Sail Canary Islands.

Most people fly to the Canaries for a beach and never realise there's a proper sailing archipelago underneath the resorts. Seven volcanic islands sit off the coast of Africa, close enough together for day hops, far enough apart that each has its own character. The wind blows almost every day. The water stays swimmable in January. And because the islands are Spanish, the paperwork, the marinas and the supermarkets all work the way you'd expect in Europe.

The sailing here is real sailing. Steady north-east trades, open Atlantic swell between islands, and the acceleration zones off the headlands that speed you up whether you like it or not. This is not the flat, forgiving pottering of a sheltered lagoon. It suits sailors who want wind in the sails and don't mind a lively passage. First-timers manage fine with a skipper aboard; confident bareboaters will enjoy it more than they expect.

The usual playground is the western group — Tenerife, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Palma — plus the eastern pair of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. From San Miguel Marina on Tenerife's south coast, La Gomera is a comfortable 25-mile reach across a channel that funnels the trades. La Palma and El Hierro are longer legs, better suited to a full week and a crew happy with a few hours offshore.

Off Lanzarote the sailing is different again: shorter distances, the Chinijo archipelago and La Graciosa to the north, and the sheltered anchorages behind the island's lee. Playa Blanca in the south sits across a narrow strait from Fuerteventura, so a Lanzarote base gives you two islands within easy reach and calmer water than the western channels.

Harbours are functional rather than pretty. San Miguel and Marina Rubicón are well found and easy to provision from. San Sebastián de La Gomera is small and fills up in summer, so arrive early. Anchoring options exist but are fewer than in the Med — the Atlantic swell and steep-to volcanic coasts mean most nights are spent on a marina berth.

The Canaries sail all year, which is the whole point of the place. The north-east trade winds dominate from spring through autumn, typically 15–25 knots, occasionally more through the acceleration zones between islands. Summer is the windiest and most reliable; if you want a brisk, dependable reach every day, June to September delivers it.

Winter is milder wind — 10–18 knots is common — and the odd Atlantic low can bring a few unsettled days, but crossings are still very doable and the temperatures stay pleasant. The rare exception is the calima, a hot easterly that drags Saharan dust over the islands and drops visibility for a day or two. It passes.

Water temperature runs roughly 19–23°C across the year, cooler than the Med in high summer, warmer in winter. Bring a light layer for night passages; the trades feel cool once the sun drops.

We run bareboat charters out of Tenerife (San Miguel Marina) and Lanzarote. Bareboat means you and your crew take the yacht yourselves, provided someone aboard holds the right qualifications. If you'd rather not skipper the Atlantic legs, a professional skipper can be arranged to join for the week or for the longer crossings only — crew details on request.

The fleet is monohull sailing yachts suited to the conditions here: boats that handle a swell and a Force 5 without fuss. Sizes cover couples through to family-and-friends groups. If you have a specific boat, week or configuration in mind, message us on WhatsApp and we'll tell you honestly what's available rather than what we'd like to sell you.

Charter rates move with boat size, season and how far ahead you book. As a guide, a week's bareboat sits in the low-to-mid four figures EUR in the quieter months and higher through the summer peak. Larger or newer yachts cost more. For exact figures on specific dates, Price on request — we'll quote real numbers rather than a headline that doesn't hold up.

Budget separately for the extras: marina fees on the islands you visit, fuel (motoring is limited if the trades cooperate, so this is often modest), a security deposit held against the boat, end cleaning, and provisioning. A skipper, if you take one, is a daily rate on top. Eating ashore is inexpensive by European standards, especially away from the resort strips.

Day 1 — Board at San Miguel Marina, provision, and shake the boat down with a short afternoon sail along the south coast.

Day 2 — Cross to San Sebastián de La Gomera, a 25-mile reach in the trades. Berth early, then walk the old town Columbus knew.

Day 3 — Sail up La Gomera's west coast to Valle Gran Rey, anchoring or berthing depending on the swell. Steep green valleys drop straight to the sea here.

Day 4 — The longer leg to Santa Cruz de La Palma if the forecast is kind, or a second night exploring La Gomera if it isn't. The Atlantic decides, not the itinerary.

Day 5 — La Palma's caldera and black-sand coast, or begin the return with an overnight at anchor in a settled bay.

Day 6 — Reach back towards Tenerife, timing the channel crossing for the morning before the wind builds.

Day 7 — Final sail along the south coast, top up fuel and water, and return to San Miguel for handover.

Swap in Lanzarote and La Graciosa if you base in the east — shorter hops, calmer nights.

Tenerife South (TFS) and Lanzarote (ACE) both take direct flights from most of Europe, and San Miguel Marina is a short transfer from Tenerife South. Playa Blanca is roughly half an hour from Lanzarote airport. Flights are frequent and often cheap out of season.

As Spanish territory the Canaries are inside the EU for travel purposes, so most European visitors need nothing beyond a valid passport or ID card; check your own country's rules. Provisioning is easy — full supermarkets near both marinas. Message us on WhatsApp with your dates and crew and we'll walk you through boarding, paperwork and what to bring.

Right for sailors who want reliable wind and Atlantic sailing without leaving Europe; less right for anyone after flat-water lagoon cruising.