SAILING, YACHTING AND THE GREAT MARINAS

By Publisher Ray Carmen

The Mediterranean is not merely viewed from the shore. Its deepest freedom is found under sail.

From the Balearics and the Riviera to Sardinia, Sicily, Malta, Croatia, Greece and Türkiye, the region offers an unmatched network of islands, anchorages, shipyards and marinas. Palma combines refit expertise with a lively city. Porto Cervo brings glamour to the Costa Smeralda. Monaco and Saint-Tropez are stages for the world’s most celebrated yachts, while Split, Athens, Bodrum and Valletta serve as gateways to entire cruising grounds.

Sailing creates a different map. The important places are shaped by wind, shelter, distance and depth: a harbour at dawn, a quiet bay for lunch, a village quay at sunset. Charter options range from bareboat sailing yachts and crewed catamarans to traditional gulets and superyachts. The right choice depends on experience, party size, desired privacy and whether the holiday is about covering distance or surrendering to the pace of the sea.

Marinas increasingly function as destinations in their own right, with hotels, restaurants, shops, residences and events. Their future, however, depends on environmental performance. Cleaner fuels, shore power, responsible anchoring, wastewater control and protection of seagrass are becoming central to credible nautical tourism.

Mediterranean World will follow regattas, new yachts, charter routes, waterfront developments and the people who keep the industry moving.

Sailing may represent luxury, sport or simple adventure, but at its heart lies the oldest Mediterranean instinct: to look across the water and wonder what waits beyond the horizon.