Why a sailing holiday makes for the perfect honeymoon (and our top tips)

Picture the scene – after weeks of hectic preparation for the Big Day, you and your new spouse are lounging on board a beautiful yacht enjoying a well-deserved glass of bubbly as you watch the sun set over the horizon.

A quintessentially romantic image, and the perfect ingredients for the ultimate honeymoon. We are often asked about how to create a dream honeymoon sailing holiday and, although you will find lots of advice out there we have gathered together some of our key recommendations to help you plan for your dream getaway.

The most romantic sailing destinations

Sailing is by its very nature a romantic pursuit – being at one with the elements as you reach across the seas with the wind in your hair, dropping anchor and swimming in a secluded bay, and dining at night under a starry sky.

Below, we have whittled our ideal honeymoon destinations list down to our top three favourite, romantic hotspots. Read on to see if any of them take your fancy.

Spectacular Sailing Honeymoons

The Caribbean

With its beautiful palm-fringed beaches, crystal clear waters, clear blue skies and sunny climate, the Caribbean’s group of exotic islands is synonymous with romance and luxury.

Why not fly to Antigua and spend a week touring the coast to explore its many pristine pink coral bays. Alternatively, opt for the lushly vegetated St Lucia with its brightly coloured houses and hidden beaches.

If you’re after total seclusion, we’d recommend the Grenadines – a chain of 32 beautiful and unspoilt islands –while Mustique offers numerous tiny island paradises to enjoy, plus a lively nightlife. For a lower-key destination, try Grenada. When to visit: year round sailing, high season December – April

British Virgin Islands

The British Virgin Islands are often considered among the very best sailing grounds in the world, and it’s easy to see why when you get there. From the low-lying coral atoll of Anegada to Virgin Gorda’s enormous rock pools and the hundreds of dive sites teeming with tropical fish, the BVI cruising ground is utterly spectacular. We would highly recommend them for a honeymoon, as their offer sublime natural beauty and endless activity options.

When to visit: year round sailing, high season December – April

Thailand

A truly magical destination, Thailand is sure to make for an unforgettable honeymoon. Our yacht charters set off from Phuket and take you to some of the best locations in the country, giving you a unique opportunity to enjoy its mix of untouched and lively party islands, stunning scenery, delicious cuisine and superb beaches.

All in all, an incredible backdrop to your sailing holiday.

When to visit: year round sailing, high season December – April

The Mediterranean

We have slightly cheated here, as we run yacht charters throughout Europe – from the Balearic Islands to Croatia. Each destination has its own charms – whether it’s sipping a limoncello off the Amalfi coast and gazing across the Bay of Naples, marvelling at Greece‘s Melissani Cave when a shaft of sunlight lights up the waters below, snorkelling in the Gulf of Fethiye enjoying its turquoise waters, or island hopping in Croatia. All are equally romantic in their own way and won’t disappoint. When to visit: May to October, best weather July to September

A tailored experience

Wherever you choose to go, we are here to help tailor your honeymoon to exactly your requirements. Keen divers? No problem, we can organise diving trips for you. Fascinated by culture and ancient ruins? Great, we can make sure you stop by the best historic sites. Just want to chill and swim? Absolutely, we’ll take you to the most secluded spots. We can create an itinerary to match your needs when you book your charter, and suggest you also talk through your wishes and plans with your skipper on your first night on board. He or she will have excellent first-hand knowledge of the area, and will be able to advise you further.

The ideal yacht

Unless you are both keen sailors, we would recommend a skippered yacht. This way, a professional skipper will be at the helm so you both can just sit back and relax. A chartered yacht is a self-catered option, so you would need to stock up with supplies en route, though obviously you might wish to dine out each night.

If you’d like to avoid spending too much time in the kitchen, why not book a hostess? She will sleep on board (as will the skipper) and is able to assist with the cooking and cleaning. The yachts we use are well-designed to ensure your privacy and a hostess is a popular option with couples.

If you’re looking for a five star experience, then why not go for a fully crewed experience.

When you charter a crewed private yacht, you will have on board a professional captain and crew who will work tirelessly (and unobtrusively) to ensure you have everything you need.

About Helm:

Co-founded by Simon Morgan and Peter Harrison in 2015, Helm offers fully tailored yachting holidays. Well-known for quality yachts and excellent service, Helm’s team of expert sailors and brokers assist customers on every step of the journey, from enquiry to finalised booking and beyond, to ensure guests can enjoy the best yachting experience.

Helm offers bareboat, skippered and crewed boats for hire globally, with specialist areas include Croatia, Sardinia, Turkey, Thailand, New Zealand, Australia, the Caribbean, and the British Virgin Islands.

Both seasoned sailors, Peter and Simon spent years in the industry, both as skippers and then as brokers, bringing an in-depth knowledge of the sector.

For more information, or to make a booking, visit the website www.helm.yt.

About the Borrow A Boat Group:

The Borrow A Boat Group is now the fastest-growing boat charter group in the UK, consisting of several brands and platforms including: the Borrow A Boat platform – an open boating platform for boats of all sorts for charter, with over 45,000 listings, Helm – a curated marketplace of premium charter holidays, and Barqo – the leading Dutch boating marketplace. Borrow A Boat Group is expanding on multiple fronts and in multiple countries, with an active presence in: UK, US, The Caribbean, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands, the Mediterranean, France, and South-east Asia,

Borrow A Boat facilitates boat rental & sailing yachts from £1,000 per week and catamarans from approximately £10,000 per week.

Boats of all types are available for rental, including sailboats, motorboats, riverboats, RIBs, catamarans, gulets, superyachts and luxury yacht charters. Customers can choose a boat with or without a skipper, depending on their sailing experience.

All boats meet the stringent safety and insurance codes, standards, and regulations for yacht chartering in their respective location.