The top 10 places to sail

Fancy a week or so on the water? Claire Coleman picks some of the best places to drop anchor

1. The south of France
The French Riviera is one of the most famous yachting destinations. During the summer season, which takes in both the Monte Carlo Grand Prix, over the border in Monaco, and Cannes film festival, every port town from St Tropez to Menton is full of boaties. Moorings offers 12m bareboat charters, which sleep up to eight, from Nice for about £340 a day this July.

2. Croatia
Over the last decade, this part of the Adriatic coast has grown in popularity thanks to its picturesque bays, secluded swimming spots and unspoilt coastal towns. SailCroatia specialises in charters and has a fleet of 19 yachts that can be hired bareboat, skippered or fully crewed from as little as £365 per person per week.

3. The Whitsundays
This group of tropical islands, which lies between Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef, is a popular antipodean sailing destination. Bridge & Wickers offers a package that includes seven nights on Hamilton Island, and three nights onboard a 14m catamaran that sleeps eight. Prices start at £2,333 per person, including flights.

4. The Caribbean
In winter, the boat brigade decamps from Europe to the Caribbean. And who can blame them? The sun is shining, there are hundreds of islands to explore and the seas are crystal blue. From Puerto Rico down to Trinidad and Tobago, it's all pretty stunning. And although it's a sort of agony choosing between Barbados and St Bart's, the upsie is that neither is really going to be a crushing disappointment. It also doesn't have to break the bank. A 14-day skippered charter costs from £7,995 for an eight-berth Nimrod Dehler 47 through Nonstop Sail, excluding flights.

5. Indonesia
It's not a traditional yachting destination, but then the Silolona isn't your average yacht. Black Tomato is offering seven nights for you and nine friends on this 49m Balinese ship with a staff of 17 for £4,999 per person, including flights. The itinerary is up to you. Go diving in Raja Ampat or lounge on the beaches of the Banda Sea, depending on how you feel.

6. Turkey and Greece
Whether you want to weave in and out of the islands or sail around the mainland, the appeal of Turkey and Greece as sailing destinations lies as much in the historical treasures on land as the calm seas and blue skies. For archaeological enthusiasts, Peter Sommer Travels offers cruises aboard a traditional wooden gulet with stop-offs at historical hotspots starting at £1,195 per person per week, excluding flights.

7. The Amalfi coast
If you want something chic, but not as hectic as the south of France, the Amalfi coast—groaning with its lemon trees and olive groves—is an excellent place to start. The rocky coastline, which extends out from Naples, boasts a blend of fishing villages as well as more chi-chi destinations, such as Sorrento and Capri. Responsible Travel has a seven-day package on a 16m crewed yacht for up to six people. Prices start at £395 per person, excluding flights.

8. The Balearic islands
Mallorca and Minorca have recently enjoyed something of a renaissance and, for supermodels, rap stars and the party-loving sailing set, Ibiza is a must-visit summer stopover. Club La Costa Yacht Club offers a timeshare-style scheme based in the Balearics, but if you'd rather try its eight-berth catamarans before buying in, you can book a week-long trip in Mallorca for £995 per person, excluding flights.

9. Thailand
Lured by white sands, coconut palms, rice fields and unchartered territory showcased by Leonardo DiCaprio in The Beach, intrepid sailors with a passion for discovering tropical islands have been heading off to Thailand in recent years. It's an excellent location to give this sort of break a go. This June in Koh Samui, Sunsail will charter you a Sun Odyssey 35 (which sleeps up to six) for seven days for a total of £785, excluding flights.

10. The Bahamas
Situated off the coast of Florida, the hidden coves, turquoise seas and diving opportunities of the Bahamas make these islands a bolt hole for Miami's music and film bigwigs—and their megayachts. When the lively pace of South Beach life gets too much, this is where they come to slow down. Head to Marsh Harbour in the Abacos, where you can charter an uncrewed Lagoon 380 catamaran that sleeps eight from Nautilus Yachting for £2,300 per week this August, excluding flights.