Making the Most of a Remarkable Sailing Destination: The Society Islands

For many travellers, expectations are shaped by brochures and online itineraries. The reality however, is more nuanced. Distances, weather windows and the rhythms of island life all play a role. Without prior experience it is easy to plan an itinerary that looks appealing on paper but feels rushed or disconnected in practice.

My first visit to the region was shaped by exactly the kind of guidance that makes all the difference. I joined a trip led by well-known New Zealand yachtswoman Penny Whiting MBE, who spent winters chartering yachts in the Society Islands after running her sailing school in New Zealand. Her approach was simple, refined through years of experience, and highly effective.

The preferred format with a mixed group of paying clients was a seven-night itinerary focused on the Raiatea and Taha’a lagoon and across to Bora Bora, the passage timed for when conditions were best. If the charter was exclusive to a group of friends, Penny would plan a longer stay but the pace remained the same. It was not about covering distance for its own sake, but about ensuring each day delivered something memorable without being rushed.

Later, returning with my own family for ten days, I took a different route. We explored Huahine, the southern reaches of Raiatea and the lagoons of Taha’a. We didn’t get to Bora Bora yet our young family lacked for nothing. Everyone was having fun without the downsides of a long sail. 

The passages between islands that are against the wind, while relatively short, are open to the ocean. The swell itself is rarely an issue, but when wind builds waves, conditions can become uncomfortable. The crossing between Raiatea and Huahine in particular can be challenging in the wrong weather, while the return from Bora Bora, though shorter, still requires careful timing.

Itinerary structure matters. A one-way option ending in Bora Bora, or at the very least planning that leg around a favourable weather window, can significantly improve the overall experience.

Great trips though they were, what both of these Society Islands charters lacked was the added value of local connections. Spending time ashore, understanding the culture and engaging with island life adds a dimension that goes well beyond sailing itself. Interactions are much easier with local knowledge on board, and that’s where a locally-hired skipper or crew comes in.

With all that in context, we suggest three main ways to approach a one-week charter in the Society Islands.

Bareboat Charter

For experienced sailors, a bareboat charter offers complete independence. However it also requires disciplined planning.

Attempting to visit Raiatea, Taha’a, Huahine and Bora Bora all within seven days is technically possible. It is not, however, a plan I would recommend if the goal is an enjoyable and relaxing holiday. It risks instead becoming a boat delivery exercise. .

A more considered approach is to:

• Spend the early part of the trip within the sheltered Taha’a lagoon, becoming familiar with the boat and the environment
• Monitor weather patterns closely and time any open-water passages accordingly
• Treat Bora Bora as a highlight, not an obligation
• Navigation is generally straightforward: good visibility with passages being line of sight. The simple rule around the lagoons applies: turquoise water indicates safe anchoring, deep blue means depth, and brown signals coral hazards to be avoided.

Bora Bora itself has controlled anchoring areas with moorings provided, often linked to restaurants ashore. Taha’a offers a more relaxed environment, with pearl farms and small restaurants providing courtesy moorings.

Above all, a successful bareboat experience depends on good onboard organisation. Sharing responsibilities and setting expectations early ensures the boat remains an enjoyable space for everyone.

Bareboat with Skipper

Adding a local skipper transforms the experience in ways that are often underestimated.

While you provide your hired skipper a cabin and meals, the return you get is significant. A good skipper brings not only sailing expertise, but also local access: to produce, lesser-known anchorages, authentic dining experiences and cultural insights that would otherwise be easily missed.

Importantly with a hired skipper, the charter remains yours to manage. You can still take part in sailing, helming and daily decision-making, but with the reassurance that someone with local knowledge is guiding the overall plan.

A skipper also simplifies logistics:

• Advising on which motus are privately owned and how to access them
• Arranging activities such as diving or excursions
• Adjusting the itinerary in real time based on weather and conditions

For many groups, this arrangement - your charter with professional support and good advice - strikes the ideal balance between independence and enrichment.

Fully Crewed Charter

A fully-crewed charter, whereby you are guests aboard a permanently crewed vessel, steps you up to a seamless, highly personalised experience.

From the moment you step aboard, all the provisioning, itinerary planning and daily operations are taken care of. This allows you to have greater itinerary flexibility, including one-way itineraries to Bora Bora and all downwind “champagne sailing”. You may chose, on starting out in Huahine, to break the travel with a short resort stay before transitioning to your charter for a relaxed downwind cruise. Charters who have done that commend it as a particularly rewarding option. 

French Polynesian charter boat crews are consistently outstanding. Their local knowledge, hospitality and ability to source fresh seafood and produce elevate the experience well beyond the sailing itself.

Gratuities are well received but the expectation is more modest than in the Mediterranean or Caribbean.

Bringing It All Together

The Society Islands reward those who approach them with a degree of flexibility, and an understanding of how the region works. Whether sailing independently, or with a skipper or fully crewed, the key is aligning your itinerary with both the conditions and your expectations.

Whatever option you choose, there is real value in speaking with someone who has spent time on the water there — someone who understands not just the theory, but how these itineraries play out in practice. A conversation with an experienced advisor can often be the difference between a good trip and an exceptional one.

Guidance on Pricing

For some guidance on what a South Pacific sailing vacation will cost you in 2026, refer the table below: three modern charter catamarans of different sizes with cost per person comparisons. All of these boats are available in the Society Island full bareboat, skippered bareboat or with full crew.

The prices do not include any discounts as these are set at time of booking. The vast majority of booking attract a discount, the key being to book early. 

We also compare our charter boat prices to the cost of staying in a Bora Bora resort. You can read more on that comparison here.