England · Scotland · English Channel
Cabin Charter in Great Britain: Sailing Trips in England and Scotland
Tides, chalk cliffs and long summer evenings: in Great Britain you sail in the Solent off the Isle of Wight, along the coast of Cornwall or out to the islands off Scotland. Many sailing trips link England with the Channel Islands, France or the Netherlands. You book a bunk and sail with a skipper.
Updated: 11 November 2026 · Redaktion toernfinder.de
from 19 providers compared
The essentials at a glance
Season
February to December, most dates in June and July
Duration
Usually a week, also delivery trips
Most common departure ports
Oban, Port Hamble Marina, Bergen, Dublin and Brest
Requirements
No sailing licence required
Week-long trip per person
usually 1,050–2,600 €
Current Sailing Trips in Great Britain
Here you can see all current sailing trips listed under the country Great Britain, meaning in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Some also start in France, the Netherlands or Norway. Your enquiry goes straight to the provider.
Sailing in Great Britain: the sailing area
Great Britain offers very varied sailing areas. In the south you will find the English Channel and the Solent, in the north the islands and lochs of Scotland.
- The Solent and the Isle of Wight: one of the best-known sailing areas in the world, with Cowes at its centre. Cowes Week takes place here in August.
- Cornwall and Devon: Plymouth, Fowey and Falmouth, with sheltered river estuaries and small fishing harbours. Further west lie the Isles of Scilly.
- English Channel: Many sailing trips cross the Channel to Cherbourg, to the Channel Islands of Guernsey and Jersey, or to Brittany. The French side shows Cabin Charter in Brittany.
- Scotland: On the west coast you sail from Oban or Troon to the Hebrides. Through the Caledonian Canal you can reach Inverness on the east coast.
Some sailing trips link Great Britain with the North Sea, for example from Den Helder or heading towards Norway. More on this at Sailing in the North Sea.
What is special about sailing in Great Britain?
The tides. In the English Channel the water rises and falls by several metres twice a day, and by more than ten metres around the Channel Islands. The tidal stream determines when you set off and which narrows you pass through.
- Using the tidal stream: With the stream you make rapid progress; against it, you sometimes barely move. The skipper plans the legs according to the tides.
- Weather: Even in summer there can be rain and strong westerly winds. Oilskins and warm clothing always belong in your kit bag.
- Long days: In June, it does not get dark in Scotland until after 10 pm.
The article below explains how tidal range and tidal streams work: Tides when sailing.
What do you need to enter the country?
Great Britain is not part of the EU. You need a passport and, before you travel, an electronic travel authorisation (ETA).
- Passport: As a rule, you cannot enter with a national identity card.
- ETA: You apply for the travel authorisation online via the British government or by app. It is valid for multiple trips.
- By boat: If the yacht arrives from another country, the skipper notifies the British authorities of the vessel and crew in advance.
For the current rules, see the travel and safety advice from the German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt).
Harbours in Great Britain
The table below shows where the sailing trips start. For some harbours there are profiles with directions and tips.
Törnfinder data
United Kingdom sailing trips in figures
Analysed: all United Kingdom sailing trips published on Törnfinder. As of: 12.11.2026.
Most common departure ports
- 1Oban16 trips
- 2Port Hamble Marina11 trips
- 3Bergen5 trips
- 4Dublin5 trips
- 5Brest4 trips
43 %of trips last 7–8 days
33 %are round trips, start and finish in the same port
44 %take place on a traditional ship or tall ship
36different departure ports
14other countries on offer, led by France and the Netherlands
240 nmcovered by a typical week-long trip
As of 12.11.2026: Törnfinder lists around 90 United Kingdom trips from 19 providers. 43 % last 7–8 days and 44 % take place on a traditional ship or tall ship. Most trips start in Oban, Port Hamble Marina and Bergen, and most departures are in June and July. A week-long trip usually costs 1,050–2,600 € per person.
How these figures are calculated
We analyse all sailing trips published on Törnfinder with the country United Kingdom and a start date from today onwards; the figures are recalculated twice a day. Prices are the providers' figures per person; offers for a whole yacht with skipper that are charged per boat are not included in the prices. “Usually” refers to the middle half of the offers, leaving out the cheapest and the most expensive quarters. The departure harbour is the starting harbour named in the listing, and a round trip is a sailing trip with the same departure and destination harbour. The texts on this page are written and checked by the editorial team of toernfinder.de.
Best time of year for a sailing trip in the United Kingdom
From May to September. The days are longest in June, and July and August are the warmest. Spring and autumn are often stormy.
When the trips start
Most United Kingdom trips start in June and July. Trips are available from February to December.
1
Feb3
Mar11
Apr12
May16
Jun13
Jul11
Aug11
Sep5
Oct1
Nov1
DecAll United Kingdom sailing trips published on Törnfinder for the next twelve months. As of: 12.11.2026.
What does a sailing trip in Great Britain cost?
Most common are week-long trips, usually 1,050–2,600 € per person, with a day on board costing around 180 € on average. Harbour fees are often higher in the south of England than in the Mediterranean.
| Trip duration | Price per person (usually) | per day | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4–6 days | 770–1,050 € | around 140 € | 14 |
| 7–9 days, week-long trip | 1,050–2,600 € | around 220 € | 41 |
| 10–15 days | 1,800–2,200 € | around 170 € | 25 |
| Week-long trip on a traditional vessel | 1,650–2,600 € | around 280 € | 25 |
"Usually" means: the middle half of all offers falls within this range; the cheapest and most expensive quarters are not included. Click on the duration to see the corresponding trips.
On top of the trip price come travel costs and usually the ship's kitty for food, harbour fees and diesel. The box shows what typically belongs in it.
What's included in the price and what goes into the crew kitty
Included in the trip price
- Your bunk on board
- The vessel
- The skipper
Usually via the crew kitty
- Food
- Hafengeld
- Diesel
Usually around 150–300 € per person per week, depending on what the group agrees, for example whether restaurant visits are included. On some boats, meals are already included in the price.
It is best to clarify in advance with the provider exactly what is included.
Also nearby
Many of these trips also call at these countries. Each card shows all trips there.
France
153 trips
next departure 22.11.2026
week usually 690–940 € per person
Show trips →the Netherlands
99 trips
next departure 12.12.2026
week usually 680–960 € per person
Show trips →Ireland
10 trips
next departure 18.04.2027
week usually 1,000–1,550 € per person
Show trips →Popular trip types
Besides classic crew trips, these trip types are offered most often here.
Mileage-building
15 trips
Long passages with night sailing, many miles in a short time.
next departure 09.03.2027
week usually 960–990 € per person
Show trips →Regatta
8 trips
Race as crew, with tactics and teamwork on board.
next departure 26.03.2027
week from 2,300 € per person
Show trips →Sail training
4 trips
Learn to sail on board, from the basics to the exam trip.
next departure 07.12.2026
week from 1,550 € per person
Show trips →Frequently asked questions about sailing in the United Kingdom
Short answers to the questions that come up most often before a sailing trip in England or Scotland.
Where can you sail in England?
Mainly on the south coast: in the Solent off the Isle of Wight, in Devon and in Cornwall. Many sailing trips also cross the English Channel to the Channel Islands and France.
Can you sail in Scotland?
Yes. The west coast, with its lochs and the Hebrides, is a popular sailing area. The sailing trips mostly start from Oban or the Firth of Clyde.
Do I need a passport for a sailing trip in England?
Yes. Since Brexit you need a passport for Great Britain, and an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) before you travel.
When is the best time for a sailing trip in Great Britain?
From May to September. The days are longest in June, and July and August are the warmest.
What does a sailing trip in Great Britain cost?
Most common are week-long trips, usually 1,050–2,600 € per person. Plus travel and the onboard kitty.
Do I need sailing experience?
No. On a cabin charter the skipper runs the boat. Because of the tides and the weather, good clothing and a decent pair of sea legs are helpful.
Find your sailing trip in the United Kingdom
Use the filter to search by date, duration and boat type, and send your enquiry directly to the provider.