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BAREBOAT YACHT CHARTER: Explore one of these glorious holiday destinations in your own sailing yacht.
FLOTILLA SAILING HOLIDAYS: Sail your own yacht with the added support of a lead boat crew.
LEARN TO SAIL HOLIDAYS: Start from scratch or brush up your skills.
MOTORYACHT CHARTER: Do you prefer power to sail?
CREWED YACHTS: Relax, let the crew do the work.
SAIL AND STAY HOLIDAYS: Why not add a few days ashore in a hotel?
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BAREBOAT YACHT CHARTER: Sail your yacht in any one of our glorious holiday destinations and explore at your own pace.
MOTORYACHT CHARTER: Do you prefer power to sail?
CREWED YACHTS: Relax, let the crew do the work.
SAIL AND STAY HOLIDAYS: Why not add a few days ashore in a hotel?
- PLAN YOUR TRIP
AIRPORT PARKING & HOTELS: Save up to 60% when you book airport parking & hotels in advance.
BOOKING CONDITIONS: Check our Booking Conditions.
CAR RENTAL: Rent a car instead of an airport transfer or if you add a week ashore.
CRUISING GUIDES: Start planning before you travel with a cruising guide or chart to your sailing destination.
PASSPORTS & VISAS: Check the passport & visa requirements of your sailing destination.
SAILING LOGS: Read our reports on sailing holidays we've been on.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: Don't travel without adequate insurance. We offer single trip or Annual multi-trip travel insurance.
TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN: Read our handy hints on taking small children on a sailing holiday.
USEFUL LINKS: Check these websites for more information on your sailing destination.
WHAT'S ONBOARD: Standard inventory for all charter yachts.
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CONTACT: Check our details and opening hours.
REQUEST A BROCHURE: Order our latest brochure.
WHO WE ARE: Meet the Nautilus team.
WHY BOOK WITH US: How do you benefit?
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Are you thinking of buying a new yacht and putting her with a charter fleet? Speak to us about the best deal for you. Nautilus Yachting has been arranging sailing holidays throughout the Mediterranean & Caribbean since 1992 so we are ideally qualified to advise you on yacht charter management. Find out more
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Sailing Holidays in Tahiti
Stop dreaming and start planning you next sailing holiday in the Polynesian paradise of Tahiti.
Discover a world of palm-fringed beaches, azure seas, lush tropical forests, sparkling silver waterfalls, stunning anchorages, perfect sailing. You’ll be enchanted by the magical beauty of these islands and captivated by the lavish hospitality of the Polynesians.
Tahiti is the best area for sailing in Polynesia, the chic French Society Islands. Sail in the lagoon at Bora Bora, one of the most beautiful islands in the world. Slip away beyond the reef and sail to Huahine. Visit the ruins of ancient temples and lunch in a tiny beachfront town reminiscent of a Conrad novel. Savour Polynesian cuisine on Raiatea, see the fire walkers on Tahaa, visit a vanilla plantation, swim in a blue lagoon.
Nautilus Yachting can package your charter with flights from the UK or add a yacht charter to your existing holiday plans, whether it's an exotic holiday or a round the world ticket.
Sailing in Tahiti
Yachts and catamarans are based on the island of Raiatea (40 minutes flights from Tahiti). The islands are all within easy sailing distance, leaving you plenty of time to explore lagoons and beaches and discover the friendly character of these exotic islands.
DAY 1 : Welcome to the base in Marina Uturoa. After the chart briefing and orientation, sail east side of Tahaa (10nm). Anchor at one of the nicest spots north of the Mahea motu. Nice snorkelling spot near the coral reef or in the Passe Tohaotu - Dinner aboard.
DAY 2 : Bora-Bora (22nm). Sail down the Teavanui Pass, a 4-5 hour passage downwind. Anchor at Motu Topua for swimming and snorkelling, and then take a mooring at the Bloody Mary restaurant.
DAY 3 : Explore Bora-Bora (8nm). Sail to the east side of the lagoon to discover the traditional lagoonarium where you can swim with turtles, friendly rays, sharks and different kind of fishes. In the afternoon sail down to southern shore of Bora-Bora and explore the magnificent coral garden.
DAY 4 : Start early in the morning to sail back to Raiatea for re-provisioning (22nm). Call first and then sail to the Anapa Pearl farm. Take a mooring at the pearl farm - Dinner aboard.
DAY 5 : Visit the Anapa pearl farm in the morning then sail to Tahaa after lunch. Take the Vanilla Tour mooring for the night in the Hurepiti Bay (10nm). Dinner aboard.
DAY 6 : After breakfast, join Alain and Christina Plantier for the Vanilla Tour excursion. Sail to the motu Tautau
Anchor in the South of the motu Tautau and dinghy to the coral river between the 2 motus. One of the nicest snorkelling spots in Polynesia. Dinner "chez Louise" - overnight on one of her moorings.
DAY 7 : Relax or move back to the South of Tautau for a snorkelling exploration between the barrier and the motu. After lunch, sail back to the base
Sailing conditions
Best time to travel is May to October, the dry season, when temperatures range from 25-30oC and the constant south-easterly tradewinds blow at 15-20 knots. From November to March there are more variable winds. Experience level 2-3 depending on itinerary.
Yacht charter in Tahiti
Yachts are based at Marina Uturoa on Raiatea. Charters start and finish any day (minimum 5 nights), giving you total flexibility over your holiday dates.
Click on the yacht names below to view yacht layout & specification
Yachts
Catamarans
Yacht charter rates are shown WITHOUT flights giving you the flexibility to book your own flights.
If you want a flight-inclusive holiday Nautilus Yachting is a fully bonded ATOL tour operator and can book flights from the UK to fit your sailing holiday. Choose from a wide choice of airlines - we are not tied to any particular airline. All flight-inclusive holidays are fully bonded for your financial protection under our ATOL 3016. Airport transfers can also be pre-arranged.
FLIGHTS TO RAIATEA:
Air New Zealand, Air France and Qantas have flights to Papeete on Tahiti. Air Tahiti operates onward connections to Raiatea. Transfer time to marina 10 minutes.
Whether you are an experienced sailor or setting foot on a yacht for the first time, we can offer you a holiday afloat to suit you. We have given all the sailing areas a level with 'Experience Level 1' suitable for less experienced crews and 'Experience Level 3' for the experts.
This takes into account the wind strength, tidal range and currents, distances between stops and ease of mooring. Of course even experts may choose to sail in Level 1 areas as they still offer stunning scenery and great sailing.
Experience Level 1: Whitsundays
Generally light winds Force 2-4, line of sight navigation, shorter sailing distances under 20nm. You will be Day Skipper standard having sailed at least 1 week or 100nm as skipper
Experience Level 2: Thailand, Malaysia
Stronger winds up to Force 3-5 with some longer passages up to 30nm. You will be Day Skipper standard having sailed at least 2 weeks or 200nm as skipper
Experience Level 3: Seychelles, Tahiti
Stronger winds up to Force 4-7 which can lead to bigger seas on long passages between the islands. You will be Coastal Skipper standard with experience to a higher level having sailed at least 4 weeks or 400nm as skipper.
To charter a yacht bareboat or on flotilla you should be Day Skipper standard and be assisted by at least one competent crew.
At present you need an RYA Day Skipper qualification or RYA International Certificate of Competence (ICC) for charters in Croatia, Montenegro, Mallorca, Tenerife and Malta.
The RYA ICC will be ever more required by overseas port authorities but if you have skipper experience it is easily obtained in a day from RYA sailing schools in the UK such as Hamilton Sailing or Brixham Sea School
Raiatea, meaning "faraway heaven" and "sky with soft light", was first named Havai'i after the homeland of the ancient Polynesians and is the most sacred island in the South Pacific. This was the center of religion and culture over 1000 years ago and still lends enchantment to ancient legends told to this day. The green-carpeted mountains include the celebrated Mt. Temehani, a sort of Polynesian Mt. Olympus.
The island of Bora Bora is surrounded by palm-covered islets or motu, creating a lagoon of unbelievable blues and greens. Perfect white-sand beaches give way to emerald waters where colourful fish swim in the coral gardens among giant manta rays. Luxury resorts and spas dot the island. Pora Pora - the ancient name, meaning "first born," came from legends describing this as the first island to rise when Taaroa, the supreme god, fished it out of the waters. When Captain Cook first heard the name he mistook the sound for "B" and called the island Bola Bola.
The world-renowned iridescent luster of Tahitian cultured pearls are created in Tahiti warm lagoon waters. Commonly known around the world as Black Pearls, each Tahitian Cultured Pearl ranges in size and shape and the colors range from the darkest black to shimmering shades of green, blue, bronze, aubergine, or even pink. Tour a pearl farm on Manihi, Rangiroa, Raiatea, Huahine, Taha'a, Tikehau, and Fakarava or visit one of the many pearl shops.
"We all loved the week and found the guys in Gibraltar very professional and good fun. We all got what we wanted out of the week, and it was a real adventure."
Gibraltar Learn to Sail 2012 - S.C.
