best sailboats to sail around the world

10 Best Sailboat for Sailing Around the World | Guide

Sailing Around the World is so much fun. Sailboats were traditionally made of marine wood or other wood-based materials. By reading this guide, you will know the Top 10 Best Sailboats for Sailing Around the World.

Also, you can know,

• Top 10 best types of sailboats for sailing the globe
• What to consider when choosing a sailboat for sailing the globe?

Watch Sailing across the Pacific on a million dollar sailboat | Video

• Top 5 FAQ & Answers on the best type of sailboat for sailing the globe

Let’s start,

With today’s sailboats, sailing around the world is easier than ever. A sailboat is a smaller form of a sailing boat that is partially or completely driven by sails. Several elements make up a sailing boat or ship, depending on the region and maritime culture.

More rustic and historical designs might just have made do with whatever wood was available at the time, but current construction allows for the use of premium marine lumber. Many sailboat subclasses, like the catamaran, use superior fiberglass materials for a more robust, low-maintenance design.

Sailing is an enjoyable activity for individuals at all levels of experience. Sailboats evoke beautiful images of afternoons spent on a breezy bay, rigorous racing, historical re-enactment on tall ships, and long-distance traveling to foreign shores—and all of these images are right because sailboats nowadays can perform a wide range of things.

Top 10 best of sailboats for sailing the globe

Here are the best type of sailboats for sailing the globe

1. Beneteau 57

This is likely one of today’s largest and most advanced alternatives! The Beneteau 57 is intended to be both elegant and reliable. But it’s for sure; it is indeed a luxury cruiser!

The hull is intended to be as fast and sleek as possible. Combined with the astonishing hull, the cockpit is positioned in the center of the deck to optimize space and keep it as sleek and orderly as possible below the deck.

The facilities below the decks are also unaffected. All of the systems have a wonderful finish and are overall quite stunning. Given the boat’s length of nearly 50 feet, there is a considerable amount of space.

That’s fair to say that the Beneteau 57 is an excellent choice if you want to enjoy your trip while doing so in style. The major benefit is that the pricing is quite reasonable when compared to the build quality and exquisite feel you receive.

Specifications

The boat is a powerful sloop rig with a superbly constructed cockpit. The synthetic sparkling Glass blue countertops in the heads and the outstanding stainless steel appliances in the galley add to her stunning style. She’s a true jewel, having the most comprehensive list of standard features (including a dishwasher) of any Beneteau boat.

2. Bavaria 42

It is the most widely used mass-produced ocean-crossing vessel. The sailboat is intended to be a no-frills, budget-friendly, and adaptable cruiser. For the money, it’s also well-engineered.

A large waterline and a good sail area allow plenty of performance on the deck. When the cruising essentials are stored onboard, it is quite heavy. It’s critical to keep this in mind. The cockpit is also placed as centrally as possible to allow for more space.

The cabin is basic and utilitarian below decks. Based on the model, there are 2 to 3 sleeping cabins. The sleeping cabins are considered to be better functional.

It’s usual procedure to circumnavigate aboard a cruise. This is the sailboat to which you must compare everything!

The Bavaria 42 Cruiser seems to be practical and well-built, providing numerous benefits for a relaxing trip with friends or family. Forward visibility is excellent at the helm, you will feel stable, and the wide cockpit will offer you with a sense of security even if the boat is listing. Aside from the stability, the Bavaria 42 was a lot of fun to drive, and there’s no better way to bolster your ego than getting behind the wheel of a high-end vessel that responds to your every whim.

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3. Kraken 50

The Kraken 50, described as the “safest blue sea yacht in construction today,” has arrived. The K50 boasts a unique ‘Zero Keel’ construction, which consists of an all-in-one hull and keel with matching scantlings, unlike any of her contemporaries.

An amazing 20mm lay-up, an integral keel, Kevlar reinforcements, and a full skeg-hung rudder for optimum protection all contribute to her strength, safety, and stability.

Mark Fullerton, MD of the Doyle Sails China company that manufactured K50 sail equipment, believes that “The design ideas of the Kraken Yacht team for designing their yachts show unique awareness of the requirements for blue sea sailors.

For all this and for the K50.0 complete overview, the 56-year-old financial advisor Davis Wilkinson selected Kraken above other well-established companies. Most of them were considered and eliminated in his quest for the appropriate yacht to sail away.

The Kraken 50 is a comfortable and safe boat to sail. The boat is faster, sleeker, more fun to sail, more maneuverable, and easier to control, thanks to the twenty-first-century design, technology, and aesthetics. INTERIOR. A large interior complements the cockpit, which includes an elevated forward-facing watch and navigation station.

4. Amel Super Maramu

Henri Amel’s design for a high-performance circumnavigating yacht was highly praised. The design’s major goal was to get the boat to perform and be feasible in deeper waters. This leads to less luxury and greater utility. Also, keep in mind that it is undeniably French.

The boat itself has the appearance of a traditional circumnavigating sailor, yet it has several modern amenities. The ship is designed to be operated by a tiny two-person crew. Everything revolves around the concept of efficiency.

The ketchup rig, for example, is designed to be simple yet effective. Even the sails are controlled by electricity! This indicates that the boat is quite simple to operate and handle. Because a few components could be a little tough to accomplish, it’s advised for sailors with a couple of years of expertise.

It’s important to remember that the Super Maramu was not intended to be customized. With a length of 53 feet, it wouldn’t be worth the effort to make any external changes. It’s the same story on the inside as well. The cabin is entirely practical, so if you’re searching for a more luxurious circumnavigator, this isn’t it.

It was designed for long-distance sailing and prioritized comfort and ease. The Amel Super Maramu excels in several areas, including safety, reliability, comfort, and storage space. It ensures a high level of safety.

5. Island Packet 349

The Island Packet 349 was named the “Best Midsize Cruiser under 38 Feet” by Cruising World. Regardless of the weather, it provides visitors with a safe and enjoyable long-distance sailing and cruising experience.

The IP 349 is a 2-cabin boat with a separate shower compartment in the single head, which is unusual for boats under 38 feet. It includes refrigerators, a pull-out spice rack cabinet, under-counter dry goods storage, and several SS overhead and bulkhead-mounted handholds, among other things. The saloon also contains an L-shaped built-in sofa to port and a folding dining table.

From the fiberglass work to the hardware that includes Harken winches and furlers, the overall build quality is exceptional. It sails beautifully. Island Packet will be an excellent boat for those who enjoy sailing and cruising.

6. Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 54DS

The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 54DS is one of the stronger candidates and checks the luxury box. What’s most impressive about the 54DS is how visually appealing and spacious it is. This yacht has a unique design because of its large, swooping curves. When this boat line first debuted in 2003, the superstructure was regarded as one of the best globally, and it continues to be so today. Not only that, but the inside has been intended to be elegant, and the cabin has a surprising amount of space.

But there’s more to this boat than meets the eye. The overall build quality is outstanding, and it is also fairly powerful. Most former owners have acknowledged the predictable and consistent performance of the high standard of construction quality, powerful performance, and sturdy superstructure. This is great for circumnavigation because you want a boat that will perform predictably and won’t surprise you!

A deep-draft keel and a typical in-mast furling mainsail are two other significant features of the 54DS. It also has an option for a fully battened main. For long-distance cruisers, all of these characteristics are considered standard equipment.

It’s especially beneficial for families because they’re out of the path of all the action.’ The Jeanneau 54 DS is attractive, sturdy, easy to sail, and can serve various tasks. It looks and feels like a small superyacht, and it has the same harbor cachet as a custom yacht of comparable size.

When it was introduced following the successful Neel 45 and Neel 65 flagships, this trimaran quickly gained popularity among its clients. The majority of people prefer this type because of its large deckhouse. The Harken 52 winches manage the double headsail rig, which is conveniently accessible from the helm.

However, the headsail hinders visibility from the helm, which is a common concern with multihulls. A wide and pleasant lounge space is adjacent to it if you want to hang out and rest. 2 center-hull staterooms with separate heads/showers are located below the deck. The trim of the Neel 51 is made of Alpi wood, while the flooring is made of a hard-wearing polyester substance.

$ 1,181,268

This cruising trimaran is ideal for individuals who want to experience true sailing sensations. It’s light and basic, yet with enough creature comforts to make it a pleasant cruising boat.

8. Peterson 44 (KP44)

Another popular sailboat to live on is this 44-footer. Onboard, there is enough room for a couple and a kid. It has three cabins and is powered by a 62-horsepower diesel engine. It is unquestionably a more cost-effective choice for people who wish to live on a sailboat.

It also has standard fire safety elements such as a fire blanket and extinguishers. Always inspect the fire extinguishers/fire blankets when purchasing an old yacht. If they’ve been utilized, inquire as to why and where they were used on the yacht.

These boats can be sold in typical locations like Yacht world, Boat trader, and others. Contacting your local marina, on the other hand, can be useful in locating one for sale in your region.

Even without a wind vane, the KP44 sails are easy to weather and may be balanced to maintain a beat. It was simple to get the boat balanced and the wind vane steering to work on a close stretch or close-hauled. The Perkins diesel engine starts easily and operates smoothly. The forward V-berth cabin is tastefully decorated, with teak cupboards and ample storage.

9. Catalina 30 – Best Sailboat for Sailing

This modest-sized sloop kindled voyaging ambitions by the hundreds during an era when Americans wanted to go sailing and could afford it. Literally, the 30 came in three models: Mark I, Mark II, and Mark III, and it has the longest production run of any vehicle, spanning from 1975 to 2006. The same-named California manufacturer launched almost 6,500 hulls.

The Catalina 30 is a sturdy boat. A boat with a high ballast-to-displacement ratio, a large beam, a deep fin keel, and a compact sail design is extremely stable.

10. Fountaine Pajot Saba 50 – Best Sailboat for Sailing

The new Fountaine Pajot Saba 50 has been designed to accommodate up to ten people overnight or could transport much more for a day sail, giving it the ideal recreational platform. Thanks to the double sun pads on the bow, the large transom seat aft, the cockpit settees, and the flybridge salon, a dozen people could relax in various areas of the boat without feeling crowded. Onboard, 4 independent social relations could take place without interfering with one another.

The primary dinette is in the aft cockpit, with only a lounge sofa inside the saloon, because dining aboard catamarans takes place largely al fresco in temperate areas. A wide glass door separates the outdoors from the interior, yet both are on the same level, making transitioning from one place to the next easier.

The Saba 50 comes with 2 layout options on the inside. The Maestro, which has four cabins and four heads, is the owner’s version. The master stateroom is located in the port hull, and a smaller cabin is located forward. 5 berths and a captain’s cabin are included in the Quintet charter version.

The Saba 50 is differentiated by its lightness, spaciousness, and high-level performance. She’s big enough to accommodate up to 12 passengers comfortably while still being maneuverable and easy to handle. It readily hits 9-11 mph under sails and could even push over 14 knots in the proper breeze, thanks to its lightweight construction.

What to consider when choosing the best Sailboat for Sailing the globe?

Attempting to select the best type of sailboat for sailing the globe could be a challenging task. So, let’s see how to pick the perfect one.

1. Sailing performance

In this boat, what’s most important to you? If you want to go fast around the racecourse and win awards, you’ll need a lightweight speedy with a large sail plan. If it’s arriving refreshed and blissfully relaxed after a week to ten-day journey? Then you’ll need a blue water passage maker.

A mid-to moderate-displacement racer is an appropriate boat for sailing in the Bay and occasionally participating in a race or two. A pocket cruiser could be the ideal vessel if speed and time aren’t concerned. A few Flicka 20 boats have circumnavigated the globe at a moderate pace.

Sails and the ability to sail well are the other components of sailboat performance. Half of the boat-performance equation would be investing in well-designed and built sails and learning the art of sailing. This is particularly true when sailing in light winds. This is an art form in and of itself that must be mastered. When the wind is blowing at 4 to 6 knots, your ideal goal is to be able to keep your boat going without using the motor.

2. Where are you going to sail?

Also, think about where you’ll be sailing. Regarding boating, the Atlantic Ocean is nothing like Lake Michigan. Small river boating necessitates a different vessel than one which could be utilized on the Chesapeake Bay. You must select a boat that is suited for the environment in which you will be boating.

3. Size of sailboat

A sailboat’s size could have a big impact on its performance. It’s simple to determine your boat’s size. If you want a cabin with living quarters, you’ll need a cabin that’s longer than 20 feet.

Cabins are available on sailboats such as the West Wight Potter 19 and the Cal 20. You’ll need to look for boats that are 25 feet long or longer to get enough standing headroom. You’ll need to choose a sailboat size with care if you plan on going on long bluewater cruises. If the boat is too huge, it will be difficult (if not impossible) to control on your own.

It will be uncomfortable or dangerous if it is too small. Boats between 26 and 35 feet are frequently sufficient for single-handed offshore passages.

There are always exceptions to any rule. The Flicka 20 was a magnificent 20-foot offshore cruiser built by Pacific Sea Craft. This heavy-displacement sailboat could be transported on a trailer and easily navigated long blue water journeys. It included a full bunk, shower, kitchen, and sitting space in its modest cabin. It was among the tiniest ‘real’ offshore cruisers ever built and ideal for minimalist sailors.

4. Living space

The living space on a sailboat must fulfill a variety of functions. On a passage offshore, space is employed differently. Once at anchor, the same space might be used for various purposes.

When entertaining friends and guests, there is yet another requirement. When traveling with family and friends, space is used differently throughout passages and ports of call. Choosing which functions are most critical to least vital would determine whether a large cockpit and matching salon are required.

Will the galley be used for sea duties or only for parties? When the boat is heeled and surfing through heavy seas, would a small cockpit and plenty of handholds be the deciding factors?

Large wide spaces are difficult to walk through security when the boat is offshore and being thrown by the wind and waves. A catamaran’s salon and cockpit are unrivaled if entertaining is the most crucial consideration. If you’re traveling with a large group, large cabins with attached private bathrooms would be essential.

The main spaces would identify the required features and their principal purpose by defining which space function has the highest priority.

5. Hull material

The majority of boat owners prefer fiberglass vessels. These vessels are tough, long-lasting, and simple to keep clean. Glass and resin are readily available in most international tourist ports, making on-the-spot repairs a breeze.

Fiberglass isn’t good enough for some. Working with the substance frequently necessitates sanding, which generates poisonous dust, and fiberglass epoxy is particularly hazardous. Wooden boats are a wonderful choice for a traditional sailor, and you could even build your own.

Wooden sailboats come in various shapes and sizes, but they all cost more upfront. Wooden well-built boats could survive a century or more, and maintenance is usually non-toxic and simple. A conscientious steward could gain great rewards from a wooden sailboat, but they need specialized tools and meticulous maintenance to operate.

In the case of hull material, there is no right or wrong option. Whether you go with fiberglass, wood, steel, aluminum, or even Ferro-cement is a personal decision. A modest fiberglass boat would function admirably for the vast majority of sailors.

Top 5 FAQs & Answer on the best Sailboat for Sailing the globe

Conclusion – best sailboat for sailing.

Finally, the best type of sailboat for sailing the globe for navigation is determined by the type of adventure you seek. Every sailboat has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.  You may like to calm in comfort and luxury or prefer a more natural, hands-on experience.

The space below decks, the boat’s size and ease of usage, and whether the boat suits your demands are all crucial factors to consider. The best type of sailboat for sailing the globe described above offers comfort, performance, and dependability, all of which are important characteristics for your voyage.

Now, you know better what to look for in a sailing cruise boat. Many fantastic options are available, but the ones listed above are merely an excellent place to start. If you take the time to choose the perfect boat for you, you will not be disappointed.

Bottom up – Best Sailboat for Sailing

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5 Best Cruising Sailboats In 2024

The appeal of owning a cruising sailboat is one that deep down almost everyone shares.

Even someone who has no intention of ever sailing can see the appeal of owning such a vessel.

So much of the appeal is tied into the possibilities , the sense of wonder that owning such a boat bestows on its owner.

‍ Whether you are making a voyage from one coast of the United States to the other or plan to make your way around the globe, a decent cruising sailboat is a must. Not all sailboats are built to withstand the high seas and high winds of the open water.

Sure, they may do well enough when hugging the coastline, but sailing far and away over the horizon is a completely different animal.

This article will help you know what to look for in a cruising sailboat and which specific boats you should look into buying. There are hundreds of great options on the market, these 5 are just some of the best.

Table of contents

What are cruising sailboats?

Cruising sailboats are ones that are designed to be used over long distances.

They are bigger, stronger, and far more stable.

If you imagine a typical small sailboat such as a wayfarer you are looking at a pretty solid boat.

Good quality, great for beginners, very safe, very affordable.

But, it is simply not going to cut it out at sea for long.

People have used the wayfarer to sail from the United Kingdom to Norway.

But, people have also done that in a kayak.

Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should or that you would even want to if given the opportunity.

A cruising boat is meant to be liveable for long periods between making land.

Typically, cruising just means a multi-day trip.

In reality, it can be far longer.

Reid Stowe once sailed his self built 70-foot schooner for over three and a half years.

This is an extreme example, no one lives on their boat that long, but it gives you an idea of the possibilities.

To be able to spend so much time on a boat requires that it be of an adequate size to accommodate everything you would need.

If a sailboat is capable of housing you for a few days, technically it can be classed as a cruising sailboat .

Typically, cruising sailboats can reach speeds of ten knots.

This is needed to be able to make it from one point of land to another before supplies run out.

This is not a technical requirement to be “classed” as a cruising sailboat, just a practical one.

What makes a sailboat good for traveling long distances?

While, yes, a sailboat capable of traveling for multiple days without making land could be classed as a cruising sailboat. There are some criteria that it needs to hit to be considered a good choice. Your sailboat needs to not only be capable of making the journey but doing it safely. Here are some important things to consider when deciding if a sailboat would be suitable for cruising:

A boat that is not going to be stable is not ideal for cruising. When sailing for multiple days chances are you are going to crossing through rough seas and dangerous waters. If you don’t have a boat that can stand up to these conditions you are going to be in trouble. A good way of assessing stability is width and hull type. If a boat has a very wide, or multiple, hulls you can assume it is going to be quite stable.

The bigger the boat the better, not only for stability but for comfort. If you are going to be essentially trapped on your boat for several days it is a good idea to have as much room to move about as possible. Both in the cabin and on the deck. If you are stuck inside because of bad weather for several days every extra square foot you have is going to be a blessing. Size matters to when you consider how many people you can bring on your voyage. They don’t just require their sleeping quarters/bunk they need space to move around.

Strength matters. A strong hull will help you withstand even the roughest conditions. Some boats are built with metal reinforcing on their hulls, some aren’t. If given the choice, you would do well to choose the former. Strength doesn’t just mean material but the overall build of the boat. If a boat doesn’t have a strong mast, the sail is more likely to come down. A sailboat without a mast or sail is much more likely to capsize.

Being able to travel long distances is not only limited by the strength or sturdiness of the boat but how much storage it has. If you plan to be sailing for 7 days you will need 7 days worth of supplies. If a boat doesn’t have the storage to accommodate this, you won’t be able to make the journey. Just because a boat is larger doesn’t mean it will have more storage room.

Experience:

More than anything, what makes a sailboat suitable for cruising is having an experienced skipper. There is a big difference between sailing for multiple days and multiple hours. Make sure you are capable of making the voyage before you think about whether your boat can.

What do people find so appealing about sailing long distances?

There is such a romantic notion of being able to sail wherever you please, whenever you please. Being able to make long voyages is so much more exciting than shorter ones. The chance to cruise from country to country is such an exciting opportunity that few people in the modern era have. Sailing from country to country used to be the only way to get around. Now, everyone uses planes. Sailing brings people back to their ancestral roots in a way no other form of transport does. There may not be new lands to discover on behalf of our countries, but there are new lands to discover for ourselves. Reading about, hearing about, or watching documentaries on places is not the same as exploring them for yourself by sea.

The sense of adventure and discovery is like nothing else. Who doesn’t dream of making the journey around the world? Most people will never do it, but the dream is still there. Most of all though, long-distance cruising is exciting . The adrenaline from making the dangerous trip through open sees is truly exhilarating. Whether you are racing or cruising along at your own pace, there is always a sense of danger when out at sea. Some people love it, they crave it, but it isn’t for everyone.

Is sailing long distances dangerous?

Sailing long distances may be romantic, it may be exciting, it may be freeing, but it is also one of the most dangerous things you can do. When you are out of contact with the rest of the world, out at sea beyond the help of those onshore, the potential for danger is huge. You don’t know what will happen, you don’t know what could go wrong. No matter how experienced, how skilled, or how brave you are there is the potential for disaster. There are things you can do to improve the odds. Being a great sailor is one, making sure you have the best cruising sailboat possible is another. You don’t have to spend millions or even hundreds of thousands on getting a great sailboat. Some are far more affordable than you might expect.

What are the 5 best cruising sailboats?

There are so many fantastic sailboats out there that finding the right one might feel impossible. The choice is overwhelming, even with the above guide on what to look for in your boat there are still almost endless choices. Luckily, this article is here to help. This section will give you a good selection of cruising sailboats at various price points. Which one is best for you will likely depend on a mixture of preference and budget. While none of these boats are exactly cheap, they won’t break the bank like some of the other options on the market.

Prout Snowgoose 37

{{boat-info="/boats/prout-snowgoose-37"}}

If you are looking for a reliable sailboat look no farther than the Prout Snowgoose 37. This large catamaran makes use of its double hulls for increased width and stability. It is easy to steer, handles well, and is pretty spacious. There are more roomy catamarans on the market but none are as strong as this one. It is built to be sailed long distances in rough conditions. Its fiberglass hull makes it light and nimble all while retaining its strength. It is a slightly older model, but one that will serve you well. It is British made so finding one in the States can be a little tricky. If you do find one though you would do well to jump at the chance to purchase it.

Price: Less than $100k

{{boat-info="/boats/corbin-39"}}

The Corbin 39 is a beautiful blue water sailboat. It is a very rare boat with a proud history. Only a handful of these boats were finished to completion in the factory, the majority were sold as kits and built by the boat’s owner. Because of this method of production, this model can vary drastically on the inside. The interiors are all expressions of their owner’s creativity, and craftsmanship. This means you may want to have a proper look around inside the boat before purchasing one. The outside, especially the hull, is likely to be the same from boat to boat as they were sold as a piece. If you don’t mind potentially having to remodel the interior this might be the boat for you. The Corbin 39 is a rather large boat, the deck is huge and is perfect for transporting multiple passengers. You may have to shell out some more cash for renovations but the boat itself is second to none.

Price: $80k

Tayana Vancouver 42

{{boat-info="/boats/tayana-vancouver-42"}}

Finding one of these cruisers isn’t going to be too hard, as quite a few were made, but it is important to note they were made almost 40 years ago. Some models were made in the early 2000s, but not many. This double-ended hull cruiser is incredibly strong, it has a cast iron ballast and can withstand even the very worst weather conditions. This boat is strong, rugged, but not very quick. If you are looking for speed this is not the boat for you. The hull is fiberglass so you know you are getting a sturdy boat, but the trade-off from the iron ballast means this boat is heavy and slow to maneuver. This double sail cruiser costs anywhere from $80-$100 grand depending on how old the model you are looking at is. The older ones are a bit cheaper, at the expense of being a little worse for wear.

{{boat-info="/boats/nordic-40"}}

This 40-foot cruiser is a jack of all trades type of craft. If you are looking for a very solid middle of the pack choice this is the one for you. It does everything well but excels almost nowhere except in size. The Nordic 40 is very large for the price you are paying, so you are certainly getting your money worth here. This vessel is sturdy, strong, light and nimble. It is capable of moving very quickly and agilely through the water in a light breeze but is more than capable of resisting tougher conditions. If you are looking for a cruiser that is good for living on, not just sailing on, this could be the one for you. Its extra size means extra storage and living spaces. It has a great shower, huge fridge, plenty of counter space and decent sized sleeping quarters.

Pacific Sea Craft 34

{{boat-info="/boats/pacific-seacraft-34"}}

If you are looking for the perfect cruiser for you and your significant other, the Pacific Sea Craft 34 is just what you are looking for. It has a solid fiberglass hull and is capable of reaching decent speeds. The 34 may be slightly smaller than some of the other options but it still has plenty of storage, six and a half feet of headroom, and is simply stunning to look at. This sailboat is incredibly well designed, its 13,500 pounds of displacement make it strong and sure in the water without losing its agility.

Hopefully, you now have a good idea about what to look for in a sailing cruise boat. There are so many great options on the market, the ones mentioned above are just a good starting point. If you take the time to find the right boat for you , you won’t regret it. Buying a cruising sailboat is a huge commitment, it is important to be sure of your choice before you make the purchase. Good luck with your hunt for the perfect cruiser!

Thinking of living on a sailboat? Read up on the 10 Best Sailboats To Live In.

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Daniel Wade

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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Best boats to sail around the world

Oct 20, 2020

less than a min

Sailing around the world is regarded as one of the safest ways to travel, according to recent statistics. The only way for it to become a little bit worrisome is if you are not careful. That said, having a good boat to sail worldwide will also increase your chance of being safer and enjoying your trip better.

Therefore, sailing around the world boats do possess some optimal characteristics and features that make them better suited for such long voyages. These features would be durable hulls, lightweight structures, cutting edge technology as well as large volume and length to ensure comfort. Some of the most popular world cruising boat brands include:

• Hallberg-Rassy

The World Cruising Club has been featuring boats and comparing them throughout their rallies. Based on their choices, here is a list of the 8 most popular cruising boats to sail around the world:

• The Hylas 54 is commonly seen in the Caribbean. This is one of the most popular world cruisers due to its strong hull and ergonomic deck layout. In addition, it includes a raised saloon, a wide interior, and elegant finishes. Hylas 54 achieves a good balance between a chic design and good engineering.
• Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 54DS is an interesting and eye-catching boat. It was introduced to the marine world in 2003 and has been a sight for sore eyes ever since. This is a powerful and strong structure including a deep-draft keel and an in-mast furling mainsail. ts exterior seems quite futuristic and cannot go unnoticed.
• The Amel Super Maramu is a boat intended to be sailed by a couple. It features electric furling gears and high-tech sail handling systems. There are only 500 of this model made.
• Oyster 56 is a very popular boat for Britain. It is quite interesting as this boat is so small it can be  operated by just two people, but it is durable and strong enough to cross oceans. In addition, despite its size, it is regarded as a very comfortable vessel. Most importantly, the Oyster 56 is quite fast and has won several rallies and done very well in regattas.
• The Hallberg-Rassy 42 is a Swedish boat designed by German naval architects. It features tough center-cockpits, an ingenious interior layout, great materials, impeccable building quality, and last but not least, luxurious finishes.
• Bavaria 42 is a mass-production boat that can easily be compared to luxurious yachts when it comes to crossing oceans. This is an affordable boat with a long waterline length and a couple of sleeping cabins. What distinguishes it from the rest is its straightforward interior and its high quality.
• The Amel 54 was introduced to the naval world in 2006. It is an utterly comfortable boat featuring a contemporary design, durable materials, and luxurious amenities.
• Beneteau 57 is an ingenious masterpiece that features a very fast hull with an interesting and attractive shape. The finishes inside the boat scream luxury, while the center-cockpit is quite flexible and practical.

The most common routes for the best boats to sail around the world include the Canary Islands to St Lucia, Virginia to Tortola, and Tortola to Portugal. You can catch a glimpse of these boats in those routes as part of the WCC rallies. Explore more boats and other interesting facts in TheBoatAPP blog.

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Home » Blog » Travel » So you want to sail around the world. Now what?

So you want to sail around the world. Now what?

By Author Fiona McGlynn

Posted on Last updated: November 20, 2023

Sailing around the world is a major undertaking, but you don’t have to be super rich, athletic, or have salt water running in your veins to do it.

I know bluewater cruisers and round-the-world sailors from all walks of life: young couples,  single women ,  families with kids , and an  85-year-old Reverand .

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When I was in my late twenties, my husband, Robin, and I spent three years sailing 13,000 nautical miles from Vancouver, Canada to Mexico and then across the Pacific to Australia in our 35-foot sailboat.

We didn’t complete a full circumnavigation of the world—our goal was to reach Australia—but that’s pretty common for cruisers our age (I’ll talk more about routes and timelines below).

I grew up dinghy sailing and Robin had no sailing experience at all. We had office jobs, average incomes, and knew almost nothing about bluewater sailing when we started. 

It was two years from buying our boat to casting off the dock lines and setting sail. However, we did 95% of our preparation in the year before we left. This just goes to show how quickly you can go from “dreamer” to “doer”.

How to sail around the world

For every bluewater cruiser I know, I can think of dozens of “armchair sailors” who dream of sailing around the world but never get out and do it.

Why? There are some big hurdles to overcome before you set sail: getting offshore experience, finding the right boat, outfitting it with all the right gear, learning how to be self-sufficient, and fixing things that break. 

Not to mention finding a way to finance it all.

There’s also a strong psychological and social element: “What will my parents, friends, and colleagues think?” “Will I be able to find work again with a big hole in my resume?”

Going bluewater cruising is a radical departure from the norm and an entirely new way of living. You’ll be faced with challenges, but that’s what makes it such an incredible experience.

If you want easy travel, get a camper van. Sailing around the world is a life-changing adventure. 

So, I wanted to share how we made our transition from landlubbers to bluewater cruisers and share a few resources to help you on your way.

1. Get some offshore sailing experience

Sure sailing around the world sounds romantic—the freedom of the open ocean, sunsets on a beach in Bora Bora, sipping fresh water from a coconut you picked yourself (words of caution: climbing a palm is much harder than it looks!).

But are you willing to put up with  the not-so-fun stuff  that comes with it?  Seasickness , scary conditions, sleep deprivation from  sailing at night , repairing your boat when it breaks (which it will), and being thousands of miles from friends and family?

Some of the best moments in my life were on the boat, but I’ve also had experiences that put me way out of my comfort zone.

It’s not simply a matter of being  mentally tough  (though that helps), some people are just never going to enjoy the sailing life.

The question is: is it right for you? What about your partner, your kids, or whoever else is coming along for the ride? 

Bluewater sailing can blow up relationships. I’ve heard many stories about sailing couples investing tens of thousands in their boats, only to set sail and discover that one or both of them hate it. 

So, before you buy a bluewater boat, quit your job, or give up your studio apartment, you (and your crew mates) should  go and get some offshore sailing experience . 

Spending a week on an offshore passage will not only teach you valuable skills, but it will also give you a taste of the challenges and joys that come with bluewater cruising.

There are plenty of ways to get experience if you don’t already own a boat:

• Take a course at an  offshore sailing school
• Try  sailboat hitchhiking
• Look for crewing opportunities (or pay for a spot) on a rally boat in the  ARC  (Atlantic Ocean crossing),  Pacific Puddle Jump  (Pacific Ocean crossing), or  Baja Haha  (San Diego to Cabo). 
• Become a crew member on a friend’s boat 

2. Find your community and immerse yourself in cruising culture

If you want to go cruising, you’re going to need a support network of people who’ve been there and done it.

We received so much help leading up to our trip (and along the way). Our liveaboard friends and neighbors in Vancouver helped us fix up our engine, rewire our boat, and find a great deal on a new set of sails, just to name a few. 

There are lots of ways to  find your sailing community , either online or in person. I highly recommend mooring your boat in a  liveaboard marina , where you’ll likely be surrounded by other bluewater cruisers.

You can also learn a lot from other people’s stories. Immerse yourself in bluewater cruising culture: read the  classic sailing books , subscribe to a magazine like  Good Old Boat  or  Cruising World , listen to  sailing podcasts , and follow a few  sailing Youtube channels  or  sailors on Instagram .

3. Make a plan

There are many different routes for sailing around the world. Most cruisers sail the easier legs—following the trade winds across the Atlantic and Pacific, transitting the Panama Canal —and spend their time exploring beautiful places and cruising grounds like the Galapagos Islands, French Polynesia, and New Zealand. 

Only a few cruisers take on the harder routes—transiting the Northwest passage, Southern Ocean, or Indian Ocean (perhaps you’ve heard of the infamous Cape Horn or the Cape of Good Hope?).

For route planning, I highly recommend picking up a copy of Jimmy Cornell’s  World Voyage Planner  which shows you how to sail from anywhere in the world to…well, anywhere in the world.

How long does it take to sail around the world?

The current world record for sailing around the world is 40 days, 23 hours, and 30 minutes (IDEC 3, skippered by Francis Joyon). But unless you’re going for the speed record, you’re going to want to visit the different countries you sail to.

I know cruisers who’ve circumnavigated in as little as five years and others who spend decades making the big loop. 

In my experience, it doesn’t pay to be in a rush because inevitably things don’t go to plan.

Your boat will break down and need repair which often means spending time in a boatyard. 

You may find yourself waiting weeks if not months for crucial parts. 

You may need to fly home in the middle of your cruise (as we did) when a relative is ill or dies. 

Or, you may just fall in love with one of the remote places you visit and want to stay for a while.

Bad weather and hurricane season will dictate when and where you sail. For example, we had originally planned to cross the Pacific in 2016, but we didn’t feel ready. So, we waited a whole year for the right conditions and crossed in the spring of 2017.

My recommendation is to give yourself a minimum of three years to trial the cruising life . Make a plan but don’t be disappointed if you have to throw it to the winds.

4. Make a cruising budget

When people learned that we were traveling the world on our sailboat, they often assumed that we were independently wealthy, which couldn’t have been further from the truth!

We’ve cruised for as little as $1000 a month, but when it comes to cruising budgets, the sky is the limit. It all depends on:

• Your boat . Smaller boats cost less to buy and maintain.
• Destinations . We found places like Mexico and Fiji very affordable, while places like French Polynesia and Australia were quite expensive. 
• Your timeline. Most of the young cruisers we knew were on three-year timelines (because that’s what they could afford). The retirees and families we met often had the financial means to cruise for longer (sometimes indefinitely). Some had houses that they rented, and others would take breaks in places like New Zealand where they worked regular jobs.
• Whether you’re willing to work along the way. We wrote for sailing magazines while we were cruising, but it wasn’t enough money to fund our trip. We mostly relied on savings. With technology like Starlink and the post-pandemic remote work boom, it’s probably easier today to  earn money while cruising . However, cruising is a full-time job. It can be challenging to cover ground while keeping up with work commitments
• Your lifestyle. As I mentioned, it’s possible to  sail around the world on a budget . But we lived pretty rough: no air-conditioning, no freezer, no hot water—at one point, we hadn’t taken a shower for 8 months!

When making your budget, I’d suggest perusing a few  sailing blogs  where cruisers post their monthly expense. 

Also, there are plenty of  creative ways to finance a sailboat . Some people even manage to  travel the world for free by buying and selling their boats in the right markets . 

5. Buy a bluewater boat

You can’t sail around the world in any old sailboat.  Bluewater boats have specific design characteristics  that make them appropriate for offshore sailing. 

I love data, so I made a list of the  best bluewater sailboats  by looking at 2,000 boats that were entered in the Pacific Puddle Jump, a cross-Pacific rally, over the last decade. We also have a list of  smaller boats  which I recommend if you’re on a budget.

Once you have your list, you can get busy searching YachtWorld, Craigslist, and these other  great places to buy used boats . 

Keep in mind that a bluewater boat isn’t necessarily a seaworthy boat. It may have structural damage, unsound rigging, or need an expensive retrofit. Uncover any lurking issues (and know what they’ll cost to fix) before you sign on the dotted line.

We had a very in-depth  boat checklist  that we used to inspect every boat we considered buying. We also hired an accredited marine surveyor, twice, to survey every detail of our boat. The first time was for the purchase, the second time was when we were preparing to go offshore.

For more on how to search,  understand boat values , and close the deal, check out our series on  how to buy a boat .

6. Live on your boat

The next big step on your cruising journey will be moving onto your boat.

We lived on our boat for two years before we set sail and it taught us so much about the boat (read: what needed to be fixed) as well as ourselves (and whether we could handle close-quarter life).

By moving aboard you’ll learn if living on a boat is right for you  and your family. You can also save a bunch of money for your trip. After two years of living aboard, our rent savings paid for the purchase of our boat.

7. Prepare yourself

Preparing yourself for going offshore is a major undertaking. You’ll need to learn advanced navigation, weather, and excellent seamanship, among other things.

It’s not enough to know the theory. Get out and practice with your gear and become comfortable with maneuvers like reefing,  heaving to , sailing downwind with a pole out genoa , and  anchoring under sail .

In addition, you should become intimately familiar with your boat’s systems. Sailboats break down at sea (here are the  most common problems ). So, you have to be capable of fixing your boat when you’re hundreds of miles from shore. 

Become an expert in your boat’s electrical system , propulsion, rigging, sails, and plumbing, before you go.

When the pandemic hit, a lot of sailing education moved online. Now there are plenty of great  online sailing courses  covering everything from learning the parts of a sailboat to celestial navigation.

That being said you can’t beat on-the-water instruction and offshore experience (see #1 for offshore sailing courses). 

8. Outfit your boat

Preparing your boat for offshore will take dedicated effort and money, especially if it’s an older boat that’s not been previously equipped for bluewater sailing.

In addition to fixing existing issues and replacing old equipment, you’ll want to add offshore gear like a  watermaker , a boom brake , downwind sails , self-steering wind vane, life raft,  satellite phone , AIS, solar panels, and inverter. 

Not to mention all the spare parts you’ll need to keep these systems running. 

Needless to say, outfitting can get pretty expensive but you can save money by buying used boat parts and second-hand sails .

We spent six months in the boatyard, working full-time on our 1979 Dufour 35 to get her ready to sail. We built a solar arch , installed panels, replaced our rigging, added a roller furler, replaced our anchoring setup, removed 30 years of antifouling paint, and much much more. 

9. Do a shakedown cruise

Next, it’s time to test your boat (and yourself) by taking it on a shakedown cruise. The idea of a shakedown is to test your boat’s performance after any major changes or repairs. The goal is to find any issues (and fix them) before going farther afield. 

We circumnavigated Vancouver Island for our shakedown cruise. It took us a little over a month and allowed us to test our systems in a variety of conditions including ocean swell, fast currents, and light and moderate wind speeds.

Despite checking and fixing every system on our boat over the preceding months, we still had issues. Our engine quit, we struggled to get our wind vane working, and we had to make a few adaptations to our brand-new sails. But that’s the whole point of a shakedown cruise!

10. Go now!

“Go small, go simple, go now” is a popular cruising philosophy and one that we adhere to.

Life is short and we’ve seen poor health and other life situations bring cruising adventures to a halt.

There’s no ideal time to go cruising. You can be young or old, with or without kids, retired or working. 

Certainly don’t wait until you can afford a larger boat. A  small boat  was our ticket to cruising early in life because it made it more affordable. 

If your dream is to sail around the world, start working towards your cruising dream NOW. You won’t regret it.

Let us know how we can help you on your bluewater journey and what topics you’d like to learn more about by leaving us a message in the comments.

Fiona McGlynn is an award-winning boating writer who created Waterborne as a place to learn about living aboard and traveling the world by sailboat. She has written for boating magazines including BoatUS, SAIL, Cruising World, and Good Old Boat. She’s also a contributing editor at Good Old Boat and BoatUS Magazine. In 2017, Fiona and her husband completed a 3-year, 13,000-mile voyage from Vancouver to Mexico to Australia on their 35-foot sailboat.

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Best Sailboat For Sailing Around the Globe?

• By The Editors
• Updated: July 22, 2011

Best Cruising Sailboat 2

In the original forum, AquaPaul asked what the best boat would be for his plan: “I am planning to sell everything (house and stuff), quit my job, and leave for four to five years to sail around the world.”

Resources from Cruising World:

1. Start with the Boat – Boat of the Year : Best midsize cruiser. Best catamaran. Best small cruiser. Best domestic. Best premium cruiser. Best full-size cruiser. Cruising spirit award. Find all of our Boat of the Year recipients here .

– Boat Reviews : A complete index of every boat review we’ve written since 1987.

2. Know Before You Go. – Check out our [how-to articles

](http://www.cruisingworld.com/how-to)

– Advice to an Offshore First-Timer , by Andrew Burton (above). Knowing what to pack, how to act, and when to ask questions makes the learning curve at sea easier to climb.

– Ocean Passage Planner , by Jimmy Cornell (above). Figure out your route with help from this expert.

– Leap of Faith , by Wendy Mitman Clarke (above). Readying the boat for offshore sailing is only part of the jump from land to sea.

3. What’s Next? The possibilities are limitless!

– One Unlikely Cruise from Silicon Valley to Team New Zealand , by Herb McCormick. When Christopher Miller set out from Southern California in the late 1990s for an extended voyage aboard his Tayana 52, he was a solo sailor with an open-ended itinerary.

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14 Best Sailboat Brands

Explore top sailboat brands with our pro's guide to the best around the world. Perfect for travelers & sailors of all levels seeking quality & adventure.

It really doesn’t matter if you are an accomplished sailor with a Master’s License or a novice who wants to charter a boat for a week on the water in the Caribbean. What does matter is that you want to find the boat that fulfills your dreams from a manufacturer you can trust. Finding that “just right” fit between boat and crew can lead to some magic experiences and remarkable memories.

Our goal is to give you some insight into what the many boat brands have to offer. We will look at quality, construction, features, and customer service.

Hopefully, this will give you some insight into finding the sailboat of your dreams.

Wally Boats has to be at the top of our list as the best overall manufacturer of sailboats. In the sailing world, Wally is synonymous with quality and luxury. Unfortunately, that kind of reputation also comes with a hefty price. Wally Boats will typically also head up the list of the most expensive sailboats in the world.

You won’t find many Wally boats at your local lake marina or the typical coastal municipal marina. We are in a different class of boat here altogether. Wally produces 100-foot-long super yachts, each of which is custom designed.

If you can find one, purchasing a used Wally sailboat is a safe way to go. You will usually get a high-performance racing/cruising yacht that will outperform most other boats in this class day in and day out.

What Do You Get with a Wally?

• Exquisite Design and Visual Appeal - Let’s face the facts. These are boats that look as good as they perform.
• Above Average Performance - Wally boats took the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in 2019, 2018, and 2017.
• Highest Quality Build You Can Buy – At this level, you get what you expect regarding the quality of materials and construction.
• Innovative Design and Engineering – Wally boats incorporate the latest developments in construction techniques, materials, and engineering.

2. Hallberg-Rassy

Ask cruising sailors their choice of sailboat manufacturers, and many will answer with Hallberg-Rassy. This Swedish yacht builder has built a reputation among cruising sailors for producing boats that are almost in a class by themselves. These are boats that are built to be sailed and provide sailors with the utmost in safety, comfort, and handling.

Hallberg-Rassy is a master at integrating form and function to produce blue water boats that perform as well as they look. Most savvy sailors will recognize a Hallberg-Rassy design almost instantly.

Hallberg-Rassy isn’t one of those static companies that finds a popular design and sticks with it year after year. This company studies its designs and listens to its owners to continually improve their designs. A used Hallberg-Rassy is a good bet if you want to move up to a world-class cruising boat.

What Do You Get with a Hallberg Rassy Designed Boat?

• Integrated Bow Sprint – No tacked-on afterthought here. The bowsprit forms an integral part of the Hallberg-Rassy designs to make handling and sailing these boats a joy.
• High-Quality Electric Winches – Electric winches are standard items and ease the effort of sailing these boats in even the toughest conditions.
• A Cockpit Designed for Blue Water Sailing – A safe and dry place from which to steer your boat makes for a much more enjoyable experience when the weather gets rough.
• Powerful Engines with Ample Fuel Storage – You can be confident that you have the power to maneuver your boat safely under power.

3. Catalina

If your budget is more modest, but you still want high quality and a feature-rich design, Catalina boats are a good place to start looking. Catalina takes a more practical approach to boat design and building, creating sailboats that meet the needs for practicality, sailability, and price to create sturdy boats that can take you anywhere in the world safely and economically.

Catalina is a manufacturer that is recognizable from weekend inland water sailors to experienced blue water live aboard families. Cataline has been on the scene for many years and remains a mover and shaker in the sailboat industry.

One of the big attractions of Catalina as a boat manufacturer is its across-the-board market appeal. This company has something for everyone, from small, easy-to-manage daysailers to 50-foot blue water cruisers.

What Do You Get with Catalina Sailboats?

• Customer Service – Catalina has been in business for a long time and has a reputation as one of the most customer-responsive sailboat manufacturers in the business.
• Consistency and Quality – Catalina owners frequently point out the consistency of Catalina’s designs and the quality of their manufacturing as reasons to buy one of these boats.
• Financial and Economic Choices – Catalina sailboats offer customers one of the best values on the market in terms of the purchase price and long-term operating costs.
• Handling and Performance – Catalina owners rave about how their sailboats perform with easy handling in both light seas and heavy weather.

4. Bavaria Yachts

If you are shopping in Europe for an economically priced blue water sailboat, Bavaria Yachts is a company that you will learn quickly. Sailors in the United States know the name, Catalina. In Europe, Bavaria Yachts have the same sort of recognition and reputation.

The reputation of German manufacturing and engineering shows itself in the Bavaria Yachts operation. Leading-edge technology in manufacturing and production helps Bavaria Yachts keep costs as low as possible while producing very high-quality products.

Bavaria Yachts is focused on its customer base and has a good understanding of who purchases its boats and how those boats are used. These boats are designed to be easy to sail, comfortable to be aboard and to provide service without the constant need for expensive repairs and maintenance.

What Do You Get with a Bavaria Yacht?

• Comfort and Liveability – No matter if you are day sailing or cruising the world, Bavaria Yachts’ designs excel in comfort and onboard amenities that make them great for long-term cruising.
• Reliability – Owners point to the quality of the construction of these boats and the reliability they enjoy, which keeps them sailing without constant visits to the boatyard for maintenance and upkeep.
• Smaller May Be Better – Bavaria Yachts has a large following among smaller to midsized boat owners, and the company pays particular attention to designing boats that offer more to this class of owners.
• Overall Value and Economy – Many owners choose their first Bavaria Yacht because of the perceived value of these boats.

5. Beneteau

Catalina may be a bit better known than Beneteau, but Beneteau may lead the way in the actual number of sailboats sold around the world. This is one of the top-selling sailboat brands of all time. Beneteau has been building boats for well over a century, and their knowledge shows in the quality of their designs and construction. From its blue water boats like the Oceanis 62 to its tiny First 14.

Beneteau prides itself on filling the needs of every class of sailor, from the racing dinghy to the blue water cruiser. Simplicity is a keyword when describing Beneteau boats.

There is no skimping on quality or on the essential equipment needed to be safe and secure. There are also no unneeded extras to cause you unwanted hassles or maintenance issues.

Being a French company, you would expect style to be a primary focus of the design of Beneteau boats, and you won’t be wrong. With an eye to clean lines and family cruising comfort, Beneteau produces a line of sailboats that catch the eye without straining the pocketbook.

What Do You Get with a Beneteau Boat?

• Unique and Comfortable Interior Layouts – Your crew or family will feel pampered when onboard a Beneteau boat.  
• Easy Docking System – Beneteau’s 360-degree docking system allows you to maneuver your boat with a joystick to make tight marina spaces a breeze to navigate.
• A Finer Hull for a Better Ride – Even the most seasoned sailors comment on how well Beneteau boats move through the water and minimize pitching and rolling.
• Clear Deck Plans – Beneteau understands that most sailboats are intended for pleasure which makes deck space a premium factor, especially among sailing families who express their love for the clean deck lines of their boats.

6. Island Packet Yachts

I have always thought that Island Packet Yachts build some of the most beautiful cruising sailboats in the world. This company focuses on cruising, and its boat designs reflect the needs of cruising families. Safety, stability, and comfort are the three key ingredients that make Island Packet Yachts outstanding choices for cruising the world.

Anyone who has spent time on a sailboat knows space is at a premium. Island Packet Yachts have some of the most spacious interior designs on the market, which makes living aboard these boats much more pleasant. If you plan on spending much time aboard your sailboat, all the extra interior space you can claim become a luxury.

The focus on extended cruising requires an eye for safety and stability for your boat. Island Packet excels in these categories. The seafaring capabilities of Island Packet Yachts are well documented and one of the favorite features of these boats among owners. A boat that handles conditions well is easier and more comfortable to sail in the long run.

What Do You Get with an Island Packet Yacht?

• Build and Material Qualities – Most Island Packet owners are quick to point out the quality of the construction and material used in their boats, which means fewer problems over the years.
• Full Foil Keel and a Skeg-Hung Rudder - The
• last place you want to have problems when on a cruise is below the waterline. Island Packet continues to include a traditional well-constructed full foil keel and the extra support of a skeg-hung rudder to ensure that below-waterline problems are kept to a minimum.
• Sail Handling and Performance – Island Packet Yachts are not built for racing, but they outperform many comparable boats. The self-tacking jib and 170-percent genoa are favorites among cruising sailors when talking about sails and performance.
• Security Onboard – Island Packet routinely includes a built-in lockbox in their boats to provide a secure place to store your valuables, documents, and other items when onboard.

7. Amel Yachts

If you are looking for innovation and technological sophistication on your sailboat, Amel Yachts should offer you exactly what you want. This company has been building some of the finest blue water cruising yachts in the world for 50+ years and has always had an eye on staying just ahead of the technology curve.

These are not production boatyard sailboats. Amel Yachts works closely with each customer to produce a boat this is uniquely tailored to the owner’s needs and specifications while ensuring the highest quality in the build and the best performance on the water.

In addition, you will probably need to go to France several times during the construction of your yacht, which might be seen as a bonus.

With an eye for tradition, Amel Yachts is always looking forward as well. Advanced engineering and materials have made Amel Yachts some of the most sought-after boats on the water. Such things as the use of carbon fiber in mast construction, flexible couplings on propellor drive shafts, and the latest in electronic controls and navigational equipment are standard issue items.

What Do You Get with an Amel Yacht?

• Eye Catching Lines – Owners are understandably proud of their Amel Yachts and often mention how these boats look on the water.
• Technologically Advanced Designs – Among the most popular and often spoken about features on Amel Yachts are the solar panels fitted to these boats.
• Environmentally Sound Concepts – Sailors are usually much more attuned to the environment than their land-based counterparts. Amel Yachts’ use of environmentally friendly anti-fouling paints and the bonus of extra grey water holding tanks are popular among owners who understand the need to protect the water they love.
• Comfortable on the Water Experiences – Most Amel owners comment on how well these boats ride due to the lower center of gravity that is a feature in most Amel Yacht designs.

8. Nautor’s Swan

On the flip side of the coin, if you want a fast and dependable sailboat that you can also cruise, a Nautor’s Swan should be on your top choice list. Based in Finland, this company has built a reputation for designing and building high-quality sailboats that match speed with stability and safety. Yes, you can go fast in comfort.

These boats are not only fast and comfortable, but they are also surprisingly responsive and easy to handle. Using foam=filled fiberglass construction coupled with space-age material like carbon fiber, Nautor’s Swan has an unmatched record for performance and safety. You can cruise leisurely with your family or put on your best crew and expect to compete successfully with almost any other boat.

You don’t have to sacrifice comfort to gain an advantage in speed and performance. Nautor’s Swan boats are designed for cruising comfort and performance results. The hull designs give stable safe rides through even the roughest water to give you a feeling of confidence with your sailboat.

What Do You Get with a Nautor’s Swan?

• Production Boat or Custom Build Choices – Customers of Swan have two choices. You can buy a production model or visit their custom design shop to get a boat tailored to your exact needs. Most customers choose the middle ground and have one of the production designs customized to their tastes.
• Elegance without Sacrifice – One of the most mentioned features of Nautor’s Swan sailboats are the teak decks featured on their designs which customers love for the elegance this feature yields to their boats.
• Self-Launching Anchors and Electric Winches – Even the most die-hard competitive sailor is fond of the convenience features of Nautor’s Swan boats, such as the self-launching anchor systems and electric winched.

9. Pacific Seacraft

If it is traditional lines you want, take a look at the boats built by Pacific Seacraft. This North Carolina-based yacht builder produces some of the most elegant and eye-catching cruising yachts in the world. These boats are built for comfort and cruising, so don’t expect to win any speed prizes if you choose a Pacific Seacraft design.

On the other hand, if comfort and enjoyment are at the top of your list, you won’t find a better boat. Pacific Seacraft boats are probably a bit overbuilt, making them one of the heavier sailboats per foot on the market. This translates into less speed overall but a more stable and better-handling boat that tends to be less tender when sailing than higher-performance boats.

The stability of these boats is unmatched, and the design lends itself well to safe handling, even with a short-handed crew. This feature alone makes Pacific Seacraft yachts a favorite among live-aboard cruising families that routinely don’t have full crews onboard.

What Do You Get with a Pacific Seacraft Yacht?

• Comfort and Confidence – Families that liveaboard to take extended cruises always mention the space, comfort, and convenience of Pacific Seacraft Yachts as one of the main advantages of these boats.
• Solid Construction for Easy Maintenance – Anyone who does extended cruising knows the importance of regular maintenance. Owners of Pacific Seacraft extoll the solid construction of these boats that make ongoing maintenance chores less intimidating.
• Unmatched Customer Service – Pacific Seacraft supports their boats and their customers with some of the best services in the world. Owners regularly report that Pacific Seacraft is easy to contact, quick to respond, and always helpful.
• Spacious Below Deck Layouts – Live aboard families almost always speak about the creature comforts built into their Pacific Seacraft yacht and in particular, mention how spacious these boats seem below decks.

10. Tartan Yachts

Tartan Yachts has taken a slightly different approach to the concept of cruising with] its sailboat designs. Tartan has made building the strongest, lightest, and safest sailboats in the industry a priority in the business model. They have approached this priority with narrow designs at the water line but provide wider passages.

For those sailors who want comfort, safety, and above-average sailing performance, this makes a perfect combination. In addition, if you want to purchase a boat that holds its value with time better than many other models, you should investigate Tartan. By and large, used Tartans almost always go for a premium price among used sailboats.

You won’t be sacrificing comfort or dependability with a Tartan design. Tartan is well known among owners and enthusiasts as easy to live aboard boats that are simple to maintain, providing years of service. If you anticipate long cruises, a Tartan can be a solid choice.

What Do You Get with a Tartan Yacht?

• A Reputation for Solid Construction – Many Tartan owners admit that Tartan’s reputation for building well-constructed boats that are safe and easy to sail was one of the biggest selling points.
• Performance without Sacrificing Comfort – No one wants to be the last one to port when you are cruising with a group. Tartan designs put performance and comfort side by side.
• Easy Sailing – Most Tartan owners feel like their Tartan Yacht is a forgiving and solid boat that provides an extra level of safety.
• Value – You may not anticipate trading boats very often, but it is nice to know that Tartan boats seem to hold their value better than many other comparable sailboats from other manufacturers.

11. Oyster Sailboats

If I were to use automobiles as an analogy for sailboats, the Wally Yachts would be on par with Mercedes Benz, while Beneteau and Cataline would be comparable to Cadillac or Lexus. I would have to put Oyster Sailboats on par with Bentley as some of the most luxurious sailing yachts on the market today.

Oyster Yachts, a British manufacturer, likes to call their sailboats hybrid adventure machines that bring owners life-enhancing experiences. I would say it more simply. If you want the best performance, comfort, and visual appeal, Oyster Sailboats should be your first stop. Oyster provides the utmost luxury but doesn’t come up short in the performance or safety categories.

Oyster Sailboats are considered thoroughbreds in the sailing world. These boats have logged over 20 million sailing miles and can account for more than 90 sailing circumnavigations of the globe. These numbers support the assertion that Oyster Sailboats are among the best and most prestigious sailing vessels available.

What Do You Get with an Oyster Sailboat?

• Unmatched Elegance – Ask an owner what sets their Oyster Sailboat apart and without hesitation, most will say the elegant and luxurious appointments that these boats bring.
• Unrivaled Construction – Sailors rarely equate luxury with sailing ability, but in the case of Oyster Boats, most owners consider their Oyster sailboats to be among the safest available based on the quality of construction and materials.
• Handling and Performance – Being at the helm of an Oyster Sailboat prompts owners of these boats to make statements like, “the best handling sailboat I have ever sailed,” and “I wouldn’t hesitate to take my family and this boat anywhere under any conditions.”
• Classic Looks – Despite the leading-edge technologies and designs that incorporate the best new ideas, Oyster sailboats are respected among veteran sailors for their classic looks.

12. Hinckley Yachts

Since 1928, Hinckley has been building top-of-the-line sailboats. This veteran company continues to bring designs with classic shapes, strong construction, and dramatic lines. Based in Maine, Hinckley is intimately acquainted with the challenges of sailing the North Atlantic and building boats to meet these challenges head-on. Impeccable craftsmanship is the name of Hinckley’s game, and the results speak for themselves.

Despite the classic lines of their boats, Hinckley manages to incorporate the best of modern performance design and technologies for construction. Utilizing carbon fiber, Kevlar and computer-designed load paths, the boats are some of the most structurally advanced on the market.

However, advanced technology and performance don’t detract from the comfort of these boats. From the ease with which they sail to the small details and amenities that are often overlooked by other boat manufacturers, Oyster Sailboats put customer satisfaction, safety, and comfort front and center.

What Do You Get with a Hinckley Yacht?

• Above Average Construction – Hinckley owners make no secret of how much they hold the construction of their boats in high regard. The quality of Hinckley’s construction is one of the most often noted reasons for purchasing a boat.
• Rich Appointments for a Warm Feel – Many boat owners understand that fiberglass just doesn’t give a feeling of comfort. Hinckley combats this perception by generously using wood inside their boats to bring a rich feeling of luxury.
• Stability and Comfort – Thanks to the Hinckley gyro-stabilization system, owners are assured one of the most comfortable rides in almost any kind of sea.
• Customer Service – Hinckley’s Yachtcare program is often cited as one of the best reasons to own a Hinckley sailboat. This program features mobile service teams, yacht delivery, and routine maintenance, which is often the bane of owning this kind of boat.

13. Hylas Sailing Yachts

Our modern consumable society has spawned a tradition of throw-away products produced in China that are focused more on price than on quality. Wrapping our heads around the idea that one of the best yacht manufacturers is, in fact, based in Taiwan is almost unfathomable. However, in the case of Hylas Sailing Yachts, this is the case.

Hylas, a division of Queen Long Marine Shipyard, has built a reputation for building bespoke yachts for discriminating customers in the custom luxury yacht area. Hylas doesn’t work through brokers or dealers. This innovative company prefers to deal directly with their customer to ensure that complete satisfaction is the result.

The center cockpit design of Hylas’ popular yachts is the centerpiece of their designs. In addition to incorporating the latest in technological designs and materials, Hylas uses almost complete wooden linings on their composite hulls to give their boats rich and warm interiors that exhibit the finest of joinery.

What Do You Get with a Hylas Sailing Yacht?

• Solid Core Fiberglass Construction – Owners of Hylas yachts rave about solid core construction. Foam core is much lighter but tends also to be much less rigid than solid core construction.
• Uncompromising Quality – Those who sail Hylas yachts brag about the quality of the materials used in these boats. Stainless steel tankage, skeg-hung rudders, and the use of Twaron bulletproof fabric in the hulls provide a level of trust that many boat owners can’t understand.
• Immaculate Construction Standards – How many other boat owners brag about the neatness of the wiring on their boats?  Some even make it a point to show off the meticulous way the wiring and plumbing in Hylas boats are installed.
• Unbelievable Storage and Stowage – The innovative use of space and the care with which these boats are designed to allow Hylas owners to enjoy an above-average amount of storage space.

14. Sparkman & Stephens

Sparkman & Stephens are a bit different in the way they view themselves. This company is not just a sailboat manufacturer. Sparkman & Stephens consider themselves more of a naval architecture firm than just a boat-building company. It is this way of thinking that affects each boat that is spawned from the Sparkman & Stephens shops.

Tradition is a huge part of the Sparkman & Stephens design philosophy, but it doesn’t get in the way of innovation and sophistication. Incorporating the best of traditional designs and concepts with the latest and greatest in materials, technologies and engineering is at the core of the boat designs from this company. These concepts tend to take the sailing experience to an entirely new level.

Sparkman and Stephens take a very analytical approach to boat design. Every hull form is thoroughly analyzed and tested using the latest in computer modeling technology. Tank testing is done on most designs to ensure the performance and safety characteristics of each design meet their exacting standards.

What Do You Get with A Sparkman & Stephens Sailboat?

• Unmistakable Designs – Owners of Sparkman & Stephens sailboats enjoy almost instant recognition at any port they visit. The combination of hull forms and profile ensures everyone knows you are sailing an S&S design.
• A Most Functional Cockpit – Experienced sailors often remark that the S&S sailboats have the most functional cockpit designs and layouts they have encountered.
• Trim and Finish Details – The quality of S&S sailboats doesn’t stop at the boat’s exterior. Inside, owners find the finest in joinery and finish possible to complete the overall feeling of luxury in these boats.
• Sailing Characteristics – Ask an S&S owner to describe the way their boat sails, and you will usually get a huge grin and an exuberant “GREAT” as the answer. By and large S&S owners rave about the way these boats handle, maneuver, and perform on the water.

Tobi Miles is a University of Florida graduate turned globe-trotting culinary explorer and digital nomad expert. As the founder of "Bytes & Bites," he combines his passion for international cuisine with practical advice on remote work, inspiring others to experience the world through food and cultural immersion. With 32 countries under his belt and a knack for uncovering hidden culinary gems, Tobi is redefining the intersection of work, travel, and gastronomy for a new generation of adventurers.

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