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75+ Best Sailing Quotes for Your Inner Sailor

sailboat at anchor pointed at islands

The freedom that comes with casting off the lines and heading out into open water is something many authors, poets, and explorers have aimed to express in words.

This list contains the best sailing quotes, whether from a famous writer or an avid sailor.

Monohull sailboat with sails up on the ocean

Many of these famous quotes about sailing are inspirational, while others represent the challenges of a sailing lifestyle. Other sayings on the list are sailing metaphors for life – inspiration for all sailors, world travelers, and adventurers!

Find a specfic type of sailing quote in the sections below, or browse all the quotes.

Sail Away Quotes

Below are sailor sayings that express what it feels like to live on the ocean. These quotes make you want to cast off the lines and sail away with no plan for return to port.

1. “There is nothing more enticing, disenchanting, and enslaving than the life at sea.” —  Joseph Conrad, Polish-British Writer

2. “I wanted freedom, open air, and adventure. I found it on the sea.” —  Alaine Gerbault, French Sailor

Sail away inspired quote, “I wanted freedom, open air, and adventure. I found it on the sea.” - Alain Gerbault, written above a red sunset over the ocean.

3. “Smell the sea and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly.” —  Van Morrison, Irish Singer-Songwriter

4. “Flying might not be all plain sailing, but the fun of it is worth the price.” —  Amelia Earhart, American Aviation Pioneer & Author

5. “A man is never lost at sea.” —  Ernest Hemingway, American Writer

6. “It is not that life ashore is distasteful to me. But life at sea is better.” ―  Sir Francis Drake, English Explorer

Inspirational sailing away quote, “It is not that life ashore is distasteful to me. But life at sea is better.” - Sir Francis Drake, written above a woman holding a main stay looking at the colors across the water at twilight.

7. “The days pass happily with me wherever my ship sails.” —   Joshua Slocum, First Person to Single-Hand Circumnavigate

8. “For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), it’s always our self we find in the sea.” — E.E. Cummings, American Poet & Author

9. “To young men contemplating a voyage, I’d say go.” — Joshua Slocum, First Person to Single-Hand Circumnavigate

Inspirational Sailing Quotes

These are our favorite sailing and sailboat quotes that capture the feeling of a day on the water.

10. “A bad day sailing is 100 times better than a good day at work.” —  Unknown

11. “Hark, now hear the sailors cry, smell the sea, and feel the sky let your soul and spirit fly, into the mystic.” — Van Morrison, Northern Irish Singer & Songwriter

12. “It’s out there at sea that you are really yourself.” — Vito Dumas, Argentine Solo Sailor & Circumnavigator

13. “You haven’t lived until you’ve sailed.” — David Sedaris, Theft by Finding: Diaries

Pinterest image of a woman on the dolphin seat of a catamaran under sail.

14. “The sail, the play of its pulse so like our own lives: so thin and yet so full of life, so noiseless when it labors hardest, so noisy and impatient when least effective.” — Henry David Thoreau, American Poet & Philosopher

15. “On a day when the wind is perfect, the sail just needs to open and the world is full of beauty.” — Rumi, Persian Poet

16. “Confronting a storm is like fighting God. All the powers in the universe seem to be against you and, in an extraordinary way, your irrelevance is at the same time both humbling and exalting.” — Francis LeGrande

Sailing Quotes About Life

These are our favorite sailing quotes that are metaphors for life and translate to its many challenges and struggles.

17. “The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.” ―  Vincent Van Gogh, Dutch Post-Impressionist Painter

18. “I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to sail my ship.” ―  Louisa May Alcott, American Poet

19. “If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable.” ―  Seneca, Roman Philosopher

20. “I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.” ― William Ernest Henley, English Poet & Writer

Pinterest image of a small sailboat in a beautiful, but eerie and foggy anchorage.

21. “Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate.” —  Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean

22. “Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” ―  Ralph Waldo Emerson, American Philosopher

23. “The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” ―  William Arthur Ward, American Writer

24. “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than those you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the wind in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ―  Mark Twain, American Writer

25. “On life’s vast ocean, diversely we sail. Reasons the card, but passion the gale.” ―  Alexander Pope, English Poet

Sailing quote about life, “On life’s vast ocean, diversely we sail. Reason the card, passion the gale.” - Alexander Pope, written above a jib sheet line with the ocean view in the background.

26. “One’s destination is never a place, but always a new way of seeing things.” —  Henry Miller, American Writer & Artist

27. “Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.” —  Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd U.S. President

28. “You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” — Christopher Columbus, Italian Explorer

29. “Any fool can carry on, but a wise man knows how to shorten sail in time.” ―  Joseph Conrad,   Polish-British Writer

30. “There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm.” — Willa Cather, American Writer

Cruising Quotes

These quotes are for the full-time cruisers living a life on the water. These are some of our favorite sayings about modern-day life on a sailboat.

31. “To be successful at sea, we must keep things simple.” ―   Pete Culler, Author & Renowned Wooden Boat Builder

32. “Go small, go simple, go now.” ―  Larry Pardey, Sailor & Writer

33. “At sea, I learned how little a person needs, not how much.” —  Robin Lee Graham, American Sailor

Cruising quote, “At sea I learned how little a person needs, not how much.” - Robin Graham, written above a sailboat sailing on blue water.

34. “The single commandment of anchoring is ‘thou shall create scope.'” ― Reese Palley, Art Dealer & Circumnavigator

35. “The charm of singlehanded cruising is not solitude, but independence.” — Claud Worth, Master Mariner & Writer

36. “The lovely thing about cruising is that planning usually turns out to be of little use.” —  Dom Degnon, Yacht Broker & Freelance Writer

37. “Cruising is fixing your boat in exotic locations.” —  Unknown

Pinterest image of sand dunes with text overlay of Pete Goss quote.

38. “Home is where the anchor drops.” —  Unknown

39. “If you are going to do something, do it now. Tomorrow is too late.”   —  Pete Goss, British Sailor

40. “The planning stage of a cruise is often just as enjoyable as the voyage itself, letting one’s imagination loose on all kinds of possibilities. Yet translating dreams into reality means a lot of practical questions have to be answered.” —  Jimmy Cornell, British Sailor & Author

41. “It’s remarkable how quickly a good and favorable wind can sweep away the maddening frustrations of shore living.” —  Ernest K. Gann, American Sailor & Author

Sailing and Adventure Quotes from Novels

These quotes are from some of our favorite novels. They encapsulate life on the water, the sailing lifestyle, and seeking adventure!

42. “Now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.” —  Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi

43. “To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, to gain all while you give, to roam the roads of lands remote, to travel is to live.” ―  Hans Christian Andersen, The Fairy Tale of My Life: An Autobiography

Adventure novel quote, “To move, to breathe, to fly, to float - To gain all while you give - To roam the roads, of lands remote - To travel is to live.” - Hans Christian Andersen, written over clear blue water calmly lapping a pebble beach and driftwood

44. “The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.” ―  Christopher McCandless, Into the Wild

45. “The truths of the sea, like the truths of the soul, cannot be reduced to numbers.” ― Webb Chiles, The Ocean Waits

46. “There is nothing — absolutely nothing — half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. In or out of ’em, it doesn’t matter. Nothing seems really to matter, that’s the charm of it. Whether you get away, or whether you don’t; whether you arrive at your destination or whether you reach somewhere else, or whether you never get anywhere at all, you’re always busy, and you never do anything in particular; and when you’ve done it there’s always something else to do, and you can do it if you like, but you’d much better not.” —  Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows

Quotes About Ships

Whether as vessels of exploration, symbols of resilience, or metaphors for life’s journey, ships have long captured the esscense of the adventurer’s spirit.

47. “A ship in the harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.” ―  John A. Shedd, American Author

48. “The goal is not to sail the boat, but rather to help the boat sail herself.” — John Rousmaniere, American Author

Inspiration sailing quote “The goal is not to sail the boat, but rather to help the boat sail herself.” - John Rousmaniere, written above a couple on the bow of a sailboat with the sails flying.

49. “It’s not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails, that’s what a ship needs but what a ship is…what the Black Pearl really is…is freedom.” —  Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean

50. “A sailing vessel is alive in a way that no ship with mechanical power ever be.” ― Aubrey de Selincourt, English Writer

51. “Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made, for somewhere deep in their oaken hearts the soul of a song is laid.” — Robert N. Rose, Poet

Ocean Quotes

These quotes are specifically about the ocean or the sea. If you are a sailor or beach lover, I’m sure you love to romanticize the sea, and these quotes will resonate with you.

52. “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” ―  Jacques Yves Cousteau, French Naval Officer

53. “We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch – we are going back from whence we came.” ―  John F. Kennedy, 35th U.S. President

54. “Dance with the waves, move with the sea, let the rhythm of the water set your soul free.” ―  Christy Ann Martine, Canadian Poet

55. “At the beach, life is different. Time doesn’t move hour to hour but mood to moment. We live by currents, plan by the tides, and follow the sun.” ―  Sandy Gingras, Writer & Illustrator

Quote about the ocean, “At the beach, life is different. Time doesn’t move hour to hour but mood to moment. We live by currents, plan by the tides, and follow the sun.” - Sandy Gingras, written on top of a picture of a people beach with a wave crashing on the shore.

56. “Every time I slip into the ocean, it’s like going home.” ―  Sylvia Earle, American Marine Biologist

57. “If there’s a heaven for me, I’m sure it has a beach attached to it.” ―  Jimmy Buffett, American Singer-Songwriter

58. “The sea is a desert of waves, a wilderness of water.” —  Langston Hughes, American Poet

Funny Sailing Quotes

This selection features funny sailing quotes from poets, writers, and modern-day cruisers, that explore the lighter side of life at sea.

59. “Sailing – The fine art of slowly going nowhere at great expense while being cold, wet, and miserable.” — Irv Heller

60. “The sea speaks a language polite people never repeat. It is a colossal scavenger slang and has no respect.” — Carl Sandburg, American Poet

61. “Any damn fool can navigate the world sober. It takes a really good sailor to do it drunk.” —  Sir Francis Chichester, Sailor & Author (First Man to Single-Hand Circumnavigate Non-Stop)

62. “Later down the road of life, I made the discovery that salt water was also good for the mental abrasions one inevitably acquires on land.” — Jimmy Buffett, American Singer-Songwriter (A Pirate Looks at Fifty)

63. “Only two sailors, in my experience, never ran aground. One never left port, and the other was an atrocious liar.” —  Don Bamford, Sailor & Author

Pinterest image of blue green ocean water that is smooth as glass with text overlay of Don Bamford quote.

64. “The chance for mistakes is about equal to the number of crew squared.” — Ted Turner, Entrepreneur & America’s Cup Winner

65. “Land was created to provide a place for boats to visit.” ‍‍— Brooks Atkinson, American Theatre Critic

66. “When the draught of your vessel exceeds the depth of the water, you are most assuredly, aground.” — Ian Walsh

67. “A sailor is an artist whose medium is the wind. Live passionately, even if it kills you, because something is going to kill you anyway.” — Webb Chiles , Writer & Sailor

68. “Being hove to in a long gale is the most boring way of being terrified, I know.” — Donald Hamilton, American Writer

69. “If we get lost, we’ll just pull in somewhere and ask directions.” — Captain Ron Rico (Captain Ron)

70. “The only way to get a good crew is to marry one.” — Eric Hiscock, British Sailor & Author

Sailing Quotes from Movies

These unforgettable sailing quotes are all from the silver screen, where the sea has played a starring role in captivating audiences for decades.

71. “A diesel loves her oil same as a sailor loves rum.” — Captain Ron Rico (Captain Ron)

72. “It’s not just sails and knots, it’s seeing where you’re going in your mind. Knowing where you are by knowing where you’ve been.” — Maui (Moana)

Pinterest image with view of island from a sailboat at sunset and text of Moana quote overlayed.

73. “You know, there have been more people in space than have sailed around the world. I didn’t even know it was something you can do, but you can, and I want to. ‘Cause I’m an adventurer.” — Jessica Watson (True Spirit)

74. “You can’t run from the wind. You trim your sails, face the music, and keep going.”  — Captain Christopher “Skipper” Sheldon (White Squall)

75. “Now…bring me that horizon.” —  Captain Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean)

76. “But it ain’t all buttons and charts, little albatross. You know what the first rule of flying is? Love. You can learn all the math in the ‘Verse, but you take a boat in the air that you don’t love, she’ll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down, tells you she’s hurtin’ ‘fore she keens. Makes her a home.” — Captain Malcolm Reynolds (Serenity)

READ NEXT: Check out many of the movies that feature these quotes on our sailing movies list .

Share your favorite sailing quotes.

I hope you were inspired or even nodded along in agreement with some of the sailor sayings on this list.

I’m sure I’m missing some other famous sailing quotes, so feel free to leave your favorite nautical saying in the comments below or even a personal quote that resonates with you!

RELATED ARTICLES

If you liked this list of sailing quotes, you will find many of these authors, songwriters, and actors on our other lists below.

  • 25 Epic Sailing Songs for Sailors & Modern-Day Pirates
  • 35 Inspiring Books for Sailors
  • 17 Best Sailing Movies & Documentaries
  • 51 Inspiring Camping Quotes & Captions

Hungry for more sailing inspiration?

Check out our lists of sailing movies, songs, books, and more to inspire this lifestyle.

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Best Sailing Quotes to Live By

Morgan, the founder of The Home That Roams, has been living nomadically for over five years. She began her journey traveling across the U.S. in a motorhome and cruising on a liveaboard sailing catamaran. Currently, she lives full-time in a travel trailer, sharing resources on RV living and boat life to help others downsize their lives and thrive in an alternative lifestyle.

Id rather be lost at sea then found at work…..Anon.

I can definitely relate to this one!

The cost of good navigation is constant vigilance.

All sailors of all sorts are more or less capricious and unreliable. They live in the varying outer weather and inhale its fickleness – and when retained for any object remote and blank in the pursuit, however promissory of life and passion in the end, it is above all things requisite that temporary interests and employments should intervene to hold them healthily suspended for the final dash. – Herman Melville, Moby Dick

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catamaran sailing quotes

Sailing Quotes: 50+ Sayings About the Ocean

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ OUR DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.

Last Updated on October 9, 2021 by Amy

Whether you are just starting out and learning how to sail or have completed a world circumnavigation like us , sometimes it helps to be reminded why we do this. There are many benefits to the cruising life, and some inspirational words always help me get there. And at the moment, they make me miss cruising! That’s why I’ve compiled a list of over fifty sailing quotes to remind me how great – or how impactful, awe-inspiring, and essential the cruising life can be.

Are you just starting out? Or are you in the slumps about cruising? I hope some of these quotes about the sailing and cruising life will make you laugh, think, or even, dare I say it, want to go sailing.

Table of Contents - Click to Jump

Inspirational Boat Quotes

“To reach a port we must set sail – Sail, not tie at anchor. Sail, not drift.” ― Franklin D. Roosevelt

“I can’t control the wind but I can adjust the sail.” ―  Ricky Skaggs

“You must never despise the port you were born because no matter how small or how bad it is, it is the place you have started sailing to the universe!” ―  Mehmet Murat ildan

“We each have our oceans and seas that we travel on.” ―  Anthony T Hincks

“No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars or sailed to an uncharted land or opened a new heaven to the human spirit.” ― Helen Keller

“We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch – we are going back from whence we came.” ― John F Kennedy

“I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky. And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.” ― John Masefield

Dark Subjects

“She watched the gap between ship and shore grow to a huge gulf. Perhaps this was a little like dying, the departed no longer visible to the others, yet both still existed, only in different worlds.” ― Susan Wiggs, The Charm School

“Sometimes I pretend I’m an anchor because there’s a difference between sinking and drowning.” ―  R.I.D. Inkskinned

“When  Predator  sailed into war, she  sang . The rapid winds and rising shrieks suddenly blended into a single harmonious tone. Lines in the rigging and the yards and the masts themselves quivered in time, and began giving off their own notes of music, in harmony with one another. As the speed increased, the chord rose and rose, and built and  built , until it reached a crescendo of pure, eerie, inhuman fury. Grimm  felt  the music rise around him, felt the ship straining eagerly to her task, and his own heart raced in fierce exultation in time with her. Every line of the ship, every smudge upon her decks, every stain upon the leathers of his aeronauts leapt into his mind in vibrant detail. He could feel the ship’s motion, forward and down, could feel the wind of her passage, could feel the rising terror of his crew. One of the men screamed–one of them always did–and then the entire crew joined in with  Predator , shrieking their battle cries together with their ship’s. The ship would not fail them–Grimm knew it; he felt it, the way he could feel sunlight on his face or the rake of wind in his hair.” ―  Jim Butcher,  The Aeronaut’s Windlass

“So there you have it: hearing voices at sea is not a pathological condition. It’s quite normal. Welcome to the world of illusions at sea. Of mirages, looming, towering, stooping and sinking. Of moons that change size, suns that change shape, horizons that bend, lights that change colour, and sounds that play hide and seek. Of waves that speak, ships that effervesce and whales that turn into baby elephants. For the sea has a lobsterpot full of tricks and illusions to confuse and beguile even the most rational 21st century sailor.” ―  Nic Compton,  Off the Deep End: A History of Madness at Sea

“For I say there is no other thing that is worse than the sea is for breaking a man, even though he may be a very strong one.” ―  Homer

“Sail through the good days, and on bad days pick a spot of blue sky to steer toward.” ―  Richelle E. Goodrich,  Making Wishes

Practical Sailing Quotes

“Go small, go simple, go now” ―  Larry Pardey,  Cruising in Seraffyn

“She found out that having something to do prevented you from feeling seasick, and that even a job like scrubbing a deck could be satisfying, if it was done in a seamanlike way. She was very taken with this notion, and later on she folded the blankets on her bunk in a seamanlike way, and put her possessions in the closet in a seamanlike way, and used ‘stow’ instead of ‘tidy’ for the process of doing so. After two days at sea, Lyra decided that this was the life for her.” ―  Philip Pullman,  The Golden Compass

“A small boat that sails the river is better than a large ship that sinks in the sea.” ―  Matshona Dhliwayo

Humorous Yacht Sayings

“Thing about boats is, you can always sell them if you don’t like them. Can’t sell kids.” ―  Lin Pardey,  Bull Canyon: A Boatbuilder, a Writer and Other Wildlife

“For those of you who wish to get a feel for it, get in the car and bring it up to fifty miles an hour and then stick your head and arms outside and, while driving, try to fold up a simple bath towel in the wind” ―  Gary Paulsen,  Caught by the Sea: My Life on Boats

“Charter boats are like books with no covers.” ―  Tania Aebi

“One of the reasons there are so many terms for conditions of ice is that the mariners observing it were often trapped in it, and had nothing to do except look at it.” ―  Alec Wilkinson,  The Ice Balloon: S. A. Andrée and the Heroic Age of Arctic Exploration

“The winds of fortune tend to favour the sails of those who politely yell out to it, ‘Nice to meet you!” ―  Nabil Sabio Azadi

“You don’t throw a compass overboard because the ocean is calm.” ―  Matshona Dhliwayo

The Joys of Sailing Quotes

“Seas were meant to be sailed by those with salt in their veins, and love in their heart.” ―  Anthony T.Hincks

“I wanted freedom, open air, adventure. I found it on the sea.” ― Alain Gerbault

“Sailing unties the knots in my mind.” ― Al Noble

To some it’s just water. To me, it’s where I regain my sanity. ― Anonymous

“A sailing vessel is alive in a way that no ship with mechanical power ever be.” ― Aubrey de Selincourt

“There is no more thrilling sensation I know of than sailing. It comes as near to flying as man has got to yet – except in dreams.” ―  Jerome K. Jerome,  Three Men in a Boat

“Just because a sea is calm doesn’t mean that you can believe in its stillness.” ―  Anthony T. Hincks

“When I’m out sailing, I don’t wonder what heaven is like because I know.” ―  Anthony T. Hincks

It is not that life ashore is distasteful to me. But life at sea is better. ― Sir Francis Drake

The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever. ― Jacques Yves Cousteau

There’s nothing like lying flat on your back on the deck, alone except for the helmsman aft at the wheel, silence except for the lapping of the sea against the side of the ship. At that time you can be equal to Ulysses and brother to him. ― Errol Flynn

“Now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be Pirates” —Mark Twain

“That’s what a ship is, you know—it’s not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails, that’s what a ship needs. But what a ship is, really is, is freedom.” ― Captain Jack Sparrow, “Pirates of the Caribbean”

“You haven’t lived until you’ve sailed” ―  David Sedaris,  Theft by Finding: Diaries 1977-2002

“Sometimes you need to tether your boats to stop them from following your dreams.” ―  Anthony T. Hincks

There is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. ― Kenneth Grahame

“The ocean’s currents are a turbulent emotion which man has yet to come to terms with.” ―  Anthony T. Hincks

“If you are a boat that wants to sail in windy weather, you must be more stubborn than the waves!” ―  Mehmet Murat ildan

“We must free ourselves of the hope that the sea will ever rest. We must learn to sail in high winds.” ― Aristotle Onassis

A ship in the harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for. ― William Shedd

“Storms draw out something out of us that calm seas don’t.” ― Bill Hybels

“I hate storms, but calms undermine my spirits.” ― Bernard Moitessier

The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore. ― Vincent Van Gogh

“The only ship you can truly steer in this ocean is the one you’re sailing. Quit trying to alter the winds; harness them.” ―  Richelle E. Goodrich,  Making Wishes

“The wind does not change, the wind only blows and gusts, and it swells and swirls, and it whispers.” ―  Christopher X. Shade,  The Good Mother of Marseille

“Maria didn’t fear the sea but, as taught by her father, she respected its power. In her experience the ocean had no intent to drown travellers.” ―  Sara Sheridan,  On Starlit Seas

“A sailor is not defined as much by how many seas he has sailed than by how many storms he has overcome.” ―  Matshona Dhliwayo

“I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to sail my ship.” ― Louisa May Alcott

Distant Horizons

“The wind tousled his hair, and Dain’s chest loosed a little as his gaze broke from the wooden maid to follow a breeze-blown gull toward the horizon. The distant salmon skies dipped over the rim of the sea, and for the first time since boarding, he wondered where the waves might take him.” ―  Micheline Ryckman,   The Maiden Ship

“I hate the strange feeling of wanting to be in two places at once, like a sailor who misses the sea as much as he misses dry land.” ― Michelle Moran, Rebel Queen

“To meditate is to sail a course, to navigate, among problems many of which we are in the process of clearing up. After each one looms another, whose shores are even more attractive, more suggestive. Certainly, it requires strength and perseverance to get to windward of problems, but there is no greater delight than to reach new shores, and even to sail, as Camoëns says, “through seas that keel has never cut before.” If you will now open a bank-account of attention for me, I foretell sun-smitten landscapes and promise archipelagoes.” ―  José Ortega y Gasset

“But that’s how it is on a sailing ship, and in this respect its journey parallels that of life: simply knowing where you want to go isn’t enough, because life is a windblown voyage, consisting mainly of the detours imposed by alternating calm and storm.” ―  Carsten Jensen,  We, the Drowned

“At the end of the day…we are anchoring into the peaceful lagoon, smiling at the majestic sun and its flirting rays, slowly slipping into the glittering ballroom of immense night skies, sipping on the platinum moon liquor under the blues of rippling waves kissing my golden foot hanging over the board of gently rocking boat, and diving into the bed of galaxies whispering magical stories of their eternal lives connecting souls…till the dawn…” ―  Oksana Rus

“And there’s that one particular harbour Sheltered from the wind Where the children play on the shore each day And all are safe within” ― Jimmy Buffett

“Midnight sail and moonlight. I remember sunset, and gentle breeze. Leaving the city lights behind, and gazing at the moon. Mountains of clouds. Waves slapping our boat. It was easy to forget that love has no direction, or need for compass. Let it guide you to its destination.” ―  Fidelis O Mkparu

“Cold November nights. It feels as if summer never happened. The beauty of setting sun, moon, and stars. Sailing to nowhere, but finding happiness in our togetherness. Never forget what we are. Stranded hearts.” ― Fidelis O. Mkparu, Love’s Affliction

“The moon was low but not full. The men set out along the dock in conversation. As they dropped onto the dark beach, Simmons declared, ‘There can be no better place in the world than this.’ Henderson had to agree. The beach was beautiful. The stars lit the sand and balmy air rode in as the waves washed up on paradise” ―  Sara Sheridan,  On Starlit Seas

“There, in the shimmering distance, was a sail. I stared in momentary disbelief, but there it was, one of the most beautiful sights the Pacific can ever offer — a ship in full sail edging her way through the blue waters.” ―  Tom Neale,  An Island to Oneself: The Story of Six Years on a Desert Island

“Life on the blue part of the globe for eight years had suited me – the wild open spaces, the bliss of buoyancy, the volatile, soul-powered wind. Sailing had struck a nerve both primal and poetic. On and near the ocean life made sense, It made every sense work.” ―  Kaci Cronkhite

“A true sailor is one who finds love in every port.” ―  Tapan Ghosh

“Never a ship sails out of bay but carries my heart as a stowaway.” ―  Roselle Mercier Montgomery

Land was created to provide a place for boats to visit. ‍ ― Brooks Atkinson

“Simply sailing in a new direction you could enlarge the world” ―  Allen Curnow

“We didn’t make it around the world, but we were able to wrap the world around us.” ―  Janis Couvreux,  Sail Cowabunga!: A Family’s 10 Years at Sea

“It had occurred to her many times that on board it didn’t matter where you were coming from or where you were heading. Each voyage had its own charisma. Like writing a book – word by word – or crossing a country – step by step – each minute had to be lived moment by moment.” ―  Sara Sheridan,  On Starlit Seas

The Cruising Lifestyle

“The cruising life isn’t for all of us. It isn’t even for most of us, but it is for some of us, and for a few of us it is essential to survival.” ―  Jim Trefethen,  The Cruising Life

“What do you do?” is not a question asked to define someone, because out here we’re all working the same jobs: yachties, mechanics, navigators, weather-readers, fishermen, adventure travelers, storytellers.” ―  Torre DeRoche,  Love with a Chance of Drowning

“At sea, I learned how little a person needs, not how much.” ― Robin Lee Graham

“Maybe you’re getting into the rhythm of sailing life,” says James. He looks out at the waves that are rolling in to lap against the dock. “You know, the tides going in and then out, the wind blowing east and then west, the high of a perfect day out on the water, the low of a thunderstorm or a wind that won’t go your way.” ―  Melissa C. Walker,  Unbreak My Heart

“For the most part, a sailboat navigates through its world of wind and water not leaving a single trace of its passage. Nothing is consumed. Nothing is altered. The winds and the water are left in exactly the same condition for the next user. Sailing is forever.” ― Michael B. McPhee

Quotes On Love & Crew

“We simply can’t abandon ship every time we encounter a storm in our marriage. Real love is about weathering the storms of life together.” ―  Seth Adam Smith

“He stared at her hard and long, as if he were gauging a cloudbank that might be worth the trouble to sail around rather than through.” ―  A.S. Peterson,  Fiddler’s Green

“That’s what sailing is, a dance, and your partner is the sea. And with the sea you never take liberties. You ask her, you don’t tell her. You have to remember always that she’s the leader, not you. You and your boat are dancing to her tune.” ―  Michael Morpurgo,  Alone on a Wide Wide Sea

“The only way to get a good crew is to marry one.” ― Eric Hiscock

“Now I remembered a captain’s honor and his only duty: to bring his crew back alive.” ―  Carsten Jensen,  We, the Drowned

“We of the sea come to know each other quickly; our loves, like our hates, are born of sudden dangers.” ―  Lew Wallace,  Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

Quotes On Departing Ports

“I had acquired the skills to sail a ship; I didn’t acquire the knowledge.” ― Tom Holland

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ―  H. Jackson Brown Jr.,  P.S. I Love You

“You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” ― Christopher Columbus

“The boat is safer anchored at the port; but that is not the aim of boats.” ― Paulo Coelho

“The thing that most forget while dreamily looking off into the horizon for the ship of their dreams is that such ships never sail in but are built beneath their feet.” ―  Mike Dooley

“The sea is the same as it has been since before men ever went on it in boats.” ― Ernest Hemingway

“The sea was not meant to be controlled. The sea was meant to be sailed.” ―  Jon Acuff

“The sea speaks a language polite people never repeat. It is a colossal scavenger slang and has no respect.” ― Carl Sandburg

“The sea has never been friendly to man. At most it has been the accomplice of human restlessness.” ― Joseph Conrad

“How inappropriate it is to call this planet Earth, when clearly it is Sea.” ― Arthur C. Clarke

“She loved the sea. She liked the sharp salty smell of the air, and the vastness of the horizons bounded only by a vault of azure sky above. It made her feel small, but free as well.” ―  George R.R. Martin,  A Storm of Swords

Which sailing quote is your favorite?

Beautiful quotes. A pleasure to read. Thank you using so many of my quotes. “The sea is what makes me feel so young.”

All the best. Anthony T. Hincks

You have a way with words!

Amy, devem existir incontáveis citações célebres envolvendo o mar e o nosso eterno caso de amor, que é velejar. Parabéns pelo seu bom gosto. Surpreendente. Já li algumas mas sua seleção é melhor de todas. Sinceros agradecimentos.

The sea is a good muse! 🙂

I collect sailing/travel quotes and many of these were new to me. What a great list.

And…you corrected my erroneously attributing a certain quote to Mark Twain 😉

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods, There is a rapture on the lonely shore, There is society where none intrudes, By the deep Sea, and music in its roar: I love not Man the less, but Nature more, Lord Byron

Thank you, Amy!

I looked up the Mark Twain thing before I posted, because I saw it attributed to both. Geat Bryon quote.

The quote: ‘Quit trying to alter the winds; harness them.’ really resonated with me today 🙂

Thanks for all the work putting this lovely collection together.

Aw great to hear from you! 🙂

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The 74 Best Sailing Quotes

Paul Stockdale Author Avatar

Ever since its inception, sailing has been linked to a sense of freedom and drive for adventure out on the sea. For many centuries, sailors were considered to be bold and courageous people willing to risk their lives for fortune and honor.

Many people have tried to express the freedom and enjoyment of sailing through words and quotes.

Many great men and women have fallen in love with sailing over the years, giving birth to a practically endless series of funny, happy and inspirational quotes.

Below you will find a comprehensive list of our personal favorites.

Inspirational Sailing Quotes

Our favorite inspirational sailing quotes to get you inspired and motivated are below.

“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than those you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the wind in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ‍ ‍-Mark Twain
“You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore” ‍ ‍-Christopher Columbus
“Sailors, with their built-in sense of order, service and discipline, should really be running the world.” ‍ ‍-Nicholas Monsarrat
“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” ‍ ‍-William Arthur Ward
“A bad day sailing is 100 times better than a good day at work.” ‍ ‍-An Unknown Sailor
“Who is staring at the sea is already sailing a little” ‍ ‍-Paul Carvel
“There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm.” ‍ ‍-Willa Cather
“I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky. And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.” ‍ ‍-John Masefield
“To be successful at sea we must keep things simple.” ‍ ‍-Pete Culler
“The sea is the same as it has been since before men ever went on it in boats.” ‍ ‍-Ernest Hemingway
“Nothing comes sailing by itself” ‍ ‍-Alexander Dale Oen
“The goal is not to sail the boat, but rather to help the boat sail herself” ‍ ‍-John Rousmaniere
“Until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore, you will not know the terror of being forever lost at sea.” ‍ ‍-Charles Cook
“A ship in the harbor is safe, but that's not what ships are built for.” ‍ ‍-William Sheed
“To young men contemplating a voyage I would say go” ‍ ‍-Joshua Slocum
“To desire nothing beyond what you have is surely happiness. Aboard a boat, it is frequently possible to achieve just that. That is why sailing is a way of life, one of the finest of lives.” ‍ ‍-Carleton Mitchell
“What can we gain by sailing to the moon if we are not able to cross the abyss that separates us from ourselves? This is the most important of all voyages of discovery, and without it, all the rest are not only useless, but disastrous.” ‍ ‍-Thomas Merton
“I wanted freedom, open air and adventure. I found it on the sea.” ‍ ‍-Alain Gerbault
“There is nothing more enticing, disenchanting, and enslaving than the life at sea.” ‍ ‍-Joseph Conrad
“To reach a port we must set sail - Sail, not tie at anchor - Sail, not drift.” ‍ ‍-Franklin D. Roosevelt
“The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.” ‍ ‍-Vincent Van Gogh
“If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable.” ‍ ‍-Lucius Annaeus Seneca
“Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination.” ‍ ‍-Fitzhugh Dodson
“Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.” ‍ ‍-Syrus Publilius
“Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.” ‍ ‍-African proverb
“Can't control the wind but I can adjust the sail.” ‍ ‍-Ricky Skaggs
“We must free ourselves of the hope that the sea will ever rest. We must learn topsail in high winds.” ‍ ‍-Aristotle Onassis
“He who lets the sea lull him into a sense of security is in very grave danger.” ‍ ‍-Hammond Ines
“Sailing is just the bottom line, like adding up the score in bridge. My real interest is in the tremendous game of life.” ‍ ‍-Dennis Conner
“Thought is the wind, knowledge the sail, and mankind the vessel.” ‍ ‍-Augustus Hare
“No literature is richer than that of the sea. No story is more enthralling, no tradition is more secure.” ‍ ‍-Felix Riesenberg
“The man who has experienced shipwreck shudders even at a calm sea.” ‍ ‍-Ovid
“There is but a plank between a sailor and eternity.” ‍ ‍-Thomas Gibbons
“At sea, I learned how little a person needs, not how much.” ‍ ‍-Robin Graham
“The lovely thing about cruising is that planning usually turns out to be of little use.” ‍ ‍-Dom Degnon
“I cannot not sail” ‍ ‍-E. B. White
“The art of the sailor is to leave nothing to chance” ‍ ‍-Annie Van De Wiele
“When all seems to be against you, remember, a ship sometimes has to sail against the current, not with it.” ‍ ‍-Matshona Dhliwayo
“In a calm sea, every man is a pilot.” ‍ ‍-John Ray

Happy Sailing Quotes

Below are our favorite sailing quotes that will make you happy.

“Never in my life before have I experienced such beauty, and fear at the same time.” ‍ ‍-Ellen MacArthur
“The days pass happily with me wherever my ship sails.” ‍ ‍-Joshua Slocum
“Mackerel skies and mares tails, soon will be time to shorten sails” ‍ ‍-Sailors Proverb
“Sailing a boat calls for quick action, a blending of feeling with the wind and water as well as with the very heart and soul of the boat itself. Sailing teaches alertness and courage, and gives in return a joyousness and peace that but few sports afford.” ‍ ‍-George Matthew Adams
“Success soon palls. The joyous time is when the breeze first strikes your sails, and the waters rustle under your bows.” ‍ ‍-Charles Buxton
“Instead of sailing off into the sunset, he hopes to sail into the next century.” ‍ ‍-Dave Anderson
“I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth, a nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present. In this limitless nation, this nation of wind, light, and peace, there is no other ruler besides the sea.” ‍ ‍-Bernard Moitessier
“You haven't lived until you've sailed.” ‍ ‍-David Sedaris
“It is not that life ashore is distasteful to me. But life at sea is better.” ‍ ‍-Sir Francis Drake
“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” ‍ ‍-Jacques Yves Cousteau
“The wind and the waves are always on the side of the ablest navigator.” ‍ ‍-Edmund Gibbon
“Sailor is an artist whose medium is the wind. Live passionately, even if it kills you, because something is going to kill you anyway.” ‍ ‍-Webb Chiles
“I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving: To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it - but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor.” ‍ ‍-Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
“It is not the ship so much as the skillful sailing that assures the prosperous voyage.” ‍ ‍-George William Curtis
“For the most part, a sailboat navigates through its world of wind and water not leaving a single trace of its passage. Nothing is consumed. Nothing is altered. The winds and the water are left in exactly the same condition for the next user. Sailing is forever.” ‍ ‍-Michael B. McPhee
“Wonders are many, and none is more wonderful than the power that crosses the white sea, driven by the stormy wind, making a path under surges that threaten to engulf him.” ‍ ‍-Sophocles
“The planning stage of a cruise is often just as enjoyable as the voyage itself, letting ones imagination loose on all kinds of possibilities. Yet translating dreams into reality means a lot of practical questions have to be answered.” ‍ ‍-Jimmy Cornell
“The cabin of a small yacht is truly a wonderful thing; not only will it shelter you from a tempest, but from the other troubles in life, it is a safe retreat” ‍ ‍-Francis Herreshoff
“And after two days in civilization we realized we could never stay for long and started to plan our next adventure.” ‍ ‍-Bob Bitchin
“Sail Now, Work Later” ‍ ‍-An Unknown Sailor

Funny Sailing Quotes

Below are our favorite funny sailing quotes that will make you laugh.

“Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Give him a fishing lesson and he'll sit in a boat drinking beer every weekend.” ‍ ‍-Alex Blackwell
“Any damn fool can navigate the world sober. It takes a really good sailor to do it drunk.” ‍ ‍-Sir Francis Chichester
“When a man comes to like a sea life, he is not fit to live on land.” ‍ ‍-Dr. Samuel Johnson
“The cure for anything is saltwater - sweat, tears, or the sea.” ‍ ‍-Isak Dinesen
“Out of sight of land the sailor feels safe. It is the beach that worries him.” ‍ ‍-Charles Davis
“Sailing – The fine art of slowly going nowhere at great expense while being cold, wet and miserable.” ‍ ‍-Irv Heller
“The only way to get a good crew is to marry one.” ‍ ‍-Eric Hiscock
“Only two sailors, in my experience, never ran aground. One never left port and the other was an atrocious liar.” ‍ ‍-Don Bamford
“Land was created to provide a place for boats to visit.” ‍ ‍-Brooks Atkinson
“Thing about boats is, you can always sell them if you don't like them. Can't sell kids.” ‍ ‍-Lin Pardey

Sad Sailing Quotes

Below are our favorite sad sailing quotes that are deeply thoughtful.

“As we sail through life, don't avoid rough waters, sail on because calm waters won't make a skillful sailor.” ‍ ‍-Unknown
“The ocean has taken everything from me and yet I still love her.” ‍ ‍-Unknown
“Only the guy who isn't rowing has time to rock the boat.” ‍ ‍-Jean-Paul Sartre

These are our favorite sailing quotes to get you inspired, motivated and happy.

Some of these quotes are deeply thoughtful whilst others are more light- hearted and funny.

What's your favorite quote?

Sailor's anthem: Nautical quotes and sayings that set sail

  • Sailor's anthem: Nautical quotes and sayings that set sail

The sea has long been a muse for poets, writers, and dreamers. Whether it's the calm waters reflecting the sky's hues or the tumultuous waves crashing against the shore, the sea's moods and mysteries have inspired profound quotes. We dive into the treasure trove of literary gems that pay homage to the vastness and unpredictability of the ocean.

Quotes about the sea and sailing

Sailor's language and slang.

Onboard a ship, sailors have their own language—a unique blend of slang and terminology that fosters a sense of community and camaraderie. Dive into the fascinating world of sailor slang, from "landlubber" to "aye aye, captain!" Learn the meanings behind these colorful expressions and how they bring the crew together.

Read our top notch articles on topics such as sailing, sailing tips and destinations in our Magazine .

Famous sailing quotes and sayings

Throughout history, sailing has captured the imagination of adventurers, philosophers, and writers. We delve into the words of luminaries such as Mark Twain, Herman Melville, and Joshua Slocum, who beautifully captured the essence of sailing in their quotes. These quotes not only celebrate the thrill of exploration but also reflect on the profound experiences of life at sea.

Inspirational quotes for sailors

Sailing isn't just a journey across the water—it's a metaphor for life itself. Inspirational quotes for sailors remind us of the lessons learned from the sea: resilience, adaptability, and the courage to face the unknown. We gather uplifting quotes that inspire sailors to set their course with confidence and determination.

Humorous sailboat quotes and sayings

Sailing isn't all serious business—there's plenty of room for humor on the high seas. Humorous sailboat quotes and sayings inject laughter into maritime life. From witty observations about navigation mishaps to playful jabs at the unpredictability of the wind, we highlight the lighthearted side of sailing.

Boat at sea.

Boat at sea.

Quotes of the sea: Capturing the essence of sailing

  • "A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor." - Franklin D. Roosevelt
  • "The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails." - William Arthur Ward
  • "The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever." - Jacques Yves Cousteau
  • "To reach a port, we must sail—sail, not tie at anchor—sail, not drift." - Franklin D. Roosevelt
  • "I can't control the wind, but I can adjust the sails." - Ricky Skaggs
  • "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen
  • "The best way to observe a fish is to become a fish." - Jacques Yves Cousteau
  • "Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do." - Mark Twain
  • "Every time I stand before a beautiful beach, its waves seem to whisper to me: If you choose the simple things and find joy in nature's simple treasures, life and living need not be so hard." - Psyche Roxas-Mendoza
  • "He that will learn to pray, let him go to sea." - George Herbert
  • "A sailor is an artist whose medium is the wind." - Webb Chiles
  • "The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination, and brings eternal joy to the soul." - Wyland
  • "Sailing a boat calls for quick action, a blending of feeling with the wind and water as well as with the very heart and soul of the boat itself." - George Matthew Adams
  • "The sea has never been friendly to man. At most, it has been the accomplice of human restlessness." - Joseph Conrad
  • "There is nothing more enticing, disenchanting, and enslaving than the life at sea." - Joseph Conrad

These quotes encapsulate the beauty, challenges, and allure of sailing and the sea.

So what are you waiting for? Take a look at our range of charter boats and head to some of our favourite sailing destinations .

FAQs about nautical quotes

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The 101 Most Inspiring Sailing QuotesFor Your Next Adventure

Looking for the best sailing quotes.

Sailing is one of the oldest and most captivating activities in history, so there are a whole lot of sailing quotes all over the internet. You’ll find quotes from famous authors, poets, songwriters, and actors, everyone has something to say about sailing and we don’t blame them!

With every passing year, more people are turning to sailing as a way to find respite from their everyday routines – and as they do, an increasing number of inspiring sailing songs and quotes about sailing have been shared by adventurers around the world.

Perhaps we need to get adding to the list as we embark on our fifth year of living on a sailboat!

In this blog post we’ll explore some of these sailing quotes. Most of them are great for Instagram captions (I know, I’ve used a lot of them!) or you can write them in the front of books when you gift them to people.

Or you can just read and enjoy! It’s totally up to you!

Famous Sailing Quotes

These are timeless sailing quotes that you’re likely to see over and over again, and for good reason. Some of these famous quotes are our absolute favourites!

a famous sailing quote on top of a blue sea background

  • “A ship in the harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.” John A. Shedd, American Author
  • “I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to sail my ship.” Louisa May Alcott, American Poe t
  • “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than those you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the wind in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain, American Writer
  • “One’s destination is never a place, but always a new way of seeing things.” Henry Miller, American Writer & Artist
  • “Smell the sea and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly.” Van Morrison, Irish Singer-Songwriter
  • “The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” William Arthur Ward, American Writer
  • “Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.” Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd U.S. President
  • “You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” Christopher Columbus, Italian Explorer
  • “A man is never lost at sea.” Ernest Hemingway, American Writer
  • “If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable.” Seneca, Roman Philosopher
  • “A bad day sailing is 100 times better than a good day at work.” Unknown
  • “I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.” William Ernest Henley
  • “How inappropriate it is to call this planet Earth, when clearly it is Sea.” Arthur C. Clarke
  • “The good seaman weathers the storm he cannot avoid and avoids the storm he cannot weather.” Unknown

Sailing Quotes About Freedom

These quotes will be sure to instill that feeling of freedom and adventure that you find when you’re out sailing. Warning – reading these may well encourage you to head off on a sailing adventure of your own!

Sailing quotes about freedom on a background of the waves lapping the beach

15. “It is not that life ashore is distasteful to me. But life at sea is better.” Sir Francis Drake, English Explorer

16. “The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.” Vincent Van Gogh, Dutch Post-Impressionist Painter

17. “I wanted freedom, open air, and adventure. I found it on the sea.” Alaine Gerbault, French Sailor

18. “The days pass happily with me wherever my ship sails.” Joshua Slocum, First Person to Single-Hand Circumnavigate

19. “Home is where the anchor drops.” Unknown

20. “It’s remarkable how quickly a good and favorable wind can sweep away the maddening frustrations of shore living.” Ernest K. Gann, American Sailor & Author

21 “On life’s vast ocean, diversely we sail. Reasons the card, but passion the gale.” Alexander Pope, English Poet

22 “Land was created to provide a place for boats to visit.” Brooks Atkinson

23. “There is nothing more enticing, disenchanting, and enslaving than the life at sea.” Joseph Conrad, Polish-British Writer

24. “Flying might not be all plain sailing, but the fun of it is worth the price.” Amelia Earhart, American Aviation Pioneer & Author

25. “For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), it’s always our self we find in the sea.” E.E. Cummings, American Poet & Author

26. “A sailor is an artist whose medium is the wind. Live passionately, even if it kills you, because something is going to kill you anyway.” Webb Chiles

27. “The sail, the play of its pulse so like our own lives: so thin and yet so full of life, so noiseless when it labors hardest, so noisy and impatient when least effective.” Henry David Thoreau, American Poet & Philosopher

28. “On a day when the wind is perfect, the sail just needs to open and the world is full of beauty.” Rumi

Weathering Storms Quotes

Sailors face some pretty tough conditions out there, and some great quotes have come from those reflecting on the strength and courage that storms at sea have given them. Sailing can be dangerous . These sailing quotes are great life quotes as well.

a sailboat in a storm with a quote about weathering storms on the top

29. “There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm.” Willa Cather, American Writer

30. “Confronting a storm is like fighting God. All the powers in the universe seem to be against you and, in an extraordinary way, your irrelevance is at the same time both humbling and exalting.” Francis LeGrande

31. “The most challenging times bring us the most empowering lessons.” Karen Salmansohn

32. “The sea finds out everything you did wrong.” Francis Stokes

33. “Any fool can carry on, but a wise man knows how to shorten sail in time.” Joseph Conrad, Polish-British Writer

34. “The sea speaks a language polite people never repeat. It is a colossal scavenger slang and has no respect.” Carl Sandburg

Cruising Quotes

Our favourite sailing quotes sum up what life is really like as a full-time cruiser. It’s not always glamorous, but it’s always an adventure.

If you’re thinking of becoming a full-time liveaboard then we’ve got the ultimate guide for you . Go from landlubber to salty sea dog in no time!

a cruising quote on the background of a sailing boat

35. “The goal is not to sail the boat, but rather to help the boat sail herself.” John Rousmaniere, American Author

36. “There is no better tool or equipment you can have on board than a well-trained crew.” Larry Pardey , Sailor

37. “A sailing vessel is alive in a way that no ship with mechanical power ever be.” Aubrey de Selincourt

38. “Only two sailors, in my experience, never ran aground. One never left port and the other was an atrocious liar.” Don Bamford, Sailor & Author

39. “We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.” Ernest Hemingway

40. “If you are going to do something, do it now. Tomorrow is too late.” Pete Goss, British Sailor

41. “To be successful at sea, we must keep things simple.” Pete Culler, Author & Renowned Wooden Boat Builder

42. “Go small, go simple, go now.” Larry Pardey, Sailor & Writer

43. “To desire nothing beyond what you have is surely happiness. Aboard a boat, it is frequently possible to achieve just that. That is why sailing is a way of life, one of the finest of lives.” Carleton Mitchell

44. “At sea, I learned how little a person needs, not how much.” Robin Lee Graham, American Sailor

45. “The lovely thing about cruising is that planning usually turns out to be of little use.” Dom Degnon, Freelance Writer

46. “Cruising is fixing your boat in exotic locations.” Unknown

Sailing Quotes From Novels

Nothing quite matches the feeling of waking up on a sailboat or yacht in the middle of an ocean and living life at its most adventurous.

Sailing quotes from books and novels demonstrate that this kind of experience has been inspiring adventure seekers for decades, expressed by writers who want to capture the unique freedom only found while sailing.

Whether you are just getting started with your sailing journey, or have a lifetime’s worth of experiences, these classic quotes will reconnect you to what makes such an activity so special!

a sailing quote from a novel on a sunset background

47. “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” Ernest Hemingway

48. “I was amazed that what I needed to survive could be carried on my back. And, most surprising of all, that I could carry it.” Cheryl Strayed

49. “Now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.” Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi

50. “Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made, for somewhere deep in their oaken hearts the soul of a song is laid.” Robert N. Rose 

51. “To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, To gain all while you give, To roam the roads of lands remote, To travel is to live.” Hans Christian Andersen, The Fairy Tale of My Life: An Autobiography

52. “I knew that if I allowed fear to overtake me, my journey was doomed. Fear, to a great extent, is born of a story we tell ourselves, and so I chose to tell myself a different story from the one women are told. I decided I was safe. I was strong. I was brave. Nothing could vanquish me.” Cheryl Strayed, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

53. “The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.” Christopher McCandless, Into the Wild

Sailing Quotes From The Movies

A love for sailing often stirs within us when the wind picks up and we smell the salty sea. Movies have captured the allure of setting sail, taking that adventurous voyage across a vast ocean, and embracing what lies beyond.

Here is a collection of some of our favorite sailing quotes from the movies – motivating you to get out on open waters!

Whether you’re trying to motivate yourself to jump on an upcoming journey or just appreciate a beautiful day at sea, these sailing lines will undoubtedly hit close to home.

Here’s your invitation: suit up, let down your sails, drop anchor, and join us as we explore these famous words with our inspirational takeaways. Let’s set sail!

Top tip: Watch some of the best sailing YouTube channels to get inspired!

a quote about sailing from a movie

54. “Not all treasure is silver and gold.” Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean

55. “They say home is where the heart is, and for most people that consists of four walls and a welcome mat. But for me, it’s the ocean, with the warmth of the sun on my skin.” Bethany Hamilton Soul Surfer

56. “Now…bring me that horizon.” Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean

57. “The ocean doesn’t help you. You help yourself!” Dwayne Johnson (as Maui), Moana 

58. “It’s not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails, that’s what a ship needs but what a ship is…what the Black Pearl really is…is freedom.” Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean

Quotes About The Ocean

With the vastness of the ocean and its many mysteries, it’s no surprise that people have been writing about this enchanting body of water for centuries.

From ancient Greek philosophers to modern-day songwriters, each quote captures something different and provides an interesting perspective on this seemingly endless expanse of blue.

Whether you’re looking for inspiration on how to appreciate the beauty of nature or simply need a reminder to savor life’s little moments, read ahead to discover some insightful quotes about the ocean.

Or if you’re looking for something more short and snappy you’ll be wanting the best ocean captions for Instagram .

a quote about the ocean on the background of the sea

59. “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” Jacques Yves Cousteau, French Naval Officer

60. “When your life is moving too fast and you find yourself in chaos, introduce yourself to each color of the sunset.” Christy Ann Martine

61. “We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch – we are going back from whence we came.” John F. Kennedy, 35th U.S. President

62. “Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” Ralph Waldo Emerson, American Philosopher

63. “At the beach, life is different. Time doesn’t move hour to hour but mood to moment. We live by currents, plan by the tides, and follow the sun.” Sandy Gingras, Writer & Illustrator

64. “Dance with the waves, move with the sea, let the rhythm of the water set your soul free.” Christy Ann Martine, Canadian Poet

65. “If there’s a heaven for me, I’m sure it has a beach attached to it.” Jimmy Buffett, American Singer-Songwriter

66. “Every time I slip into the ocean, it’s like going home.” Sylvia Earle, American Marine Biologist

67. “The sea is a desert of waves, a wilderness of water.” Langston Hughes, American Poet

Quotes To Encourage You To Untie The Docklines

Have you ever had a burning desire to strike out on your own but were too afraid or held back by the safety and security of staying within the confines of what’s comfortable?

Maybe it was a job, maybe it was a relationship, or perhaps you yearned for exploration – whatever it may be, know that you’re not alone. The uncertainty and fear associated with leaving comfort zones is felt by many.

To provide some motivation on your journey, here are some inspiring quotes to encourage you to untie those docklines and let the current take hold!

a quote about setting off on an adventure with the sea and a sailboat in the background

68. “Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.” T.S. Eliot

69. “Don’t be afraid to fail. Be afraid not to try.” Michael Jordan

70. “In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take.” Lewis Carroll

71. “If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have roots instead of feet.” Rachel Wolchin

72. “No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit.” Helen Keller

73. “You can. You should. And if you are brave enough to start, you will.” Stephen King

74. “Until you step into the unknown, you don’t know what you’re made of.” Roy T. Bennett

75. “I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” Mary Anne Radmacher

76. “It feels good to be lost in the right direction.” Anonymous

77. “And after two days in civilization we realized we could never stay for long and started to plan our next adventure.” Bob Bitchin (Letters from the Lost Soul)

78. “You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” Christopher Robin

79. “Jobs fill your pockets, but adventures fill your soul.” Jaime Lyn

Short Sailing Quotes For Instagram

Feel free to pair these quotes with your favorite sailing photos for a touch of inspiration and adventure on your Instagram feed! ⛵️📸✨

80. “Sail away into the horizon and let your worries drift away.” ⛵️✨

81. “Life’s roughest storms prove the strength of our anchors.” ⚓️💪

82. “Smooth seas never made skilled sailors.” 🌊⛵️

83. “Every adventure requires a first step. Mine was setting sail.” 🌟⛵️

84. “Find your direction and set sail towards your dreams.” 🌅⛵️

85. “The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination, and brings eternal joy to the soul.” 🌊❤️

86. “Sail with the wind, explore the unknown, and embrace the journey.” 🌬️⛵️

87. “In the waves of change, we find our true direction.” 🌊🧭

88. “Life is better on a boat.” 🚤💙

89. “Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ⛵️✨

90. “The ocean is calling, and I must go.” 🌊⛵️

91. “Saltwater heals everything.” 🌊💙

92. “Sailors have the best stories.” ⚓️📖

93. “Life is a journey. Enjoy the sail.” ⛵️✨

94. “Let the sea set you free.” 🌊⚓️

95. “Wind in my sails, salt in my veins.” 🌬️⛵️

96. “Sail more, worry less.” ⛵️😌

97. “Sailing is the ultimate freedom.” ⛵️🌅

98. “Adventure awaits where the sea meets the sky.” 🌊🌌

99. “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor, but it sure makes for a great day on the water.” 🌊⛵️

100. “Life’s a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats.” 🎶⛵️

101. “Happiness comes in waves.” 🌊😊

Conclusion: The Best Sailing Quotes

The best sailing quotes can provide guidance to help any sailor out on the open sea. These quotes range from statements of encouragement to lessons of caution; they provide advice and inspiration that can be appreciated by anyone who loves sailing and exploring the open water.

Even seasoned sailors may find the motivation to push further in the waves after reading these insightful words. You never know when you may need a bit of extra courage and resolve to reach your goals.

No matter what your sailing aspirations are, keep peace within yourself, sail with passion, and hold high hopes for all your upcoming voyages!

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Best Sailing Quotes of all time

Best sailing quotes and mariners quotes.

Discover the best sailing quotes and mariners sayings. We often hear mariners quotes, sailing words, and proverbs from famous and unknown sailors about the ocean, the sea, their vessels, their sailing journeys or their adventures. The best mariners and sailors or sailing quotes you will find here are inspiring or funny but they all refer to a passion shared by boating enthusiasts all over the world. We also include sailing proverbs from different time and civilizations.

We decided to share them with our readers and sailors friends because they are inspiring and often tell in a few words sailors and boat lovers feel or experience at sea. Along with each quote we also indicate who the writer is and a a little bit of their accomplishment.

If you want to add your own preferred quote please contact Coboaters .  It is free and fun.

We hope you like these mariners and sailing or sailors quotes and other proverbs. You can also find them on our Coboaters Facebook and Instagram page. The quote of the week is also published every week on Coboaters home page! Happy reading!

We classified those quotes in different categories:

  • Mariners and Sailing quotes from famous sailors
  • Quotes and sayings from writers or artists
  • Marine quotes from famous people (boat designers, scientists,
  • Mariners and sailing quotes from anonymous individuals.

Related articles:

  • What are the 3 top benefits of sailing?
  • How does a crew connect website work?
  • Sailing adventures in the Bahamas

1- Mariners and Sailing Quotes from famous sailors

“You do not ask a tame seagull why it needs to disappear from time to time toward the open sea.” Bernard Moitessier – Famous Sailor and adventurer- Circumnavigator in The Long Way (published in 1971)

Joshua, the 13m sailboat owned by Bernard Moitessier and his sailing quote

“There is not better tool or equipment you can have on board than a well-trained crew”. Larry Pardey, Cruiser Larry Pardey lived at sea with his wife, Lin for more than 25 years.

Sailing saying and quote from Larry Parley, a famous skipper: There is no better tool or equipment you can have on board than a well-trained crew"

Sail more so you can create your own quote after your experience.

Learn the best way to sail even if you do not have a boat.

“I wanted to win not as a woman, but at equal terms with all skippers.” Kirsten Neuschafer. Famous woman sailor. The first female sailor to win a circumnavigation race, the Golden Globe 2022.

catamaran sailing quotes

“Spinnakers are perfect in lighter airs and flatter seas for crew to handle…” Unknown writer

A sailor with a spinnaker in the background and a mariners quote about spinnakers

“On the 8th day, God created RUM to prevent sailors from taking over the world”

Black and white image: An old mariner smiling with a pint of rum in his hand

2- Sailing quotes from Famous writers or artists

“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop” – Confucius, Chinese Philosopher

Sailing quote from Confucius. A man standing in in front of a sailboat.

“How inappropriate it is to call this planet earth when clearly it is sea” Arthur C. Clarke, English science fiction writer and undersea explorer.

Female diver with coral and a sailing quote

“The lovely thing about cruising is that planning turns out to be of little use.” Dom Degnon, Yacht broker and freelance writer.

Sailing quote from Dom

“Everybody in the 15th century Spain was wrong about where China was and as a result, Columbus discovered Caribbean vacations!” P.J. O’Rourke.

Sailors quote with classic boat background and Coboaters logo.

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters in the end.” Ernest Hemingway

catamaran sailing quotes

“I need the sea because it teaches me” Pablo Neruba

catamaran sailing quotes

“Free man, you will always cherish the sea!” Charles Beaudelaire, French poet of the nineteenth century

catamaran sailing quotes

“When a man comes to like a sea life, he is not fit to live on land.” Dr Samula Johnson, 18th century writer.

catamaran sailing quotes

3- Marine quotes from famous sailors and mariners

“Prevention is, as in other aspects of seamanship, better than cure” . Sir Robin Knox-Johnston. British sailor, the first person to perform a non-stop single-handed circumnavigation of the globe.

Knox-Johnson sailing quote: Prevention is, as other aspects of seamanship, better than cure". Sailboat in the background

“The cabin of a small yacht is truly a wonderful thing; not only will it shelter you from a tempest, but from the other troubles in life, it is a safe retreat” Francis Herreshoff.

catamaran sailing quotes

“Sailboat racing becomes a game of chance only when you are not prepared” Buddy Melges.

catamaran sailing quotes

“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” Jacques-Yves Cousteau.

catamaran sailing quotes

“Red Sky in the morning, sailors take warning. Red sky at night, sailors’ delight.” Ancient mariners

catamaran sailing quotes

“ A sailor is an artist whose medium is the wind” Webb Chiles, American sailor, poet, and explorer who has circumnavigated the globe five times.

catamaran sailing quotes

“ For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; In this century he is starting to realize that, in order to survive he has to protect it.” Jacques-Yves Cousteau in the 20th Century

catamaran sailing quotes

I wanted open air, adventures, I found it on the sea” Alain Gerbault

catamaran sailing quotes

To young men contemplating a voyage, I would say, Go!” Joshua Slocum, the first person to sail single-handedly around the world.

Famous sailing quote from Joshua Slocum

“The days pass happily with me wherever my ship sails” Joshua Slocum

Joshua Slocum saying: " the days pass happily with me whenever my ship sails"

Mariners quotes from anonymous writers

Land was created for boats to visit!

catamaran sailing quotes

A Sailboat that sails backward can never see the sunrise

catamaran sailing quotes

“To reach a port we must set sail – sail, not tie at anchor; sail not drift” Franklin D. Roosevelt

catamaran sailing quotes

“Your autopilot may be your best crew but it will never be your best friend!”

catamaran sailing quotes

“The sooner we learn how to be jointly responsible, the easier the sailing will be” Ella Maillart, Swiss adventurer, Sportwoman. Early 1900.

catamaran sailing quotes

“Smell the sea and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly.” Van Morrison Irish Singer – Songwriter

catamaran sailing quotes

“There are three sorts of people: those who are alive, those who are dead, and those who are at sea” Aristotle – Greek philosopher 384-322 BC

catamaran sailing quotes

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Pearls of Wisdom: 20 Most Inspirational Sailing Quotes

We all need a little inspiration from time to time. We've prepared a selection of quotes from sailing legends and simple enthusiasts for you that we are sure will inspire you too! “Any fool can go around the whole world sober. But only a very good sailor can do it drunk! " Sir Francis Chichester “Every day since I realized [...]

We all need a little inspiration from time to time. We have prepared for you a selection of quotes from sailing legends and simple enthusiasts that we are sure will inspire you too. !

 “Any fool can go around the whole world sober. But only a very good sailor can do it while drunk! " Sir Francis Chichester  ( Sir Francis Chichester )

“Every day since I realized that I survived, I said to myself: I am lucky to be alive. So why go back? I am a hound. I love the sea and I love the competition. You don’t give up life just because you once had a chance to walk on the edge of a knife. ” Tony Bullimore  ( Tony Bullimore )

“My mom, when asked for her opinion on the trip before leaving, replied that she considered it 'completely irresponsible', and this Christmas day I began to think that she was right. After all, I walked around the world simply because I really wanted to! And I realized that I was enjoying it to the fullest. " Robin Knox-Johnston  (RobinKnox — Johnston)

"My day is passing happily wherever my boat goes." Joshua Slokum (Joshua Slocum)

"The art of a sailor is not to leave anything to chance." Annie Van De Ville  (Annie Van De Wiele)

“I really don't know why we are all so devoted to the sea, except that it seems to me that the whole point is that the sea changes and the light changes and the ships change, this is because we all came out of the sea. And this is an interesting biological fact, because we all have in our veins exactly the same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and therefore salt is in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are connected to the ocean. And when we return to the sea - sailing or just looking at it - we return to where we came from. " John F. Kennedy  (John F. Kennedy)

"There have been moments on this trip when I was convinced that the GPS was wrong." Chris Robb  ( Chris Robb )

"Calm sailing does not come from calm waters, it comes from a good navigator, a good crew and a good ship." Anthony T. Hinks  ( Anthony T .  Hincks )

Yachting in the works of famous artists: "Argenteuil Series" by Monet, Renoir and Caillebotte

“Out there in the sea, you are really yourself.” Vito Dumas  ( Vito Dumas )

“The cabin of a small yacht is truly a wonderful thing; it will not only shelter you from the storm, but also from other troubles in life, it is a safe place of solitude. " L. Francis Herreshoff  (L. FrancisHerreshoff)

"The beauty of a solo trip is not loneliness, but independence." Claude Worth  ( Claud Worth )

“When you find yourself in a strong storm, take the boat out into the wind, and the autopilot controls it, there is nothing to do but stand there and watch the water walls break down around you; it is an amazing sight. " Emma Richards  ( Emma Richards )

"With practice, you improve by learning more from what you do than from reading any ten books on the topic." Hervey Garrett Smith  ( Hervey Garrett smith )

"The only way to get a good team is to marry her." Eric Heescock  (Eric Hiscock)

“To win, you have to believe that you can do it. You must be passionate about it. You have to really "want" the result - even if that means years of work. The hardest part of any big project is getting started. " Sir Peter Blake  ( Sir Peter Blake )

Alex Thomson: what is the personality behind the suit?

“When you spend so much time pushing, grooming, convincing and coaxing a beautiful racing car like this, you become very close. She took good care of me, and I take care of her. I was not alone at all. " Ellen MacArthur  (Ellen MacArthur)

"The odds of error are roughly equal to the number of crew members squared." Ted Turner  ( Ted Turner )

“The desire to build a house is a man’s tiresome desire to be content with one parking lot. The desire to build a boat is the desire of youth, not yet wanting to accept the idea of a final resting place. " Arthur Ransom  ( Arthur Ransome )

"I want a boat that drinks six, eats four, and sleeps two." Ernest K. Gunn  (Ernest K. Gann)

“A sailing ship is not a democracy; you will not put a crew together, from an excuse to find out where you are going to asking when they would like to reduce the sail. " Sterling Hayden  (Sterling Hayden)

5 reasons to go sailing

News and articles

news

They are only spoken of in enthusiastic categories. This archipelago does not fit into the standard story "X reasons to visit" - no matter how many reasons you choose, there will always be another one that is no less important. An emerald necklace of islands scattered across the turquoise surface of the ocean is what French Polynesia looks like. Man always strives to learn more. Actually, this property is largely and [...]

news

Most yachtsmen and cruise connoisseurs know more than others about the benefits and pleasures that we get from the nature that surrounds us ...

news

Crossing the Atlantic from west to east seems like a daunting task. Fortunately, there is one way to shorten such a difficult journey!

catamaran sailing quotes

catamaran sailing quotes

SailingEurope Blog - Sailing, Yacht Charter and Beyond

Sailing quotes

Sailing Quotes and Phrases – Do You Speak Sailing?

You must have heard of terms like: “Land Ho!” or “Aye Aye Captain!” But did you know they were actually sailing quotes? Embarking on your first sailing adventure will surely be a whole lot easier if you already know the sailing language that speaks directly to the heart of every sailor. This article is about to show you how to sound like a true sailor in any sailing situation.

What is the importance of sailing quotes?

The sea, the sun and the wind have always been the best remedies for all diseases, broken hearts and loneliness. If you have never experienced the healing power of a day spent at sea and on a sailing ship, do it as soon as possible. You are missing out big time! Breathing in the sea air and the wind, feeling the warmth of the sun on your skin and listening to the waves crashing the rocks are truly unique experiences. And do not even get me started on sailing. Although it may sound complicated, it will be easier with our sailing guide .

sailing holidays

So, you have decided to dedicate your life to the sea and the wind. You have mastered the art of sailing and you have started spending more and more time on board. Then you will inevitably become a sailor who lives a life according to inspiring sailing quotes ! Life on board can be tough, you can face all kinds of difficulties from bad weather or boat malfunction to boredom or feeling homesick. However, keep in mind that when you face and overcome those difficulties, this short dictionary will lift up your spirit. You might also want to share them with others as your Instagram or Facebook captions.

We have gathered here a list of famous sailing quotes and nautical terms that can help you survive the oh-so monotone days on a sailing ship. And those still dreaming about sailing can be inspired to get out of their comfort zone and embark on their first sailing adventure. As long as you are decisive and ready to work on realizing your dreams, the rest will come. While you are still just considering it, after reading our favourite quotes about sailing you will think no more!

Sailing quotes

Sailing quotes for the indecisive

  • “A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” – John A. Shedd
  • “To young men contemplating a voyage, I would say GO.” – Joshua Slocum
  • “The cure for anything is saltwater – sweat, tears, or the sea.” – Isak Dinesen
  • “There is nothing more enticing, disenchanting, and enslaving than the life at sea.” – Joseph Conrad
  • “You haven’t lived until you’ve sailed.” – David Sedaris, Theft by Finding: Diaries
  • “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” – Jacques Yves Cousteau

Sailing quotes for the adventurous

  • “I wanted freedom, open air and adventure. I found it on the sea.” – Alaine Gerbault
  • “He that will not sail till all dangers are over must never put to sea.” – Dr Thomas Fuller
  • “The art of the sailor is to leave nothing to chance.” – Annie Van De Wiele
  • “The sea hates a coward.” – Eugene O’Neill
  • “A sailor is an artist whose medium is the wind.” – Webb Chiles
  • “The wind and the waves are always on the side of the ablest navigator.” – Edmund Gibbon

Gulet in the sunset

Sailing quotes for those who need a little bit of inspiration

  • “They that go down to the sea in ships, and occupy their business in great waters; these men see the works of the Lord; and His wonders in the deep.” – Book of Common Prayer
  • “A bad day sailing is 100 times better than a good day at work.” – Anonymous
  • “The days pass happily with me wherever my ship sails.” – Joshua Slocum
  • “To be successful at sea we must keep things simple.” – Pete Culler
  • “To reach a port we must set sail – Sail, not tie at anchor. Sail, not drift.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
  • “No literature is richer than that of the sea. No story is more enthralling, no tradition is more secure.” – Felix Riesenberg

Sailing quotes for the courageous

In the sea of sailing quotes and nautical terms, we can highlight the ones by Mark Twain and Ernest Hemingway, two of the most influential writers of all times. Get out of your comfort zone and let their words serve as your greatest encouragement.

  • “Now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be Pirates.” – Mark Twain
  • “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain
  • “A man is never lost at sea.” – Ernest Hemingway
  • “The sea is the same as it has been since before men ever went on it in boats.” – Ernest Hemingway

sailing holidays in Lefkas

Which sailor quotes have found their use in everyday language?

There are many phrases that we use on a regular basis that have their origin in the nautical world. However, they have lost their original meaning, so most of the time we are not aware that we are using the same phrases that were once used by sailors. We made a list of the most popular sailor phrases used in everyday language, explaining their metaphorical and original meaning.

The first example is the term feeling under the weather that people nowadays use to describe the feeling of sadness. Sailors would use this phrase when the weather was rough to warn the passengers to retreat to the lower levels of the boat to keep them safe from the storm.

We have all, not only once, experienced the calm before the storm. For example, we know that a really bad argument is always preceded by an extremely peaceful period. Sailors, on the other side, would use this phrase in the anticipation of bad weather.

A sailing boat at sea

People often find themselves at a loose end , meaning they do not know what to do next. When on board, something that is often loose is the rope. A loose end means that the rope is not attached properly.

Have you ever gone overboard and completely exaggerated in your actions? Similar to that, when you go overboard on a boat, it means that you literally fall out of it.

The phrase fair winds and following seas is one of the most known sailing terms. It means that the wind direction will be probably the same as the sea direction. It indicates that the sailors will probably have a “perfect day on the sea”. Furthermore, the phrase smooth sailing has a pretty similar meaning as the phrase fair winds and following seas. The smooth sailing means that there we’ll be no problems further on, everything is alright now.

The phrase Anchors Aweigh means that there are no anchors in the sea at the moment, they are all clear of the sea bottom and the boat is ready for departure.

sailing holidays in Croatia

Sailor slang – a unique way of communication

Another interesting linguistic feature that emerged from the nautical world is sailor slang. Over the years spent on the sea, sailors have developed their own way of communicating. And that language was unknown to the ones who were not part of the crew. The phrases and nautical terms that they used were short and sweet, some of the examples are:

  • “Aye Aye Captain!” – a sign of approval
  • “Ahoy!” – sailors would use this exclamation among themselves to call out to each other
  • “Land Ho!” – an exclamation that a sailor would make when they spotted the land
  • “Matey” – mate, friend
  • “Me” – referring to “my”
  • “Ye” – referring to the pronoun “you”
  • “Yo-ho-ho…and a bottle of rum!” – the first part refers to sailors’ laughter and the second one, well, we could say that rum was their favorite beverage.

A boat marina in the sunset

Sailor slang was highly popularized by the eccentric Captain Jack Sparrow from the movie “Pirates of the Caribbean”. Jack Sparrow is an example of a real cap’n (captain) who loved his sailing ships Black Pearl more than his life and a man who gave his life to the sea . What a great example for a modern sailor, huh? Aside from his rum-obsession and occasional cowardness, he was quite successful in his job. We are sure that you already quote him on a daily basis, but we will mention a few of his epic sailor sayings:

  • “Why is the rum always gone?”
  • “Hide the rum!”
  • “Wherever we want to go, we go… that’s what a ship is, you know.”
  • “The seas may be rough, but I am the Captain! No matter how difficult, I will always prevail.”

At the end of the day, you do not have to use sailor slang or phrases to be a sailor. Carleton Mitchell once said: “To desire nothing beyond what you have is surely happiness. Aboard a boat, it is frequently possible to achieve just that. That is why sailing is a way of life, one of the finest of lives.” Therefore, to be a successful sailor, the most important thing is to live without the fear of the unknown, to gather up the courage and start living your life to the fullest – at the sea.

5 thoughts on “Sailing Quotes and Phrases – Do You Speak Sailing?”

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That’s really nice post. I appreciate your skills. Thanks for sharing.

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We want to organise a sailing-themed event. This was very helpful! Thank you.

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how are you, dignified blog on lardy loss. like helped.

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Just an FYI: The term Aye Aye was actually a Navy term for I understand and I will comply

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I am fixing up a story of a sailor this is very helpful, thank you!

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Sailing quotes, proverbs, slogans and jokes

catamaran sailing quotes

Sailing proverbs and slogans​

Sailing quotes, proverbs and slogans inspirations. A bad day sailing is 100 times better than a good day at work

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Worldwild Sailing Proverbs

japonese Sailing proverbs and slogans

Japonese Sailing Proverb

Fear blows wind into your sails.

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In calm water, every ship has a good captain.

sailing proverbs and quotes

Turkish Sailing Proverb

African sailing proverb.

Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.

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Italian Sailing Proverb

After the ship has sunk, everyone knows how she might have been saved.

Sailing Quotes, Proverbs and slogans

Sailing quote from ernest k. gann.

It’s remarkable how quickly a good and favorable wind can sweep away the maddening frustrations of shore living.

sailing is life sailing slogan

Lin and Larry Pardey Sailing quote

“If you can’t repair it, maybe it shouldn’t be on board.”

Arthur C. Clarke Sailing quote

How inappropriate it is to call this planet Earth, when clearly it is Sea.

Sailing proverbs and slogans

Bernard Hayman Sailing quote

A man can pretend to be a lot of things in this world; but he can only pretend to be a sailor for as long as it takes to clear the harbor mouth!

Vincent van Gogh Sailing quote

The heart of man is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides and in its depths, it has its pearls too.

san blas charter all inclusive sailing trip

Joseph Conrad Sailing quote

Any fool can carry on, but a wise man knows how to shorten sail in time.

Brooks Atkinson Sailing quote

Land was created to provide a place for boats to visit .

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Captain Sayings: Timeless Maritime Quotations and Their Deeper Meanings

oh captain my captain quote 1

Not on my ship, not on my watch!

Brace the mainsail, we’re sailing into uncharted waters!

It’s a sailor’s delight when stars are bright.

No storm can shake my ship or break my spirit.

All aboard the ship of dreams, where the anchor is hope and the sails are courage!

In every ship, there’s a captain, a compass, a course. First, master your ship!

I’m the captain of my ship and the master of my soul.

Calm seas never made a skilled captain, brace yourselves, mates!

Unfurl the sails, let’s ride the sea’s wild rails!

Navigate, Motivate, Sail past Hate!

Adventures call, anchors aweigh, my ship never stalls!

You may know the sailor, but not the sea. You may know me, but not what I foresee!

Set your compass true, the sea is a fickle mistress!

Sailors sing, bells ring and the captain knows everything!

He who is not a good sailor in calm weather will be a poor captain when storms hit.

Stay true, stay the course, else you’ll feel the ocean’s force.

No captain can do very wrong if he places his ship alongside that of the enemy.

Steer the fate, before it’s too late.

From dusk till dawn, we sail on!

Being a captain is not a title, it’s an action and example!

Set your sails to the wind of opportunity.

A captain doesn?t abandon ship during a storm.

Uncharted waters often lead to undiscovered treasures.

Not all stormy days mean a weak captain.

In this ship, camaraderie is our anchor.

Eyes on the horizon, heart at the helm.

Hoist your courage, anchor your fear.

The captain is as good as his crew.

Calm seas don?t produce skilled captains.

Chart your course, make your legacy.

As captain, my ship my rules.

The captain’s spirit is the ship’s compass.

A voyage without a captain is a voyage to adversity.

Trust in your crew is the greatest treasure a captain can have.

At the helm ? that?s where the captain stands.

As a captain, you don?t steer the ship, you steer the crew.

The ocean rules; the captain proposes.

The captain only goes down with the ship if he fails his crew.

A captain?s place is with his crew, not ahead or behind them.

One doesn?t need a crown to be a captain. A ship and a loyal crew are enough.

A good captain rides out the storm when the seas are rough.

To captain one’s own ship is not just a role, it’s a calling.

A captain’s as good as his crew but a lackluster crew proves the captain’s worth.

A ship is always safe at shore, but that?s not what it?s built for.

Every man is a captain of his own destiny.

A smooth sea never made a skilled captain.

As captain, I cannot promise a smooth journey, but I can guarantee an adventure of a lifetime.

Every captain must navigate the sea he?s in.

When a ship misses its harbor, it’s rarely the harbor?s fault.

A captain?s first duty is to the truth.

No wind favors the ship without direction.

I am the captain of my soul.

He who rules the sea, rides the tides of time.

A great captain is great only if he has a great crew.

Be your own captain and chart your own course.

Courage is the captain, but perseverance is the crew.

Storms may batter the ship, but it’s the captain who navigates through.

True leaders are like captains, sailing through both calm and stormy seas.

When in charge, take command. This is the way of the captain.

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Laser Sailing Tips

Just thought I’d share with you my picks of some of the best sailing quotes that I have seen going around.

There are some pretty cool quotes from a mix of some world-class sailors right through to those with just a more basic love for the water.

If you have a favorite sailing quote, whether it be a famous one, something you made up, or one you heard down at the club, make sure that you share it in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

Enjoy…

Our Picks Of The Best Sailing Quotes…

“I’m not sure why I am so competitive, but I always have been. Whether it’s playing table tennis, cards or Olympic sailing I just have to win.” — Tom Slingsby – Laser World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist
“I’ve been sailing from the age of 2, and apparently, when I was 4, I told my dad, ‘I know how to do this; you don’t have to come with me anymore.” — Nathan Outteridge – 420, 49er and Moth World Champion, and Olympic Gold Medalist
 “There is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” — Kenneth Grahame – The Wind in the Willows
“You haven’t won the race, if in winning the race you have lost the respect of your competitors.” — Paul Elvstrøm – Winner of 4 Olympic Gold medals
“You can no longer just be a good sailor. You have to be an incredible athlete as well. Having said that, you can be a great athlete, the strongest guy in the world, but if you can’t anticipate and make decisions under stress and exhaustion and think ahead, then you won’t be able to cut it, either.” — Jimmy Spithill – youngest ever winner of the America’s Cup
“The sea will grant each man new hope. The sleep brings dreams of home.” — Christopher Columbus
“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” — William Arthur Ward – Author, educator, and motivational speaker
“A bad day sailing is better than a good day at work.” — unknown
“Start first and increase your lead.” — Buddy Melges – Olympic Gold & Bronze Medalist
“Big boats get the glory, but the dingy makes the sailor.” — From the movie “ Wind ”
“Life’s a reach until you gibe.” — Book by Sean Downey
“We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.” — Bertha Calloway – Activist and historian
“It’s the next step for someone like me who has come from small boats to try to make it into the America’s Cup. It’s the pinnacle of big boat sailing really.” — Sir Ben Ainslie – Laser and Finn World Champion
“Sailing – The fine art of slowly going nowhere at great expense while being cold, wet and miserable.” — Irv Heller
“A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” — John A. Shedd – Salt from My Attic, 1928
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” — Marcel Proust – French novelist
“I am really fighting for every spot, even if I am back in the pack tomorrow I’ll be fighting for every point come the end of the regatta.” — Tom Slingsby – Laser World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist
“I come from the 49er, where there is a high error rate in the sailing but the best sailor still wins, and that’s why I’m attracted to these kind of boats.” — Nathan Outteridge – 420, 49er and Moth World Champion, and Olympic Gold Medalist
“If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable.” — Lucius Annaeus Seneca – Roman philosopher
“It is not the ship so much as the skillful sailing that assures the prosperous voyage.” — George William Curtis – American writer and public speaker
“Sailed this day nineteen leagues, and determined to count less than the true number, that the crew might not be dismayed if the voyage should prove long.” — Christopher Columbus
“In typical sailing races a long time ago, you’d come in and go out, and the first thing you’d do is probably have a cold beer. The first thing we do now is have a protein shake and our recovery drink.” — Jimmy Spithill – youngest ever winner of the America’s Cup
 “I’d love to have a proper sailing boat and go around the world.” — Jonathan Powell
“The effect of sailing is produced by a judicious arrangement of the sails to the direction of the wind.” — William Falconer – Scottish poet
“The sooner we learn to be jointly responsible, the easier the sailing will be.” — Ella Maillart – Swiss adventurer and sportswoman
“Sailing a boat calls for quick action, a blending of feeling with the wind and water as well as with the very heart and soul of the boat itself. Sailing teaches alertness and courage, and gives in return a joyousness and peace that but few sports afford.” — George Matthew Adams – American newspaper columnist
“Sailing is such a variable sport. There could be no wind, or there could be 25 knots. You never know what you’re going to get.” — Hannah Mills – 420 and 470 World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist
“Sailing is the closest I can get to nature – it’s adrenaline, fear, a constant challenge and learning experience, an adventure into the unknown. And of course there is nothing better than wearing the same T-shirt for days and not brushing my hair for weeks.” — Daria Werbowy – Ukrainian-Canadian model
“Capsizes kind of go hand in hand with 49er racing. I’ve had four to five capsizes in races and still won the event. It’s just the nature of this type of sailing.” — Nathan Outteridge – 420, 49er and Moth World Champion, and Olympic Gold Medalist
“There is no trophy for the team that sails the most.” — Jimmy Spithill – youngest ever winner of the America’s Cup
 “Sailing became one of the mainstreams of my life. I suppose my father was an influence. I remember seeing a photo of him at home sailing a big boat to Bermuda in his 20s. I still have it.” — David Crosby – American singer
“It is always hard when people say you are a dead cert to win; you try to tell them that is not the case, but they don’t listen. I started sailing in Cornwall as an 8-year-old in a duffle coat and wellies (British Wellington boots) and now I’m standing here. You never know what can happen.” — Sir Ben Ainslie – Laser and Finn World Champion
 “You can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” — Christopher Columbus
 “When I’m not surfing or sailing, I am to be found at the harbour working on my boat.” — Laura Dekker – Dutch sailor, completed World solo circumnavigation at age 16
“Sailing unties the knots in my mind.” — Al Noble
“Sailing is just the bottom line, like adding up the score in bridge. My real interest is in the tremendous game of life.” — Dennis Conner – 4 times America’s Cup winner
“To win a medal here you have to be a complete sailor, you have to be able to sail in a wide range of conditions.” — Robert Scheidt – Laser World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist

Have you got any better sailing quotes? What’s your favorite? Please share in the comments section below…

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About Brendan

Brendan has over 30 years experience sailing dinghies, yachts, and windsurfers, but has recently started Laser sailing. "I found it difficult to find all the information that I needed when I started sailing my Laser, and I am sure that others have had the same problem. So I combined all the information I could into this website to help other Laser sailors get the most out of this sport. If you have any questions or comments, let me know... I will get back to you as soon as I can."

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12 Best Catamaran Sailboats

Best Catamaran Sailboats | Life of Sailing

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

December 28, 2023

The appeal of the catamaran sailboats in terms of speed , stability, and the ability to embark on long-range cruising has made them hugely popular with today's sailors. But what are the best catamaran sailboats?

Even though catamaran sailboats have become increasingly popular in the last few years, they have a truly rich legacy as one of the most sought after vessels for bluewater cruising.

Thanks to their incredibly wide beams and bigger daft, catamarans have become remarkably favorable for sailors looking to go for long-distance voyages, overnight cruising, and day sailing.

And if space is paramount for you when out there on the water, a catamaran sailboat is the only way to go as they offer extraordinary space to allow you to spend more time on the water with friends and family.

But even with all these amazing features, you're probably still wondering; what are the best catamaran sailboats?

Like their monohull counterparts, choosing the best catamaran sailboat can be quite overwhelming since there are lots of them out there. They come in a wide variety of designs and sizes ranging from small catamarans to huge ones.

The best catamaran sailboats can easily clock 250-mile voyages, offer incredible performance, and have layouts that can be easily optimized for individuals, charter markets, and great accommodation. In essence, the best catamaran sailboats offer respectable performance and offer good load-carrying ability.

That being said, here are some of the best catamaran sailboats that you can get your hands on.

Table of contents

Best Catamarans

{{boat-info="/boats/manta-42"}}

Even though many multihulls are no longer built in the United States these days, the Manta 42 is a true American-built catamaran that brings good living and good value into one package. Designed cleverly for easy handling, this American built catamaran is a great choice for a liveaboard cruiser for sailors looking to go for long-distance voyages. Thanks to its trademark high bows and an enormously curved incorporated forward crossbeam, this catamaran is easily recognizable even from a distance.

It is designed with a uniquely fixed crossbeam, which is very different from conventional aluminum cross beams that support the tension of the forestay. This fixed crossbeam allows for a little bit of movement thereby helping in absorbing enormous twisting forces of the bows. As such, you have to keep in mind that there may be resultant stress crack particularly in the bow area of the vessel.

All in all, the Manta 42 is a superb offshore cruising catamaran that offers a good sail-area-to-displacement ratio as well as plenty of space and accommodation. The cockpit area is refined, luxurious, and is designed with additional stainless pushpit contraptions to help in holding objects such as wind vanes, dinghies, and solar panels. The boat's quality in terms of performance and stability is the benchmark of what a catamaran should be.

Fountaine Pajot Elba 45

{{boat-info="/boats/fountaine-pajot-elba-45"}}

Recently named the "Boat of the Year" for 2019 by Cruising World Magazine and Sail Magazine, the Elba 45 is the latest model in the incredible line of Fountaine Pajot catamarans. This boat was designed to replace the outgoing Helia 44 and stands to be one of the most popular catamarans with Fountain Pajot having sold over 100 Elba 45 hulls long before even the first one emerged from production.

This French-built cat brings to the fore a well-thought-out, safe, and dependable features with 10% less drag, efficient motoring, top-notch performance, and high speeds. It's also designed with fixed stub keels and slightly aft-raked bows, which are all essential in enhancing windward performance; something that most catamarans struggle with.

To improve on safety, the keels of this amazing catamaran sailboat are glued into a particularly designed recess in the hulls. This is to ensure that there are no keel bolts that can rip out and put the boat in danger if the boat gets grounded or in the event of a collision. The rig is also ICW friendly and is a true representation of a standard catamaran setup.

This is, without a doubt, a modern-looking cruising catamaran that has a low-profile lounging space on its deck, high topsides and bows as well as a more pronounced reverse sheer that's essential in minimizing the bulk of the windows while creating additional and useful volume below. This is a true catamaran that occupies a sweet spot for those looking to sail along the bay or for those adventurous sailors looking to set sail for more ambitious offshore cruising plans.

{{boat-info="/boats/leopard-48"}}

With its fine design, straightforward systems, and easy handling, the Leopard 48 has everything it needs to be ranked among the distinguished category of the best catamaran sailboats. This is an excellent multihull that is structured with advanced materials, designs, and innovations that are meant to be fun, spacious, and comfortable.

Designed in South Africa by Simonis-Voogd, is probably the best design in the Leopard family of catamarans. Its two hulls are vacuum-bagged using balsa core to offer maximum firmness while ensuring that the weight is on the minimum. This is done by articulately regulating the level of resin in the layup. With such types of hull shapes, this catamaran sailboat is very fast and can consistently clock 12 knots of speed against the currents.

The boat is also designed with shallow keels as they're filled with closed-cell polyurethane foam that's of great importance in increasing buoyancy and preventing water ingress. To enhance the safety of the vessel, the stern and bow both have bulkheads that are essential in keeping out that water if the sailboat is involved in a collision.

The hulls of this boat are deep and narrow, particularly below the waterline. They also curve higher up to practically reduce the wetted surface area while offering enough deck space and plenty of room for accommodations. Its cockpit is another excellent feature thanks to its lavish spaces that give you the chance of kicking back and relaxing.

This boat is designed to offer superior livability, quick and easy to handle features, as well as enough space for friends and family. It is designed with beautiful lines and immense practicality for those who want to go on long cruising voyages.

Antares 44i

While many people often believe that voluminous cruising catamarans should be used as charter boats, the Antares 44i brings a very different perspective altogether. Designed in Argentina as a complete bluewater catamaran, this is a boat that's specifically built for private boat owners looking for a sturdy and well-equipped bluewater cruiser. This is an absolutely gorgeous catamaran that has a fully-equipped cockpit just to ensure that you can safely operate it even when shorthanded.

Like most catamarans, the Antares 44i is designed with features that allow for long-distance voyages. It comes with a minimum bridge deck clearance of 30 inches, which is essential in mitigating bridge deck slap. The helm station is designed to offer excellent visibility over the coach roof without having to perch the helmsman high above the cockpit.

If you're planning to make those long-distance cruising to exotic places, you'll appreciate this boat's layout. The galley is put down in the port hull so that it doesn't compromise the size of the galley and the saloon. The forward-facing navigation station is up there with the best and is up to offshore standards. And that's not all; the Antares 44i comes with good mounting points for electronics, a large table, comfortable seats, and provides brilliant visibility outside.

This boat is perfectly suited for extended offshore cruising and is a great reminder for anyone who thinks that all catamarans are charter boats and all offshore boats are monohulls.

{{boat-info="/boats/dolphin-ocema-42"}}

Designed by Philipe Pouvreau in northern Brazil, the Dolphin Ocema 42 is a truly unique catamaran sailboat that goes against the conventional norm of catamarans. It is equipped with daggerboards, which are essential in enabling it to point higher on the wind while reducing the wetted surface when running or anchoring in shallow surfaces. This, however, requires a higher level of expertise in sailing. This is because lifting the daggerboards higher up will expose the rudders while the daggerboards can also interfere with the hulls in the event that the vessel runs aground.

But even with that, the Dolphin 42 balances incredible performance and cruising comfort in a very compact package; something that is not very easy in bluewater cruising. That's why it's designed using a foam core to make it lightweight by reducing weight wherever possible. This vessel will most likely never let you down if you want to circumnavigate the bluewater on a high-performance boat that is safe and comfortable.

So if you've been looking for a real sailing catamaran that doubles up as a very comfortable liveaboard sailboat , look no further than the Dolphin 42.

{{boat-info="/boats/catana-50"}}

Regarded as the best built and most stylish cruising multihull, the Catana 50 is a very huge catamaran sailboat. Measuring about 50 feet long with a beam of about 26 feet, this is an amazing catamaran that will test your sailing skills as a single sailor or if you're planning to sail shorthanded.

This boat is designed with a rig that gives you the option of using either a screecher or a self-tending jib. This may seem complex since the sheets are led to winches near each wheel while all other controls lead to a centerline winch that's located in the cockpit. But even with that, this sailboat can be easily tacked once on the course.

This is a real performance-oriented catamaran with efficient hulls and rigs allowing for top speed. This vessel is also designed with a long waterline and a subtle underwater shape at the bow to help in increasing volume while minimizing wave drag. The stern platforms can help in stretching the waterline length while also providing easy access from a dock or a dinghy. The board trunks are also very strong and sturdy to protect the integrity of the hulls if a collision occurs.

In essence, this is a very modern catamaran that's designed to safely make long-distance passages with ease. It is subdued in terms of styling but this doesn't mean that it falls short as far as performance is concerned.

Atlantic 42

{{boat-info="/boats/atlantic-42"}}

Designed in 1993, the A42 has cultivated a legion of fiercely loyal fans thanks to its efficiency and aesthetic. This is the smallest of the Atlantic cruising catamaran line and is hugely popular with sailors thanks to its ease of handling, ocean-going capabilities, and superb use of space. From the forward cockpit, pilothouse to the sleeping cabins, and brilliant galleys everything about this cat is a true classic.

Unlike most catamarans, the Atlantic 42 is designed with a waist-high cockpit that's located forward of the pilothouse just behind the mast. It brings forth a solid construction thanks to the large metal girder-like bearers that run across the bulkheads. This helps the vessel in having the utmost strength, better air circulation under the engine, and a high level of flexibility as far as the size of the engine and its positioning is concerned.

Initially, the boat's style and its outlook were considered conservative but it soon became clear that it is built of high-quality materials and to last. The internal construction of the boat is impressive, to say the least. The exterior looks very beautiful and perhaps much more beautiful than most boats today. Its large aft cabin accommodation is a top drawer while the space separating en suite heads and shower compartments are considered a bonus.

{{boat-info="/boats/fountaine-pajot-bahia-46"}}

If you were to board the French-built Fountaine Pajot Bahia 46, you'll agree that the high-quality of workmanship, layout, and efficient use of space is quite exciting, to say the least. This cat remains very popular among sailors thanks to its easy handling features and incredible performance under the sails. Well, this may not come as a surprise to many of us given that the Fountain Pajot is known for building some of the most remarkable cruising catamarans out there that it can be quite overwhelming to narrow down to a single vessel, but the Bahia 46 simply stands out.

This vessel is designed with hulls that are broader than those of many other catamarans. It's also designed with centerboards and daggerboards that are meant to enhance its performance. These are essential in minimizing draft while ensuring reliability, generous bilge, and in helping to protect the rudders and propellers.

This boat is big enough to manage any type of serious offshore sailing. This is one of the best cruising catamarans for anyone looking for the right vessel for long-distance sailing. This vessel has a very more generous rig than most cruising catamarans, which is essential in enhancing its performance. The six-post Bimini is very strong and clean and can perfectly hold dinghies.

In terms of its look, the Bahia 36 is designed with gorgeous lines with the deck and hulls sculpted with lines that add a touch of elegance to the overall look of an already excellent catamaran sailboat.

Gemini 105MC

{{boat-info="/boats/gemini-105mc"}}

Whether you're looking for a comfortable catamaran vessel to take you for a weekend sailing trip or a long sabbatical vacation on the oceans, the Gemini 105MC is a very satisfactory liveaboard catamaran vessel that offers spacious accommodation, thoughtful design, and a stable cruising platform for anyone who wants to have some good time on the water.

Designed by the legendary Tony Smith, this is somewhat a sailing cottage. Like a land cottage, it is cozy, comfortable, and very safe. This is essentially a 35 feet catamaran that offers great value for any sailing looking for a reasonably-priced catamaran sailboat for the weekend or holiday cruising.

This boat is designed with incredibly slim hulls, which are teardrop-shaped with flat bottoms and smaller wetted surface area. This is to ensure that drag is minimized and to lead to more leeway under sail. Each of the boat's hull is designed with a kick-up centerboard is of great importance in enhancing the vessel's windward pointing capability. This boat also has its rudders raised to enable it to seamlessly cruise in shallow waters where most vessels would otherwise run aground.

The eccentric narrow beam, which measures about 40% of the boat's length, is very different from today's 50%. However, its low center helps in keeping its stable, upright, and of course, safe.

Lagoon 450 F

{{boat-info="/boats/lagoon-450-f"}}

If you're looking for a catamaran sailboat that offers prestige at its peak, look no further than the Lagoon 450. This cat is widely known for offering an all-around comfort without compromising its beauty, spaciousness, class, and elegance. This is an elaborate French catamaran that brings to the table fantastic craftsmanship while leaving nothing to chance.

This is a very safe 45 feet catamaran that's not just comfortable but also very luxurious. The deck layout is centered on an amazing flybridge, which has been redesigned and redefined to offer both the traditional and modern outlook. You can very easily access the bridge, engine controls, steering station in a matter of seconds. As a result, this boat is efficiently designed to give you the ultimate control of almost every situation while on the water.

The spacious and luxurious interior of this boat is worth experiencing. The cabins and saloons are perfectly lit. We're talking about four to six cabins, eight to twelve berths, and up to four bathrooms. In essence, this boat can comfortably sleep eight to twelve people. This boat is designed to offer ultra-modern accommodations and amenities that come with little but amazing touches; all designed to make your life inside the catamaran enjoyable.

{{boat-info="/boats/gunboat-62"}}

An original performance catamaran cruiser from the iconic Gunboat manufacturer, the Gunboat 62 has truly cemented its place as one of the best catamaran sailboats to ever grace the oceans. Honestly speaking, this cat-inspired a whole range of other incredible boats including HH66 Catamaran and the Balance 526.

This is a boat that can perform admirably well in storms with a speed of over 35 knots despite being built using epoxy and E-glass with carbon-fiber structural components. It's designed with a distinct angular outline than most catamaran sailboats of its size and category. This is a vessel that was built for people looking to add more stuff and more gear for their voyages. In other words, you can have all the gear and equipment on this boat and still outperform a racing monohull of the same size.

Thanks to its lightweight feature, this vessel can sail upwind at speeds of over 17 knots and pinch up to 30 degrees. Just for comparison, the Gunboat 62 can tack through 95 degrees and still outperform the best racing monohulls. This boat is designed with a comfortable helm seat that offers 360-degree visibility as well as plenty of storage space, a functional working surface, and a luxurious cabin. Like many performance catamarans, the Gunboat 62 can attain about 20 knots if the conditions are right.

Privilege 615

{{boat-info="/boats/privilege-615"}}

Combining elegance, comfort, and style, the Privilege 615 is a lovely catamaran sailboat that seems to be always ready for a long offshore voyage. The roots of this incredible cat can be traced back to the 1980s when Philippe Jeantot opened up a boat-building company in France. As one of the best productions from the company, the privilege 615 sports a flybridge that comes complete with twin wheels, a sprawling sunbed, and other excellent features that will make your bluewater cruising a breeze.

Whether you want the charter version or a privately-owned version, the Privilege 615 is one of the most versatile catamaran sailboats. Step inside this vessel and you'll instantly notice the quality of the wood finish and the elegance of design. The advanced navigation station is not only ultra-modern but is perfectly stationed at a dedicated corner where you can control everything while still having a conversation with your friends and family.

This boat comes with multiple sleeping configurations to ensure that you and your guests can live aboard the boat for months on end. Although the boat appears like some sort of maze on the inside, you'll easily get used to it when you enter the forward section. That's not all; this boat has gorgeous lines that make the exterior beautiful just like the interior. Its sleek profile, incredible volume, and versatile interior make it one of the best catamaran sailboats out there.

There you have it; these are the best catamaran sailboats out there. It doesn't matter the one you choose, these cats will make your day out on the water and will serve you just right for your offshore voyages or for day sailing along the bays.

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I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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Best Cruising Catamarans

  • By Cruising World Editors
  • Updated: July 1, 2021

multihulls

Cruising catamarans have been around for decades, but early models—often plywood and fiberglass vessels built by their owners from plans and kits, kept the boats on the fringes of mainstream sailing. That all changed, though, as big roomy cats were discovered by sailors who went off to charter in the Caribbean, where the multihulls proved their worth as comfortable liveaboard and party boats.

Today’s bluewater catamarans roam the globe, carrying families to exotic destinations across the Pacific and beyond. Just as with their monohull cousins, there is no best catamaran. Instead there is a wide variety of designs, ranging from small catamarans that offer the ease of maintenance a couple might enjoy to performance catamarans capable of easily knocking off 250-mile days. Today, the best catamaran brands offer a range of size models and layouts that can be optimized for an owner sailing with family and friends, or for the charter market, where there’s a demand for four, five and even six cabins worth of accommodations.

The most prolific catamaran manufacturers are in France and South Africa where yards include both large-run production builders and niche companies building fewer than 10 boats a year.

The best cruising catamarans offer good load-carrying ability and respectable performance. As with any sailboat , a modern catamaran’s design is a result of compromises. Daggerboards or keels? Galley up or galley down? Spacious owner’s cabin or extra bunks? There are lots of options to choose from—and that’s what makes looking at these sailboats fun!

Here, then is an eclectic A to Z list of some of the best catamarans that have helped shaped the evolution of how we live and sail on two hulls.

Antares 44i

Antares 44i catamaran

Now built in Argentina as a full-fledged, bluewater catamaran and cruiser that can be safely operated by a shorthanded couple or family crew, the Antares 44i features a fully covered cockpit with a quartet of big, standard solar panels recessed within the hardtop, one example of a yacht capable of long-range passagemaking.

Atlantic 42

Atlantic 42 Catamaran

Almost 30 years ago, yacht designer Chris White revolutionized catamaran design with the first in his series of Atlantic cats, the primary feature of which was the innovative mid-ship sailing cockpit forward of the main cabin. The smallest in the Atlantic line, the 42 remains White’s most popular design ever.

Bahia 46 catamaran

Fountaine-Pajot has built so many outstanding cruising catamarans that it’s difficult to narrow down any single boat, but we’ve always been fans of the good-looking, well-thought-out Bahia 46. At 46 feet, the boat is large enough for offshore forays and has plenty of volume; with its simple but powerful sail plan, it’s also an excellent performer.

Catana 471 catamarans

Beginning around 1996, the French builder Catana was one of the first companies to manufacture fully found cruising cats for private ownership, and this Christophe Barreau design, which enjoyed a nearly 10-year production run from 1997-2006, was emblematic of this first generation of safe, fun, long-legged offshore voyagers.

Click here to see more cats from Catana.

Catana 50 catamaran

When it comes to speed, light boats are fast ones. And if you wish to save weight, that means exotic modern materials like carbon. Catana now infuses the laminates of their entire production line with carbon fiber, and for this list, we’ve chosen the Catana 50 Carbon, one of the zippiest cats now crossing oceans.

Click here to read about a couple’s charter aboard a Catana 50.

Gemini 105M

Gemini 105M catamaran

Pioneering catamaran sailor, builder and designer Tony Smith launched the first of his 33-foot Gemini 105M’s (10.5 meters = 33′) in 1993, and soon after found a ready and willing stream of sailors enamored of the boat’s compact size, affordable price tag, and such innovations as the nifty lifting rudder and transom steps.

Click here to read about the Gemini Legacy 35.

Gunboat 62 catamaran

Built between 2000-2005, the Gunboat 62 firmly established the Gunboat brand: go-anywhere cats that applied race-boat technology to a world-cruising platform. Hull no. 1, Tribe, was built for company founder Peter Johnstone, who then spent a year-and-a-half cruising with his family, smiling all the way.

Kronos 45 catamaran

French builder Henri Wauquiez is best known for his long career building monohulls, but the Kronos 45 cat, which he launched in 1992, was ahead of her time. Classic lines, the aft “targa bar” over the cockpit, the louvered coach roof windows, even the distinctive stripes on her hull: the Kronos 45 remains timeless.

Lagoon 380 catamaran

No roundup of cruising cats would be complete without several Lagoon entries, and the best of that impressive bunch might well be the Lagoon 380. Originally launched in 1999, and revered for its combination of quality, volume and performance, with over 740 boats built the 380 is still going strong.

Lagoon 440 catamaran

Launched five years after the breakthrough 380, the Lagoon 440 was an evolutionary design that featured a raised flybridge helm station, a unique “gullwing” configuration below the bridge deck, expanded windows in the hull and much more. With 400 boats built in a 6-year production run, the 440 was an unqualified success.

Lagoon 620 catamaran

How big can a production cat, still operable by a short-handed crew, really be? The builders at Lagoon discovered that 62-feet hit a sweet spot in the marketplace, and have sold over 70 boats since its introduction in 2010. The centerpiece of this design is the sensational steering station atop the flybridge, with expansive views of the sea and sky.

Click here to see more cats from Lagoon.

Leopard 40 catamaran

With an unmatched pedigree – designed by premier multihull naval architects Gino Morelli and Pete Melvin, built by the prestigious Robertson & Caine boatyard in South Africa, and commissioned by chartering giant The Moorings – the Leopard 40 was, perhaps unsurprisingly, Cruising World ’s Import Boat of the Year in 2005.

Louisiane 37

Louisiane 37 catamaran

Based on the famous French racing cat Charente-Maritime, the Louisiane 37, designed by Joubert/Nivelt and launched by builder Fountaine-Pajot in 1983, was a light, fast liveaboard cruiser with full accommodations that represented a radical departure from the hefty British cats that preceded it.

Maine Cat 30

Maine Cat 30 catamaran

One of the more versatile and clever cats ever created, the central feature of the cool Maine Cat 30 is the open bridge deck/living room sandwiched between the hulls and canopied by a rigid, permanent hard top (the comfortable accommodations/ staterooms are stationed in the hulls). Ideal for a winter in the Bahamas but with the ability to sail offshore, it’s a boat for all seasons and reasons.

Manta 42 catamaran

Built in Florida and beloved by the owners of the over 120 boats built during the company’s existence from 1993 to 2009, the Manta Catamarans range included 38-, 40- and 44-foot cats. For this exercise, however, we’re heralding the original Manta 42, which won the Best Value Overall prize in CW’s 2001 Boat of the Year contest.

Moorings 4800/Leopard 48

Leopard 48 catamaran

Another Leopard/Moorings collaboration built by the wizards at Robertson & Caine (though this boat was designed by fellow South African Alex Simonis), the Leopard 48 was another CW Boat of the Year winner with all the contemporary bells and whistles: forward cockpit, flybridge helm station and solid hardtop dodger, just to name a few.

Click here to read more about the Leopard 48, and click here to see more images.

Nautitech 441

Nautitech 441 catmaran

The Best Multihull Under 45 Feet: So said the CW judging panel in the 2013 Boat of the Year competition, regarding the Nautitech 441. But what makes this versatile platform so intriguing are the different helm set-ups. The 441 employs a single wheel, to starboard, ideal for solo sailors, while the 442 has a pair of helm stations aft.

Click here to see more Nautitech Catamarans.

Outremer 5X

Catamaran

A state-of-the-art all-oceans cat that exemplifies how far multihull design has come, the 59-foot Outremer 5X was a winner on both sides of the Atlantic, taking top honors in the European Boat of the Year competition in 2013, and following up as the Best Full-Size Multihull in CW ’s contest a year later.

Click here to see more cats from Outremer.

St. Francis 50

St. Francis 50

The flagship of the proud St. Francis line – built in South Africa since 1990 to designs by local legends Lavranos Marine Design – the St. Francis 50 is another “luxury cat” that shares much in common with an earlier 48-foot sister-ship, but packs even more payload into its roomier lines.

Click here to read more about the St. Francis 50

Seawind 1000

Seawind 1000 catamaran

Founded by Aussie surfer and sailor Richard Ward in 1982, the 33-foot Seawind 1000 is easily the most popular cruising cat ever built in Australia (the company has since moved its manufacturing and management operations to Vietnam). Roomy and airy, these cats dot the coastline of eastern Oz.

Seawind 1160

1160 catamaran

If the Seawind 1000 was a minimalist approach to cruising cats, the 38-foot Seawind 1160 is the flip side of the coin, a full-fledged long-range voyager. Among the reasons it was named CW ’s Most Innovative boat for 2007 is the unique “tri-folding” door that stashes overhead to open up the saloon and cockpit into a spacious living area.

Click here to read more about the Seawind 1160.

Sunsail 384

Sunsail 384 catamaran

Every sailboat is a compromise, and in the case of the Sunsail 384 (also sold privately as the Leopard 38) that’s a good thing, because designers Morrelli & Melvin and builder Robertson and Caine got the balance just right with this relatively small catamaran. With four cabins, the 384 can carry the same size bareboat charter crowd as her larger siblings, but does so with a decided bounce in her step. Named CW’s Import Boat of the Year in 2010, you can gauge the success of the design by the grins on the crew as they barrel down Sir Francis Drake channel in the British Virgin Islands.

Victoria 67

Victoria 67 catamaran

The French design office of Berret Racoupeau drafted the lines of Fountaine-Pajot’s new flagship, introduced in 2013, a magnificent world-girdling voyaging catamaran. Like other giant cats launched in recent years, the boat features a sensational upper deck with all sail controls, helm and lounging stations.

Click here to see more images of the Victoria 67.

Wharram Tanaroa

Wharram catamaran

No list of influential multihulls would be complete without the work of James Wharram, and while Tangaroa wasn’t a production cat by any means, it showcases the British designer’s respect for ancient Polynesian craft. Wharram sailed this 23-foot-6-inch “double-hulled canoe” across the Atlantic in the 1950s, and sold countless plans for similar boats for decades afterwards.

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Carpe Diem OUR Way Travel

50+ Perfect Boat Captions for Instagram

Posted on Published: 2023-04-24  - Last updated: 2023-07-02

Is there anything better than a day out on a boat? Maybe it is a relaxing sailboat in Santorini, or a lake day with a wakeboard. Perhaps it is your first cruise, or your last cruise or a paddle in your favorite spot. There is just something special about being out on the water. One of my favorite days was in the water in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam . I could have spent a week cruising the beautiful islands and enjoying the view from the deck. Whatever brought you here, you will find the most comprehensive list of boat captions for Instagram! I have put together over 50 boat captions, from inspirational quotes to short messages to help you find the perfect caption for your boat photos.

No two days out on a boat are the same and every boat photo deserves its own special captions. Whether canoe, cruise ship, speed boat, dive boat, kayak, junk boat, fishing trawler, catamaran, sail boat, or ferry, if it is a vessel that floats, you can a boat quote here!

Boat captions for instagram.

Catchy Boat Captions for Instagram

Worry less, paddle more.

Some people are boat people. I am one of those people.

Breathe in the salty air.

Let the sea set you free.

A bad day boating is better than a good day working.

You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy a boat and that is kinda the same thing.

The ocean is everything I want to be. Beautiful, mysterious, wild, and free.

Time wasted at the lake is time well wasted.

Isn’t life just better on a boat?

Be alone with the sea for it is there you will find answers to questions you didn’t realize exist. – Khang Kijarro Nguyen

Let your dreams set sail.

If your ship doesn’t come in, swim out to meet it.

At sea, I learned how little a person needs, which is not much

Life is at ease with a lake breeze.

People don’t take trips. Trips take people. – John Steinbeck

Happiness comes in waves.

The ocean has always been a salve to my soul. – Jimmy Buffett

Cruising is my best therapy.

Everyday at sea is a good day.

Time wasted at the lake is time well wasted.

More Perfect Boat Captions

I work to support my cruising addiction

I’m on cruise time.

Find a beautiful place to drop your anchor.

I left my heart in so many ports.

Just another day in paradise.

Born to cruise forced to work.

Good times and tan lines are a given at the lake.

Life is better on a boat.

Life is simple, Add some water.

Decks, docks, and flip flops.

There’s nothing quite like the sound of your sails flapping in the wind and the waves underneath you.

You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy a kayak and that is kinda the same thing.

Living the lake life.

RELATED: Lake captions for Instagram

Mermaid to be in the sea.

I don’t need therapy, I just need a boat.

A ship could be safe on land, but that’s not what ships were built for.

I wanted freedom, open air, and adventure. I found it on the sea.

Be the bigger boat

Land was created as a place for boats to visit.

RELATED: Lighthouse captions

boat quotes people dont take trips trips take people.

Funny Boat Captions

Looking for something funny? Below you will find some funny boat puns as well as other boat captions that will give you a good chuckle.

What happens at the lake stays at the lake.

A bad day on the boat is better than a good day anywhere else.

Good things come to those who bait.

Born to fish, forced to work.

Q. Why are pirates really cool? A. Because they ARRRRRRRRGGGGHHHH!

Sea you later.

This week I don’t give a ship

I need a good paddling.

I like big boats and I cannot lie.

Whatever floats your boat.

Ferry impressive

Q: What do you call waiting 5 hours to catch a fish? A: Quick!

Q: How much does it cost for a pirate to pierce his ears? A: A Buccaneer! (a buck an ear)

instagram captions land was created as a place for boats to visit.

Short Boat Quotes for Instagram

Short captions are very popular. They get the message across quickly. Below you will find a bunch of short boat captions for Instagram.

Life is better at the lake.

Bon voyage.

On cruise mode

Gone boating.

Boat hair, don’t care.

I cannot not sail.

Take a bow.

All I need is some vitamin sea.

RELATED: Vacation captions for your Instagram photos.

Adventure of a lifetime

Life is better on the water

I hope these catchy boating captions have given you plenty of ideas for your photos. You can use these quotes on Instagram, Facebook, or when making photo books to share your memories. You can also check out these camping captions if you are enjoying the water outside your camp site. You may also want to have a read of these popular  vacation quotes  and airplane captions as well as relatable  quotes about traveling with family !

Lindsay Nieminen hails from Vancouver, Canada and shares her love of travel on this website. She is passionate about showing others that they should not put off traveling the world just because they have young children or are single parents. She aims to encourage them to seek out adventure, whether it is at home or abroad by providing information on how just about everywhere can be a destination to explore as a family.

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catamaran sailing quotes

Catamaran Insurance: Reported Costs, and What Impacts!

catamaran sailing quotes

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Calculating the costs of your catamaran involves considering more than just the purchase price. You also have to consider maintenance, marina costs and the insurance fees of your boat, which can be hefty, especially for larger vessels. So what are the catamaran insurance costs, and how do they differ with the size of your boat?

The standard insurance cost for most sailing catamarans is 1.5% of its value. However, this rate can go as high as 3% or more. Some factors that influence cost include sailing area, length and age of the catamaran, surveyor’s findings.

In this article, I will discuss the various insurance costs for different- sized catamarans , providing examples of how much you would need to pay for some popular catamarans. I will also discuss the insurance costs associated with charter use, ocean crossings, and private use in different parts of the world. 

Table of Contents

How Much Are Catamaran Insurance Costs?

A Lagoon 380 Catamaran valued at $399 000 will cost between $6000 and $12 000 per year considering that insurance costs are between 1.5% to 3% of the value of the boat. 

On average, therefore, insurance costs will be approximately 2% of your catamaran’s value. Unless your catamaran has a negative past loss experience or you are sailing in a limited market or politically restricted zones, your cost of insurance should be roughly 1.5% of the cost of your catamaran. 

These costs also vary by supply, location, and demand.

The table below summarizes the insurance costs you would expect based on the value of your catamaran. 

Summary of expected insurance costs at 1.5% and 3%

As shown in the table above, owners of a Lagoon 380 can expect to pay between $5,997.36 and $11,994.72. The latter figure considers the higher limit for insurance costs and the former the lower limit. 

As evident from the above table, the cost of insurance will be significantly affected by the value or the price of the catamaran.

As explained by Yacht International , catamaran owners may sometimes enjoy a premium of only 1.2% if the value of the catamaran exceeds $500,000. Accordingly, you may pay lower fees in terms of insurance when your boat is valued over this price. 

Other factors such as your relationship with the insurer may also lower the insurance premium rates.  

Ultimately, the insurance cost will vary across different underwriters and will be affected by factors such as the age and condition of the boat and the specific areas you want to sail in.

For second-hand catamarans, the percentage for insurance will be based on the survey-assessed value.

Other Factors That Influence Catamaran Insurance Cost

It is vital to pay keen attention to ensure that the insurance also covers ocean crossings, storms, and more. Below, I will discuss how this insurance may vary across ocean crossings, charter use, and private use worldwide.

Ocean Crossings

Based on cost or surveyor-finding, the standard 1.5% to 3% of the catamaran’s value will apply for catamarans insured for ocean crossings. However, you will be required to pay a one-time crossing fee. For instance, the Pacific Ocean crossings require a one-time fee of $500 to $1,000 .

You, therefore, have to consider this figure when computing your total insurance fees.

Charter Use

Catamarans under charter use are generally covered under a fleet policy . This policy tends to have better rates as compared to ocean crossings and private use , but this rate will vary from company to company. On average, this rate will fall between 1.5% and 3% of the boat’s value. 

Private Use

The annual premium for private catamaran use ranges from 1.5% to 2% of the boat’s declared value. Like charter use and ocean crossings, this will vary across underwriters and regions. With insurance, it is most often worth to seek out several quotes to get the best possible rate. 

Regional Differences

The regional differences play a major part in a catamaran’s insurance cost, primarily due to the risks associated with hurricanes and other natural disasters. 

There are four main regions insurers consider when setting their premiums and the impact this may have on your insurance costs. They include:

  • California and pacific islands 
  • Mediterranean regions
  • Hurricane zones
  • Non-hurricane zones

I’ll look at each of these a little closer down below. 

California and Pacific Islands vs. the Mediterranean Region

The insurance rates in California and the Pacific Islands region are higher than the insurance rates and costs in the Mediterranean region.

While you may expect to pay approximately 1% of your catamaran’s value in insurance costs for the Mediterranean region, this rate doubles for the California and Pacific Islands region.

Hurricane Zone

Your navigation area will play a significant role in the cost of insurance, especially when you sail through the hurricane zone during the hurricane season. This includes the areas south of the Florida and Georgia border, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean.

The hurricane season starts from 1st of june to the 1st of November, during which insurance rates will be significantly higher.

Insurance for navigation areas will generally have higher rates than non-hurricane areas. It is important to note that you may also pay higher rates if you intend to sail in areas prone to strong winds.

Out of the Hurricane Zone

Unlike the hurricane zones, areas falling outside the hurricane zone will have lower insurance costs than those in the hurricane zone. This is especially true for the North of Florida, where insurance costs for catamarans can fall below 1% of your catamaran’s value. 

As a rule of thumb, it is essential to discuss with the underwriter your navigation area for more information on what changes it may have on your insurance premiums. 

The cost of insuring your Catamaran averages at about 2% of your catamaran’s value. The main factors affecting your insurance costs include the price or value of your catamaran, its age and condition, and your navigation area.

Areas with limited coverage or areas prone to storms or strong winds will generally attract higher rates as compared to non-hurricane areas. Therefore, it is essential to discuss your navigation area with your insurance broker to ensure that you are adequately covered wherever you decide to sail.

  • Aeroyacht: Catamaran Insurance
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  • The Wayward Home: How Much Does a Sailboat Cost? Examples and Buying Tips
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  • Discover Boating: Boat Insurance Guide: Costs
  • Boating Geeks: How Much is Boat Insurance in California?

Owner of CatamaranFreedom.com. A minimalist that has lived in a caravan in Sweden, 35ft Monohull in the Bahamas, and right now in his self-built Van. He just started the next adventure, to circumnavigate the world on a Catamaran!

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catamaran sailing quotes

catamaran sailing quotes

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Between a Sailboat or Catamaran for Your Sailing Adventures

C hoosing between a sailboat and a catamaran for your sailing adventures is a significant decision that depends on various factors, including your sailing preferences, experience level, budget, and intended use. Here's an ultimate guide to help you make an informed decision:

1. Sailing Experience:

  • Sailboats: Typically require more skill and experience to handle, especially in adverse weather conditions. Ideal for sailors who enjoy the traditional feel of sailing and are willing to invest time in learning and mastering the art.
  • Catamarans: Easier to handle, making them suitable for beginners. The dual-hull design provides stability, reducing the learning curve for those new to sailing.

2. Space and Comfort:

  • Sailboats: Generally have a narrower beam and less living space. However, some sailboats may offer comfortable cabins and amenities.
  • Catamarans: Wider beam creates more living space. Catamarans often have multiple cabins, spacious saloons, and expansive deck areas, providing a more comfortable living experience.

3. Stability:

  • Sailboats: Monohulls can heel (lean) while sailing, which some sailors enjoy for the thrill but can be discomforting for others.
  • Catamarans: Greater stability due to the dual hulls, providing a more level sailing experience. Reduced heeling makes catamarans suitable for those prone to seasickness.

4. Performance:

  • Sailboats: Known for their upwind performance and ability to sail close to the wind. Some sailors appreciate the challenge of optimizing sail trim for efficiency.
  • Catamarans: Faster on a reach and downwind due to their wide beam. However, they may not point as high into the wind as monohulls.
  • Sailboats: Typically have a deeper draft, limiting access to shallow anchorages and requiring deeper marina berths.
  • Catamarans: Shallow draft allows access to shallower waters and secluded anchorages, providing more flexibility in cruising destinations.
  • Sailboats: Generally more affordable upfront, with a wide range of options available to fit different budgets.
  • Catamarans: Often more expensive upfront due to their size and design. However, maintenance costs may be comparable or even lower in some cases.

7. Mooring and Docking:

  • Sailboats: Easier to find slips and moorings in marinas designed for monohulls.
  • Catamarans: Require wider slips and may have limited availability in certain marinas, especially in crowded anchorages.

8. Intended Use:

  • Sailboats: Ideal for traditional sailors who enjoy the art of sailing, racing enthusiasts, or those on a tighter budget.
  • Catamarans: Suited for those prioritizing comfort, stability, and spacious living areas, especially for long-term cruising and chartering.

9. Resale Value:

  • Sailboats: Generally have a more established resale market, with a wider range of buyers.
  • Catamarans: Growing in popularity, and well-maintained catamarans often retain their value.

10. Personal Preference:

  • Consider your personal preferences, the type of sailing you plan to do, and the kind of lifestyle you want aboard your vessel.

In conclusion, both sailboats and catamarans have their advantages and disadvantages. Your decision should be based on your individual preferences, experience level, budget, and intended use. If possible, charter both types of vessels to experience firsthand how they handle and to help make a more informed decision based on your own preferences and needs.

The post The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Between a Sailboat or Catamaran for Your Sailing Adventures appeared first on Things That Make People Go Aww .

Choosing between a sailboat and a catamaran for your sailing adventures is a significant decision that depends on various factors, including your sailing preferences, experience level, budget, and intended use. Here's an ultimate guide to help you make an informed decision: 1. Sailing Experience: 2. Space and Comfort: 3. Stability: 4. Performance: 5. Draft: 6....

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  6. chennai port sailing schedule

COMMENTS

  1. 81 Best Sailing Quotes & Captions. Stuff Boaters Really Say

    81 best sailing quotes which do speak to our salty hearts. In the sea of witty sayings, these verses truly touch us and we find them to be, ah, so true! ... Catamaran vs Monohull: Let's Solve This (we Lived on Both). The Cost of Living on a Boat for our Family of Five. 14. Land was created to provide a place for boats to visit."

  2. 75+ Best Sailing Quotes for Your Inner Sailor

    10. "A bad day sailing is 100 times better than a good day at work.". — Unknown. 11. "Hark, now hear the sailors cry, smell the sea, and feel the sky let your soul and spirit fly, into the mystic.". — Van Morrison, Northern Irish Singer & Songwriter. 12. "It's out there at sea that you are really yourself.".

  3. 75 of the Most Epic and Inspirational Sailing Quotes

    The most comprehensive collection of awesome sailing and yachting quotes. You don't have to be a sailor to find inspiration from these insightful quotes from veteran sailors, authors, poets, celebrities, sports heroes, businessmen, and world travelers. Includes 75 Instagrammable and Pinnable images.

  4. Sailing Quotes: 50+ Sayings About the Ocean

    The Joys of Sailing Quotes. "Seas were meant to be sailed by those with salt in their veins, and love in their heart.". ― Anthony T.Hincks. "I wanted freedom, open air, adventure. I found it on the sea.". ― Alain Gerbault. "Sailing unties the knots in my mind.".

  5. The Voyage of Words: 80 Quotes about Sailing

    Teamwork and Leadership in Sailing. "No matter how big the sea may be, sometimes two ships meet.". - Charles Dickens. "A rising tide lifts all boats.". - John F. Kennedy. "Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.". - Ryunosuke Satoro. "The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change ...

  6. 12 Sailing Quotes and Their Origin!

    Here are 12 sailing-related quotes and common nautical phrases and their backgrounds: "To reach port, we must sail. Sail, not tie at anchor. Sail, not drift.". - President Franklin Delano Rosevelt, April 14th, 1938. "Your servant still doth have twelve warships under his command and he is still alive, that the enemy shall never be safe ...

  7. The 74 Best Sailing Quotes

    Discover.". "Sailors, with their built-in sense of order, service and discipline, should really be running the world.". "The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.". "A bad day sailing is 100 times better than a good day at work.".

  8. Sailor's anthem: Nautical quotes and sayings that set sail

    Quotes of the sea: Capturing the essence of sailing. "A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor." - Franklin D. Roosevelt. "The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails." - William Arthur Ward.

  9. The 79 Most Inspiring Sailing Quotes

    22 "Land was created to provide a place for boats to visit.". Brooks Atkinson. 23. "There is nothing more enticing, disenchanting, and enslaving than the life at sea.". Joseph Conrad, Polish-British Writer. 24. "Flying might not be all plain sailing, but the fun of it is worth the price.".

  10. Best Sailing Quotes of all time

    1- Mariners and Sailing Quotes from famous sailors. "You do not ask a tame seagull why it needs to disappear from time to time toward the open sea.". Bernard Moitessier - Famous Sailor and adventurer- Circumnavigator in The Long Way (published in 1971) Bernard Moitessier Sailboat is named Joshua.

  11. Pearls of Wisdom: 20 Most Inspirational Sailing Quotes

    Chris Robb (ChrisRobb) "Calm sailing does not come from calm waters, it comes from a good navigator, a good crew and a good ship." Anthony T. Hinks (AnthonyT. Hincks) Yachting in the works of famous artists: "Argenteuil Series" by Monet, Renoir and Caillebotte. "Out there in the sea, you are really yourself.".

  12. Sailing Quotes and Phrases

    Sailing quotes for those who need a little bit of inspiration. "They that go down to the sea in ships, and occupy their business in great waters; these men see the works of the Lord; and His wonders in the deep.". - Book of Common Prayer. "A bad day sailing is 100 times better than a good day at work.". - Anonymous.

  13. Sailing quotes, proverbs, slogans and jokes

    Sailing quotes, proverbs and slogans inspirations. A bad day sailing is 100 times better than a good day at work. Worldwild Sailing Proverbs. ... We also propose catamaran trip to cross the Panamanian border and reach Colombia. More than 10 years experience in San-Blas and 20 years experience sailing. Change Currency. USD . USD ;

  14. Boat Sayings

    The wind in my sails, the freedom in my heart. A boat is a love affair with the sea. A boat is a companion for life. Every day is an adventure on a boat. Sail away with me. A boat is a dream come true. The water is my happy place. Life is better in flip-flops on a boat. A boat is a floating paradise.

  15. Captain Sayings: Inspirational Quotes and Wisdom from Sea Captains

    In every ship, there's a captain, a compass, a course. First, master your ship! I'm the captain of my ship and the master of my soul. Calm seas never made a skilled captain, brace yourselves, mates! Unfurl the sails, let's ride the sea's wild rails! Navigate, Motivate, Sail past Hate! Adventures call, anchors aweigh, my ship never stalls!

  16. Cool Sailing Quotes

    The sleep brings dreams of home.". — Christopher Columbus. "The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.". — William Arthur Ward - Author, educator, and motivational speaker. "A bad day sailing is better than a good day at work.". — unknown.

  17. 12 Best Catamaran Sailboats

    Gunboat 62. gunboat_catamarans. An original performance catamaran cruiser from the iconic Gunboat manufacturer, the Gunboat 62 has truly cemented its place as one of the best catamaran sailboats to ever grace the oceans. Honestly speaking, this cat-inspired a whole range of other incredible boats including HH66 Catamaran and the Balance 526.

  18. Fun Thread

    Posts: 154. Re: Fun Thread - Best Sailing Quotes. "A man who is not afraid of the sea will soon be drowned." said the old fisherman from the Blasket Islands. "But we do be afraid of the sea...and we do only be drowned now and again." Irish playwright J.M.Synge. Had this taped over my chart table for years.

  19. Best Cruising Catamarans, Sailing Catamaran Brands

    Gemini 105M Courtesy of Gemini Catamarans. Pioneering catamaran sailor, builder and designer Tony Smith launched the first of his 33-foot Gemini 105M's (10.5 meters = 33′) in 1993, and soon after found a ready and willing stream of sailors enamored of the boat's compact size, affordable price tag, and such innovations as the nifty lifting rudder and transom steps.

  20. 50+ Perfect Boat Captions for Instagram

    I have put together over 50 boat captions, from inspirational quotes to short messages to help you find the perfect caption for your boat photos. No two days out on a boat are the same and every boat photo deserves its own special captions. Whether canoe, cruise ship, speed boat, dive boat, kayak, junk boat, fishing trawler, catamaran, sail ...

  21. 100 Yacht Captions That Will Float Your Boat

    Here are some of our favorite yacht captions. Eat. Sleep. Yacht. Repeat. What happens on the yacht stays on the yacht. Long weekends and living the yacht life. Good vibes on the high and low tides. The water may be salt, but this is the sweetest life.

  22. Catamaran Insurance: Reported Costs, and What Impacts!

    A Lagoon 380 Catamaran valued at $399 000 will cost between $6000 and $12 000 per year considering that insurance costs are between 1.5% to 3% of the value of the boat. On average, therefore, insurance costs will be approximately 2% of your catamaran's value. Unless your catamaran has a negative past loss experience or you are sailing in a ...

  23. Sail Catamaran boats for sale

    Catamaran sailing vessels for sale on YachtWorld are listed for a range of prices from $54,161 on the relatively moderate end all the way up to $6,826,164 for the most unique, one-of-a-kind yachts. Catamaran By Condition. Used Catamaran 1,333 listings . New Catamaran 474 listings .

  24. The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Between a Sailboat or Catamaran ...

    Catamarans: Greater stability due to the dual hulls, providing a more level sailing experience. Reduced heeling makes catamarans suitable for those prone to seasickness.