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How Sunsail Experts Shape Better Sailing Vacations

Planning a sailing vacation isn’t like booking a standard getaway. That’s why at Sunsail, our more than 30 Vacation Planning Specialists in 5 offices around the world aren’t simply sales agents; they’re seasoned guides, trained advisors, and passionate sailors who know our destinations and the sailing conditions from firsthand experience. 

Why Who You Book With Matters

“A hidden gem, where I could stay forever, are the Tobago Keys in St. Vincent & The Grenadines.”  

Michela Buonomo 
5+ years with Sunsail 

Destinations visited: British Virgin Islands, Grenada, St. Lucia, Martinique, Italy (Sicily, Procida, and Sardinia), Croatia (Agana), Tahiti, Thailand 

There’s a moment every sailor knows. The engine cuts. The sail fills. The boat leans into the wind. That moment doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because every decision made before you left the dock was the right one. The boat. The route. The destination. The week you mapped out with someone who’s been to the place countless times. 

That’s what our Vacation Planning Specialists are for. 

Real Experience, Not Researched Advice 

Every one of our 16 US-based Vacation Planning Specialists has personally chartered in the British Virgin Islands (our most popular destination). When you ask those questions we all have – which mooring fields fill up first, where to find the snorkeling that isn’t overrun? You’ll get answers from someone who’s done it. 

Vanessa Campbell has been with Sunsail for over five years. She’s sailed the Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Croatia and Greece. Ask her about the BVI and she’ll tell you about hiking the trails at Sage Mountain and Gorda Peak. These are the views you don’t find in the brochure. And these are the extra things and moments kind of thing that ends up making the trip. 

Speak to a Vacation Planning Specialist

Why Who You Book With Matters

“One of my most memorable experiences on a charter vacation was hiking the trails at Sage Mountain and Gorda Peak in the BVI. The panoramic views are unforgettable!” 

Vanessa Campbell 
5+ years with Sunsail 

Destinations visited: Bahamas (Abacos), British Virgin Islands, Croatia (Agana & Dubrovnik), Greece (Athens)

First-Hand Knowledge Across Destinations 

The BVI is just the beginning. On average, each one of our specialists has visited six different sailing destinations. The Med. The Caribbean. The South Pacific. Each one with its own wind patterns and its own character. There areanchorages that suit some sailors and challenge others. It’s all part of the knowledge. 

Michela Buonomo will tell you about the Tobago Keys in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, because she’s been there. Roland has sailed Thailand, Tahiti and a dozen Caribbean islands across more than ten years with us. David has fifteen years of Sunsail and an encyclopaedic knowledge of the fleet. 

That depth of knowledge isn’t a nice to have. It’s the difference between a ‘yeah it was a good trip’ and the one you’re still talking about years later. 

Why Who You Book With Matters

“One of the things I love about the catamarans in our fleet is having the door in the galley, because you do not have to walk around to get to the front of the boat.”  

David Burich 
15+ years with Sunsail

Destinations visited: Bahamas (Abacos), British Virgin Islands, Grenada, St. Martin, St. Lucia, Croatia (Agana & Dubrovnik

Experience You Can Rely On 

Nearly 70% of our team has been with Sunsail for over five years. In fact, many for fifteen years or more. 

This is a big plus in an industry where turnover is high. People leave and with it their knowledge. With us you’re not speaking to someone who joined last month and is reading from a screen. You’re speaking to someone who has helped plan hundreds of charters and knows the fleet inside out. They’ve heard enough stories from returning sailors to know what makes the difference. 

They also don’t stand still. Weekly sessions with base managers, yacht designers and destination specialists. Boat shows. Continuous training. So when a new yacht joins the fleet or certification requirements change – they’ll know before you need to ask. 

Why Who You Book With Matters

“When in Thailand, mostly cruise the southern route, where the best snorkeling and resorts and beaches are.”  

Roland Jervis 
10+ years with Sunsail 

Destinations visited: Antigua, Bahamas (Abacos), British Virgin Islands, Grenada, St. Martin, St. Lucia, Martinique, Croatia (Agana), Greece (CorfuLefkas), Tahiti, Thailand 

What This Means For Your Trip 

An amazing charter starts way before you walk onto the dock. 

It starts with an honest conversation with someone who actually understands what you’re trying to do. Not salesy. Just from the standpoint of someone who has experience to help you do it properly. Where the recommendation comes from having been there, not from a database.  

When you’re ready to plan, whatever your level, it’s a friendly expert that’s who you’ll be talking to. 

Don’t just sail, Sunsail. For sailors, by sailors. Since 1974. 

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Destinations Backed by Firsthand Experience

FAQ

Why does who you book with matter for a sailing vacation? 

Because the right advice shapes the entire experience. At Sunsail, our Vacation Planning Specialists help match you with the right yacht, destination, route and timing based on real sailing experience — not scripted sales talk. 

Do Sunsail Vacation Planning Specialists actually sail the destinations they recommend? 

Yes. Every US-based Sunsail Vacation Planning Specialist has personally chartered in the British Virgin Islands, and many have sailed destinations across the Mediterranean, Caribbean and South Pacific firsthand. 

What kind of destination knowledge can Sunsail specialists share?

The kind you only get from being there. From quieter snorkeling spots in the BVI to favorite hiking trails in Greece or hidden anchorages in the Caribbean, our team shares practical insights that help make a trip more memorable. They can also advise on local sailing requirements, including whether official certifications are needed for your chosen destination and how to obtain them before you travel. 

How experienced is the Sunsail Vacation Planning team? 

Nearly 70% of our team has been with Sunsail for more than five years, with many specialists bringing over a decade of charter planning and sailing knowledge to every conversation. 

How does the Sunsail Vacation Planning Team help create a better charter experience? 

It starts long before you step onto the dock. Our specialists take the time to understand your sailing style, experience level and vacation goals so every recommendation feels personal, informed and tailored to your trip. 

Start Planning Your Sailing Vacation

Why Who You Book With Matters

What Guests Are Saying

jnrichard Athens

“Our crew was three couples plus, and for my first time, a local professional skipper. We are all very experienced sailors in handling not only our own boats but in bareboating around the world. Those of you who have done trip planning in new areas know the amount of work that takes, and you still lack local knowledge. Yorwos Kourniotis made the trip complete in so many ways. His 29 years of experience in these waters ( Cyclades and Saronic Gulf) not only took the pressure off us to plan the route, but he also showed us places we would never have even considered. He has professional relationships with the local harbormasters so we always had a place to moor. He also got us reservations at some great local restaurants. One of the highlights was an anchorage at deserted cove that we had all to ourselves for the night. He listened to what we wanted to see and how we wanted to travel and made it all happen. He made us all part of a crew.
Yes, of course the Sunsail Leopard Cat was well prepared and flawless, but Yorwas enabled us to get up close and personal with the Cyclades. As I said, we’ve chartered in many waters, but we’ll be back to these friendly and amazingly beautifully Greek Islands again. Hopefully with Captain Kourniotis!”

G7873YMkarenb Athens

“Along with four friends we spent one week touring the Cyclades on a 45 foot catamaran. Yorwos Korniotos our captain was engaging, extremely knowledgeable and took us to unbelievably beautiful remote locations. Spending the night on the only boat in a deserted cove was a once in a lifetime experience. We created memories which will last a lifetime.”

adeywanderlust Athens

“Fantastic week in Greece on a catamaran. Had a fantastic skipper Yorwos! We anchored in remote spots, swam in the Aegean Sea, ate wonderful Greek food. We have bareboated in the past but Yorwos enriched the experience far beyond our expectations.”

georgiabG2910UI Agana

“This was the absolute BEST trip of my life! Sunsail made the whole experience seamless and India, Finn and Ben went ABOVE and BEYOND in every way possible. 10 stars for all of them! Well done!”

shannysmith2020 Agana

“Our family of five had a wonderful experience and our captain Johnny Ante took the experience to the next level. Not only was he gracious, funny, and knowledgeable, but he suggested and planned incredible activities that we wouldn’t have otherwise found. If I could give Johnny six stars I would… Thanks for the wonderful experience!”

Plan Your Dream Vacation