Is a Sailing HolidayCourse/Cruise Suitable for Solo Travellers?

Travelling alone does not have to mean holidaying alone. A sailing course/cruise can be an excellent choice for solo travellers because you immediately become part of a small crew, share experiences throughout the week and still have the option of your own cabin.

For anyone considering their first solo sailing trip, Canary Sail provides several options ranging from relaxed cruising to structured RYA training. Some experiences require previous sailing knowledge, while others are suitable for complete beginners, so it is important to choose the option that best matches your experience and what you want from the holiday.

You Will Not Be Arriving Alone

One of the biggest concerns for solo travellers is whether they will feel uncomfortable joining a group of people they have never met.

With a sailing holiday, that barrier tends to disappear quickly because everyone has a shared purpose from the beginning.

Canary Sail’s typical week starts on Saturday, when guests arrive at the South Tenerife base, where they meet their fellow crew members, are settled onboard and then taken for a welcome drink. Sailing then begins the following morning and continues through to Friday afternoon. A normal week includes six full days of sailing and seven nights onboard.

That shared experience naturally gives people something to talk about and do together from the outset.

You Can Have Your Own Cabin

Travelling solo does not necessarily mean sharing sleeping accommodation with someone you have just met.

Canary Sail confirms that guests can book their own cabin, subject to availability, and nobody has to share unless they choose to do so when booking.

This can be particularly reassuring for solo travellers. You can enjoy the social side of being part of the crew during the day while still having some personal space at the end of it.

For example, the Just Sailing cruise offers single-occupancy cabin options as well as other berth choices.

If you are wondering what staying onboard is actually like, our guide to What Is It Really Like to Sleep on a Sailing Yacht? explains more about cabins, facilities and everyday life aboard.

You Do Not Necessarily Need Sailing Experience

A solo sailing experience does not have to be something reserved for experienced sailors.

Canary Sail’s Just Sailing experience requires no previous knowledge. It includes six full days of local cruising with an RYA-qualified instructor, and guests can learn as much or as little as they wish.

Another option for complete beginners is the RYA Competent Crew course. Canary Sail describes this as a course for beginners, with no previous experience required.

This means you can arrive on your own and without sailing experience and still have suitable options available.

Sailing Makes Meeting People Easier

Some sailing experiences make it surprisingly difficult to meet other people, particularly if everyone is following their own itinerary.

A yacht is different.

You are spending the week with a relatively small number of people and sharing everyday experiences such as sailing between islands, arriving in new harbours, preparing for passages and spending evenings ashore.

Canary Sail keeps practical course groups small, generally with four clients plus the instructor on 36ft yachts and four or sometimes five clients plus the instructor on larger yachts.

For a solo traveller, this can provide a good balance. The group is small enough to get to know one another without the experience feeling like an organised group tour involving dozens of people.

You Can Decide How Involved You Want to Be

Not every solo traveller is looking for the same type of sailing experience.

Some want to learn as much as possible, while others primarily want an enjoyable week at sea.

The Just Sailing experience is particularly flexible. Your skipper is an RYA-qualified instructor, but there is no pressure to complete a formal course. You are part of the crew and can learn as much or as little as you want.

Those who prefer a structured qualification can instead choose from Canary Sail’s RYA practical sailing courses.

This flexibility makes sailing suitable for different personalities and different reasons for travelling alone.

Your Week Is Already Organised

Solo travel can involve a considerable amount of planning. You need to decide where to stay, what to do each day and how to get from one destination to another.

A sailing week removes much of that uncertainty.

Canary Sail’s practical courses include seven nights onboard, six days of sailing, bedding, towels and provisions for breakfast, lunch, snacks and soft drinks. Evening meals are generally taken with your crew ashore at local restaurants.

The yacht effectively becomes your accommodation and your way of exploring the islands.

That can make the experience particularly appealing to someone travelling alone who wants to partake in a sailing experience without having to organise every part of the trip independently.

You Still Get Time to Yourself

Being part of a crew does not mean that every minute needs to be spent socialising.

There are plenty of quieter moments during a sailing week. You might relax on deck during a passage, read, enjoy the scenery or spend some time in your cabin.

Once ashore, there may also be opportunities to explore a harbour or destination at your own pace.

It gives solo travellers something that can be difficult to achieve on a conventional group holiday, companionship when you want it without necessarily losing your independence.

There Are Options as Your Experience Grows

A first solo sailing experience can also lead naturally to something more.

Complete beginners might start with Just Sailing or Competent Crew before progressing through the RYA system. More experienced sailors can choose cruises involving longer passages, greater participation and opportunities to build mileage.

For example, Canary Sail’s Western Canary Islands cruise is intended for people with previous sailing experience and includes visits to La Palma, El Hierro and La Gomera, with guests taking part in helming and keeping watch.

There are also Eastern Canary Islands cruises for sailors looking for longer passages and further experience.

What If You Are Nervous About Booking Alone?

Feeling slightly apprehensive before your first solo sailing experience is completely understandable, particularly if sailing itself is also new to you.

It can help to remember that other people onboard may be arriving alone too. Once the introductions are made and everyone begins settling into the yacht, the focus quickly moves towards the week ahead.

If you are unsure which option would suit you, it is worth speaking to Canary Sail before booking. They can advise whether a cruise, Just Sailing week or RYA course best matches your previous experience and what you want from the trip.

You can also read Can I Go on a Sailing Yacht if I’ve Never Sailed Before? if sailing itself is the part you are unsure about.

Start Your Solo Sailing Adventure

A sailing experience can be particularly well suited to solo travellers. You can arrive independently but quickly become part of a small crew, enjoy your own cabin if booked, explore several destinations and choose how much you want to participate in the sailing.

Whether you want a relaxing week on the water, your first introduction to sailing or the beginning of a new qualification, there are options suitable for different levels of experience.

Explore Canary Sail’s Just Sailing experience, browse the RYA practical sailing courses or contact Canary Sail to find the most suitable sailing experience for your first solo trip.

16th September 2026 | cs_admin | Blog