Sète, with its 300 days of sunshine a year, is a city of genuine character with a strong identity. It is the perfect starting point for discovering some of the most famous sites in the Languedoc-Roussillon.

Home of the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes is the birthplace of the America's Cup and hosts the oldest annual regatta, Cowes Week, during which the UK round of the Extreme Sailing Series will take place once again this year.

Located on the Southwestern shore of the Baltic Sea, Kiel is today the country's undisputed sailing capital. Founded by Adolf IV, Count of Schauenburg and Holstein, the city instantly recognised its favourable position by the sea. In Kiel Castle, the Russian Tsar Peter III, was born.

Originally, Trapani had been established as a harbour for the city of Erice, which overlooked it. Founded by the Elymians, the ancient people who inhabited the western part of Sicily between the Bronze Age and Antiquity.

Founded by Abd ar-Rahman III, Emir and Caliphe of Cordoba, in 955, Almeria was established to strengthen the region's Mediterranean defences. Built and designed around its harbour, the city has always looked to the sea and rapidly became wealthy thanks to its silk industry - on top of having a "natural" high value due to its strategic location.