Although the island’s plush West-Coast marinas at Port Ferdinand and Port St Charles see plenty of sleek mega-yachts and sailboats, it’s also possible to try your hand at sailing a much smaller boat.

Set Sail Barbados, based at the Barbados Cruising Club in Carlisle Bay is the obvious place to start. They run sailing camps for kids during school holidays (generally July–Aug, and around Christmas) and also two-hour lessons for beginners, so you can pick up the basics of handling a small dinghy.

If you already know what you’re doing, you can take a boat out for yourself and sail around the bay. Alternatively, you can pay for someone to sail you round the bay for a while. Non-sailing members of your group can watch proceedings from the comfort of the rooftop terrace at Skipper’s on the Beach, at the nearby Cruising Club, or a sun-lounger on the sand.

Other watersports operators along the west and south coasts also rent out Hobie Cats (small catamarans), with someone to captain the boat if you need. Free use of a Hobie Cat is also included in some all-inclusive hotel packages.

Practical Info

Set Sail Barbados 1 246 2579885. Sailing tuition US$120pp for a 2hr lesson; sailboat rental US$60 per hour.