbean sailing at its absolute finest. The British Virgin Islands is blessed with almost year-round great sailing conditions, but March is a particularly good time to go - it’s the driest month of the year, the air is 26˚C, and thanks the reliable trade winds, the breeze is a sailor’s dream - ESE 10 knots. You’re also very safely outside the hurricane season, and avoiding the sweltering summer heat.

Reach across the Sir Francis Drake channel, and visit the spectacular Baths on Virgin Gorda. If you fancy a bit of competition, the BVI Spring Series Regatta rolls into town for the last week of the month.

St Martin/Sint Maarten - Ideal for the experienced sailor, the Heineken Regatta is one of yacht racing’s premier international events, and this cosmopolitan half-French, half-Dutch island really comes to life during it in early March. Charter a yacht for the regatta, or just soak up the feel-good vibes it brings to the island.

Spring’s in full swing by April, and while it’s not that warm in continental Europe, there is some wonderful cruising to be had further away. Pack your bags and head for North America, the Caribbean or the magical Seychelles.

Antigua - A classic year-round sailing area, Antigua makes our spring yacht charter list for one very specific reason, the sailing week that shows the island at its glorious best in late April.

Antigua Sailing Week puts most regattas to shame. For close racing, glorious weather and legendary parties, it simply can’t be beaten.

Charter for the event, or simply to soak up the feel-good factor. If racing’s not your thing, why not hire a sailing yacht or catamaran and let the wind fill your sails as you cruise to the remote island of Barbuda? Bliss.

Tonga - Venture to the distant shores of this Pacific kingdom, and you’ll be rewarded with spectacular cruising in impossibly clear waters.

Tonga is a fertile nation of vivid colours, from coral reefs and blue lagoons to white sand beaches, fringed with palm trees. The sailing combines the best bits of the BVIs and the Bahamas.

The rainy season has been and gone, and April temperatures average 27C and winds are in the 8-12kt sweet spot.

Vancouver - And now for something completely different. Vancouver and British Columbia offer yacht charters quite unlike anywhere else on planet earth. The cruising area is full of twisting fjords, towering mountain ranges, and swooping eagles.

By April, the shorefront forests are full of life, and whale watching season has just begun. Thousands of whales migrate through the febrile waters, and scores of wild salmon return home to spawn. A magical time to visit this magical place.

May marks the start of the European sailing season, as the Mediterranean begins to warm up and conditions are mild and comfortable. Get ahead of the crowds, and if you can dodge half term week, you’ll be rewarded with wonderful sailing and quiet bays.

Turkey - Thanks to its position in the south east of Europe, Turkey warms up earlier and has a longer sailing season than the rest of the Mediterranean.

This makes it superb for an early season yacht charter. By May, the air temperature has reached 23C, the winds are a mild SSW 9-11 knots and the coastline is bathed in 12 hours of sunlight every day.

With ancient ruins, line of sight coastal navigation and a mix of bustling towns and peaceful anchorages, Turkey’s at its shimmering best in May.

Dodecanese - The most southeasterly group of Greek islands shares a similar climate to the nearby Turquoise coast, which makes Kos and Rhodes superb starting points for early season yacht charters.

Dodecanese winds in May are generally light, and ideal for beginners and families.

Set sail from Kos and head for the rolling hills of southern Kalymnos and the gorgeous Ano Symi. Or pick up in Rhodes, and cross over to the unspoilt Tilos.

If that has inspired you to plan your Spring yacht charter, drop us a line or use the Experience Builder, and we’ll start to create your ultimate escape.

Celebrate the arrival of Spring in the best possible way!