| Although the sailing season in the South Eastern | | | | The other interesting alternative is Cuba. The |
| Mediterranean runs from mid-May to the end of | | | | country does not always enjoy the best of press |
| October, there is still significant demand from | | | | coverage, and is in many ways a good |
| European sailors for charters in waters warm during | | | | advertisement for the failure of socialism. Despite |
| the long, cold Northern winter. | | | | that there is a rapidly emerging yacht charter |
| | | | industry on the northern coast. Transfer times from |
| Traditionally the Caribbean has been the main | | | | Havana airport are a little long at 2 1/2 hours, but you |
| beneficiary of this. The British have tended to go to | | | | do get to see some of the islands magnificent |
| the ex-colonies - the Virgin Islands, Antigua, and | | | | scenery. The sailing itself is fabulous. Getting there is |
| Grenada. This always has two problems. Travel costs | | | | also relatively easy via either Madrid or Barcelona. |
| are high and/or inflexible, and the area is equally | | | | The latter in particular has plenty of low-cost flights |
| popular with North Americans to the point that it | | | | from all over the UK, so it isvery easy to combine a |
| gets very crowded. Getting there from the USA is | | | | couple of days there with a Caribbean holiday sailing |
| seriously cheap and easy, and there is little or no time | | | | in Cuba. |
| difference. | | | | |
| | | | Last but by no means least is Belize. OK OK, so you |
| The charming French islands of Martinique and | | | | don't know where it is. Neither did we until we got |
| Guadeloupe have long been an attractive alternative | | | | interested in the yacht charters business. You may |
| to the traditional winter destinations for frost-bitten | | | | know it as British Honduras though. Anyway it's in the |
| Brits, but one that they seem determined to ignore. | | | | middle of the Central American mainland. Yes it is |
| A quick connecting hop to Paris and a direct flight | | | | very very difficult to reach, and should only even be |
| from there to either French island is an altogether | | | | on your agenda if you have at least two weeks to |
| more attractive option; when you get there the Gallic | | | | spare, with three an advantage! It's definitely near |
| charm (and excellent food) is much in evidence; and | | | | the top of our personal wish list. There are three |
| there are plenty of yachts to charter from | | | | reasons for this. Belize is home to the world's second |
| companies every bit as well equipped and more | | | | biggest coral reef, and you are sailing inside it in a |
| flexible than their neighbours in the English speaking | | | | catamaran; on shore there are some of the world's |
| Caribbean! The cruising opportunities are almost the | | | | greatest Mayan monuments, and some amazing |
| same. | | | | luxury boutique hotels. |
| | | | |