When planning an ideal yacht holiday, many people imagine mild mornings, sunny days spent soaking up rays on deck and balmy evenings watching the sun set with nice glass of wine. Destinations people have in mind for this type of enjoyment usually tend to be in the Mediterranean or perhaps in the hot Caribbean.

For something a bit different, however, why not head north to Scandinavia? The region can experience surprisingly dry, warm and pleasant weather depending on the time of year. And of course, the scenery cannot be beat!

Beginning in Finland to the west, yacht territory for Scandinavia stretches east through Sweden and Norway. The fjords along the way offer some of the most breath-taking scenery imaginable.

Created by glacial activity in deep valleys, fjords are long, relatively narrow inlets of water surrounded by steep banks and cliffs. An interesting fact, according to Wikipedia, is that most fjords are actually deeper than the surrounding seas. This is due to their formation by glaciers. To read more click here.

When sailing through the fjords of Scandinavia, you’ll experience an incomparable stillness as you take in the majestic natural wonder of these ancient formations. They provide protected sailing areas for bareboating that are truly incredible.

Start off at your base in Stockholm and chart a 7-day course with the help of our experts’ recommendations. You’ll enjoy fine sailing conditions, with a good sea breeze off of Norway’s southern coast during the summer.

Yachts available from LateSail for this destination range from a Bavaria 40 or 42 (each with six berths) to a Bavaria 50, which sleeps 11 people.  You can also select a comfortable Dufour 40. Just ask your advisor at the time of booking to see which options are available and which will be best for your group.

If you’re interested in spending your holiday on a yacht, you may have seen the term ‘flotilla’ pop up here and there. When new to the world of yachting there are quite a few new concepts to grasp, such as ‘bareboat’ and ‘skippered’; flotillas are just another option you’ll want to investigate to see if it’s right for you and your group.

A flotilla is essentially a group of chartered yachts that sail together on the same route. The fleet is guided by a lead yacht and crew on a pre-determined course.

In the past, flotilla holidays were known as being a bit rigid, but nowadays they are actually quite relaxed and very enjoyable!

One of their very strong advantages is the sense of camaraderie and the social aspect of travelling with a group. You can set sail together in the mornings, follow one another during the day, and have fun group dinners in the evenings. Other activities you can participate in include trips to famous landmarks along the way or even beach parties in the evenings, depending on your destination.

In terms of sailing, flotillas are a great way for less experienced skippers to take to the water. With support available, there is much less worry about things going wrong; advice and assistance are always just a shout away. Plus, much of the difficult work of charting the course and checking the weather forecasts is done for you.

Mooring, which can also make novice sailors quite anxious, is also much easier, as you know there will always be a member of your group to help you.

Many flotillas also have a day of ‘free sailing’ as well, so you can be sure you’re not stuck with a strict schedule that won’t allow you any time alone.

If you are interested in a flotilla holiday or joining a group, be sure to give LateSail a call today.

If you are looking to sail off an adventure with family or friends, you may well understand the joys of being your own captain. Or perhaps you’re bringing along an experienced friend or relative as a guide.

In order to charter a bareboat at least one person in your party must have a basic sailing certification. But that doesn’t mean the rest of the group won’t lend a hand! Here are a few tips to having a successful and enjoyable experience right from the beginning.

Who’s In Charge?

Just like typical captains and crews at sea, bareboat voyages do best when one person is clearly in charge of managing the yacht. Everyone else can perform certain tasks within the supporting team, like hoisting sails and dropping anchor. A willing team will help take a bit of the stress off of the designated skipper. If you have more than one experienced sailor in the group, just be sure they are on the same page and able to work well together.

You can also have a separate person take charge of things like cooking and cleaning.

Communicate from the Beginning

Everyone coming aboard should have a clear idea of what the trip will entail and any duties expected of them. This should be done in the early stages of booking your bareboat charter. Have a little meeting to discuss the itinerary and how much sailing and relaxing will be involved.

Choose your Destination Wisely

The world is really your oyster when it comes to bareboating, but if it’s the first time sailing for members of your group, choose a destination with fair winds and attractive sights for everyone. We recommend, among many others, places like Antigua. Click here to learn more about this destination.

For all other questions about bareboating specifics and destinations, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Setting off to sea on a bareboat cruise involves a lot of careful planning on your part. You’ll want to delegate roles that are comfortable for each crew member, taking into consideration their age, sailing ability and of course general physical condition. It’s also great to plan a special program for kids.

Sailing with kids will create lifelong memories of adventure and excitement. But taking kids out of their normal routines can be a bit overwhelming, so why not create a fun sailing schedule for them and allow them to help out as much as possible? Check out the following ideas for inspiration.

Morning

Kids can start the day by tidying up their own berths and helping with general boat clean-up. Bring them up on deck to check the weather and seas, and help plot the day’s course. This can be a great opportunity to teach your youngsters about winds and sailing conditions.

Next comes breakfast. Kids can help set up and clean up afterwards.

Mid-Morning

This is a good time to take kids ashore before setting off for the day; you’ll be able to shop for any provisions you need and avoid the hottest times to be walking around on dry land. Or, have the kids take a good long swim and burn off a little energy.

Lunch Time

Kids can help make sandwiches and serve everyone, and of course help with dishes and clean-up. Littler ones can then (hopefully!) go down for a nap as the older ones help set sail.

Afternoon Sailing

All hands on deck! Time to hoist the sail and raise the anchor. Kids can then take turns with the captain learning how to steer.

Late Afternoon

Stowing the sail, coiling down the lines. Swimming before getting ready for dinner, making dinner and cleaning up.

Evening

Time to relax after a full day. Kids love listening to stories, curling up with a book or watching a film. Tomorrow will be another exciting adventure!

What is it about the allure of crystalline waters and white sand beaches that is so irresistible? Demand for tropical vacations remains at a steady high, with people wanting to jet off to traditional and newly-discovered destinations.

While some are content to lie on the beach and sip Mai Tais, others of us go for the incredible sensation of warm water and the tropical undersea world to explore. There is nothing quite like dipping below the surface to snorkel with schools of colourful fish, and it can be even more exciting to go at your own pace from your own sailboat.

Bareboat cruising makes for a great vacation in and of itself- where else can you make your own plans, follow your own itinerary and really immerse yourself in the natural splendours of the area? Add snorkeling off the boat to the mix, and you’ve got a combination that will create lifelong memories.

When captaining your own boat, there will be no haggling with aggressive tour guides to get out on the water. You can research the best and safest spots for seeing the most fish and plan to get there before the crowds. Ask the locals for their recommendations, and explore at your leisure with no set schedule to stick to.

It’s also great, when travelling as a group, to have the option of staying on the boat as well. Those who love to snorkel can get their fill while others can stay on board and just enjoy the surroundings. There’s no pressure for everyone to do the same things.

When planning a trip to enjoy some excellent snorkeling, why not do it off your own sailboat? A bareboat charter can be just the ticket to an amazing experience in the tropics.

As you may know, catamarans have become a very popular choice for sailors in the world of bareboat charters. For those of us used to mono-hulls it may come as a surprise that more and more people are setting off on catamarans, but they do have many features that our clients enjoy.

Simply put, groups and families sailing on a catamaran can sleep, eat and live much more comfortably than those on a traditional mono-hull sailboat.

Great Berths and Privacy

Would you prefer to have separate bedrooms and bathrooms? If you were to travel with a group on a standard vacation, you’d hardly consider sharing one bathroom and having your bedrooms right next to one another with little sound insulation. Catamarans offer the comfort of suites on different hulls, each with their own bathrooms. Click here for a great example.

Bright, Light Living Areas

Imagine the luxury of a boat salon that doesn’t involve stepping down into a deep dark passage. On a catamaran, the windows are above eye level, offering plenty of light for reading, relaxing, cooking and enjoying shared meals. What’s more, the salon is on the same level as the cockpit, allowing for easy communication with the captain and those on deck.

Comfort on Deck

Because of their general shape and size, catamarans offer a spacious cockpit and sitting area where you can enjoy your surroundings from under the bimini. Walking is also much easier than on a mono-hull, as the deck is flat.

Getting Where you Want to Go

When exploring exotic locales, chances are you’ll want to see a range of beautiful coves and reefs for snorkelling. Catamarans are shallow draft vessels that can access many more places than mono-hulls.

If privacy, more light, comfort and improved access would make your bareboat experience better, a catamaran may be right for you. Contact LateSail’s friendly advisers for more information.

The exciting part of setting off to sea is the aspect of exploration and discovery. Those in the know understand that there is so much to experience; things that simply can’t be found on solid ground. LateSail can help you expand your horizons at just a fraction of the cost of normal charter companies.

Our sailing charters are available for many popular destinations. Sometimes you just can’t visit all the places you had in mind during one sailing vacation. But, you can revisit the area whenever you next have the time. You’ll have the chance to return to all your favourite spots, prioritize what you want to see, and venture to places you missed during your last trip.

For another sailing adventure, you may want to set off to a completely unknown place. The sensations of feasting your eyes on entirely new sights and discovering the wonders of a foreign locale are incomparable. It’s interesting to get to know the unique sailing conditions and weather patterns of a new place, along with its particular flora and fauna.

You could also just base your sailing charter decision simply on the best price available. At LateSail we make it easy to view the very best deals at any given time. Our Top 20 list lets you view the highest discounts we have to offer, and you can quickly select the destinations that appeal to you most. Many of our destinations offer several boat choices as well.

Once you have an idea of which discount you’d like to take advantage of, our friendly advisors can help you iron out the details and finalize your plans.

Some of our best sailing charter discounts are for last-minute dates, but you’ll also find offers for dates over 6 months away.

Remember the days when you booked airline tickets through a travel agent or directly with the airline? There was a time when there were no specific discounts to be had, and you couldn’t just log on to the internet to see every deal available.

In the sailing world, it is still very common for people to have to go directly to the largest charter companies and accept their standard prices. Setting off on a bareboat charter truly creates a unique vacation experience, but the rental costs involved can make it seem like an unrealistic dream.

Thankfully, LateSail offers a new concept for those who are looking for the best deals on the same high quality charters from recognized names in the industry.

Here on our site you can take your time browsing destinations and available boats. The prices we list are for the entire boat for the whole period of time. Once our advisers know a little more about the group you are travelling with, we can provide an accurate and direct quote for your needs.

Far from offering obscure boats from little-known operators, LateSail has special deals from some of the largest operators in the world. Our last minute rates simply represent unsold inventory that is now being offered at a discounted price to our lucky clients. Most of our ‘last-minute’ deals will still allow you ample time to make travel arrangements and all other necessary plans for arriving at your base.

LateSail even offers experienced boaters the opportunity to name their own price on the charter of their choice. As liaisons between our clients and the larger operators, we are happy to present each serious offer; many times they are accepted! Click here to learn more about our ‘Name your Price’ option.

Upon arrival at the base you will deal directly with the reputable operator, knowing you received the best price available.

Nowadays there are certain holiday hotspots that seem to be on everyone’s list. The Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, with its pearly white sands and turquoise waters, has become increasingly popular.

Tourists from Europe find it particularly easy to fly in to the Cancun International Airport, and many adventurers are also attracted by the vast natural beauty of the region. In addition to world-class beaches, the area is known as the home of the Mayan civilization, and visitors can tour ancient ruins and visit thriving modern Mayan communities.

What many boaters may not realise, however, is that just to the south of the Yucatan is another maritime treasure: the waters off of Belize.

Once known as British Honduras, Belize is a tranquil refuge of tropical beauty and wonder. Its barrier reef is a diver and ’s dream, with over 300 meters of coral reefs. The Belize Barrier Reef is part of the larger Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, which is comparable to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.

Visitors to Belize enjoy the country’s relaxed way of life and fusion of Caribbean and Latin American cuisine. English is widely spoken, as is Spanish, and there are a variety of sights to see on land as well.

Due to the number of breath-taking cays, small inlets and coves, LateSail recommends catamarans for exploring this area. As shallow draft crafts, they are able to reach many more locations than a mono hull.

Belize offers relaxed trade wind sailing, with a hot and humid tropical climate. The rainy season is May to November, and hurricane season is June to November.

When hiring a yacht from LateSail, your base will be Plascencia, a beautiful and easily accessible Southern beach village with all the comforts of home.

Click here for more information on hiring a yacht to discover Belize.

Until now, crewed yacht charters were often inaccessible for many, with pricing out of reach for the majority of people.  A new website www.latesailcrewed.com has removed this barrier, providing the luxury charter vacations at affordable prices.

Until now, crewed yacht charters were often inaccessible for many, with pricing out of reach for the majority of people.  A new website www.latesailcrewed.com is taking advantage of the un-booked ‘in dock’ weeks and providing the luxury charter vacations at affordable, highly discounted, prices – a perfect solution for owner and holidaymaker.

LateSail Crewed’s unique approach to yacht charter vacations, opens up this otherwise secret world to the man in the street, the very best in superior sailing vacations and motor yacht cruises – but without the luxury price tag.

“In the current economic climate, it makes sense for owners to have paid for charters, albeit discounted, rather than have a boat sitting in dock.  It’s a win win situation for both owner and traveler as there are many great boats and crews competing for business, in most cases offering very attractive offers to get you on board”.  Dan Lockyer, CEO www.LateSailcrewed.com

Dan continues “It’s the ultimate in all-inclusive, luxury sailing at its finest with a crewed yacht charter vacation on a sailing or motor yacht. 

It’s a holiday to suit everyone, whether you want to completely relax or take an active part in the sailing, whatever your preference you have a full crew who are at your beck and call, taking care of the yacht, food, cleaning and most importantly you.  It’s your own personal floating resort with constantly changing scenery and a 24/7 tour guide”.

www.latesailcrewed.com destinations available include from a Virgin Islands sailing vacation to Mediterranean mega yachts we have thousands of charters available, something for every budget.