Sailing in Turks and Caicos: a schooner, two catamarans and the trade wind

Best for: first-time sailors and anyone who loves a quiet deck

Turks and Caicos sits in the trade winds, which blow from the east and southeast. Behind Providenciales lie the Caicos Banks, about 1,700 square miles of water less than 20 feet deep over much of it, with a pale sand floor that gives the sea its glow. With a good breeze the crew kills the engine, and the boat slips along almost silently.

Do you need sailing experience?

None at all. The crew handles the boat, and your day is for swimming, snorkeling and lying in the sun. On the schooner, guests who want to haul a line or take a turn can join in. The stops are the classics either way: a reef, a quiet beach and a sandbar to wade.

Best for: big groups, birthdays and celebrations

This 70ft gaff-rigged schooner was built by hand in 1992 as a trading rum runner and refit for charter in 1997, and she’s one of the last traditional trading schooners still sailing these waters. She takes up to 50 guests with a local crew of three who have sailed here for over 30 years. Local beer, rum punch, rosé and snacks are included from the moment you step aboard, and the day is yours: snorkel the barrier reef, look for turtles and rays, and land on empty cays and sandbars.

How many people fit on a sailing charter?

Up to 50 on the schooner, with a bathroom, shaded and open decks, music, and snorkel gear with flotation belts. A gourmet picnic lunch can be added at checkout on the five- and six-hour charters, and groups larger than 50 can have a second vessel sail alongside.

Best for: a celebration with everything taken care of

The 65ft is the sailing day with nothing to arrange. Up to 20 guests share a twin hull so stable that first-time sailors feel at home, with five bathrooms, a shaded cockpit lounge, an aft-deck dining area, an interior salon with panoramic views and a wide foredeck for the sun. Freshly prepared food and an open bar of cocktails, beer and wine flow all day, all included.

Is food included on a sailing charter?

On the 65ft, food and an open bar are included all day, with menus and dietary needs arranged after you book. She sails for five or seven hours from Blue Haven Marina. Our catamaran charters guide compares her with the motor catamarans.

Best for: couples, families and groups up to 12

For a couple, a family or a few friends, the 41ft sailing catamaran is the cozy option, with bow netting and sunbeds up front, two bathrooms and a swim platform at the back. A Subwing, two paddleboards and small underwater scooters come along for the stops. The five hours bring fresh fruit and a charcuterie platter; the seven hours, a French-style picnic lunch, with rum punch, a dark and stormy, a Moscow mule, white wine and local beer on the drinks list.

Can you go on a sunset sail?

The 41ft is always back before dark, so a late-afternoon five-hour sail heads home just as the sun goes down, right through golden hour. It sails every day except Sunday. See our sunset guide for more evening ideas.

• Pick your length. Five hours fits a reef, a beach and a sandbar; seven gives every stop room to breathe.
• Morning or afternoon? The 41ft runs its five-hour sail either way, and the afternoon one ends in golden hour.
• Bring a hat that ties on. A good breeze is what makes the sails go up.

All three boats leave from Blue Haven Marina in Leeward, and full days and the holiday weeks book up first. Weighing sail against power? Our guide to catamaran, motor yacht or sailboat lays it out. There are plenty of ways onto the water, from a private boat charter to a group excursion. If you’d like to sail with us, pick your boat below.

• Taxes included. The price you see is the price you pay.
• A deposit secures the boat. Every boat shows its free-cancellation window.
• Fast answers. Requests are confirmed within a few hours, nearly always the same day.