Réunion

Emerald lagoons, volcanic peaks and reliable trade winds make Mauritius and Réunion a striking, if underrated, sailing ground. Expect glassy-blue anchorages tucked behind coral reef, steep mountain backdrops, and passages that can be as gentle or as testing as you choose. The pair sit 120 nautical miles apart in the South-West Indian Ocean, so you can keep to lagoon-hopping day sails in Mauritius or build in a purposeful offshore hop to France’s Indian Ocean outpost of Réunion. The environment is rewarding but exacting. Reef passes demand daylight pilotage, the trades can pipe up briskly in the austral winter, and Southern Ocean swell transforms some entrances from inviting to impassable. With a sound plan, a shallow-draft catamaran and a keen eye on forecasts, you will be treated to snorkelling sanctuaries, kitesurf meccas, Creole cuisine ashore and genuinely unspoilt horizons.