You can find sailboats available to rent in Florida and in different destinations around the world on the Nautal website. Flexible cancellation or changes up to 15 days before check in is allowed on selected boats. Check the conditions established with each boat owner. Situated in a border region of the beautiful Caribbean Sea, Florida is prime territory for unique sailing adventures. Taking in the Gulf of Mexico, the Florida Keys and North Atlantic Ocean, you can experience secluded beaches, coral barrier reefs and vibrant cities on a sailing holiday in Florida. Choosing hire for a day, a week or even longer has never been easier. Charter a sailboat in minutes with an experienced skipper. Florida offers much for both seasoned and novices.
Both bareboat charter in Florida and rental with a skipper is possible. If you are an experienced sailor and want to roam the Floridian waters freely, we recommend finding your a bareboat charter. If you aren’t a confident sailor though, or if you simply want a more relaxing holiday, it might be best to rent a sailboat with a skipper and let them take care of controlling the boat while you sit back, relax, and enjoy your trip.
Although you don’t need a sailing license for Florida as they don’t exist, Florida does require that people wishing to rent a boat of 10 horsepower or more obtain a Boating Safety Education Identity Card if they were born on or after January 1, 1988. You can obtain this card by taking a course, which can be taken either in a classroom or remotely, and costs anything up to £50 (although many of these courses are free).
Renting a sailboat in Florida costs from 420 £ per day and from 1,583 £ for a week. If you want to rent a sailboat in Florida with a skipper, you will have to add approximately 414 £ per day to your budget.
You can rent a sailing boat from most areas along the coast. However, we have a few favorites we would love to recommend to you.
Miami is one of the most popular places to rent a sailboat in Florida. There are four main locations within Miami that are simply perfect to begin your sailing experience. Miami Beach has up to 400 berths in the marina and state of the art facilities. Coconut Grove is located in the south of Miami. Downtown Miami has a smaller Marina and offers a very tranquil environment whilst still close to the Miami buzz. Fort Lauderdale is another popular place to rent a sailboat as it has an abundance of marinas with all the amenities you could ever need. Cape Coral and Fort Myers are located in the southwest of Florida.
Most sailors begin in one of Florida’s attractive main marinas. A wide variety of sailboats to rent and berth sizes can be found in Miami (downtown, beach and nearby Coconut Grove), Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Naples and Key West. From there, it’s easy sailing along the Florida coast, with the potential to explore over 30,000 lakes within the peninsula itself. In particular, sticking to the south of Florida offers a fabulous introduction to the state, with island-hopping adventures, bustling towns and cities, historic landmarks and warming waters for diving among coral reefs. Of course, your company will dictate your itinerary, and there’s plenty of options to explore - from child-friendly Orlando to the nightlife of Miami and the quieter pace of the Florida Keys.
Also, Florida is a gateway to the Gulf of Mexico, serviced by attractive port towns and marinas like Naples and Sarasota. The Gulf of Mexico is particularly popular for dolphin and whale watching. It’s also a vibrant region for fishing, with a plentitude of tarpon, tuna, marlin and redfish among other marine species.
Beginning in either the west, south or east, Florida offers many lengthy adventures as you circumnavigate Florida’s unique peninsula. You can rent a range of sailboats to rent in Florida fit any itinerary to fit a range of prices and budgets. Whether that’s relaxing off the coast of Miami with frequent excursions to the city or island hopping the Florida Keys archipelago, Florida is renowned for its crystal blue waters, calm seas and vibrant marine life. This makes it ideal for fishing excursions and world-class water sports from Tampa to Fort Lauderdale.
Wherever you decide to start your sailing adventure in Florida, you’ll be sure to have an unforgettable experience in the sunshine state with some of the world’s best marina facilities and restaurants. Most sailors will find their way to Florida’s southern point, a highlight of Florida punctuated by the stunning Florida Keys. This rich and vibrant region is the US’ gateway to the Caribbean, offering ample diving opportunities among coral reef ecosystems and warming waters. Ideal for sailing all year round, remember that the hurricane season between July and October can affect the eastern coast.
Florida is not called the ‘Sunshine State” for no reason, or you may have heard it referred to as “Sunny Florida”. Summers are long, warm and fairly humid. Minimum temperatures range from near 70 °F (21 °C) in the north, to near 80 °F (27 °C) in the Keys. High temperatures during the summer average in the lower 90s Fahrenheit statewide.
The winters are kept warm from tropical easterly winds. They range from 15 to 20 knots which are perfect for sailing. Average low temperatures in the winter can range from 65 °F (18 °C) in Key West to near 41 °F (5 °C) degrees Fahrenheit at Tallahassee, while daytime highs range from 64 °F (18 °C) at Tallahassee to 77 °F (25 °C) at Miami.
There are two main periods that are ideal for sailing in Florida, depending on what you’re after. From May until July is the perfect time to go sailing in Florida if you want to work on your tan, as the temperatures are typically very hot with a daily average high temperature of 91°F (33°C) in July. On the other hand, if you prefer cooler weather, you would probably prefer to go sailing between November and February, the peak season for winter sailing, when the temperatures are cooler (around 70°F or 21°C).
Florida has 66 airports in total opening up countless options for your travel. If you are flying in from the US directly airlines such as American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines and many have great offers all year around.
If you are on an international flight, the cheapest airports to fly to generally are Orlando, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
Miami International Airport (MIA) is only approx. 7-8 miles (11-13 km) away from Coconut Grove and Downtown Miami and 13 miles (21 km) from Miami Beach. You can get a taxi, or alternatively public transport. Miami has metrobus, metrorail and also tri-rail, so there’s plenty of public transport to go round to help reduce those CO2 emissions!