First and foremost on the list is the Gold Coast of Australia. This country is a popular vacation destination but to surfers, it’s nirvana. Gold Coast City is said to have beaches and waves superior to any other location on earth. There are about 43 miles of beaches with four point breaks and the friendly, hospitable Australians will make your surfing vacation one that you’ll never forget.

Fuerteventura, Spain is another fantastic place to search for that wave. Part of the Canary Islands and at the same latitude as Florida and Mexico, Fuerteventura is considered a Mecca for surfers world wide. The water temperatures are consistently between 64-75 degrees Fahrenheit (18C- 24C). October to March is the best time to surf here.

Everyone has heard of California, a great place to surf because of the wave variety which is best in the winter time. If you prefer smaller waves there are spots between Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay that you’ll like but for the big ones you will want to go to Malibu, Steamer Lane or Rincon. Take a wet suit, as the water is cold even in the heat of summer. It’s crowded, so be prepared to share the surf with other enthusiasts.

Mentawai Islands, Indonesia is a chain of about seventy islands off the west coast of Sumatra. The four main islands are Siberut, Sipora, North Pagi and South Pagi. These can only be reached by public ferry or by chartering a boat. You’ll see the most impressive swells between June and September but the best time to go is March through October. While you’re there you’ll want to check out Bali, another ideal surfing destination. The swells there come in from Southern Ocean and the waves are consistently around 12’ high. Go from April through November for the best surfing but no matter what time you go it will be very crowded.

Jeffreys Bay, South Africa is about an hour’s drive southwest of Port Elizabeth and is one of the most famous surfing destinations. Go during June, July and August for best results. Jeffreys Bay is well known for its blue flag beaches and for hosting the yearly Billabong Pro WCT at Supertubes in July.

Santa Catarina, Brazil is an island with great beach resorts and consistent waves with a lot of variety. You’ll want to check out Joaquina Beach, one of the best in the country.

Costa Rica is legendary among hardcore surfers, who like its consistent waves. Go between April and October for major swells but be prepared for very bad roads! While you’re in Central America you can travel up the coast to El Savador, popular with surfers because the water isn’t crowded. It boasts swells up to 10’ but it’s very rocky so be sure to take your booties to protect your feet.

Last but not least is Samoa, northeast of Fiji in the Pacific Ocean. There is plenty of swell from every direction all year round and good quality waves. The hospitality of the Polynesian people combined with the warm water makes this truly a surfer’s paradise!

There are over 75 different classes of keelboat and even more skiffs and dingys, so you have to know what you want. Therefore, if you are an expert sailor, it is doubtful if you will get the sailing boat that you prefer. What you will get with a rented boat, however, is a boat that is well maintained and that you can sail.

The last three words of that paragraph are very important: “that you can sail.” Do not let your eyes overcome what your brain is telling you. In hiring a sailing boat, you are better downgrading from what you are used to sailing than upgrading. A vacation is not a time to go for a larger boat than you normally sail because your vacation should be something to enjoy and provide you with some relaxation. This is especially true if you have your family with you.

If you are dealing with a reputable charter company then they will do their best to satisfy themselves of your competence, and if they fail to ask for evidence of that then you should be a bit apprehensive about what other regulations they are ignoring. Their own boat maintenance for example!

If you bite off more than you can chew, it can cause severe problems. Any decent sailor knows that each type of boat has its own handling characteristics, and if you are not used to what you hire then it could be a recipe for disaster. However, if we assume that are knowledgeable enough not to overstretch yourself with your choice of boat, then a sailing vacation can be a marvellous break for you and your family.

Think of the possibilities: the Caribbean, the Grecian or Hawaiian Islands or sailing around the Great Barrier Reef scuba diving. Nothing could be better, and this is especially true if you have only recently learned to sail and are looking forward to using your new found skills. It is important that you do not try to impress, but sail within your own limitations. Do that and you will have a marvelous vacation.

However, you will have to comply with certain requirements, not only of the charter company, but also of the country you are visiting. Each country has its own naval regulations that you must comply with while sailing off its coast, or even in inland waters. Greece, for example, requires you to have a second crew member on board that has adequate sailing experience, though if you tried to sail offshore without experience, you would be extremely foolish, and probably deserve whatever misfortune you came across (to put it politely!). This applies even if the boat is your own.

If you have chartered or hired the boat, then you must carry the charter agreement or contract with you so that you can show it to the authorities if requested to do so. You must insist that the charter company provides you with a copy. Some harbour authorities may insist on a full crew list, and this must be available for them on demand. It is therefore wise to do your homework on the requirements of each country and port authority, since in some countries the various port authorities, or harbour-masters, have their own requirements. The same might be true of states in the USA.

Each different charter company will have its own requirements that you must conform to before they will allow you to use their boat. This is common sense, though if you intend to vacation in certain parts of the world then these might be less strict. In general, you will have to prove that you are competent to sail a boat and that you are acquainted with at least the basic elements of coastal navigation. You will normally be asked for certification that you are a competent sailor.

You will also be required to make a deposit sufficient to meet the costs of any damage to the boat that might not be covered by insurance. This covers accidents caused, for example, by sailing while under the influence of alcohol, breaking local or national sailing regulations or what can be proved to be wilful damage. There are many other uninsured circumstances, and you should check your insurance carefully before leaving harbour so that you know exactly what you are covered for.

You will always be asked to sign a charter agreement that forms a contract to which you must comply. This will normally include sections that require you to sail competently, using sails set correctly for the existing wind or weather conditions, and when you must contact the contracting party with your position. These requirements obviously vary with charter companies, but the above appear to be universal requirements.

However, if you keep to the rules and understand the needs of each country’s regulations, then if you rent a yacht for a sailing vacation you should have the time of your life. You will not only enjoy sailing in waters that are new to you, but also be able to visit areas of your country, or of other countries, that you would otherwise not have the opportunity to visit without spending a fortune on travelling and accommodation expenses.

There is very little that can beat a sailing vacation.

By Andre Sanchez

Rent a Yacht for a Sailing Vacation was originally published at http://www.globallifenow.com