The best cruising grounds for a day yacht combine short, sheltered hops with clear water and good harbours. Our favourites are Mallorca, the Côte d'Azur, Croatia, the Greek islands, Biscayne Bay and the Florida Keys, and the Dutch and Belgian waters close to our yard. A 13.5 m weekender with a 0.79 m draught, like the AZUR 45HT, suits all of them, because it gets close to shore where deeper boats have to stay out.

What makes a good day yacht cruising ground

A day yacht or weekender is used differently from a long-range cruiser. You leave in the morning, anchor for lunch, swim, and return to a harbour or a quiet bay in the evening. Sometimes you stay aboard for a night or two.

The ideal area therefore offers:

• Short distances between beaches, towns and anchorages.
• Shelter from the prevailing wind, so there is always a calm side.
• Shallow, clear water for swimming and anchoring close in.
• Good marinas for fuel, provisions and a dinner ashore.

Why the AZUR 45HT suits these waters

Shallow draught

At 0.79 m, the AZUR 45HT draws remarkably little for a 13.5 m yacht. That opens up sandy bays, lagoons and channels that many boats of this length avoid. Always check your charts and local depths, but the margin is generous.

CE category B

Category B covers offshore conditions up to wind force 8 and significant wave heights up to 4 m. That gives real confidence on open crossings, such as from Mallorca to Menorca or between Greek islands, while the yacht stays a practical size for marinas.

Speed and comfort

Twin Volvo Penta IPS engines give 30+ knots, depending on the engines chosen. The hard chine aluminium hull, a low noise level, two cabins with 2 m standing headroom and a fuel capacity of 1,240 l make longer days and weekends aboard easy. Ask the yard for the expected range at your preferred cruising speed.

Built for life on deck

Sun beds aft and on the bow, a shaded lounge with a foldable dining table, an outdoor galley with BBQ grill and induction cooker, an electric swim ladder and a full-size outdoor shower. Everything you need for a day at anchor is on board.

Mallorca and the Balearics

Mallorca is one of the most rewarding day yacht areas in the Mediterranean. The Bay of Palma offers marinas and beach clubs within easy reach, while the south and east coasts are lined with calas: narrow coves with turquoise water and sandy bottoms.

A shallow draught helps here, because the best spots in a cala are often close to the beach. Menorca and Ibiza are within reach on a calm day for an open crossing. The yard will put you in touch and advise on the location.

The Côte d'Azur

From Cannes to Monaco, the French Riviera is made for short hops. The Îles de Lérins lie just off Cannes and are a classic lunch anchorage. Further west, Saint-Tropez and its bays are a natural destination for a day out.

Our team was at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2026 on 10 and 11 September for private meetings. For a sea trial in the Mediterranean, contact the yard and we will advise on the nearest location.

Croatia

The Dalmatian coast has more than a thousand islands, which makes Croatia ideal for a weekender. Distances are short, there are bays on every side of every island, and the water is famously clear. Areas such as the Kornati islands, Hvar and the islands around Split reward an owner who likes to explore.

The yard can advise on arranging a sea trial there.

The Greek islands

Greece offers variety: the sheltered Ionian Sea in the west, the Saronic Gulf close to Athens, and the Cyclades for those who want open water. In the Cyclades, the summer meltemi wind can blow hard, so a CE category B yacht with a confident hull is a real advantage on crossings.

The yard can advise on arranging a sea trial there.

Biscayne Bay and the Florida Keys

Biscayne Bay, right in front of Miami, is shallow, wide and sheltered. Further south, the Florida Keys stretch into a chain of islands with flats, sandbars and some of the clearest water in the United States. This is exactly where a draught of 0.79 m makes a difference, because large parts of these waters are too shallow for many yachts of this size.

Sea trials in Florida can be arranged through them.

Dutch and Belgian waters near the yard

Our yard is in Heusden, on the river Maas, in the south of the Netherlands. From here, the rivers and the delta of Zeeland are within reach. The Oosterschelde, the Veerse Meer and the Grevelingen offer sheltered water, sandbanks and charming harbour towns, with tidal water where a shallow draught is useful.

Further south lies the Belgian coast with its marinas, and to the north the IJsselmeer and the Wadden Sea, where tides and shallow channels again favour a modest draught.

A sea trial at the yard is the simplest way to experience the yacht. You see where it is built, meet the team and take it out on the water.

Overview