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The Best Sailing Videos on YouTube - Our Favourites!

You may not actually be sailing or boating right now but these videos and clips are sure to entertain your nautical side. As we said, this is our list, but if you think we’ve missed something special let us know and we’ll add it on!

Ready for some entertainment? One, two, three, here we go…

Incredible offshore sailing video from the Volvo Ocean Race

There is no doubt that the introduction of drones for onboard reporters in the last edition of the Volvo Ocean Race changed the viewing dynamic of the race forever. Suddenly you could follow the crews beyond the marina and spectator boats right out into the middle of the ocean. 

Drones enabled us to capture never-before-seen aerial footage that moved audiences from spectators to feeling like members of the crew. To anyone who has ever flown a drone, we think you can appreciate the skill of flying from a boat on a heel like this, going that fast with that much water coming over the deck, onboard reporters we take our hat off to you. 

Here we watch some of their most epic moments in what is, without doubt, one of the most impressive Sailing Videos we’ve ever come across on YouTube.

Impressive video of Vendee Globe Boats sailing around the Kerguelen Islands

With the incredible support of the French Navy and French television TF1, a team of two people spent forty days onboard a frigate helicopter carrier in order to shoot Vendee Globe boats rounding the Kerguelen Islands. Here we see this rare and epic sailing footage.

The best, most complete sailing app available. Cuts out the need to use lots of different apps. Incredibly easy to use. Modern navigational planning software as it should be. Not just a picture of a chart!!!

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Video of Alex Thompson performing the most amazing skywalk

This video combines two of our favourite water sports - sailing and kitesurfing.

What if you kite surfed behind the Hugo Boss Vendee Globe boat, attached yourself to a wire and hoisted yourself up to twice the height of your mast before ripping the cord and floating back down on your kite?

We think even the most adrenaline-fuelled individuals would take their hats off to this particular stunt…

This video of a couple living on a self-sufficient sailboat for 10 years

Follow this extraordinary couple who have been living aboard their boat for ten years, sailing 83,000 nautical miles. Using wind and solar panels this couple, and their baby, can be off-grid for months at a time. 

Some people may also know them as SV Delos. The couple knew nothing about sailing before going on to live on their boat full time. 

Take the full video tour of the boat that lets them live a sustainable life on the sea or, if planning your own trip, check out our essential boat packing list . 

This footage of a drunk sailor being pulled off a reef in the Caribbean!

A list of sailing videos wouldn’t be complete without at least one boat fail video and this one is a good reminder to ensure you have the right safety equipment on board ! 

After a night sail back to Grenada in the Caribbean , Sailing SV Delos find a drunk sailor who’s run his sailboat up on a reef with all his sails out and engine on motoring even further onto the reef! Sounds too crazy to be true? Take a look at this…

Watch the guys from BoatUS cover the five outboard maintenance jobs most people forget 

We’ve covered important considerations for maintaining your boat before. In this video, Yamaha technician Sean Stahl of Annapolis Boat Sales explains to BoatUS Magazine's Lenny Rudow five outboard maintenance jobs that people forget about. 

These include replacing the fuel-water separator filter, checking the timing belt for wear, checking engine and bracket zincs, checking trim tab zincs, and removing the prop to look for a fishing line behind the thrust washer.

Awesome Video of Sailing a Superboat Crossing the Atlantic in Record Time

To quote “A Great Big Story,” - “Even the most daunting world records are meant to be broken.” 

And it was no easy feat. On July 22, 2016, Comanche—a custom-built, 100-foot racing yacht—set sail from New York to the southern tip of England. Precisely five days, 14 hours, 21 minutes and 25 seconds later, the Comanche’s crew shattered the world record, by more than a day. 

This video has it all; excellent helming , speed, resilience, teamwork, and the bravery to sail through bad weather.

Brave the high seas as we set sail on one of the most amazing and inspiring journeys ever to take place on film.”

Watch Sailing Nandji prepare their yacht for its first ocean crossing!

We love watching the guys as Sailing Nandji and we are well aware of the importance of proper preparation . In this video Bonita goes up the mast for the first time to take measurements for a new headsail, Yosh gets handy with some fiberglass work and the crew gets creative in the sail loft.

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The 10 Biggest Sailing YouTubers Right Now

Feeling a little bit blue after your yacht charter holiday? Thanks to the world wide web, you can always go on a virtual-navigation on your sofa whenever you want. Here are the top 10 sailing YouTubers who share their glorious sailing lives to millions of viewers. How does it feel like to live on your boat for five years? Is it expensive to sail around the world? Find out all the answers in their videos!

1. Sailing La Vagabonde

They are an Australian couple with the dream of circumnavigating the globe by sailboat… initially having no clue of how to sail. Elayna and Riley have now sailed over 88,395nm each across many oceans. Through their videos, they hope to inspire their fellow sailors to explore alternative options of living and to spread ocean awareness. They update the followers of their lives every Monday/Tuesday.

2. Sailing Project Atticus

Jordan and Desiree spent 3 years fixing up their 30-foot sailboat “Atticus,” and left their home, America, with only 2,000 dollars. That money took them to Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Then they had to do boat repairing jobs to save enough money to sail again. Now they are still sailing around the world on a budget and working along the way to make ends meet. They believe you don’t need a lot of money to follow your dreams, you just need a LOT of HARD WORK!

3. Finding Avalon

Jackson and Xanthe, a young couple who met in an aprés-ski bar in the Snowy Mountains of Australia and instantly bonded over a love for adventure, travel and the ocean. Jackson is and always has been a sailor, and it didn’t take long for him to make a sailor out of Xanthe. The idea of buying a yacht and sailing around the world was dreamt up by Jackson when he was traveling globally to compete in sailing regattas. 

So they bought Finding Avalon in Croatia in the middle of 2018. She is a 38ft Elan Impression from 2005 and a former charter boat. Jackson and Xanthe have traveled to many rather incredible places along the way.

4. GoSea Sailing

The GoSea family has three people and two pets, they share 28 feet of space as they embark on a mission to see as much of the world as possible. From sailing with a monkey in Africa, swimming with great white sharks buying and fixing a boat that they bought for $1 – The GoSea family film it all.

5. Sailing Zatara

After Renee and her husband entered their mid-40s, they realized they were completely exhausted with corporate America. Something definitely had to change. So, they sold their house in Texas and bought a sailboat, regardless of having no prior sailing experience and set sail with their 4 kids. Since the beginning of this crazy impromptu adventure in late 2016, the family has now sailed over 30,000 nautical miles: the first year in a monohull (Beneteau 55′), the rest in a catamaran (Privilege 585). 

6. Lazy Gecko Sailing & Adventures

Meet Jeremiah, Brittany, and their kids! They are a family that sold everything that they own, bought a sailboat, moved aboard, and are now traveling full-time! They not only sail places but also explore this crazy world by other means.

7. Free Range Sailing

Watch how Troy and Pascale cruise remote Australia in their tiny home, a 30′ yacht named Mirrool. This couple takes a minimalist approach to life and focuses on the experience of doing more with less. They spend months on their boat in remote locations where self-sufficiency is a way of life. And they are very willing to share the lessons they’ve learned with the viewers.

8. MJ Sailing

After Matt & Jessica Johnson circumnavigating the North Atlantic in their last boat Serendipity, (1989 Sabre Targa 34), this couple took on a 2 year complete refit of their new boat, Elements of Life. She is a custom aluminum 37′ Trisalu, built in Quebec in 1983. They have sailed 20,500nm since 2012….and counting!

9. Sailing Doodles

The Sailing Doodles are currently on a 10-month sail from Vancouver Canada all the way to Thailand with their two full-sized Labradoodles named Maverick and Goose. Follow along with them as they sail down the west coast of the USA, down into Mexico, and across the Pacific Ocean to Asia. You can even sail with them for $125/day, check out  their website  for more information.

10. Gone with the Wynns

Jason and Nikki Wynn, a couple of perpetual travelers, Sailors, RV’ers and modern day documentarians. They believe that sailing is like exploring the world like its 1492. This form of travel is all about the journey. Moving a pace set by the breeze, weathering storms and 100% prepared to discover the adventures we don’t yet know exist. They sail a 2005 Robertson and Caine Leopard 43 Sailing Catamaran, and they share their trips on YouTube frequently.

> More articles you might be interested in:

My first yacht charter as a skipper!

GlobeSailor’s Top Tips for Anchoring on your Yacht Charter Holiday

Cabin Cruises Explained by a Tourism Professional  

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Living at anchor in the rain-11/13/22

Hauling out with a nasty surprise-11/6/22

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DIY beanbag chairs for sailing? They are awesome!- 10/23/22

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Starlink satellite internet is SO awesome- 9/25/22

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Autopilot changes & cover TAKE 2- 8/7/22

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Fixing what broke after one year of cruising full time- 7/24/22

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Wind & whisky - Welcome to Ireland-6/26/22

Sailing to Ireland, our first overnight sail -6/19/22

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EPROPULSION ELECTRIC OUTBOARD, NEW SAILS AND NEW RIGGING- 3/20/22

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UNSTEPPING THE MAST, HARKEN MKIV FURLING SYSTEM & NEW CABLES- 3/6/22

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SOLAR ARCH ADAPTERS AT MAKE GOSPORT- 2/20/22

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We’re Kath & T, a British couple sailing around the world & doing our best to video it as we go. This website is dedicated to those of you considering an adventure of your own, on land or at sea.

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We’re Kath and T, a British couple from Manchester who left our jobs, sold up, and in pursuit of a different lifestyle embarked on a dream – to sail around the world.

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So join us… for the highs, lows and everything in between. Make no mistake… we have absolutely no idea how this is going to go!

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How To Learn To Sail: Ultimate Step-By-Step Guide

Getting into sailing can seem daunting. When I first got interested, I was completely overwhelmed by all the skills, conflicting information, - and man oh man - all those insider terms. If you don't know where to start, it can be very confusing.

How to learn to sail? When first starting out, you want to gain some experience on the water, learn basic sail trim and navigation, and learn the basic safety rules. You can learn this by taking online courses, and by taking sailing lessons. With the right approach, you could get up to speed in a couple of months and for as little as $500.

Learning from my own experience, I wanted to create a very easy-to-understand guide which walks you through everything you'll need to know and learn when first starting out. In this guide, I'll walk you through all the different aspects of sailing: what to expect (ie. costs), what skills you'll need and how to learn those, and what knowledge you'll need and where to find it.

Spoiler : it's cheaper and easier to learn than you would expect.

Over the last few years, I have written on a lot of different aspects of getting into sailing. Throughout this guide, I will regularly refer to specific articles where you can learn more on a specific topic. This guide is a jumping-off point you can use to quickly get up to speed, and dive in deeper on a particular topic whenever you feel like it.

As a result, it is a long article with lots of information; it may be too much to read all in one sitting. The upside is: it's all here. I recommend bookmarking this article and coming back to it every now and then and pick up where you've left. Let's get started.

On this page:

How to get into sailing, myths that could be holding you back, how to get started, skills you need to learn to sail, things you'll need, in conclusion.

Sailing is both a practical and theoretical skill. You really should gain real-life experience, but you can also learn a lot of essential skills by reading up on them. Let me quickly walk you through my recommendation of how to getting into sailing.

7 easy steps to get into sailing:

• Focus on learning the theory first, focus on practice second
• The essential sailing skills are sail trim, navigation, and boat safety
• Start out using (free) online resources or Sailaway simulator
• After that, gain experience by taking at least a couple of sailing lessons
• To cut cost, you could also crew for an experienced captain instead
• Get your boater's license if necessary
• Hire a boat at first to cut cost and figure out what you like

By first focusing on the theory, which you can mostly do using free resources (and this website), you save on those valuable sailing lessons.

I'll break down all of these steps later. But now, we first have to talk about some common misconceptions about sailing, what it costs, and how long it takes before you sail your first boat by yourself. It's sooner than you might think.

Sailing is known to be an elite sport that costs way too much money. It's hard to learn, expensive to do, and you need all kinds of special knowledge - right? Well, all of those things can absolutely be true, if you want them to be. But sailing has always been one of the cheapest ways of transportation and can be quite easy to learn. I had a ton of those common misconceptions myself, and they were keeping me back. Maybe some of those are holding you back too?

Let me tell you some secrets that will probably change the way you think about the timeline of your sailing dream.

Sailing can be an affordable hobby

• A realistic budget for beginner sailors is $100 - $300 per month
• If you want to, you can get a decent education for as little as $500
• A decent beginner sailboat can cost between $200 - $2,000

In order to sail, you need some things that potentially cost a lot of money:

• a sailboat (preferably a 52' superyacht, right?)
• sailing lessons (and probably tons of them, right?)
• speciality gear like navigation equipment (you can't use regular water bottles, right?)

I say potentially because it really doesn't have to be that way. Sailing can be a normal hobby for regular people that have normal budgets.

Sure, you can spend tons of money on gear and lessons, as with any hobby. You can get yourself special sailing water bottles that provide more optimal water disposal flow in marine environments. You can buy a world-cruising yacht. But let's be fair: you don't own a plane (if you do, call me), yet you are able to fly to nearly every place on Earth if you want to. If you prioritize, you actually don't need all that much gear ór lessons.

In most states and countries, you actually don't even need an official education in order to sail smaller boats. I do recommend getting some training in advance. But you can really get a super decent training and tons of experience on just a $500 budget .

Want to get into sailing on a budget? I've written a detailed guide on how to learn the most important sailing skills on less than $500 . There are tips in there that cost absolutely nothing and are very good first steps.

9 Ways to Learn to Sail for (Practically) Free

A realistic starting budget is $100 - $300.

I've done research on the costs of all different aspects of sailing and I was surprised by the results. You could sail on any budget really, depending on how creative you want to get. $0 is possible but it takes work, patience, and luck. For most people, a realistic budget to get started is between $100 - $300 per month. That will allow you to hire a boat a couple of days per month, get some training, buy some gear, and eventually buy your first sailboat.

There are affordable beginner sailboats out there

Buying a boat will always cost money, but there are so many second-hand sailboats you can always find a decent deal, or even a free learning boat, as long as you don't immediately want to go out and get yourself a yacht.

In fact, you probably want to consider buying a very small beginner laser to start out. The smaller the boat, the faster you'll learn. Small, light sailboats give you faster and more precise feedback on what you do. And small lasers are pretty inexpensive. You can get good second-hand deals for just a couple of hundred bucks. This also means you can put them on a trailer and store them at home. Saves additional cost. Larger sailboats (22ft and up) get very expensive very quickly, though.

The Average Cost of Buying & Owning a Sailboat I have compared thousands of sailboat prices, and the cost of ownership. In this guide, we'll go over every dollar it will cost to own a boat . If you are unsure what it costs to buy and own a boat (and what's possible on your budget), this is a great resource for you.

But there's more cash-saving good news: you don't necessarily need to own a boat to get started.

You don't need to own a boat to get started

Hiring a boat is pretty straightforward nowadays, and more and more private owners are renting out there boat for fair prices on platforms like Boatsetter (Airbnb for boats). So when first starting out, I recommend renting a sailboat for a couple of weekends first, which should get you a good feel for the whole thing.

You can set sail within a couple of months

Learning to sail can take anywhere between 50 - 500 hours, depending on what level of skill you require. Coastal sailing and ocean passages require a lot more knowledge and experience. In contrast, you can learn to sail your recreational lake in light winds pretty quickly.

You can get started today

It's okay to not be the best sailor straight away. As with any skill worth learning, it's worth doing badly at first. As long as you don't get in anybody's way and stay safe, you can try and fail all you want. That's great because it means you can start today. You don't need hundreds of lessons before setting out on your own.

Some people like to pretend sailing is some mysterious superpower. Sure, doing something really well is always hard, and so is sailing really well. But in the end, we're just catching wind with a piece of cloth. Let's not make it harder than it is.

You probably don't even need a license

In some states, you don't need any licenses in order to sail your boat in inland waters. Most states only require you to take a short boater safety exam, which you can do online for roughly $50. After that, you're officially good to go. If you don't require to get a safety license, I still recommend getting one. It's so cheap and easy to get, and it's better to be safe than sorry.

I do recommend getting some basic training before hitting the waters, as operating a boat can be nerve-racking if you're new, and it's just safer if you know the basic rules of the road. More on how to do that later.

For coastal and international waters, you do need multiple licenses, which will take money and time to pass. But when first starting out, you probably want to gain a lot of experience on small bodies of water first.

Okay, so apparently you don't need a huge budget, you don't need dozens of licenses, and you don't need hundreds of lessons before sailing your first boat. You can start today, and nothing's holding you back - you probably get that by now. Except, something is holding you back. Where the heck do you start?

Well, let's start with learning the essential skills before doing anything else.

I have written a very simple approach to learn to sail for practically free (I have linked to it before). Besides being cheap, it's also a good overview of how to go about learning these essential skills. Here's the gist of it:

My 5-step bootstrap plan for new sailors

1. lay the theoretic groundwork.

• Start with free online introductory courses
• Read up on the essential knowledge on Improve Sailing
• Spend time playing Sailaway Sailing Simulator
• Read my recommendation for free courses here .

2. Test where you stand

Now that you have some theoretic knowledge, take two sailing lessons to test where you stand. Don't go overboard on lessons, just get a feel for how quick you learn and how much you know (or don't) already. That way, you don't break the bank and can change your plan accordingly.

3. Gain experience

Next, we want to make sure we have enough experience to stay safe and confident.

• If you are a quick learner , take a 1 or 2-day sailing course. This is a bit more expensive, but it pays off to spend a longer time with someone experienced.
• If you feel like you need more help at first, I recommend trying to become a ship's mate first. This is free and you learn a lot quickly. You can be a ship's mate for a day, a week, or an entire season.

4. Optional: get your license

If you need any licenses, be sure to get them now. In most states, you just need to take a basic boater's safety exam .

5. Set sail

Once you have the basic theoretic knowledge and practical experience, you can finally set sail on your own. I suggest hiring (chartering) a boat at first. This doesn't have to be expensive at all and is a great way to learn what you like and dislike.

General tips when setting sail for the first time

• Start with small boats (under 24') for better feedback
• Sail with light winds of 7 knots or less
• Start small and work your way up
• Safety is always your priority, speed comes second

Let's take a look at the precise skills you need to develop in order to become a good sailor. Below is a quick overview of essential skills and important information, and I'll link to which articles will help you out.

Essential sailing skills

• Marine navigation
• Weather interpretation

If you learn the fundamentals of these five skills, you should be able to stay safe while navigating through most situations. We'll walk through each of those skills, what it involves, and how to learn it below.

Other useful skills that are not essential at first are general boat maintenance, diagnosing electrical issues, and maintaining your boat's engine.

How to learn basic sailing skills

I recommend reading up on basic sailing skills. We have created a special page that shows you what articles we recommend when first starting out . Reading up on sailing skills might seem unnesseccary, but believe me, it really helps to boost your confidence if you have read about all those moving parts ahead of time. It will also save you precious lesson time.

NauticEd offers Basic Sail Trim as one of their free introductory courses , so I recommend taking that course, as well as playing Sailaway, which will really prepare you for trimming sails in real life.

Here's a great beginner sail trim video:

The most important way to learn basic sailing skills, of course, is going out and practising them on the water. I would want to have at least a basic grasp of sail trim and navigation before sailing single-handed (alone).

How to learn marine navigation

I recently wrote a complete guide on how to learn marine navigation . I suggest you start there - it's a very comprehensive guide and great for beginners. I specifically wrote it for people who don't know where to start. In it, I explain the fundamentals and link out to more in-depth articles, so you can explore on your own. Marine navigation is a skill you can train at home especially well.

How to learn anchoring

This is more of a practical skill, but I still recommend to read up on it first (it doesn't cost you anything). William has written a couple of solid articles on anchoring:

• 9 Easy Expert Tips for Anchoring a Boat Near Shore
• How Much Anchor Chain Should You Let Out When Anchoring?
• Can I Moor & Anchor My Boat Anywhere?

Essential knowledge

Even though sailing is a very hands-on skill, you do need some theoretical knowledge as well.

• Boat Safety Standards
• Rules of the Road - essential in avoiding collisions and dangerous situations

This information is included in one of the free introductory courses offered by NauticEd , and I believe ASA also has a free course on collision rules.

Useful knowledge

Besides this essential information, there are also things that are simply handy to know. It really pays to invest some time into learning the most important sailing terms. I recommend you learn the following at the least:

• Basic parts of sailboats - has great diagrams
• Basic sail names - illustrated guide with examples
• Most common sailing terms - extensive database

Understanding the basic names of things comes in handy when shouting orders at your crew (or being shouted at!), and avoiding any confusion. However, you can definitely sail a boat without knowing the name of everything on it.

There is some basic gear you probably want to have as a first-time sailor. Luckily, there isn't a lot of speciality stuff you have to have when renting your first sailboat.

• suitable shoes & clothing
• basic navigation tools
• optional: plotting tools

Suitable shoes

If you're just going out sailing for some odd days here and there, you only need suitable shoes to wear onboard. Or you could not wear any shoes at all, which is cheaper obviously. It can pay off to invest in something to protect your pinky toe.

• Here's What Shoes to Wear Sailing (and which not )

Sailing gloves

If you're planning on sailing more often, or longer days, you might want to consider getting a good pair of sailing gloves. Those will really help protect your hands from fatigue, blisters, and rope burn.

I highly recommend getting some kind of headwear. Make sure it has a strap or is a tight fit. Protecting yourself from the sun is important on the water. You get sunburn quickly.

Suitable clothing

You can wear regular clothing. Make sure to bring multiple layers, as temperatures on the water can change quickly. If you have clothes that are lightweight, comfortable, dry quickly, and optionally break wind, that's perfect. You could of course buy special sailing jackets, but these tend to be pricey, and you only really need them if you're on the water a lot.

Here's an expert tip: always bring dry clothes and wrap them in a plastic bag.

• Here's What to Wear Sailing in the UK

If you're looking for good quality sailing gear, I have articles on gear I like. You can check them out on the recommended gear section of this site. It has all the sailing gear I love most.

Navigation tools

When renting a boat, you want to bring some basic navigational tools:

• handheld magnetic compass
• nautical charts

Most people won't need plotting tools at first, but if you're planning on sailing longer legs, you might want to get them:

• parallel rulers

You might also need to show your skipper's license, or at least your boater's safety license.

Getting into sailing doesn't have to be complex at all. If you bookmark this article, you can get back to it (and the resources I link out to) and work your way through them in your own time. Taking your time to learn the fundamentals right first will greatly speed up your practical learning experience.

While sailing is a practical skill, and more traditional skippers will argue that you can't learn it on paper, I disagree. There is a lot of information that is especially suited to learn online or practice at home. By doing so, you'll feel more confident once you set foot on board. However, you probably shouldn't postpone bolstering your practical experience either. You want to see where you stand as quickly as possible. A lot of people put it off indefinitely, and if there's one thing true about the internet - actually, two -, it is this:

• You can keep reading indefinitely.
• It can't replace the real thing.

Instead, use it as a helpful resource to speed up the process and cut cost. It's a great place to do homework. But now, it's time to step aboard - good luck, and smooth sailing!

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Sailing Videos and Movies

* From our media partner the Sailing Channel, a monthly subscription service SailFlix. Outstanding sailing documentaries, how-to videos, TV & Web Series — Try the free 7-day trial subscription here.

Use the following media player by clicking on the image below, or scroll down to view videos independently.

The following is a collection of free Sailing Documentaries and Movies for Educational Purposes. Commentary from the worlds top yacht designers and builders, with coverage from the years past Classic Regatta’s. Watch DORADE in her quest to repeat all of the major ocean races she won in the 1930s. Sailing documentaries and movie trailers, that showcase classic yachts and a lot more!

Classic Boat Builders:

ARTISAN BOATWORKS: INFORMATIONAL ASPOYA BOATS: INFORMATIONAL BRISTOL BOAT COMPANY, RHODE ISLAND: 1919 Herreshoff S-Boat Reconstruction INFORMATIONAL BROOKLIN BOAT YARD, MAINE: INFORMATIONAL CLAASEN SHIPYARDS, NETHERLANDS: INFORMATIONAL FAIRLIE RESTORATIONS LTD: INFORMATIONAL GANNON AND BENJAMIN MARINE RAILWAY: INFORMATIONAL HAROLD A. BURNHAM – 11th Generation Wooden-Boat Builder: INFORMATIONAL HUNT YACHTS – HISTORICAL – INFORMATIONAL LATITUDE CLASSIC YACHTS (Tofinou): INFORMATIONAL LYMAN MORSE: INFORMATIONAL PENDENNIS SHIPYARD LTD: INFORMATIONAL ROBB & BERKING CLASSICS FLENSBURG: INFORMATIONAL ROCKPORT MARINE, MAINE: INFORMATIONAL SHIP BUILDING IN ESSEX, MASSACHUSETTS: DOCUMENTARY SPAULDING WOODEN BOAT CENTER: DOCUMENTARY SPIRIT YACHTS, UK: INFORMATIONAL SPIRIT YACHTS: 2006 Venice Boat Scene from Casino Royale TRAILER VITTERS SHIPYARD: EDUCATIONAL

Classic Yachts:

BURGESS W. STARLING “COLUMBIA” – DOCUMENTARY BURGESS W. STARLING/STEPHENS OLIN “LIONHEART” – DOCUMENTARY BURGESS W. STARLING/DYKSTRA “RAINBOW” – DOCUMENTARY BURGESS W. STARLING/STEPHENS OLIN “RANGER” – DOCUMENTARY DAHLSTROM G.”RHAPSODY RESOLUTE” – INFORMATIONAL DYKSRA & PARTNERS NAVAL ARCHITECTS “ANNAGINE” – INFORMATIONAL ESTLANDER GUSTAF “LA MORENA” INFORMATIONAL ESTLANDER GUSTAF “LA MORENA” (part 2) INFORMATIONAL FIFE III WILLIAM “ADVENTURESS” – TOUR FIFE III WILLIAM “CAMBRIA” – INFORMATIONAL FIFE III WILLIAM “EILEAN” – PROMOTIONAL FIFE III WILLIAM “MARIQUITA” – INFORMATIONAL FIFE III WILLIAM “MARISKA” – INFORMATIONAL FIFE III WILLIAM 6 Metre “NADA” – RESTORATION PREVIEW FIFE III WILLIAM 6 Metre “SASKIA II” – DELIVERY FIFE III WILLIAM 15 Metre Class “TUIGA” – SAILING DOCUMENTARY FOX UFFA Flying 15 “COWESLIP” – REGATTA FOX UFFA 22 Square Metre “VIGILANT” – SAILING FRANK W. C. “PASHA” – PROMOTIONAL FRERS GERMAN “REBECCA” – REGATTA GOELLER FRED “ADAMANT” – INFORMATIONAL HERRESHOFF L.F. “QUIET TUNE” – INFORMATIONAL HERRESHOFF N.G. New York 30 “ALERA” – SAILING HERRESHOFF N.G. New York 30 “AMORITA” – Amorita’s Unlucky Day – TRAILER HERRESHOFF N.G. New York 30 “IBIS” – DOCUMENTARY HERRESHOFF N.G. “ELENA” – DOCUMENTARY HERRESHOFF N.G. “MARILEE” – INFORMATIONAL HERRESHOFF N.G. S-Class – RACING HERRESHOFF N.G. Buzzards Bay 18 “UNCAS” INFORMATIONAL HOEK ANDRE – “THE EAGLE 54” – PROMOTIONAL HOLM TORE “BEATRICE AURORE” – PROMOTIONAL KING BRUCE “WHITEHAWK” – INFORMATIONAL LANGAN “HUCKLEBERRY” – INFORMATIONAL MYLNE ALFRED “MINGARY” – LAUNCHING MYLNE ALFRED “THE BLUE PETER” – INFORMATIONAL NICHOLSON CHARLES E. “ENDEAVOUR” – INFORMATIONAL NICHOLSON CHARLES E. “NYRIA” – INFORMATIONAL NICHOLSON CHARLES E. “SHAMROCK V” – INFORMATIONAL NICHOLSON CHARLES E. “VELSHEDA” – INFORMATIONAL NICHOLSON CHARLES E./DYKSTRA “HANUMAN” – INFORMATIONAL PAINE FRANK C.”ATLANTIS” – INFORMATIONAL PARKER REUEL “IBIS” – INFORMATIONAL PARKER REUEL “PEREGRINE” – INFORMATIONAL PLYN AUGUST “MIGNON” – INFORMATIONAL REIMERS KNUD “BACCHANT” – INFORMATIONAL SORVIK TORSTEN “TEJST” – INFORMATIONAL SPARKMAN & STEPHENS “BUZZY III” – LAUNCHING SPARKMAN & STEPHENS “BUZZY III” – NEW BOTTOM PAINT SPARKMAN & STEPHENS “CHEROKEE” – LAUNCHING SPARKMAN & STEPHENS Design No.7 “DORADE” – RACING SPARKMAN & STEPHENS “SKYLARK OF 1937” – CHRISTENING STIRLING WILL INTEGRITY – INFORMATIONAL TOWNSEND WILLIAM “CORONET” – INFORMATIONAL ROBB ARTHUR “THE DARING” – PROMOTIONAL

Classic Yacht Regattas:

Class Regattas:

8 Metre Class:

2022 WORLD CUP: REGATTA 2019 WORLD CUP: REGATTA 2017 WORLD CUP: REGATTA 2016 WORLD CUP: REGATTA 2014 WORLD CUP: REGATTA

6 Metre Class:

2019 WORLD CUP: REGATTA 2017 WORLD CUP: REGATTA 2011 WORLD CUP: REGATTA 2007 WORLD CUP: REGATTA

International Star Class:

2019 WORLD CHAMPIOSHIPS: REGATTA 2017 WORLD CHAMPIOSHIPS: REGATTA 2014 WORLD CHAMPIOSHIPS: REGATTA 2012 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: REGATTA

Cowes Week:

1968 COWES WEEK: REGATTA 1968 COWES WEEK (XODs): REGATTA 1965 COWES WEEK: REGATTA 1962 COWES WEEK: REGATTA 1961 COWES WEEK: REGATTA 1960 COWES WEEK: REGATTA 1957 COWES WEEK: REGATTA 1955 COWES WEEK: REGATTA 1954 COWES WEEK: REGATTA 1952 COWES WEEK: REGATTA 1935 COWES WEEK: REGATTA 1920 COWES WEEK: REGATTA

Les Dames de Saint-Tropez:

2019 LES DAMES de SAINT-TROPEZ: REGATTA 2015 LES DAMES de SAINT-TROPEZ: REGATTA

Les Voiles de Saint Tropez

2019 LES VOILES de SAINT-TROPEZ – Le Best-Of: REGATTA 2018 LES VOILES de SAINT-TROPEZ – Le Best-Of: REGATTA 2017 LES VOILES de SAINT-TROPEZ – Le Best-Of: REGATTA 2016 LES VOILES de SAINT-TROPEZ – Le Best-Of: REGATTA 2015 LES VOILES de SAINT-TROPEZ – Le Best-Of: REGATTA 2014 LES VOILES de SAINT-TROPEZ – Day 7: REGATTA 2014 LES VOILES de SAINT-TROPEZ – Day 6: REGATTA 2014 LES VOILES de SAINT-TROPEZ – Day 5: REGATTA 2014 LES VOILES de SAINT-TROPEZ – Day 4: REGATTA 2014 LES VOILES de SAINT-TROPEZ – Day 3: REGATTA 2014 LES VOILES de SAINT-TROPEZ – Day 2: REGATTA 2014 LES VOILES de SAINT-TROPEZ – Day 1: REGATTA 2013 LES VOILES de SAINT-TROPEZ: REGATTA 2012 LES VOILES de SAINT-TROPEZ: REGATTA

Monaco Classic Week:

2021 MONACO CLASSIC WEEK – PREVIEW: REGATTA 2019 MONACO CLASSIC WEEK – FINAL: REGATTA 2017 MONACO CLASSIC WEEK – Best Moments 2017: REGATTA 2015 MONACO CLASSIC WEEK – Circuito 15 Metros – Potofino Rolex Trophy: REGATTA 2015 MONACO CLASSIC WEEK – La Belle Classe: REGATTA 2015 MONACO CLASSIC WEEK – DAY 3: REGATTA 2015 MONACO CLASSIC WEEK – DAY 2: REGATTA 2015 MONACO CLASSIC WEEK – DAY 1: REGATTA 2012 MONACO CLASSIC WEEK – La Belle Classe: REGATTA 2011 MONACO CLASSIC WEEK – Tuiga: REGATTA

New York Yacht Club:

2015 NEW YORK YACHT CLUB RACE WEEK AT NEWPORT RHODE ISLAND: REGATTA 2014 NEW YORK YACHT CLUB RACE WEEK AT NEWPORT RHODE ISLAND: REGATTA 2013 NEW YORK YACHT CLUB RACE WEEK AT NEWPORT RHODE ISLAND: REGATTA 2012 NEW YORK YACHT CLUB RACE WEEK AT NEWPORT RHODE ISLAND: REGATTA

Panerai Classic Yacht Challenge:

2017 ANTIGUA CLASSIC YACHT REGATTA: REGATTA 2016 ANTIGUA CLASSIC YACHT REGATTA: REGATTA 2015 ANTIGUA CLASSIC YACHT REGATTA: REGATTA 2014 ANTIGUA CLASSIC YACHT REGATTA: REGATTA 2013 ANTIGUA CLASSIC YACHT REGATTA: REGATTA

2017 LES VOILES D’ANTIBES: REGATTA 2016 LES VOILES D’ANTIBES: REGATTA 2015 LES VOILES D’ANTIBES: REGATTA 2014 LES VOILES D’ANTIBES: REGATTA 2013 LES VOILES D’ANTIBES: REGATTA 2012 LES VOILES D’ANTIBES: REGATTA

2016 ARGENTARIO SAILING WEEK: REGATTA 2015 ARGENTARIO SAILING WEEK: REGATTA 2014 ARGENTARIO SAILING WEEK: REGATTA 2013 ARGENTARIO SAILING WEEK: REGATTA 2012 ARGENTARIO SAILING WEEK: REGATTA

2015 LE VELE D’EPOCA A NAPOLI: REGATTA 2014 LE VELE D’EPOCA A NAPOLI: REGATTA 2013 LE VELE D’EPOCA A NAPOLI: REGATTA 2012 LE VELE D’EPOCA A NAPOLI: REGATTA

2016 BRITISH CLASSIC WEEK: REGATTA 2015 BRITISH CLASSIC WEEK: REGATTA 2014 BRITISH CLASSIC WEEK: REGATTA 2013 BRITISH CLASSIC WEEK: REGATTA 2012 BRITISH CLASSIC WEEK: REGATTA

2017 CORINTHIAN CLASSIC YACHT REGATTA: REGATTA 2016 CORINTHIAN CLASSIC YACHT REGATTA: REGATTA 2014 CORINTHIAN CLASSIC YACHT REGATTA: REGATTA 2013 CORINTHIAN CLASSIC YACHT REGATTA: REGATTA

2016 NEWPORT CLASSIC YACHT REGATTA DAY 1: REGATTA 2015 MUSEUM OF YACHTING REGATTA DAY 1: REGATTA 2015 MUSEUM OF YACHTING REGATTA DAY 2: REGATTA 2013 MUSEUM OF YACHTING REGATTA DAY 1: REGATTA 2013 MUSEUM OF YACHTING REGATTA DAY 2: REGATTA 2011 MUSEUM OF YACHTING REGATTA: REGATTA

2017 OPERA HOUSE CUP RACE: REGATTA 2016 OPERA HOUSE CUP RACE: REGATTA 2014 OPERA HOUSE CUP RACE: REGATTA 2013 OPERA HOUSE CUP RACE: REGATTA 2012 OPERA HOUSE CUP RACE: REGATTA

2015 XI COPA DEL REY BARCOS ÉPOCA : REGATTA 2014 XI COPA DEL REY BARCOS ÉPOCA : REGATTA 2013 XI COPA DEL REY BARCOS ÉPOCA : REGATTA 2012 XI COPA DEL REY BARCOS ÉPOCA : REGATTA

2016 VELE D’EPOCA DI IMPERIA : REGATTA 2014 VELE D’EPOCA DI IMPERIA : REGATTA 2012 VELE D’EPOCA DI IMPERIA : REGATTA

2017 CANNES REGATES ROYALES: REGATTA 2016 CANNES REGATES ROYALES: REGATTA 2015 CANNES REGATES ROYALES: REGATTA 2014 CANNES REGATES ROYALES: REGATTA 2013 CANNES REGATES ROYALES: REGATTA 2012 CANNES REGATES ROYALES: REGATTA

WoodenBoat Regatta Series:

2017 EGGEMOGGIN REACH REGATTA: REGATTA 2015 EGGEMOGGIN REACH REGATTA: REGATTA 2015 THE HERRESHOFF CLASSIC YACHT REGATTA: REGATTA

Kettenburg Classic Regatta, San Diego Yacht Club:

2014 KETTENBURG CLASSIC REGATTA: REGATTA

Cultural and Humanitarian Awareness:

A PLASTIC OCEAN OFFICIAL TRAILER – DOCUMENTARY CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE PACIFIC – DOCUMENTARY DR.SYLVIA EARLE ON THE OCEANS – INFORMATIONAL GREAT FUTURES START HERE – BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF AMERICA PSA – DOCUMENTARY GREEN SENSE FARMS – VERTICAL FARMING – DOCUMENTARY GROWING UNDERGROUND – FOOD TO THE CITY FROM UNDER THE CITY – DOCUMENTARY MATT RUTHERFORD – THE OCEANS GARBAGE PATCH INFORMATIONAL NEWPORT MUSIC FESTIVAL 2015 – Eric Lu at Breakers INFORMATIONAL NEWPORT MUSIC FESTIVAL – SILVER ANNIVERSARY INFORMATIONAL PLASTIC POLLUTION IN THE OCEANS – DR. SYLVIA EARLE, OCEANOGRAPHER – INFORMATIONAL PRISTINE SEAS – PROTECTION OF UNTOUCHED REEFS – INFORMATIONAL

Documentary:

1939 HURRICANE: THE HURRICANE OF 1939 – DOCUMENTARY 1938 HURRICANE: A WIND TO SHAKE THE WORLD – DOCUMENTARY 1936 AROUND THE HORN ON WANDERBIRD – DOCUMENTARY A COWES IN MINIATURE (1932) – TRAILER AHTO – CHASING A DREAM – TRAILER ALONE ON THE WAVES – Sám ve Vlnách – DOCUMENTARY A SUMMER REGATTA IN MAINE 1934 – INFORMATIONAL BARGE SAILING (The Voice of the Water) – TRAILER BLESMA ULTIMATE CHALLENGE – (viewer discretion is advised) – TRAILER BUILDING OF BRILLIANT – DOCUMENTARY CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS (1937) – TRAILER CHARLOTTE: A WOODEN BOAT STORY – DOCUMENTARY CLASSIC YACHTS: at Helsingfors Segelsällskap – DOCUMENTARY COWES WEEK (1961) – REGATTA CROSSING THE NARROW SEA – A story about ocean, wind and friendship – DOCUMENTARY CRUISING HAS NO LIMITS: SAILING CHANNEL THEATRE – DOCUMENTARY DINGHY POLAR EXPEDITION 2012 – DOCUMENTARY DORADE DISCUSSION WITH HARKEN ENGINEER – INFORMATIONAL DORADE TRANS ATLANTIC RACE 1931 Part 1 of 5 – DOCUMENTARY DORADE PREPARING FOR TRANSPAC – DOCUMENTARY DORADE TRANSPAC DAY 9 – DOCUMENTARY DORADE TRANSPAC DAY 7 – DOCUMENTARY DORADE TRANSPAC DAY 5 – DOCUMENTARY DORADE TRANSPAC DAY 3 – DOCUMENTARY DRAGESEJLADS (ca. 1940-1945) – DOCUMENTARY DRUM: An Extraordinary Adventure – DOCUMENTARY EFFIE M. MORRISEY (ERNESTINA) COASTAL SCHOONER – DOCUMENTARY FAME – DOCUMENTARY FASNET YACHT RACE TRAGEDY (1979) – TRAILER FLASH II – INTERNATIONAL STAR CLASS- INFORMATIONAL FLYING DUTCHMAN – DOCUMENTARY FROM TIMBER TO TIDE – DOCUMENTARY FULL SPEED AHEAD! SAILING TO VICTORY (RT Documentary) – TRAILER HISTORY OF HUNT YACHTS – DOCUMENTARY IN THE WAKE OF ZACA- SAILING CHANNEL THEATER – DOCUMENTARY JEANIE JOHNSTON – The Replica Famine Ship – DOCUMENTARY MAIDENTRIP – TRAILER NEW YORK 30s – DOCUMENTARY NORFOLK BROADS – 2013 3RR – DOCUMENTARY NORFOLK BROADS – THREE RIVER RACE – DOCUMENTARY OPERA HOUSE CUP: A Story of Wooden Sailboats – DOCUMENTARY PEQUOT YACHT CLUB (Circa 1956) – INFORMATIONAL P-LINER TALL SHIPS – DOCUMENTARY RACING WITH THE COMPETITION: On board NY40 CHINOOK – DOCUMENTARY ROYAL SWEDISH YACHT CLUB: Centenary Races (1930) – DOCUMENTARY SAILING ACROSS THE ATLANTIC – PART 1/5 – DOCUMENTARY SAILING ACROSS THE ATLANTIC – PART 5/5 – DOCUMENTARY SAILING AND WALKING ON SCOTLAND’S WEST COAST – DOCUMENTARY SAILING BABY BLUE: EPISODE 1 – MAINE TO FLORIDA – DOCUMENTARY SAILING BABY BLUE: EPISODE 2 – BAHAMAS TO BVI – DOCUMENTARY SAILING BABY BLUE: EPISODE 3 – THE LEEWARDS – DOCUMENTARY SAILING BABY BLUE: EPISODE 4 – THE WINDWARDS – DOCUMENTARY SAILING BABY BLUE: EPISODE 5 – CAMP GRENADA – DOCUMENTARY SAILING SCHOOL ( Newton Ferrers School of Yachting) – DOCUMENTARY SAILING THE NORFOLK BROADS – THREE EASY STEPS – DOCUMENTARY SAIL MARTHA’S VINEYARD – DOCUMENTARY SAINT PETERSBURG YACHT CLUB – Classic Week Trailer – DOCUMENTARY SEA CLOUD – LUXURY SAILING SHIP – DOCUMENTARY SCHOONER MARTHA – 2015 TRANSPAC – DOCUMENTARY SHACKLETON’S EPIC VOYAGE REVISITED – DOCUMENTARY STAR: A LEGENDARY CLASSIC BOAT – INFORMATIONAL SURVIVAL – THE SHACKLETON STORY – DOCUMENTARY SYDNEY HOBART YACHT RACE 50 GOLDEN YEARS – DOCUMENTARY TED TURNERS GREATEST RACE – THE 1979 FASTNET – DOCUMENTARY THE BOAT PEOPLE – DOCUMENTARY THE EDNA FRANDSEN ADVENTURE – DOCUMENTARY THE FINEST HOURS – OFFICIAL TRAILER – Chris Pine, Eric Bana Movie DOCUMENTARY THE GREAT STAR FLEET – DOCUMENTARY THE LAST CAPE HORNERS – The End of the Great Sailing Ship Era – DOCUMENTARY THE MIGHTY TI: MARION-BERMUDA – DOCUMENTARY The RACING TENDER – DOCUMENTARY The LEGEND OF CAPTAIN CHARLIE BARR – DOCUMENTARY THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER – POEM THE TRUE STORY OF MOBY DICK – DOCUMENTARY THE WATERWAYS OF IRELAND LOUGH ERNE – DOCUMENTARY THE WOODEN BOAT STORY – DOCUMENTARY TANGAROA EXPEDITION – DOCUMENTARY UNTIE THE LINES – DOCUMENTARY VANISHING SAIL – DOCUMENTARY WHALING SHIP THE “CHARLES W. MORGAN” – DOCUMENTARY WOOD, SAILS, DREAMS – TRAILER YOU HAVE TO GO OUT – TRAILER

Electric Propulsion:

TORQEEDO TRAVEL 1003 – DOCUMENTARY TORQEEDO TRAVEL 1003 – ALERION EXPRESS 33 – INFORMATIONAL MASTERVOLT – THE LABORATORY BOAT – INFORMATIONAL MASTERVOLT ON TOUR – TRAINING MADE EASY – INFORMATIONAL PLANETSOLAR – AROUND THE WORLD – INFORMATIONAL WHICH MOTOR IS RIGHT FOR YOU – ELECTRIC PROPULSION – INFORMATIONAL

General Interest:

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10 Best Small Sailboats (Under 20 Feet)

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

December 28, 2023

Compact, easy to trailer, simple to rig, easy to maintain and manage, and affordable, the best small boats all have one thing in common: they offer loads of fun while out there on the water.

So whether you're on a budget or just looking for something that can offer ultimate daytime rides without compromising on safety, aesthetic sensibilities, alternate propulsion, and speed, the best small sailboats under 20 feet should be the only way to go.

Let's be brutally honest here; not everyone needs a 30-foot sailboat to go sailing. They come with lots of features such as electronics, entertainment, refrigeration, bunks, a galley, and even a head. But do you really need all these features to go sailing? We don't think so.

All you need to go sailing is a hull, a mast, rudder, and, of course, a sail. And whether you refer to them as daysailers, trailerable sailboats , a weekender sailboat, or pocket cruisers, there's no better way to enjoy the thrills of coastal sailing than on small sailboats.

There are a wide range of small boats measuring less than 20 feet available in the market. These are hot products in the market given that they offer immense thrills out on the sea without the commitment required to cruise on a 30-footer. A small sailboat will not only give you the feel of every breeze but will also give you the chance to instantly sense every change in trim.

In this article, we'll highlight 10 best small sailboats under 20 feet . Most models in this list are time-tested, easy to rig, simple to sail, extremely fun, and perfect either for solo sailing or for sailing with friends and family. So if you've been looking for a list of some of the best small sailboats , you've come to the right place.

So without further ado, let's roll on.

Table of contents

{{boat-info="/boats/hunter-15"}}

The Marlow-Hunter 15 is not only easy to own since it's one of the most affordable small sailboats but also lots of fun to sail. This is a safe and versatile sailboat for everyone. Whether you're sailing with your family or as a greenhorn, you'll love the Hunter 15 thanks to its raised boom, high freeboard, and sturdy FRP construction.

With high sides, a comfortable wide beam, a contoured self-bailing cockpit, and fiberglass construction, the Hunter 15 is certainly designed with the novice sailor in mind. This is why you can do a lot with this boat without falling out, breaking it, or capsizing. Its contoured self-baiting cockpit will enable you to find a fast exit while its wide beam will keep it steady and stable no matter what jibes or weight shifts happen along the way.

This is a small sailboat that can hold up to four people. It's designed to give you a confident feeling and peace of mind even when sailing with kids. It's easy to trailer, easy to rig, and easy to launch. With a price tag of about $10k, the Hunter 15 is a fun, affordable, and versatile boat that is perfect for both seasoned sailors and novices. It's a low-maintenance sailboat that can be great for teaching kids a thing or two about sailing.

Catalina 16.5

{{boat-info="/boats/catalina-16-5"}}

Catalina Yachts are synonymous with bigger boats but they have some great and smaller boats too such as Catalina 16.5. This is one of the best small sailboats that are ideal for family outings given that it has a big and roomy cockpit, as well as a large storage locker. Designed with a hand-laminated fiberglass sloop, the Catalina 16.5 is versatile and is available in two designs: the centerboard model and the keel model.

The centerboard model is designed with a powerful sailplane that remains balanced as a result of the fiberglass centerboard, the stable hull form, and the rudder. It also comes with a tiller extension, adjustable hiking straps, and adjustable overhaul. It's important to note that these are standard equipment in the two models.

As far as the keel model is concerned, this is designed with a high aspect keel as the cast lead and is attached with stainless steel keel bolts, which makes this model perfect for mooring or docking whenever it's not in use. In essence, the centerboard model is perfect if you'll store it in a trailer while the keel model can remain at the dock.

All in all, the Catalina 16.5 is one of the best small sailboats that you can get your hands on for as low as $10,000. This is certainly a great example of exactly what a daysailer should be.

{{boat-info="/boats/hobie-16"}}

There's no list of small, trailerable, and fun sailboats that can be complete without the inclusion of the classic Hobie 16. This is a durable design that has been around and diligently graced various waters across the globe since its debut way back in 1969 in Southern California. In addition to being durable, the Hobie 16 is trailerable, great for speed, weighs only 320 pounds, great for four people, and more importantly, offers absolute fun.

With a remarkable figure of over 100,000 launched since its debut, it's easy to see that the Hobie 16 is highly popular. Part of this popularity comes from its asymmetric fiberglass-and-foam sandwiched hulls that include kick-up rudders. This is a great feature that allows it to sail up to the beach.

For about $12,000, the Hobie 16 will provide you with endless fun throughout the summer. It's equipped with a spinnaker, trailer, and douse kit. This is a high-speed sailboat that has a large trampoline to offer lots of space not just for your feet but also to hand off the double trapezes.

Montgomery 17

{{boat-info="/boats/montgomery-17"}}

Popularly known as the M-17, The Montgomery 17 was designed by Lyle C. Hess in conjunction with Jerry Montgomery in Ontario, California for Montgomery Boats. Designed either with keel or centerboard models, the M-17 is more stable than most boats of her size. This boat is small enough to be trailered but also capable of doing moderate offshore passages.

This small sailboat is designed with a masthead and toe rail that can fit most foresails. It also has enough space for two thanks to its cuddly cabin, which offers a sitting headroom, a portable toilet, a pair of bunks, a DC power, and optional shore, and a proper amount of storage. That's not all; you can easily raise the deck-stepped mast using a four-part tackle.

In terms of performance, the M-17 is one of the giant-killers out there. This is a small sailboat that will excel in the extremes and make its way past larger boats such as the Catalina 22. It glides along beautifully and is a dog in light air, though it won't sail against a 25-knot wind, which can be frustrating. Other than that, the Montgomery 17 is a great small sailboat that can be yours for about $14,000.

Norseboat 17.5

{{boat-info="/boats/norseboat-17-5"}}

As a versatile daysailer, Norseboat 17.5 follows a simple concept of seaworthiness and high-performance. This small sailboat perfectly combines both contemporary construction and traditional aesthetics. Imagine a sailboat that calls itself the "Swiss Army Knife of Boats!" Well, this is a boat that can sail and row equally well.

Whether you're stepping down from a larger cruiser or stepping up from a sea kayak, the unique Norseboat 17.5 is balanced, attractive, and salty. It has curvaceous wishbone gaff, it is saucy, and has a stubby bow-sprit that makes it attractive to the eyes. In addition to her beauty, the Norseboat 17.5 offers an energy-pinching challenge, is self-sufficient, and offers more than what you're used to.

This is a small, lightweight, low-maintenance sailboat that offers a ticket to both sailing and rowing adventures all at the same time. At about 400 pounds, it's very portable and highly convenient. Its mainsails may look small but you'll be surprised at how the boat is responsive to it. With a $12,500 price tag, this is a good small sailboat that offers you the versatility to either row or sail.

{{boat-info="/boats/sage-marine-sage-17"}}

If you've been looking for a pocket cruiser that inspires confidence, especially in shoal water, look no further than the Sage 17. Designed by Jerry Montgomery in 2009, the Sage 17 is stable and should heel to 10 degrees while stiffening up. And because you want to feel secure while sailing, stability is an integral feature of the Sage 17.

This is a sailboat that will remain solid and stable no matter which part of the boat you stand on. Its cabin roof and the balsa-cored carbon-fiber deck are so strong that the mast doesn't require any form of compression post. The self-draining cockpit is long enough and capable of sleeping at 6 feet 6 inches.

The Sage 17 may be expensive at $25k but is a true sea warrior that's worth look at. This is a boat that will not only serve you right but will also turn heads at the marina.    

{{boat-info="/boats/laserperformance-laser-sb3"}}

Having been chosen as the overall boat of the year for 2008 by the Sailing World Magazine, the Laser SB3 is one of the coolest boats you'll ever encounter. When sailing upwind, this boat will lock into the groove while its absolute simplicity is legendary. In terms of downwind sailing, having this boat will be a dream come true while it remains incredibly stable even at extraordinary speed.

Since its debut in 2004, the Laser SB3 has surged in terms of popularity thanks to the fact that it's designed to put all the controls at your fingertips. In addition to a lightweight mast, its T- bulb keel can be hauled and launched painlessly. For about $18,000, the Laser SB3 ushers you into the world of sports sailing and what it feels to own and use a sports boat.

{{boat-info="/boats/fareast-18"}}

As a manufacturer, Fareast is a Chinese boat manufacturer that has been around for less than two decades. But even with that, the Fareast 18 remains a very capable cruiser-racer that will take your sailing to the next level. In addition to its good looks, this boat comes with a retractable keel with ballast bulb, a powerful rig, and an enclosed cabin.

Its narrow design with a closed stern may be rare in sailboats of this size, but that's not a problem for the Fareast 18. This design not only emphasizes speed but also makes it a lot easier to maintain this boat. Perfect for about 6 people, this boat punches above its weight. It's, however, designed to be rigged and launched by one person.

This is a relatively affordable boat. It's agile, safe, well-thought-out, well built, and very sporty.

{{boat-info="/boats/chuck-paine-paine-14"}}

If you're in the market looking for a small sailboat that offers contemporary performance with classic beauty, the Paine 14 should be your ideal option. Named after its famous designer, Chuck Paine, this boat is intentionally designed after the classic Herreshoff 12.5 both in terms of dimensions and features.

This is a lightweight design that brings forth modern fin keel and spade rudder, which makes it agile, stable, and faster. The Paine 14 is built using cold-molded wood or west epoxy. It has varnished gunnels and transoms to give it an old-time charm. To make it somehow modern, this boat is designed with a carbon mast and a modern way to attach sails so that it's ready to sail in minutes.

You can rest easy knowing that the Paine 14 will not only serve you well but will turn heads while out there.

{{boat-info="/boats/wd-schock-lido-14"}}

Many sailors will attest that their first sailing outing was in a Lido 14. This is a classic sailboat that has been around for over four decades and still proves to be a perfect match to modern small boats, especially for those still learning the ropes of sailing.

With seating for six people, the Lido 14 can be perfect for solo sailing , single-handed sailing, or if you're planning for shorthanded sailing. While new Lido 14 boats are no longer available, go for a functional used Lido 14 and you'll never regret this decision. It will serve you well and your kids will probably fall in love with sailing if Lido 14 becomes their main vessel during weekends or long summer holidays.

Bottom Line

There you have it; these are some of the best small sailboats you can go for. While there are endless small sailboats in the market, the above-described sailboat will serve you right and make you enjoy the wind.

Choose the perfect sailboat, invest in it, and go out there and have some good fun!

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A tornado sank a luxury sailing boat off the coast of Sicily. Here’s what we know

E mergency workers in southern Italy are still hunting for six people missing after a tornado sank a luxury yacht early Monday – prompting an air and naval operation off the coast of Sicily .

Fifteen people were rescued from the wreckage on Monday, according to Italy’s Coast Guard. One body was later recovered from the hull of the stricken vessel.

Two Americans and four Britons are among those missing – including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley International, and Chris Morvillo, a prominent lawyer.

Here’s what we know.

What happened?

A small waterspout – a type of tornado – spun over the Mediterranean island early Monday, likely capsizing the sailing boat amid lashings of rain and strong thunderstorms.

The British-flagged yacht, called the “Bayesian,” was anchored about a half a mile from the port of Porticello, on Sicily’s northern coast. The vessel sank after its mast broke in half in the storm, Salvatore Cocina, head of Sicily’s Civil Protection, told CNN on Tuesday.

Eyewitnesses described furious gales and hurricane-like winds that left an avalanche of debris near the pier.

More than a dozen survivors were spotted in the area hanging onto life rafts, according to the captain of a nearby boat, who steadied his ship to avoid colliding with the Bayesian.

“We got this strong hurricane gust and we had to start the engine to keep the ship in an angled position,” Karsten Bower told reporters in Palermo on Monday. “After the storm was over, we noticed that the ship behind us was gone.”

Bower and his crew rescued four injured people, he said, before calling Italy’s Coast Guard – who later rescued the remaining survivors.

One of those rescued – a child – was airlifted to the children’s hospital in Palermo. Eight people were hospitalized in total, according to the mayor’s office.

The girl’s mother, Charlotte, described how she battled to hold onto Sofia, her 1-year-old daughter, as reported by Italian news agency ANSA.

“In two seconds I lost the baby in the sea, then I immediately hugged her again amidst the fury of the waves. I held her tightly, close to me, while the sea was stormy,” she told journalists. “Many were screaming.”

The mother and daughter were later reunited with the father, James, according to a doctor at the local children’s hospital in Palermo.

“The survivors are very tired and are constantly asking about the missing people,” the doctor, Domenico Cipolla, said Monday. “They are talking and crying all the time because they have realized that there is little hope of finding their friends alive.”

Italy’s fire brigade dispatched helicopters to aid in the search, officials said Monday. The brigade also said they would send divers to try and enter the sunken ship Tuesday, after an unsuccessful attempt on Monday.

The depth of the wreck means divers can only work there for limited periods of time, according to Marco Tilotta, an inspector for the diving unit of Palermo’s local fire brigade. The Italian fire brigade said Monday its divers had reached the yacht’s hull 49 meters (160 feet) below sea level.

The United Kingdom’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) will also deploy a team of four inspectors to Palermo to conduct a preliminary assessment of the scene, a source familiar with the operations told CNN, on the condition of anonymity.

Who was on board?

Twenty-two people were on board the Bayesian, which was flying under a British flag and had mostly British passengers and crew, in addition to two Anglo-French, one Irish and one Sri Lankan person, a spokesperson for Italy’s Coast Guard told CNN.

A troupe of high-profile guests are among those missing, including Lynch, the 59-year-old British tech investor who fought a fraud case earlier this year in the United States – which spiraled from the disastrous $11 billion sale of his company to tech firm Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2011.

His 18-year-old daughter was also named missing. Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, survived the accident. Bacares told Italian daily newspaper La Repubblica that she woke up at 4 a.m. local time, as the boat tilted. She and her husband were not initially concerned, she said, but became worried when the windows of the yacht shattered and chaos erupted.

Bacares spoke to the newspaper while sitting in a wheelchair, at a hospital in the Sicilian town of Termini Imerese. She had abrasions on her feet and bandages on other parts of her body, it reported.

Bloomer, the finance tycoon, and Morvillo, a prominent lawyer – and both their wives – are also among the missing, according to Salvatore Cocina, head of Sicily’s Civil Protection.

Morvillo, an American partner at Clifford Chance, was involved in successfully defeating the US fraud case against Lynch in June. Another employee of the firm, Ayla Ronald, and her partner, survived the incident, according to a spokesperson for Clifford Chance.

The body that was recovered from the vessel was identified as the onboard chef Ricardo Thomas, an Antiguan citizen, Reuters reported.

What do we know about the boat?

Built in 2008, the 56-meter (184-foot) yacht was manufactured by Italian company Perini Navi, Reuters reported. According to the Associated Press, the boat has been available for charter for $215,000 (€195,000) per week.

Lynch’s wife is linked to the yacht. The Bayesian is held by the company Revtom Limited, according to records from the maritime information service Equasis. The company’s latest annual return from April lists Bacares as the proprietor.

“Bayesian,” the name given to the vessel, is linked to the statistical theory on which Lynch built his fortune, according to Reuters.

The yacht’s mast stood 72.27 meters (237 feet) high above the designated water line, just short of the world’s tallest mast which is 75.2 meters, according to Guinness World Records. It was the tallest aluminium mast in the world, the Perini Navi website said.

Perini Navi is known for making “good quality boats,” according to Caroline White, deputy editor of BOAT International, a media group serving the superyacht industry.

White told CNN that if the Bayesian dismasted, “it should theoretically become more stable.” “But it might be a different story if you are in the middle of a violent storm with incredibly strong winds pinning you to the water,” she added.

Dangerous weather conditions

Strong storms across Sicily brought torrential rainfall late Sunday. Initial reports suggest a small  waterspout , which developed over the area Monday morning, could have been behind the yacht’s sinking.

Waterspouts – one of several types of tornadoes – are spinning columns of air that form over water, or move from land out to water. They are often accompanied by  high winds, high seas, hail and dangerous lightning . While they are most common over tropical oceans, they can form almost anywhere.

Waterspouts rely on warm waters to gain energy and the Mediterranean Sea has been very hot, reaching a record  daily median of 28.9 degrees Celsius  (84 Fahrenheit) last week, according to preliminary data from researchers at the Institute of Marine Sciences in Spain.

Local temperatures have been even higher, with waters around Sicily reaching almost 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit), almost 3 degrees more than normal, Italian climatologist Luca Mercalli told CNN.

“Warmer oceans have more energy and more humidity to transfer to the atmosphere, the most important fuels for storms,” he said.

CNN’s Laura Paddison, Louis Mian, Benjamin Brown, Catherine Nicholls, Sabrina Souza and Eve Brennan contributed reporting.

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The Italian Coast Guard said it is searching for six people, including Americans, who were aboard a luxury yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily in a storm. The missing also included a British tech tycoon. Fifteen people were saved, including a 1-year-old child. NBC News' Steve Patterson reports.  Aug. 19, 2024

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In the August 2024 issue of Yachting World magazine: News Few finish a tempestuous Round The Island Race European rules are eased for cruising to France and Greece Olympic sailing…

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Breaking news: One dead, six missing after sailing superyacht sinks off Sicily

• Helen Fretter
• August 19, 2024

Italian coastguards have reported that one man has died and six others are missing after a 183ft/56m sailing super yacht sank off the coast of Sicily in the early hours of Monday, 19 August

Update Tuesday 20 August: Specialist divers have, this morning launched a fresh search for the six people missing off the coast of Sicily. The missing individuals have been named as Mike Lynch, a British tech entrepreneur, Hannah Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter, Chris Morvillo, a lawyer who represented Lynch during a trial, and his wife Neda Morvillo, as well as Jonathan Bloomer, the chair of Morgan Stanley International bank, and his wife Judy Bloomer, a charity trustee.

The yacht Bayesian is a Perini Navi, launched in 2008 under the name Salute, and had 22 people onboard with 10 crew and 12 passengers. Those onboard included British, American and Canadian nationals.

The yacht left the Sicilian port of Milazzo on Wednesday 14 August, and AIS data shows the yacht last transmitted its position off Palermo around 0400 local time.

Italian press are reporting that the yacht was at anchor 300 meters from the Porticello harbour, near Palermo when it was hit by severe and sudden weather, and sank rapidly. It is not clear what caused the sinking, but some eyewitness accounts suggest it may have been suddenly dismasted.

The sudden storm is being reported as tornado-like conditions, or a waterspout.

Those onboard were assisted by other sailing vessels in the harbour, as well as emergency services, and 15 were rescued, including a one-year-old child and their parents.

Six are believed to still be missing, and search and rescue operations are still ongoing with divers on the scene. The yacht is understood to have sunk in around 50 meters of water. One body has been recovered by emergency services.

The yacht is British flagged and managed by Camper and Nicholsons International. It is the last of the 56m Perini Navi series, designed in collaboration with Ron Holland and built of aluminium, with a sloop rig 75m mast.

We’ll update more when we have further information.

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