Our most popular sailing experiences are our Small Group Sailing tours, also known as yacht rallies or flotillas, which explore a rotating selection of worldwide destinations each year.
Our trips involve sailing as part of a small group of yachts, following an itinerary which provides free time to explore along the way. They are hosted by an Australian guide from Mariner Boating Holidays and a local technician/guide.
You can join one on your own, meeting other like-minded travellers and staying in one of our cabins, or book your own yacht and travel with friends or family. If you do book your own yacht, we can either provide you with a local professional skipper (extra cost), or you can skipper the yacht yourself if you already have your sailing licence. We can also recommend RYA training centres that will help you organise the required paperwork so that you can skipper yourselves.
Whichever option you choose, our guides will provide you with continuous support throughout, organising fun races, long table dinners and optional excursions along the way.
Small group comfort
You’ll sail in comfort as part of a small group of yachts. Depending on the trip, the maximum group size can be 24-30 people but usually you'll be sailing with 16-20 people across 3 or 4 yachts.
Cruise in company and along the way enjoy fun races, optional excursions, dinners ashore, making new friends with like-minded sailors and travellers as you experience new destinations from the sea.
Your travelling companions
Every group is different, but typically you’ll find your co-travellers will be aged between 35 and 65, enjoy keeping active, love the ocean, have a sense of adventure, love great food, an occasional glass of wine, and a good chat.
Your hosts
Your Australian tour leaders are are experts at leading small group sailing holidays, and will be accompanied by a local technician / skipper. With a keen eye for detail and a terrific personality, your guide will ensure you feel welcome and fully supported. They will be available for the duration of the sailing tour to assist with the yachts, berthing, provide navigational support along with intimate local knowledge of things to see and do along the way. From the time you board your yacht our guides will be there to provide support and make your sailing experience stress free.
Flexible joining options
All our trips are designed so that everyone can sail with us - single travellers, couples or larger groups/families! For 1 or 2 people we offer the option of booking a cabin (max 6 guests plus a professional skipper on the yacht), whilst groups and families can book the whole yacht for themselves.
More time to explore
Our tours on average are 14 nights or more, which gives you more time to immerse yourself and really get a feel for the destination. Our trips also include more leisure days where you can choose how to spend your day!
We do also some one week trips that are specifically designed for anyone short on time, trying to work within a budget or haven’t sailed with Mariner Boating before. These shorter 1 week trips are designed to be a small taste of how fun our classic Mariner tours can be!
Life on board
Our yachts are modern and comfortable with areas to relax both below and on deck. Most yachts have 3 or 4 double cabins and are usually less than 4 years old. Below deck you will find the kitchen (galley) where you can prepare meals with the option to dine at the adjacent table or on deck in the open air.
On deck, you can throw down a cushion, curl up and read a book, or make use of the easy access to the water for a swim.
35+ years of experience
We've been doing this awhile and tend to know a secret spot or two. We know you want to visit the main sights (and why wouldn't you!), but we also love to share our favourite spots you might not find otherwise.
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