THE PACIFIC

The Islands of the South Seas are the stuff fables seem to have been made from, but they’re very real and offer an enchanting experience for those sailing the seas in their yacht charters. Places like Vanuatu and the Tuamotus indeed are just the kind of place you’ve been hoping to escape to.

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It’s of little surprise that the South Seas have been a tempting destination for sailors ever since the first European ships arrived on the scene in the 18th century. Stretching in a 9,000 mile-long (14,500km) arc from the Panama Canal to the Torres Strait are some of the most attractive islands anywhere in the world. These are the idyllic landfalls that many sailors dream of with palm-fringed lagoons dotted by tiny islets in warm turquoise waters.

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The remoteness of these islands is beyond the scope of the average voyage so, despite the proliferation of yachts worldwide, the number of seafaring vessels sailing the South Pacific is still relatively small. Chartering, of course, is always an option for those who want to sail to these islands.

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The region is under the influence of the southeast trade winds, which are stronger and more consistent from May to October. The best conditions are between June and August. Most of the South Pacific is affected by tropical cyclones with a season that lasts from December until the end of March. Because of the direction of the prevailing winds, routes must be planned carefully to take full advantage of them.

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The main route runs from east to west for all major island groups. Most yachts sail this classic route from the Galapagos to the Marquesas directly, but a few yacht charters make a detour to visit Easter Island and Pitcairn before reaching French Polynesia.

 

West of Tahiti, the options multiply but those with enough time can easily plan a route that zigzags between the most desirable destinations to see all of paradise. Those short of time may try to sail the entire South Pacific in one season, but the majority are happy to spend longer in the South Seas.

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Most yacht charters leave the tropics during the cyclone season by sailing to New Zealand or Australia, both welcoming destinations for yacht charters. Plus, it makes for another great way to have an adventure in other waters of the world.