Five Coastal Navigation Spots Across the World

There is no need to be an expert in ocean sailing to explore some fabulous places by boat around the world, with unspoiled anchorages, charming ports, magnificent islands, all a few nautical miles from the coast. There are plenty of coastal navigation spots around the world. To inspire you for your next trip, BENETEAU has selected five stunning spots to explore by sailing yacht or motorboat, on your next coastal cruise.  

Coastal Navigation in Europe: Unspoiled Islands and Charming Ports 

1. Portisco: the Very Essence of Sardinia  

Sardinia is located in the center of the Mediterranean Sea. The island is already a dream destination, but if you take a sailing yacht to Portisco, on the northeast coast, you will capture its very essence. This passage to the Costa Smeralda opens the way to an endless variety of land and seascapes: sandy beaches, unspoiled coves, and small virgin islands bathed by crystal-clear waters.

Oceanis 46.1 in a Portisco inlet.

Aside from the beauty of its coast, Portisco is the perfect port to cast off from if you wish to explore Soffi Island or Mortorio Island by sail. They are part of the Maddalena archipelago.

2. The Glénan Archipelago: Brittany’s Answer to the Seychelles

Located off the Concarneau coast, the Glénan form a Breton archipelago of nine main islands and lots of islets. The archipelago owes its reputation to its legendary sailing school, but also to its spectacular unspoiled land and seascapes. In the summer, the color of the clear water around the south Finistère archipelago gives it a picture postcard feel. 

Bass fishing in the Glénan on a Barracuda 9.

The islands are also home to a very wide variety of wildlife. The area is also a favorite among anglers for bass and pollock fishing.

Coastal navigation in North America: from the West to the East Coast

3. The California island of Santa Catalina: a Little-Known Site

The Island of Santa Catalina is located off the coast of Los Angeles, on the West coast of the United States. This 192 km² stretch of land has a population of just under 4,000 inhabitants. Sailing around the island by boat gives you the full measure of the beauty of this little-known rocky outcrop that is nonetheless close to the mainland (35 km from San Pedro). 

Swift Pacific Adventure anchored off the Island of Santa Catalina.

The most unusual thing about Santa Catalina is its Two Harbors isthmus and the 650 m that separate the north and the south of the island. Enjoy the many anchorages such as Emerald Bay and Cherry Cove, ideal for setting off to explore the island on foot, or for diving.

4. Sailing in the Bahamas: a Firm Favorite 

You can always rely on the Bahamas, a firm favorite, for un unforgettable coastal cruise. This independent archipelago, in the Caribbean Sea, is huge (over 700 islands and islets in an area representing nearly 14,000 m²). 

If you are looking for the luxury and splendor of the Bahamas, you will need to sail along the coast to its capital, Nassau. For a more peaceful mooring, you can pick a site around the less populated islands and islets:  Andros, Long Island, Cat Island, etc. 

Matt Grondin's Oceanis 38.1 anchored off the Bahamas.

meat owner Matt Grondin
 

Coastal navigation in Oceania and the Great Barrier Reef

5. The Whitsunday Islands in the Coral Sea in Australia

Located off the coast of Queensland in Australia, the Whitsunday Islands are nothing short of paradise. The Whitsunday Islands are a truly heavenly destination for divers, since they are located near the Great Barrier Reef. What is more, each of the islands is also protected by its own coral reef covered in clear waters.There are many truly scenic bays in which sailors can find an anchorage in these idyllic surroundings:

• Palm Bay near Whitehaven Beach
• Cateran Bay south of  Hook Island
• Blue Pearl Bay, lost island northwest of Hayman Island

Wherever you go boating in the Whitsunday Islands, everything is stunning.

Oceanis 51.1  anchored off Whitehaven Beach