Family Sailing Holidays: Tips, Routes and Boat Types

Family sailing holidays: more accessible than you think

The idea of taking children on a sailing boat for a week is one that most parents dismiss immediately. The boat seems small, the sea seems large, and the prospect of a seven-year-old at the helm in a Force 4 seems irresponsible.

The reality — as hundreds of thousands of families discover each year — is completely different. With the right boat, the right destination and a little preparation, a family sailing holiday is not only manageable but one of the most memorable trips a family can take.

Choosing the right boat

For families, the boat choice matters more than anything else. The recommendation is unequivocal: a catamaran.

Here's why a catamaran is the family sailor's vessel of choice:

Stability: A catamaran sails almost flat. No heeling, no lurching — the same condition that causes seasickness in adults makes young children anxious and uncomfortable. A catamaran eliminates this problem entirely.

Deck space: The wide, flat foredeck and cockpit of a 42ft catamaran give children safe, open space to play, draw, read and watch the passing sea. There are no steeply angled decks to slip on.

Swimming platform: The stern platform on most modern catamarans — level with the water — gives children a safe, easy way to get in and out of the water without ladders.

Separate cabins: Two hulls, each with its own cabins and bathroom. Children in one hull, adults in the other. Genuine privacy.

Minimum size: For a family of four (two adults, two children), a 40ft catamaran is the minimum comfortable size. For a family of six, 44ft or above.

The 5 best destinations for families

1. Croatia (Dalmatian Coast)

Why it works for families: The Maestral wind is light and consistent — manageable for beginners. Passages between islands are short (one to three hours). The medieval towns of Hvar, Trogir and Korčula offer history and culture at every stop. The shallow, clear water of the Adriatic is ideal for snorkelling and swimming.

Best route: Split → Brač → Hvar → Vis → Korčula → Hvar → Split (one week).

Best months: June and September — warm enough for swimming, not overcrowded, prices 20–30% lower than July–August.

2. Greek Ionian Islands

Why it works for families: The Ionian is Greece's gentlest sailing ground. The Ionian wind blows at a steady 10–15 knots in summer — sailing that beginners find enjoyable rather than challenging. The islands are close together, passages are short and the anchorages are sheltered.

The history is accessible and engaging for children: the island of Ithaca (Homer's Odysseus), the Venetian-built old town of Corfu, the Roman ruins at Nicopolis.

Best route: Lefkada → Meganisi → Kalamos → Ithaca → Kefalonia → Ithaca → Lefkada (one week). Lefkada is connected to the mainland by road bridge — no ferry required for delivery and return.

Best months: June, July, early September.

3. Turkey (gulet charter)

Why it works for families: No sailing experience needed, full crew on board, and the daily rhythm of a gulet — swim, eat, sleep, swim again — is perfectly suited to children of all ages.

The sea trampoline stretched between the two bows of a gulet is the single most popular feature with children aged 6–14. Lying on the mesh inches above the Aegean while the boat motors slowly is an experience that children request repeatedly.

The cook will happily prepare simpler food for younger children alongside the Turkish mezze for adults.

Best ages for Turkey gulet: 5 and above.

4. Netherlands (inland waterways)

Why it works for families with very young children: Completely flat water, no tidal currents in the lakes, no sea swell. The risk of a child going overboard and being carried away by current or wave is minimal. The wildlife — herons fishing from every bank, kingfishers, otters, the occasional deer — keeps children engaged all day.

No sailing licence required. A two-hour briefing at the charter base and you're ready to go.

Best for: Families with children under 5, or those who want sailing-style independence without any open-sea anxiety.

5. British Virgin Islands

Why it works for families: The BVI's Drake Channel is sheltered, the mooring ball system removes anchoring stress, and the snorkelling is extraordinary — sea turtles at the Baths, reef fish at Cooper Island, nurse sharks sleeping under the dock at Jost Van Dyke.

Children can snorkel with sea turtles in the wild before lunch and eat rum cake at the Soggy Dollar (Virgin version: cola) in the afternoon. It's the best family sailing destination in the world outside Europe.

Best months: December to April. School holidays (Christmas, Easter) coincide perfectly with peak BVI season.

Safety tips

Lifejackets: Every child must wear a properly fitted lifejacket at sea and when moving about the deck. Auto-inflate lifejackets are not appropriate for children — they must wear buoyancy aid style. Fit them at the start of the trip and enforce wearing at sea.

Jackstay lines: For night sailing or rough weather, clip children into jackstay lines (safety lines running along the deck) and do not allow movement on deck without an adult alongside.

Seasickness prevention: Scopoderm patches (behind the ear) are the most effective prevention and are available on prescription for children over 10. Under 10: Sea-Bands (acupressure wristbands) are a safe alternative. Start treatment the evening before departure, not on the morning of sailing.

Heeling: If you're on a monohull (not recommended for beginners with young children, but sometimes unavoidable), brief children that the boat will lean and this is normal. Have them sit low and central in the cockpit.

What to pack for children

• Factor 50 sunscreen — reapply every two hours at sea
• Rash vests for snorkelling and UV protection
• Crocs or flexible sandals for the boat deck (not flip flops — they come off and sink)
• Sea-Bands or scopoderm (prescription from your GP before you go)
• Small waterproof dry bag for phones and cameras
• Snorkelling mask and fins (child-sized — borrow from charter company or bring your own)
• Underwater disposable camera or action camera for sea floor photos
• A good bird and fish identification guide — children will use it

Keeping children engaged

Fishing lines: A trailing lure from the stern is endlessly entertaining, even if it catches nothing. Pack a simple hand-line.

Helming: Let children take the wheel in open water under your supervision. A child who has helmed a sailing yacht is a different child from one who watched from the cockpit.

Log keeping: Give children a logbook. Record departure times, distances, anchorages, weather. They'll treasure it.

Snorkelling: An underwater camera transforms the experience. GoPro or a basic disposable waterproof camera — the fish photos will be printed and framed.

Night sky: Anchored in a remote bay with no light pollution, the night sky in the Mediterranean is extraordinary. A star chart and a torch is all you need for an hour of astronomy.

Browse family-friendly charter destinations or explore catamaran options worldwide.