... and the winners were:

What better opinion on a sailing destination than from fellow sailors who have 'been there, done that'? That's why we send a survey to all clients returning from holiday asking them to rate various components of their holiday, including the sailing area. Click on the winning areas below for more details.

Overall best rated sailing destination is… Gocek and Fethiye, Turkey.

The ratings for this wonderful area of Turkey averaged 9.75 out of ten and didn’t get below a 9 out of ten. We even had clients asking us to keep quiet about this area so they could keep it their own little secret! The incredible combination of historical sites and wonders, beautiful sailing and superb swimming makes this coastline a truly fantastic destination.

Honourable mentions also go to the Dalmatian Islands in Croatia and the Saronic Islands in Greece, which both rated 9 out of ten among our clients.

Best rated area for families with children is.... Ionian Islands, Greece

With it's gentle winds and short-hop sailing routes, the Ionian Islands of Greece is unsurprisingly rated by our clients as the best area for families with young children.

The ‘spiritual home’ of our big brother company Sailing Holidays Ltd, the Ionian offers waters of the most amazing clarity, dockside tavernas, ‘short-hop’ sailing, and an ambience of sights and smells that is hard to describe in print.

Honourable mentions go to the Saronic Islands in Greece, and the Dalmatian Islands in Croatia.

Best rated area for value for money… Saronic Islands, Greece

With a combination of cheaper flights than many destinations and no mooring fees, the Saronic Islands, accessed from our base at Athens, has rated our best value for money sailing area.

With numerous bays to explore, secluded beaches to enjoy, historical towns to sweep you back in time and enough wind to fill your sails, sailing the Saronic Islands will delight all those that cruise its waters.

Honourable mentions in value for money go to all of our Turkey destinations!

The best sailing area for nightlife… Majorca, Balearic Islands

No surprises here, with the Balearic Islands widely renowned for great nightlife, they rated an impressive 9.5 out of ten from our clients. Although unofficial, we would also rate the Balearic Islands as our highest rated ‘surprise’ sailing destination – as in, “wow, I didn’t know you sailed there”!

Clear waters, sandy beaches, lively harbours and craggy landscape, the Balearics possess a special lifestyle, entertainment and cuisine as varied and exciting as the sailing itself. Combine this with cheap flights, affordable yachts, and we’re picking the Balearic Islands to become more and more popular.

Honourable mentions go to Marmaris in Turkey, and Sardinia in Italy.

Best area for ‘getting away from it all’ is…. Kornati Islands, Croatia

If you’re looking for a destination to get away from it all, then the Kornati Island sailing area is the one for you. The Kornati archipelago consists of 140 islands, with 89 of them declared a Croatian National Park in 1980 because of its stunning natural beauty, including numerous coves and crystal clear waters. It spreads over a surface of 114 square miles.

The islands of the Kornati National Park in fact covers less than 1/4 of this total area, but its landscapes, cliffs (especially on the islands facing the open sea), and excellent slalom-like sailing opportunities, make the Kornati National Park unique.

Honourable mentions for getting away from it all go to the Aeolian Islands in Sicily, and the Tuscan Islands in Italy.

Best for families with teenagers… Dalmatian Islands, Croatia

Consider the contrasts: quiet bays versus exciting nightlife, traditional markets versus modern supermarkets, gentle morning breezes and exciting afternoon sea breezes, modern marinas versus centuries old town quays, metropolitan meccas versus marine national parks. Sailing in Croatia, as the cliché goes, has something for everyone.

This has obviously made the Dalmatian Islands a hit with our clients with teenage children, who inevitably have different tastes to their parents!

Honourable mentions go to Marmaris in Turkey and also Sardinia in Italy, which both also scored well with our parent clients.

The best rated sailing area for foodies is…Sicily, Italy

Perhaps no great surprise that an Italian base has been rated as the best for food and cuisine.

Sicily is sometimes nicknamed God’s Kitchen because of its full, vibrant cuisine. The island has had a variety of culinary influences because of its location, with each ruling culture bringing with it a range of tastes and dishes. Head to Sicily and sample a gastronomic tapestry developed by the Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Norman and Spanish cultures.

Perhaps more surprising than an Italian winner was that Marmaris in Turkey came in a close second, ahead of other Italian bases.

Remember to check out our current sailing holiday specials from just £340pp including flights! Click here for more details....