Charter Advice for First-Timers

Never chartered? No worries. A vacation under sail can be the most memorable time of your life. That said, it also pays to be prepared by doing some reading, building your skills and listening to what the experts say.

First and foremost, not all charter grounds are created equal. Some, like the British, U.S. and Spanish Virgin Islands, are as user-friendly as they come. Here you’ll find steady winds, line-of-sight navigation, easy anchoring, good nav aids and plenty to do ashore when traveling with non-sailors and kids. Other areas, though, can be a bit more challenging. The winds in Greece’s Cyclades Islands, for example, can quickly kick up into a Melt-emi; anchoring around the Balearics can get rocky; docking in Croatia calls for an almost daily Med moor (which can be intimidating even for