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Luxury Sailing Yachts for Sale

106 sailing yachts for sale worldwide.

If you’re ready to feel the wind in your hair and the ocean rushing under the keel, then you are ready for a sailing yacht. Northrop & Johnson offers one of the industry’s most extensive and comprehensive inventories of sailing yachts for sale. A sailing yacht will be at the top of your list if you’re keen on a genuine connection to the sea. Northrop & Johnson’s dedicated sailing yacht brokers are experts in their field. They are able to match you with the perfect sailing yacht for your needs through our extensive global database and their personal network. Check out our selection of sailing yachts for sale and reach out with any questions or to begin the process of purchasing the sailing yacht of your dreams.

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Benefits of a Sailing Yacht

While they may be outnumbered on the water by motor yachts, sailing yachts present a unique showcase of features. If you’re interested in regatta capabilities to stellar eco-friendly performance, a sailing yacht is definitely for you. You just can’t beat the music of the wind in your sails while lounging on your deck.

Here are three benefits of sailing yachts:

• Eco-friendly.  Hoist the sails, ladies and gentlemen. Your sailing yacht is more eco-friendly than its motor-powered peers.
• Traditional elegance.  If aesthetics are important to you, sailing yachts feature unrivaled elegance in appearance. These yachts achieve an equilibrium of conventional beauty and modern comforts.
• Cost-effective . Since your sails will be doing a lot of the work, the fuel costs with your new sailing yacht will be less than that of a motor yacht.

Is a Sailing Yacht Right for You?

If you’re looking for the spirit of adventure and exploration of vibrant destinations, a sailing yacht might be right for you. Sailing yachts offer you the flexibility to enjoy exotic adventures in extraordinary accommodations. 

Sailing yachts offer lower-tech construction methods that can be less expensive. Their motion comfort is superb, with smooth hull sections that lend to clean cruising. They also tack easily, with a mix of weight from a homogeneous mass and a pivotable keel. 

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Winner of European Yacht of the Year 2023. The Oyster 495 is a new breed of 50 foot sailing yacht

Introducing the award-winning Oyster 495.

A luxury, bluewater cruiser with half a century of Oyster experience and innovation running through her every inch.

Effortless handling

The new Oyster 495 is a 50 foot yacht designed for ease of use and shorthanded sailing.

LOCAL EXPERTISE

For new yacht sales and our service operation in the Americas, visit our offices in the heart of the US East coast sailing scene, Newport, Rhode Island. We would be delighted to help.

Distinctly Oyster

She embodies all the learning, insights and innovative features from Oyster’s larger models, intelligently integrated into this benchmark 50 foot sailboat.

Equipped for adventure

A true liveaboard bluewater cruiser, equipped to take you anywhere in luxury, comfort and safety.

Join us at our London Private View at St Katharine Docks, 24-28 April 2024, to see the Oyster 495, 565 and 595

Displaying all the hallmarks of Oyster’s exquisite craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail, the exceptional build quality of the Oyster 495 means she is built to last a lifetime.

BUILDING THE 495

Join double Olympic gold medallist, sailor and respected journalist, Shirley Robertson, as we build and sail the first Oyster 495.

Every inch an Oyster, the new Oyster 495 features instantly recognisable design cues – deck saloon, seascape windows and flush decks, combined with exceptional sailing performance.

Unmistakably Oyster

The latest collaboration between humphreys yacht design and our in-house design studio, the new 495 50 foot sailing yacht is an evolution of five decades of iconic oyster design cues..

Her clean hull lines and wide beam aft are the foundation for the outstanding space and capabilities of the Oyster 495. She incorporates many of our big yacht features in a compact 50 foot yacht. Instantly recognisable as an Oyster, the Oyster 495 features our pioneering deck saloon, protected cockpit and helm stations, wraparound and forward-opening saloon windows. Flush decks, signature triple vertical seascape windows, foredeck skyscape windows, a powerful plumb bow and extended bowsprit complete the look.

We were the first boat builder to create a truly ergonomically designed cockpit and helm positions, with sprayhood and optional bimini for additional protection. Details like the cockpit table, with optional built-in refrigerated drinks locker, that comfortably seats up to eight people, is just one of the many triumphs of Oyster design thinking.

The Oyster 495 consistently delivers powerful, responsive and rewarding performance in safety and comfort.

Nine knots is her happy place and her well-balanced, stable wide-beamed hull form gives you confidence to keep the sails up in almost any conditions. Twin rudders make her light and agile on the helm, offering fingertip control even in the most boisterous seas. Her low centre of gravity keel offers substantial displacement for enhanced stability and handling, and she moves easily in cruising trim. Carrying significant sail power, you are guaranteed consistently fast cruising speeds and the optional sprayhood and bimini provide excellent protection from the sun, whilst improving all-round comfort.

This 50 foot sailboat for sale offers the range of innovative automated sailing technology. This includes in-mast furling with push-button controls and B&G instruments, all operated from the helm positions, making her the perfect choice for couples or young families.

The Oyster 495 features lots of space to relax and share good times with friends and family.

Her wide beam offers unexpected returns in space, both above and below decks – something you will not find on any other 50 foot sailboat for sale. The beautifully styled centre cockpit is perfect for entertaining up to eight people for alfresco dining. The aft pushpit seats are a great place to see all the action under sail. The wide teak deck at the stern and flush foredeck offer generous entertaining and sunbathing spaces.

The transom houses an innovative, push-button operated, cassette boarding/bathing platform. A choice of subtle mood lighting and integrated audio speakers let you set the tone for entertaining guests under the stars.

New generation interiors feature modern styling, integrated technology and equipment for truly luxurious entertaining and living spaces.

Contemporary luxury and comfort

The oyster 495 benefits from our new generation luxury, contemporary interiors that elevates her above the best 50 foot yachts..

With four interior designed themes, 495’s interiors set a new standard in her class. The well-equipped, seaworthy, u-shaped galley, saloon and cabins are well-proportioned, comfortable and luxurious. Her wide beam aft offers unexpected space compared to any other 50 foot yacht for sale.

She is eminently practical, making her perfect for liveaboard adventures. Intelligent interior space planning, combining insights and the acclaimed craftsmanship from our larger yachts, makes use of every inch of hull volume. The tasteful choice of materials, fabrics and integrated technology throughout, along with modern styling, creates truly luxurious entertaining and living spaces. The impressive owner’s cabin, with its deep luxury mattress, has excellent headroom and signature triple seascape windows, creating an amazing feeling of space and light throughout the new Oyster 495. Our new mood lighting system creates a perfect interior environment.

Like all our yachts, the new Oyster 495 is handcrafted by master craftspeople with a meticulous attention to detail, and a deep sense of pride and passion.

The learnings of half a century of designing and building bluewater cruisers feed into every detail, and the insights of our owners, skippers and crew, sailors and our own team help fine-tune every aspect of the design and build. The result is a unique combination of design, technology, engineering and hand-crafted build quality. Beautiful hardwoods run throughout every inch of this exquisite 50 foot sailboat, in everything from hand-built furniture to intuitively placed grab rails. This focus on detail reveals itself in the beautiful, hand-crafted cabinetry and the easily accessible, carefully labelled cables and pipework that run behind the scenes to make maintenance tasks simple.

The Oyster 495 is a truly connected 50 foot yacht with all the latest technology you need to stay in touch, however remote your location.

Not only does it make her an ideal liveaboard yacht, but it also makes her a work-aboard yacht. Every system is chosen for its ruggedness and fitness for purpose. The chart table is a technology hub, featuring an optional, innovative, foldout, integrated PC; lift-top desk; plotter; VHF and SSB radios; power management; generator control; switchboard; and plenty of power sockets. Oyster’s proprietary digital switching system – Oyster Command™ – lets you monitor and control various systems over a digital network and touchscreen. Optional WIFI can be accessed through the latest satellite technology, or 4G/5G cellular antenna when close to onshore radio masts. Entertainment systems are seamlessly integrated, with a concealed saloon TV and audio running throughout the boat.

The joy of Oyster ownership

There is more than just pride on offer when it comes to owning an Oyster 495. Every new Oyster comes with a comprehensive warranty, personalised care, access to our global service network, unrivalled support, life-changing experiences and so much more.

On an Oyster the world is yours.

OYSTER OWNERSHIP

Ownership benefits rarely experienced in marine

Discover the 495 in detail.

QUICK LINKS

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TECHNICAL DETAILS

Specifications & features

Electric in-mast furling system.

The in-mast furling system takes automation and effortless shorthanded sailing to another level.

Electric winches

Push-button control with electric Lewmar winches in sleek, black anodised finish.

Bathing platform

The innovative, automated cassette bathing platform is ideal to access ocean swimming, boarding a dinghy or stern access when berthed. It features a sturdy boarding ladder and integrated freshwater shower on the transom steps.

B&G Navigation package

The standard B&G navigation system displays boat speed, wind and depth information.

Master cabin with Seascape windows

An impressive full width owner’s cabin is completed by Oyster’s signature triple Seascape windows. These create a feeling of light and space, with exceptional ocean views.

Touch screen controls

Oyster Command™ digital switching system controls everything from on board entertainment and lighting to all your main systems, utilities and security, through touchscreens at the helm and chart table.

Wood options

Choose from a selection of wood themed interiors, including shades of sustainable sourced oak and walnut.

Extensive on deck stowage

A full width lazarette and separate sail locker provide ample storage for all your bluewater adventure kit, sails, rigging and mooring gear.

Flush Flexiteak decks

With a beautiful fine grain teak finish, the sustainable synthetic Flexiteak deck is 30% lighter than traditional teak, extremely hard wearing and retains it look with minimal maintenance.

Opening saloon windows

Oyster’s unique, deck saloon forward opening windows provide excellent ventilation, allowing fresh air to circulate freely through the yacht while at anchor or under sail.

DNV GL hull certification

DNV GL carry out stringent quality checks throughout the build of the Oyster 495 hull to certify the materials and construction reach the highest standards of extreme strength and durability.

Take advantage of shallow-draft cruising grounds and remote anchorages, with a draft of 1.83m / 6’0”.

Retractable bow and stern thrusters

Sleipner Side-Power retractable bow and stern  thrusters make it simple and safe to manoeuvre in and out of tight marina berths.

Entertainment package

Choose from an optional range of integrated electronic and AV systems to suit your personal preferences.

Saloon day bed

The multifunction saloon table can be raised and lowered to create a comfortable day bed, perfect to relax on and enjoy the integrated widescreen TV.

Hull colours

Personalise your Oyster 495 with alternative coloured hull, mast and sails. See our colour picker for inspiration.

Air conditioning

Keep the interior at the perfect temperature with air conditioning (and generator) that cools and heats. Controls in each cabin allow guests to adjust the temperature based on their personal requirements.

B&G upgrade package

Upgrade the standard B&G navigation package with the additional instrumentation, communication equipment and autopilot package.

Flush teak decks

Extensive sustainably sourced, quarter-sawn, full-depth teak ensures maximum longevity and lifespan of our hand-laid teak decks. Smooth and natural underfoot, they look stunning.

Pushpit seats

For the best seats aboard, the optional pushpit seats provide great views and the perfect spot for sundowners after a memorable day’s cruising.

Enjoy 100 litres of fresh, homemade water per hour with a reliable Dessalator Duo watermaker with automatic controls and manual override.

Add davits to the stern deck for a practical dingy stowage solution when cruising and fast, efficient access when exploring at your destination.

Plans and interior layouts

Colour inspiration

Entries open for the Oyster World Rally 2028-29. Embark on the sailing adventure of a lifetime

EXPERT OPINION

Independent reviews of the Oyster 495. Find out what the experts have to say.

AWARD WINNING

Oyster 495 wins European Yacht of the Year 2023

The Oyster 495

Expert opinion

495 on test with Toby Hodges

Configure your 495

Create your dream Oyster 495 using our yacht configurator

Building the 495

Follow the build with double Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson

The Oyster Fleet

Explore other models

An award winning sub 60 foot bluewater sailing yacht for all oceans.

The new Oyster 595, a 60 foot sailing yacht capable of great things.

A versatile sub 70 foot sailboat designed for the adventurous at heart.

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© 2024 OYSTER YACHTS

OYSTER WORLD RALLY

The Oyster World Rally 2028-29. Embark on the sailing adventure of a lifetime. Entries open 18 June 2024

The new 565 Series II

The pursuit of perfection continues

Explore the benefits that come with taking ownership of a new Oyster, and becoming part of the family

GRAND TOURING

Elaine bunting reviews the new oyster 885gt.

LUXURY CHARTER

Experience exhilarating sailing, luxury and style on an oyster charter. personal, exclusive and uniquely oyster.

Join Oyster Brokerage at the Palma International Boat Show, 25-28 April 2024. Book your tour today

Oyster world rally.

Follow the Oyster World Rally 2024-25 fleet live

Winner of European Yacht of the Year 2023. She sets a new 50 foot bluewater benchmark, offering a stunning combination of sailing performance, comfort, safety and luxurious living space.

Heralding a new generation of Oysters, this 60 foot bluewater cruiser is a sailing yacht for all oceans. Practical and well-provisioned for long distance sailing or cruising in coastal waters.

The much-anticipated Oyster 595 is well-proportioned and extremely versatile. Offering exciting, customised build options with no compromise, she is capable of great things.

A versatile sub-70 foot sailboat offering the perfect balance of size and practicality. She can be sailed shorthanded effortlessly or take a full crew and up to eight friends and family.

This long range 75 foot cruising yacht is designed for very big adventures. A joy to sail yourself, she also boasts dedicated crew quarters.

Oyster 885SII

An exhilarating 90 foot sailing yacht, delivering comfort and safety with uncompromising performance. She is capable of taking you anywhere in the world effortlessly, in luxury and style.

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Buy a used boat at great value in the Caribbean, North America, Europe or the Far East

Sunsail, The Moorings, and Travelopia’s marine group have the largest fleet of pleasure yachts in the world. Coming from leading manufacturers Robertson and Caine, Beneteau, Jeanneau, these sailing monohulls and sail and power catamarans are designed and equipped for performance, comfort, and reliability for both casual cruising and blue water sailing. The yachts are maintained by our dedicated teams at our worldwide bases. These charter yachts are turned over frequently, and Sunsail Brokerage, along with partner Moorings Brokerage, are now the largest re-sellers of high quality ready-to-sail used boats in the world. If you’re looking for a boat to live aboard, sail the world, or just cruise locally, check our listings and contact our sales staff . With our worldwide inventory, it’s easy to find the perfect boat in the right place.

How to Buy a Boat

Our charter boat buying guide explains the process of selecting a boat, entering in a Purchase and Sale Agreement, completing a marine survey and sea trial, closing on the vessel and more. 

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Don't miss out on the best deals! Join our mailing list to receive our email newsletters featuring our best-value used sail and power boats out of the Sunsail and Moorings charter fleets. 

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With experienced brokers in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas, our team is positioned to help buyers navigate international used boat purchases with ease. 

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10 Best Sailboats for Solo Sailing (One Person)

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

December 27, 2023

The idea of single-handed sailing or solo sailing appeals to racers and cruisers alike. But what are the best sailboats for solo sailing? Well, let's find out.

Whether you've been thinking of going for a day's sail without assistance or dreaming of a solo passage to Bermuda, the desire and the magic of venturing out alone at the sea is something that any sailor can experience. It doesn't matter if you're cruising or racing, solo sailing, of course, requires you to change your thinking as you'll be solely responsible for the entire operation of the boat. More importantly, choosing a well-founded boat is critical to solo sailing.

When sailing with a crew, things may seem a little easy because you share the responsibilities among the crew and support each other in case of anything. But what happens when you decide to venture out alone or sail single-handedly? Whatever motivates you to go out sailing solo, you should choose a good boat that you can perfectly operate single-handedly.

In this article, we'll highlight 10 best sailboats for solo sailing, their prices, their best rigs, and everything else that you might need to sail them comfortably and safely.

Table of contents

General Features of Best Sailboats for Solo Sailing

Here are the general features to look for when choosing the best sailboat for solo sailing.

The Availability of Automation Systems

The forces that you sometimes have to deal with when out sailing can be extreme, to say the least. It doesn't matter whether you're sailing solo or with a crew, it's always very important not to underestimate the power of the wind and tide. While you can do a lot on your own, having some automation systems in place is an important feature if you're planning to sail single-handedly. In other words, a good sailboat for solo sailing should have various automation systems to make your work a lot simpler.

So if you're planning to go solo sailing, it would be great to consider a boat with the following systems:

• ‍ Autopilot for steering
• Lines running aft (running to the cockpit)
• Roller furling
• Electric windlass
• Hydraulic bow/stern thrusters with remote

Stability and Ease of Use

Again, the best sailboats for solo sailing are generally not known for their speeds. This is because they typically have wide beams and short waterlines, which are vital in providing stability thereby limiting their speeds. In short, the best sailboats for solo sailing usually sacrifice speed and additional performance for ease of use and stability.

Boat Features

When it comes to the structure of the boat itself, it's important to go for a boat that is close to the water, relatively small when compared to the wave height, and has lighter ballast, especially when compared to the displacement ratio. The idea here is that these features can combine to increase the boat's performance when you're sailing solo.

Additionally, a good solo sailing boat should be designed with a flat profiled aft bottom section. This is to ensure that the boat can come up on a plane when the wind conditions are breezy or marginal.

When it comes to the best sails for solo sailing, you can go for the unique sail design that combines both a Bermuda sail and a gaff sail. This can be essential in giving you a more sail area on a shorter mast than is possible when using either a gaff sail or a Bermuda sail. More importantly, the combination of a gaff sail and a Bermuda sail not only gives you a greater sail area on a shorter and easy to control mast but can also reduce the heeling force that's common in boats with taller and narrower sails.

Still on sails, it makes a lot of sense to choose easily operated sail controls. You certainly want a sail that one person can tuck a reef in quickly and be able to easily adjust the sheets. You should, therefore, prioritize the reefing and sail handling systems.

In terms of rigs, the gaff rig is arguably the best when solo sailing. Although the Bermuda rig is the most common, especially in modern sailboats, you can lose some windward abilities because of its lower aspects. As such, you can choose to use the gaff rig thanks to its ease of use and superior downwind performance.

10 Best Sailboats for Solo Sailing

There are numerous sailboats out there that can be easily and properly handled by a skilled and experienced sailor. To make it a lot easier for you, the following boats are great choices when solo sailing. Whether you're just looking to experience how it feels to solo sail or short-handed, they all offer easy, comfortable, and safe sailing.

Jeanneau Sunfast 3200

{{boat-info="/boats/jeanneau-sun-fast-3200"}}

From the outset, it's easy to see that the Jeanneau Sunfast 3200 is designed with offshore short-handed sailing in mind. In addition to being a purist's sailing boat, this boat is a small and light boat that can be easily handled. Even better, it has the stability and strength to handle long passages and that's exactly why it was initially designed with the Trans-Atlantic race in mind.

With this boat, you can easily attain double figures in terms of speed even if you're sailing downwind. In essence, the Sunfast 3200 is designed with some of the latest technology to afford you the best strength-to-weight ratios. It has all the necessary features to allow you to easily adapt it to perform perfectly either as a cruising or racing sailboat. Some of its greatest features include the two double cabins, the chart table, a galley, and a head compartment.

This boat is particularly impressive when sailing off the wind and it's designed to ensure that it's functional and reliable even when solo sailing. This is perhaps because it's designed and set up for racing, so it can be great for you especially if you're looking for a coastal cruiser that can be easily handled.

Using the sloop Marconi can be the best way to go given that this vessel has a keel-stepped mast. Its maximum beam begins at 60% aft of the stem before extending to the transom, which can result in the sled hull being driven by a mainsail-heavy rig. This can then fly the masthead asymmetrical off a short sprit.

Given that the Jeanneau Sunfast 3200 is a very modern boat that's equipped with some of the latest boating technology; it comes with a base price of about $160,000. This is a vessel that's built by one of the world's premier builders and offers an intriguing blend of technology, reliability, functionality, practicality, and performance.

Having been the European Yacht of the Year for 2008, the Sunfast 3200 may just be the godsend boat for your solo sailing dreams.

{{boat-info="/boats/hanse-371"}}

If you're looking for a slippery cruiser-racer that's always ready to sail single-handedly, you might perhaps want to take a serious look at the Hanse 371. Introduced in 2003, the Hanse 371 is a mid-sized boat that was designed in a true blend of old and new boating technology. Thanks to its furling and self- tacking jib, the Hanse 371 becomes an instant single-handed sailing vessel that takes much of the strain out of your solo sailing adventures. That's not all; this boat is more popular as a result of its autopilot system. Press a few buttons and you'll be ready to go.

Although it's a little bigger and not one of the smallest boats out there, it can be a great option if you're planning to sail solo but on a vessel that offers a tremendous amount of space. Whether you love a boat with a shallow or deep center of gravity, the Hanse 371 has a commendable large galley and a spacious cabin layout.

Everything about rigging this boat is designed to be easy. Again, the jib on a roller furler is self-tacking. In essence, everything is standard and easy to use, which makes this boat a dream when sailing single-handed.

Already a classic that's known for its stylish interior, timeless look, and ultimate performance, the Hanse 371 is a coveted vessel that may cost you around $60,000.

Hunter Channel 31

{{boat-info="/boats/hunter-channel-31"}}

Launched in 2001, the Hunter Channel 31 is structured with a hull and keel design that makes it easy to sail single-handed. This is a British-made vessel that has steadily moved from the racing scene to become a well-respected cruiser, especially among the solo sailing community. Thanks to its faultless handling and impressive turn of speed, the Hunter Channel 31 provides near uncomplicated sailing without losing its impeccable handling features.

Its well-balanced hull shape can either be structured with a low or deep center of gravity. It also has an efficient twin keel to give it more stability, which is perfect for solo sailing. This is, without a doubt, one of the main reasons why Hunter Channel 31 has proved popular among solo sailors trying to sail across narrow channels.

The Hunter Channel 31 is also designed with a great standard deck layout, as well as a non-compulsory self-tacking jib that comes with a single line mainsail reefing. That's not all; the tiller steering is also efficient if you're sailing single-handed as you can steer it with your legs while trimming sails.

It should, therefore, not come as a surprise that owners of the Hunter Channel 31 keep them for a long time, so finding them on the market will be a long shot. But if you're lucky enough to find one, you'll be getting a great vessel that will never let you down if you want to sail solo.

Like many Hunter designs, the Hunter 31 can be fractionally rigged given that it has a relatively large mainsail to give it a more sail area in light winds and a small headsail with a lower sheet load. In other words, you can efficiently and easily reef from the cockpit.

At about $35,000, the Hunter Channel 31 is quite affordable and is a great bargain in its category.

{{boat-info="/boats/j-boats-j109"}}

The J/109 is unquestionably one of the best single-handed or double-handed sailboats that money can buy. Whether you're looking for a coastal cruiser or a long-distance single-handed vessel, the J/109 will rarely disappoint. That's essentially why its single-handed offshore capabilities remain popular with sailors looking to make North Atlantic crossings.

Even though it is widely categorized as a planing sailboat, this vessel is too heavy for simple planing. Instead, this is a superb boat that offers an all-round performance. It doesn't matter whether you're solo sailing or sailing with a crew, its performance is always top-notch.

Thanks to its asymmetric spinnaker, you can easily jib it from the cockpit, especially in light wind. But when the wind is on the north of 20 knots, you can pole out the jib to give you a quick downwind speed. No matter which type of rig you choose to use, the J/109 offers a fair degree of control.

In terms of price, the J/109 is one of the relatively expensive sailboats out there, though this is compensated with the high standard equipment and outstanding quality of construction. For about $58,000, you can get a great boat that offers excellent solo sailing adventures.

West Wight Potter 19

{{boat-info="/boats/west-wight-potter-19"}}

Designed for safety and easy handling, the West Wight Potter 19 is a great sailboat for solo sailing. Although its name might not be one of the catchiest in the sailing scene, it's been around for over three decades and is steadily becoming a popular pocket cruiser. The original design draws inspiration from the U.K. but is currently built by the International Marine in California.

Over the years, this boat has seen several improvements even though its original look and features still attract a large and dedicated group of followers. This is not only a tough little boat but its hard-chine hull offers incredible stability. This makes it a very easy and ultimately forgiving sailboat. Whether you're looking to sail from California to Hawaii or across the Atlantic, the Potter 19 is outstanding for solo sailing.

This is a Bermuda-rigged sloop. Its sail plan is huge enough to propel the sailboat in various conditions. This makes it a perfect single-handed boat as you can easily set it up or take it down with no special equipment.

This is a remarkably affordable boat. At around $5,000 you can get a superb solo sailing sailboat. But if you want a new Potter 19 with additional features, you could pay about $25,000.

Beneteau 31

{{boat-info="/boats/beneteau-31"}}

As a small cruiser keelboat, this French-designed boat is primarily built of fiberglass and is perfect if you want a vessel that's great for solo sailing while still offering maximum space for comfort. Its galley is equipped with superb stowage and counter space and even a sit-down navigation station with a small table.

Maneuvering this boat under power is quite easy and is well worth it for any solo sailor who is in the market for a coastal cruiser.

It has a fractional sloop rig, which makes in-mast furling a great option. This makes it easy to handle but also powerful in light winds. If you're sailing the boat off the wind, bow pulpit and an optional asymmetric cruising chute can keep things lively.

The new 31 can cost around $115,000, which is quite expensive but certainly worth it if you want to cruise the world in this French masterpiece.

Catalina 315

{{boat-info="/boats/catalina-315"}}

This is a nifty pocket cruiser that raises the quality bar for solo sailors with extreme comfort and performance. With just a 9.45 meter hull, the Catalina 315 has more internal room than most classics and remains superb for solo sailing.

Although it's a much bigger boat, it has little but significant features that make all the difference. For instance, the split backstays are great for balance and functionality. This is one of the main reasons why it won the Cruising World's 2013 Boat of the Year Best Inshore Cruiser award.

With a masthead sloop, rigging the Catalina 315 is a lot easier as it is equipped with both an in-mast roller furling mainsail and a roller furling genoa.

Even though the Catalina 315 will exceed your expectations when sailing solo, it's a high-end sailboat that will cost you north of $175,000. But if that seems expensive, you can look for a used model, which will cost you slightly lower.

{{boat-info="/boats/vanguard-laser"}}

A boat that has become a staple in the Olympics Games, the Laser may be simple and small but a real-go to boat if you want a vessel that will rarely let you down for your solo sailing escapades. As one of the world's most popular single-handed sailboats, its main feature is its sheer simplicity. This might not be the best boat for you if you love those fussy, big boats. But if you're looking for an amazing boat with a two-part free-standing mast and a sleeved sail, the Laser should be on top of your list.

The fact that it has a lightweight hull and is easy to rig makes it one of the most popular racing sailboats in the world with over 200,000 boats in over 140 countries. This is undoubtedly a perfect boat that's specifically designed for solo sailing.

This boat can be rigged using various rigs, so you should go with whatever works for you. We, however, prefer cat rigging the boat since it has no headsail and only has one mainsail. This is a boat that is designed for speed, particularly in high winds. It's also easy to set up, which makes it a marvelous option for solo sailing.

For around $7,000, this is probably one of the most affordable solo sailing sailboats you could ever get your hands on. You should, however, keep in mind that its price may widely vary depending on their availability in your area.

{{boat-info="/boats/oday-rhodes-19"}}

A real classically-styled sailboat, the Rhodes 19 is an ideal family daysailer that can be perfect for you if you're a spirited solo sailor. Whether you're planning to sail in heavy weather or fast, the Rhodes 19 is designed with a forgiving hull and is an accomplished heavy-weather performer. For over 5 decades, and with more than 3,500 boats built, this sailboat has proven time and time again that it has the characters for both beginners and experienced sailors.

With a low center of gravity, this boat remains a classic beauty that's very fast, easy to trailer, and will get many compliments whenever you're solo sailing. No wonder it is still actively raced throughout the United States.

A simple sprit rig can work greatly on this boat but you can also consider Bermuda-Rigged sloop, which is efficient in propelling the boat in various wind conditions.

Its price may vary depending on your location but something around $20,000 will get you a sailboat that's still in tip-top condition.

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If like most Americans, you have a soft spot for finely engineered German automobiles, the Dehler 29 can be a great option for your solo sailing escapades. Even though the Dehler 29 hasn't attracted a huge following in the American shores, it remains an excellently-structured German sailboat, especially for sailors looking for a stable, agile, adaptable, and comfortable sailboat.

Whether you enjoy a smooth and solo cruise on a breezy afternoon or is energized by speed, the Dehler 29 is one of the most adaptable sailboats. This is certainly why it has received numerous accolades in the boating scene including the 1998 Cruising World Magazine Boat of the Year, as well as Sailing World Boat of the Year award.

Given that it's a single-handed sailboat, you can tiller steer it and cat rig it with ease to give you easy maneuverability, confidence, and absolute versatility.

With powerful dynamics and maximum safety, the Dehler 29 is one of the best German-produced sailboats that will set you back around $55,000.

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I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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Yachting World

• Digital Edition

‘Electric yacht propulsion opens doors to a completely different way of thinking about sailing’

• Rupert Holmes
• April 23, 2024

Sailing with electric propulsion is very different to doing so with a diesel engine and may cause you to reconsider your diesel usage. Rupert Holmes reports

Electric propulsion is rapidly becoming established in the mainstream yacht market. This is increasingly driven by customer demand, often by people who own electric or plug-in hybrid cars and are more than happy with the balance between their advantages and shortcomings.

In my role testing new yachts I’ve sailed an increasing number of boats with electric and hybrid propulsion over the past six years, ranging from lightweight daysailers through smaller cruising yachts to heavy aluminium bluewater cruisers and large cruising catamarans .

I quickly discovered that electric yacht propulsion opens doors to completely different ways of thinking to the diesel engines we’re accustomed to using, especially when motor sailing.

Throttling back

Many diesel powered yachts carry enough fuel for the rate of consumption to never be a worry. However, the further you voyage the greater the chances you’ll opt to throttle back to extend range. It’s incredibly easy to underestimate the dramatic effect this has on energy use, whatever type of fuel is used.

The wave making resistance of a hull increases exponentially at speeds above 1x the square root of the effective waterline length in feet. It therefore takes three times more energy to push a boat with a 36ft (10.9m) waterline at 8 knots than at 6 knots.

Accurate monitoring of electric systems.

Additional efficiencies can be gained by throttling back further. As with air resistance when driving on a motorway, frictional resistance of the water on the hull varies with the square of boat speed. Reducing the speed of a 36-footer from 6 knots to 5 reduces total energy consumed by roughly a further 30%. At 5 knots it therefore requires less than a quarter of the energy needed to push it at hull speed of 8 knots.

This helps explain why many boats with electric propulsion appear to have relatively small battery banks. The same is also true of a Tesla – a Model S with 500kW of propulsion power may have an 80kW battery, yet the car doesn’t run out of power after less than 15 minutes – its range is over 300 miles.

As with a boat, most of the time only a small proportion of the potential power is being used. With a Tesla it’s on tap to provide supercar levels of acceleration for less than five seconds, while on a boat it’s there for manoeuvring and for punching head seas for short periods, such as leaving harbour or rounding choppy headlands in strong wind over tide conditions.

Article continues below…

Modern reaching and downwind sails have revolutionised the sail area it’s feasible for a lightly crewed cruising yacht to carry in light airs. When using a dedicated reaching sail, such as a Code 0, many yachts can now sail at close to the true wind speed in breezes of 4-8 knots. These sails are just as relevant to older cruising yachts and heavy displacement new designs as to very light, high performance craft.

This ability to maintain speed under sail reduces the amount of time spent under power while on passage and therefore effectively increases range, whether you’re using diesel or electric propulsion. In the case of the latter, most electric propulsion systems also have a regeneration function, capable of putting significant amounts of power back into the battery bank while under sail.

Well managed solar and hydrogeneration power on the electric Windelo Adventure 50. Photo: Andreas Lindlahr/EYOTY

The power these produce also increases exponentially as boat speed rises. In lighter airs this can make gybing wide angles to increase apparent wind when sailing downwind an important strategy. If doing so increases boat speed from 5 to 7 knots, for instance, the rate of charge doubles, which helps explain why some all-electric yachts can work as long-distance cruisers.

Depending on the boat, in less than 10 knots of true wind optimal downwind VMG is likely to be found at true wind angles of around 135°-140°. This means you’re sailing 30% further, but expecting the increase in speed to be larger than that figure.

Motor sailing with electric power is very different to doing so with a diesel engine. Unlike a diesel, electric motors can be used to give just a small extra push that helps increase apparent wind in a virtuous circle. When I tested a hybrid Ovni 430, for instance, reaching in less than 4 knots of true wind with mainsail and Code 0 just 3.3kW of push from the electric motor – less than 14% of its rated output – was enough to double boat speed from 2.2 to 4.5 knots. By contrast, 11kW is needed for the boat to maintain a 6.8 knot cruising speed under power alone.

The onboard power system of a Windelo Adventure 50. Photo: Andreas Lindlahr/EYOTY

Nevertheless, making good progress towards a downwind destination can be notoriously difficult so a big asymmetric spinnaker designed for downwind VMG angles is a huge advantage. Unlike a race sail this doesn’t need to be made of super light material – regular 0.75oz, or even a more robust 0.9oz cloth, works well.

Even then it’s not impossible to imagine a scenario in which an all electric long-distance cruising yacht without a back-up generator might reach back and forth with the Code 0 in very light airs just to generate enough electricity to keep the freezer cold.

But that may not be as much of an absurd idea as it initially sounds. When racing offshore we often use a similar strategy in a near calm, having first identified where the next new (stronger) breeze will be found. Instead of aiming solely to reduce the distance sailed, this is usually a faster way to get downwind in very light airs than pointing directly at the next waypoint and is a strategy cruisers can also employ to good effect.

Into the wind

The other situation in which motor sailing is common is to improve progress when close-hauled. In light airs a small push using electric propulsion can again be used to boost speed without a big power drain. However, the situation is very different when punching a big head sea in strong winds, when a considerable amount of power may be needed.

Clean and compact electric propulsion unit in an X-Yachts Xc 47. Photo: Ludovic Fruchaud/imacis.fr

This is arguably a weakness of electric propulsion, other than in yachts with large range-extending generators. It’s a much smaller problem for designs that sail efficiently to windward and have quality sails that maintain their shape even in gusts than for those that tack through big angles and have badly stretched Dacron sails.

The extent to which getting in and out of harbour and manoeuvring in port typically depletes the battery of course varies in different places. There’s a big difference between a marina berth a few hundred metres from open water and those that are a long slog up miles of tidal estuary.

Last autumn I checked out two yachts weighing 8.8 and 15 tonnes respectively in this respect: the Bestevaer 36 in La Rochelle and an Xc 47 at Port Ginesta near Barcelona. With the former we had no need to use more than 2kW of the 11kW of available power at any time while entering port and manoeuvring, while average consumption was closer to 500W. This reflected time manoeuvring at slow speed in a confined space, handing sails and preparing fenders and lines.

Manoeuvring the Xc 47 in harbour, holding station against a 15-knot headwind while we sorted lines and fenders, used only 300-500W of propulsion power, despite the boat’s high topsides and we could have done that for 100 hours before depleting the battery bank.

Motor sailing can be an efficient use of electrical power. Photo: Ludovic Fruchaud/imacis.fr

Is electric propulsion always greener?

There’s no one-size-fits-all strategy for the most sustainable solution for a yacht’s auxiliary propulsion. The extra carbon emissions associated with manufacturing an electric car is often offset within 15,000 miles thanks to their impressive efficiency compared to internal combustion engine vehicles.

However a recent well publicised ICOMIA report found privately owned sailing yachts clock up an average of only 24 engine hours annually, so the carbon footprint associated with producing the battery pack is never recovered.

The recommendation to minimise life cycle carbon emissions is therefore to use a second generation biofuel such as HVO, which is typically produced from biowaste material. These are very different to first generation biofuels, which were very hygroscopic and provided a fertile breeding ground for microorganisms that were prone to blocking fuel filters.

The equation is massively different for charter yachts and owners who spend considerable periods of time on board. An independent study commissioned by Fountaine-Pajot showed that 80% of the yard’s carbon emissions stem not from manufacturing processes, but from the use of its yachts during only the first 20 years of their life.

In this situation electric or hybrid propulsion is likely to make a very sustainable proposition.

Nevertheless, just as environmental considerations aren’t always a factor for owners of enormously powerful electric cars with 0-60mph acceleration times well under four seconds, a growing number of yacht buyers are opting for electric propulsion for reasons other than its apparent green credentials.

Benefits include quiet, odour-free running, space savings, reduced maintenance, the ability to recharge batteries – effectively refuelling while sailing using only the wind – and a huge amount of torque at low speeds that can make difficult manoeuvres in tight spaces a lot less daunting.

Key rules for sailing an electric boat

• Don’t try to motor or motor sail too fast – trying to get close to hull speed takes an enormous amount of energy.
• Good reaching and downwind sails help minimise the time spent under power, while maximising opportunities for regeneration while under way.
• Don’t try to sail dead downwind in light airs – when true wind is under 10 knots a true wind angle around 135°-140° invariably gives better results.
• Use the on-screen data to optimise boat speed and power consumption. Often only a very small push from the motor will result in a useful speed gain when motor sailing.

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BEE YACHT for sale

BEE YACHT was built to offer sustained and comfortable cruising. She is an expedition yacht by design, coupled with a sophisticated and contemporary interior.

BEE YACHT has a full displacement steel hull and an aluminium superstructure, kept just under 300 GT. She features a full beam Owner’s stateroom on the main deck and four guest staterooms below. She has a spacious sun deck and vast upper deck aft leading to a bridge deck salon. Her main salon leads to the aft deck which incorporates a Jacuzzi and convenient med steps down to a large fixed bathing platform.

A brand new yacht fully equipped with latest technology, including zero speed stabilisers. BEE YACHT offers the ultimate long range yacht in compact size with all modern comforts.

Specifications

• Name: BEE YACHT
• Yacht Type: Motor Yacht
• Length Overall: 35.4 metres
• Length at Waterline: 33.9 metres
• Beam: 7.7 metres
• Max Draught: 2.3 metres
• Gross Tonnage: 299
• Displacement Tonnage: 312

Construction

• Year of Build: 2024
• Hull Number: 01
• Hull Type: Full Displacement
• Number of Decks: 3

Performance & Capacities

• Max Speed: 13 kn
• Cruising Speed: 12 kn
• Fuel Capacity: 42000 litres
• Water Capacity: 7200 litres
• Range: 4000 nm
• Hull: Steel
• Superstructure: Aluminium

Accommodation

• Passenger Rooms: 5
• Master Rooms: 1
• Double Rooms: 2
• Twin Rooms: 2

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The 76th Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race sails two courses

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Toronto Harbour Nautical Centre

We’re changing, but you can still experience a world of boating on toronto’s waterfront..

Toronto Harbour Nautical Centre (formerly Harbourfront Centre Sailing & Powerboating) provides affordable and accessible boating for all – from beginners to offshore and much more! We offer a wide selection of sailing and powerboating courses, membership, boat rentals, corporate events and Junior Sail Camps.  

We are conveniently located on Queen’s Quay West, immediately south of the CN Tower and easily accessible from Downtown Toronto by foot, bicycle or car. Public parking is available and the TTC stops right outside our door.   

If you would like to purchase a gift certificate for any of our services, please contact us!

Do you rent boats? 

• Yes, we rent sailboats and powerboats.  

What other services do you provide?

• Other than boat rentals, we also teach sailing and powerboating courses, navigation, boat licensing courses and International Yacht Training (IYT), Bareboat Skipper (BBS) and International Certificate of Competency (ICC) courses.  
• We are a Sail Membership club, offering boat access with no rental fees, race nights, social sails and learning clinics and seminars.  
• We also offer Corporate Events for team sailing sessions with no prior experience necessary for participants.  
• We have Sailing Camps programs for children 6 to 16 years.  

What boats are available for rent ?  

• Paradise F13s and Lunds are ideal for first time and beginner boaters. No experience is required to rent these boats.
• Larger powerboats, such as our pontoon boats and RIBs, can accommodate more people and go further and faster, but experience is required to rent these boats. 
• We have a number of smaller keelboats, such as our Harbour 20s and J24s, that can be rented provided you have sufficient experience.
• We also have a variety of dinghies, including our monohull RS Zests and Fevas, as well as our catamaran Hobie T2 and Getaway. Experience is also required for these boats.
• More information, as well as pictures, of our boats can be found on our website under Boat Rentals . 

How do I reserve a boat?  

• You can reserve a boat by calling us at (416) 203-3000 or emailing [email protected] or visiting us in our office at 275 Queens Quay West. To hold a reservation, we require a 25% deposit if you are making the reservation more than 30 days before your booking and 100% of the payment if within 30 days of your booking.  
• You can make a reservation during our hours of operation; however, we do recommend that you call a few days before your intended booking time to ensure that your desired time and boat is available. 
• If your intended boat requires experience, please submit a Boating Resume on our website first. Once our staff review your resume, you will receive an email with more information about making a booking.

What do you need to rent a boat ?  

• In order to rent our Paradise F13s and Lunds, you need to be 21 years old or over with a valid G class driver’s license OR 18 years old with a Pleasure Craft Operators Card (boating license).
• For the rest of our fleet, you will need to fill out a Boating Resume , so we know how much boating experience you have. Once your resume has been reviewed, you will be contacted with information about anything else that may be required for your rental.
• For all boats, we will provide all required temporary licensing. You will need to provide a credit card for a damage deposit, which is returned to you at the end of your rental. You are also required to have a cellphone on the boat with you so we can reach you while you are out on the water.

 What does “experience necessary” mean?  

• Having previously taken a course.
• Owning your own boat.
• Previous rental history with us or another provider.
• Prior practical experience on boats of an equivalent type and size.
• You must fill out the Boating Resume , which asks you to outline what kind of experience you have with boats and must be approved by our management before you are permitted to take out any of our sailboats or larger powerboats. This is for your safety and the protection of our boats and equipment. 

If I have no experience, which boats can I take out?  

• If you have no experience, you are eligible to rent two of our powerboats, the Paradise F13 two-seater powerboats and the Lund Fury four to five-seater powerboats. All you need to rent one of these powerboats is a valid G Driver’s License and be 21+ years old, or a Pleasure Craft Operators Card and be 18+ years old. These boats are allowed within the inner harbour only..
• For all keelboats and larger powerboats, you also can hire a skipper/instructor for an additional fee. We require that you make the reservation at least seven days before your desired booking. Please call us at (416) 203-3000 for any cost inquiries.

How do I get boating experience?  

• You can take a course recognized by Sail Canada, which we offer for both sailing and powerboating. 

What kinds of courses do you have?  

• We offer a variety of courses for both sailing and powerboating. We offer courses in dinghy sailing, keelboat sailing, powerboating, as well as ‘dry dock’ theory courses like the Toronto Harbour License, VHF Radio License, International Yacht Master Training, and Navigation courses.
• For a full list of courses, course-start dates and pricing, visit our Courses page . 

Can children take your courses?  

• We encourage children aged 6-16 to attend our sailing summer camp to gain experience on the water. 
• Children of any age may attempt the PCOC exam, however they must be 14 to take the Toronto Harbour License course and 16 to take the VHF-DSC Radio License course. 
• Our introductory courses are available to any students 16 or older, and for children aged 14-15 if accompanied by an adult. 
•  All dinghy courses are available to students 16 or older, and 15-year-olds that have successfully completed the Harbourfront Centre Camps Sailing CIT program. 
• All other cruising, powerboating, and navigation courses can be taken by any person 18 and older, or those aged 16-17 if accompanied by an adult.  
• Note: if you are booking a course for yourself and a child that requires accompaniment, please ensure that you purchase two registrations.  

How fast do your boats go ?  

• Our Paradise F13s and Lunds are required to stay within the Inner Harbour which has a speed limit of 6mph, or approximately 11km/hr. The speed of these boats is limited in accordance with these speed limits.  
• Our powerboats that require more experience can reach faster speeds. The skipper of these boats will be required to judge their speed appropriately.   

Which boats am I responsible for refueling ?  

• You are not responsible for refueling any of our boats. Fuel is included in the price for our small powerboats (Paradise F13s, Lunds and RIBS) and all sailboats. A flat fee will be paid at the time of your booking for larger powerboats.  

Where are you allowed to go?  

• All dinghy sailboats, Paradise F13s, Lunds, and RIBs are restricted to the Inner Harbour.  
• All keel sailboats and larger powerboats are permitted to go in both the Inner and Outer Harbour. Please be aware that in the case of inclement weather, these boats may be restricted to the Inner Harbour. Any restrictions will be clearly communicated at the time of your rental.  
• Our powerboats are welcome to travel through the Toronto Islands, and you will be given a map to take with you on the boat that details where you can and cannot go.  
• No boats are permitted in the Toronto Island Airport zone and are subject to a $10,000 fine if caught in the area. 

What is the difference between a keelboat and a dinghy sailboat ?  

• Keelboats have a fixed keel at the bottom of the boat. This keeps the boat upright. They also have an engine on the back. Keelboats can vary in size from two people and up.  
• Dinghies do not have a fixed keel, and therefore can capsize. You need to be able to right the boat. Dinghies do not have an engine. They are usually for 1–3 people.  

How do I become a member?  

• You must fill out a Boating Resume to provide us with the details of your experience to ensure you are qualified to use our boats. Please select either J24 or Harbour 20 if you are interested in a keelboat membership; or Hobie Cat T2 or RS Zest if you are interested in a dinghy membership.
• Once your Boating Resume has been reviewed by our staff, please phone our office at (416) 203 3000, email [email protected] or visit us at 275 Queens Quay West to join as a member.
• Students who complete our Sail Canada Basic Cruising, Sail Canada Intermediate Cruising, Independent Dinghy Sailing, or CANSail 3 courses are eligible for discounts on Membership.  

Where are you located?  

• We are located at 275 Queens Quay West, at the corner of Queens Quay and Rees Street, south of the CN Tower and a block west of Harbourfront Centre at 235 Queens Quay West. 

Is there parking available?  

• The P3 Rees Street Lot is a street-level car park located on the north side of Queens Quay West, just west of Rees Street, right across from our location.

When does Boating Season begin and end?  

• We are open for operations on Victoria Day weekend in May and the season runs until Thanksgiving weekend in October.   

I took my Basic Cruising exam and have not yet received my seal. When can I expect it?

• It takes approximately 4–6 weeks for seals to be processed. If you have not received your seal and it has been longer the expected 4–6 weeks since you wrote your exam, please contact our office at (416) 203-3000 or email [email protected] .

Toronto Harbour Nautical Centre is an internationally recognized Sail Canada ‘Centre of Excellence in Training’ Facility, with courses that provide comprehensive theory, and practical on-water experience.

Our range of courses include Junior Sailing, Adult Sail & Power Programs, International Yacht Training & ICC certifications, online Theory Refresher courses, Navigation courses and a variety of Boat Licenses.

Please contact our offices if you would like to purchase a gift certificate.

Boat Charters/Rentals

We have a fleet of sailboats, powerboats and yachts to suit your needs. We offer bareboat rental opportunities to the public with recognized credentials or equivalent boating experience. Our smaller powerboats are a great opportunity for new boaters to try out the world of boating with proper safety training provided by our knowledgeable staff.

Members receive a 25% discount on all charters and rentals of boats not included in their membership.

Sailboat Memberships

Boat ownership is no longer a barrier to boating; we have a fleet of boats waiting for you, allowing you to experience all of the benefits without the hassle or high cost. Build experience, knowledge and confidence at your own pace, with our welcoming community and skills building opportunities. With your full fleet to choose from, you don’t have to sail the same boat every time. Instead, choose your boat based on your boating plans and the size of your group.

Our membership structure allows you to pay one fee and then boat for free. Memberships will last for a minimum contract of 12 months. You don’t have to volunteer time or effort because we do it all for you. Repairs, maintenance, insurance, dockage… all of it!

Depending on the membership you choose, you will have free access to a number of skills building activities, including Tuesday Learn to Race nights, Wednesday Night Racing, and a number of learning clinics and seminars.

Sailing Club

Getting you on the water is our mission. Enjoyable and accessible boating is our business.  

Membership Types

Basic Cruising Graduate Sail $120/month*

Graduates of our Basic Cruising course have the opportunity to join the club as a member at a vastly discounted rate. This includes access to the entire sailboat fleet, Tuesday Skills Building, Wednesday Race Series, Friday Social Sails and various skills building clinics and seminars throughout the year.

Cruising Sail $180/month*

Members have access to the entire sailboat fleet, Friday Night Social Sails and various skills building clinics and seminars throughout the year. Note: Does not include access to Tuesday Skills Building or Wednesday Race Series.

Racing & Cruising Sail $190/month*

Members have access to the entire sailboat fleet, Tuesday Skills Building, Wednesday Race Series, Friday Social Sails and various skills building clinics and seminars throughout the year. 

Member Club Nights

Tuesday Skills Building

Perfect for sailing graduates and seasoned sailors wishing to improve their skills. 

Wednesday Race Series

If you like competition this is the night for you. Friendly and fun. Perfect for those sailors who want to test what they’ve learned at Tuesday Night Skills Building and become crew on these vessels. 

Friday Social Sail

Meet new friends and sail into the sunset each and every Friday.  

Membership Structure

We have streamlined our Sailing Club Membership, which allows members access to our entire fleet of keelboats, with no rental or yacht charter fees. Skipper status is based on sailing experience, affording members the opportunity to sail all of the boats in our fleet, including the Niagara 35.

Basic (B) Skipper Status 

For those who have successfully completed Basic Cruising

• J24s, Harbour 20s  
• Can crew on Niagara 35, and Hunter 24 until levels are obtained  

Basic Intermediate (BI) Skipper Status

For those who have successfully completed the practical portion of Intermediate Cruising

• Hunter 24, J24s, Harbour 20s  
• Can crew on Niagara 35 until levels are obtained

Intermediate (I) Skipper Status

For those who have completed the full Intermediate Cruising Standard

• Maximum boat access
• Hunter 24, J24s, Harbour 20s

Advanced (A) Skipper Status

For those who have completed the full Advanced Cruising Standard

• Niagara 35, Hunter 24, J24s, Harbour 20s

Regardless of membership type, Children 17 and under sail for free when accompanied by a qualified adult! Unfortunately, this access does not extend to member events such as Tuesday Learn to Race Night sessions, Wednesday Night Racing, and Friday Night Social Sails.

All Sailing Club Memberships include

• Unlimited boat access with no rental/yacht charter fees
• Guest Privileges
• $100 course credit each year (up to $300)
• 25% off of powerboat rentals
• 15% off of Corporate Events
• Monthly payment options

* Monthly prices based on an annual payment plan. $99 initiation fee applies to all new Club Memberships. Payments for all memberships can be split into monthly payments payable over 12 or 6 months, or bi-monthly payments payable over 12 months. Additional monthly administration fees may be applied for such payment plans.

Dinghy Membership: $90/month *

We offer unlimited access to our dinghy fleet, including our RS Zests, RS Fevas, and catamarans: the Hobie T2 and Hobie Getaway.

This membership provides unlimited evening (5pm–8pm) and weekend (9am–6pm) usage. Members must have completed our Independant Dinghy Sailing Course or hold their CANSail 3, or equivalent to be eligible for Dinghy Membership. 

Dinghy Memberships include:

• No rental fees
• Unlimited evenings (5pm–8pm) and weekends (9am–6pm) usage
• Access to our 420 Performance Sailing Dinghies 
• Monthly Thursday Night Dinghy Nights: The chance to get on the water with other dinghy members, with an instructor on hand. The perfect time to meet some fellow sailors, try out a different boat, or hold some friendly races. Free for dinghy members, $65 fee for non-members and guests 

* Monthly prices based on an annual payment plan. $99 initiation fee applies to all new Club Memberships. Payments for all memberships can be spilt into monthly payments payable over 12 or 6 months, or bi-monthly payments payable over 12 months. Additional monthly administration fees may be applied for such payment plans  

Corporate Team Sailing Events

Looking for an economical solution to boost company morale and team productivity? Or maybe you don’t have enough time to plan an event yourself and you’re looking for fresh ideas for a fun team building activity. You’ve come to the right place!  

Take your usual corporate event in a new direction with team sailing, an on-the-water adventure in the heart of the city. Your adventure can be customized to engage colleagues in fun and unique team-building activities.  Simply provide our professional staff with your event objective, and we will create a program to suit your requirements.  

No prior boating experience is necessary to participate. Participants are with an instructor at all times when on the water. We may be able to accommodate groups of over 30 participants. Please contact us to discuss your options.

Team Racing Regatta 6–24 participants   

This classic event features a three-race mini regatta in the beautiful realms of Toronto’s inner harbour. As with all events, each team is briefed on the dos and don’ts of sailing, and then goes on to harness the exhilarating power of nature. They soon learn that communication is everything on the water, just as it is in the office. All positions on a boat are important – each is integral to the team. 

Cruising the Islands 2–32 participants   

If you prefer to cruise, we can set your team sailing on your chosen vessel. Colleagues and clients will enjoy a relaxing sail along Toronto’s breathtaking skyline and islands, or participate in sailing the boat under the guidance of our trained instructors. You dictate the pace.  

Contact Us + Office Hours

We are conveniently located on Queens Quay, immediately south of the Rogers Centre – easily accessible from Downtown Toronto by foot, bicycle or car. There is public parking nearby and the TTC stops right outside our door.

275 Queens Quay West Toronto, ON M5V 1A2 Phone: 416-203-3000 Fax: 416-203-8000 Email:  [email protected]

Spring Office Hours May 18, 2024 – June 28, 2024 Monday: Closed Tuesday – Friday: 12pm – 9pm Saturday – Sunday: 9am – 9pm Open Victoria Day (May 20) from 9am – 9pm

Summer Office Hours June 29, 2024 – September 2, 2024 Monday – Friday: 12pm – 9pm Saturday – Sunday: 9am – 9pm Open all holidays from 9am – 9pm Last boat may be required return before 9pm due to sunset  

Fall Office Hours September 4, 2024 – October 13, 2024 Monday – Tuesday: Closed Wednesday – Friday: 12pm – 8pm Saturday – Sunday: 9am – 6pm Last Day of boating is Sunday, October 13 Closed Thanksgiving Monday, October 14 Last boat may be required return before 8pm due to sunset

Winter Office Hours October 10, 2023 – May 17, 2024 Monday – Friday, 8am – 4pm Closed Holidays

These 3 lesser-known cruise lines offer amazing voyages on sail-powered ships

There is nothing quite as magical — or romantic — as a cruise on a sailing ship.

To stand on the deck of a vessel topped with dozens of billowing sails, propelled through the waves by the power of the wind alone, is to go back in time to an earlier age of travel, when crossing the world's oceans was as adventurous as it was challenging.

It's an experience that's all about the feeling of the wind in your hair, the lean of the vessel (known as the heel) as it's pushed by the wind and the sway from the waves (which is actually smoother than what you get on a motor ship).

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

In contrast to what you'll find on so many motor-powered ships, cruising on a masted ship is about the simple thrill of traveling across the sea and not about all the many attractions you'll find on board.

Only a handful of small cruise brands — so small that you might never have heard of them — offer trips on sailing ships. Here, we look at the three biggest players in this niche subset of the cruise industry.

Sea Cloud Cruises

If it's an authentic, old-style sailing experience you want, then Sea Cloud Cruises is the line for you. The Germany-based company operates three large sailing ships where the sails are unfurled by hand, just as they were on sailing ships centuries ago.

On the biggest of these three vessels, the 136-passenger Sea Cloud Spirit , 18 deckhands scurry high into the rigging on sea days to manually untie and prepare the sails, an amazing sight. Unveiled in 2021 , it's a full-rigged, three-masted sailing ship of the sort that hasn't been common on the world's oceans for more than a century.

Related: Why Sea Cloud Spirit is a sailing vessel you'll want to try

Sea Cloud Cruises' two other vessels — Sea Cloud 2 and Sea Cloud — are smaller but offer a similar show as the sails are set by hand the old-fashioned way. The former is a 23-year-old, three-masted barque propelled by 23 sails (five fewer than Sea Cloud Spirit); the latter is a 93-year-old, four-masted barque with 30 sails and a storied past.

Now configured to carry 64 paying passengers, Sea Cloud was originally the private yacht of Postum Cereals heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post and her husband, the famed financier E. F. Hutton. At the time, the vessel was the largest private yacht in the world. It later served the U.S. Navy as a weather ship during World War II, after which it became the presidential yacht for the Dominican Republic. It only began sailing as a cruise vessel in the 1980s.

If you have money to spare, you can still book Post's opulent private quarters on Sea Cloud, now its owner's suite. It'll set you back around $5,000 per day per couple. Her husband's slightly smaller quarters are also available to book at a similar rate.

Post, the wealthiest woman in the U.S. during her lifetime, notably also built Mar-a-Lago, the massive estate in Florida that is now the official residence of Donald Trump.

Sea Cloud Cruises is the most all-inclusive and upscale of the three brands listed in this story, with pricing to match. Expect to pay nearly $1,000 per person per day or more for many sailings.

Sea Cloud Cruises' three vessels offer a diverse array of sailings in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Canary Islands and Morocco, the Caribbean or along the west coast of Central America.

Related: Cruising Costa Rica, Panama with Sea Cloud Cruises

Windstar Cruises

Founded in the 1980s, Windstar Cruises got its start as a sailing ship line. While it now operates traditional motor-powered ships, too, voyages on sailing ships are still a big part of its business.

Three of the Seattle-based brand's six vessels — Wind Spirit, Wind Star and Wind Surf — are sailing vessels, and they all offer a similar yacht-like, small-ship experience.

Two of the three vessels (Wind Spirit and Wind Star) are particularly intimate, measuring 5,407 tons and carrying just 148 passengers with every berth full.

Related: The 2 types of Windstar ships, explained

The line's third sailing vessel, Wind Surf, is nearly three times the size at 14,745 tons. It's one of the biggest sailing ships in the world (only a sister vessel that sails for Club Med is bigger). Wind Surf carries 342 people, an enormous number for a sailing ship.

Unlike on the vessels operated by Sea Cloud, the sails on Windstar's sailing ships aren't unfurled by hand in the old-fashioned way but by the push of a button from the bridge. It's a fully automated system that is much more modern, if less dramatic.

Still, the experience of slicing through the waves by the power of the wind alone on Windstar ships is as glorious and romantic as it is on the Sea Cloud ships.

Windstar Cruises is less all-inclusive and pricey than Sea Cloud but still offers a relatively upscale experience. Its dining program is done in partnership with the food-focused James Beard Foundation, which also brings James Beard Award-winning chefs to the ships regularly for food-themed itineraries.

For an extra $89 per person per day, passengers can also make the experience more all-inclusive with included Wi-Fi, unlimited beer, wine and cocktails, and gratuities (three things that aren't included in regular fares).

The line's three vessels typically spend nearly all of their time sailing in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean or along the west coast of Central America.

Related: Read more about Windstar's itineraries

Star Clippers

Like Sea Cloud and Windstar, Star Clippers operates three sailing vessels that are among the biggest and most elegant sailing vessels in the world.

The belle of the ball at the line is Royal Clipper, a stunning five-masted ship that is billed as the largest square-rigged ship in the world. Its enormous array of 42 sails has a sail area of 56,000 square feet — significantly more than the sails atop any of the Sea Cloud or Windstar vessels. (Only Sea Cloud Spirit comes relatively close with a sail area of 44,100 square feet spread across 28 sails.)

Built to resemble Preussen, a legendary tall ship of the 19th century, the 24-year-old Royal Clipper shares the spotlight at Star Clippers with two smaller sister vessels, Star Flyer and Star Clipper.

Carrying 166 passengers apiece, the smaller vessels were designed to resemble the speedy clipper ships of the 19th century, which were known for their narrow profile and large sail area. Each vessel has a sail area of 36,000 square feet spread across 16 sails, a large amount for the size.

When it comes to the setting of sails, Star Clippers vessels offer a level of old-style authenticity that is in between the ships of Sea Cloud and Windstar. Like on Sea Cloud vessels, the sails are pulled into position by a team of deckhands using hand power and winches to tighten the "sheets," or ropes.

Unlike on Sea Cloud vessels, the deck hands don't climb high into the rigging to untie and prepare the sails for winching. That part is done automatically at the push of a button from the bridge, as it is on Windstar vessels.

In one key difference, though, Star Clippers lets passengers harness up and climb into the crow's nest of its vessels — a thrilling experience. Just be prepared for your knees to go a bit wobbly as you get to the top; it's way up there.

Star Clippers sailings are the most affordable option among the three sailing brands, in part because the onboard experience is less all-inclusive and upscale.

The three Star Clippers vessels mostly operate sailings in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands, the Caribbean and along the west coast of Central America.

Bottom line

It's still possible to get a taste of what traveling the world's oceans was like in the days before motor power. Three small cruise companies — Sea Cloud Cruises, Windstar Cruises and Star Clippers — offer voyages on large sailing ships that are as majestic as anything that has sailed the seas in centuries past.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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What is the ‘Below Deck Sailing Yacht’ season 5 release date?

In 2013, we were all gifted a new reality show to binge and enjoy: Below Deck . After 11 years, the show is still going as strong as ever due to its unique premise. However, in 2020, we received a shiny brand-new toy to idle time away: Below Deck Sailing Yacht .

The Below Deck spinoff reality series meets the crew members of Parsifal III , a luxury yacht sailing the Mediterranean, as they strive to provide elite customers with a once-in-a-lifetime experience. At this point, we’ve already been gifted four total seasons o f Below Deck Sailing Yacht , but the wait for a new season feels as though it’s been a lifetime . With that said, here is everything we know about the upcoming season, and when exactly this yacht is going to set sail.

When is Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5 releasing?

For quite some time, fans believed the new season would debut on Bravo between February and March; however, it seems we might have to wait until late spring or early summer for Below Deck Sailing Yach t’s season 5. This information arose in the comment section of an Instagram post by Captain Glenn himself.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Captain Glenn Shephard (@capt_glennshephard)

The captain ended all speculation when he responded to a fan asking, “When is the Parsifal due for departure!?” to which Captain Glenn replied, “Not until late spring [or] early summer.” At this point, neither Bravo nor any other crew members have addressed the exact release date, so the release windows remains speculative. But thanks to Captain Glenn, at least we now have confirmation that a whole new season is on its way very soon, prompting us to clear our calendars in advance.