“Great Lakes Bike Ski Boat is reader supported. We may make a small commission at no extra cost to you should you make a purchase through links from this site. We get nothing if you don't like what we recommend and return it. Learn more”

The 10 Best Sailing-Related TV Shows Ever Made

by

Sailing has always been underrepresented on television. Boats are expensive to film, weather is unpredictable, and seamanship doesn’t always fit neatly into modern storytelling. Still, a handful of shows have managed to put sailing — real sailing — at the heart of their stories. These series don’t just use ships as props; they make the sea, the wind, and the boat itself essential characters.

Here are the 10 best sailing-related TV shows, ranked from least good to absolute best, for anyone who loves life on the water.

10. To the Ends of the Earth (2005)

Aired: 2005
Network: BBC Two (UK)

This BBC miniseries is based on William Golding’s trilogy and follows a group of passengers sailing from England to Australia in the early 19th century. The story unfolds almost entirely aboard a cramped sailing ship, capturing the rigid class structure, social tension, and emotional strain of a months-long ocean passage. It’s slow, deliberate, and deeply character-driven.

What makes To the Ends of the Earth stand out is its authenticity. The ship feels oppressive, dirty, and exhausting — exactly how long sea voyages were before engines and modern comforts. While it lacks the action of pirate battles or Viking raids, it succeeds by portraying sailing as endurance rather than adventure, which makes it quietly powerful.

Get To the Ends of The Earth on Amazon

9. Howards’ Way (1985–1990)

Aired: 1985–1990
Network: BBC One (UK)

Often described as a yachting soap opera, Howards’ Way is set in the world of yacht building, marina life, and racing along England’s south coast. The show follows the Howard family and their involvement in the marine industry, blending business drama with personal relationships and competitive sailing.

While undeniably melodramatic, Howards’ Way deserves its place for something few shows ever attempted: making modern sailing culture the backdrop for a long-running TV series. Boatyards, regattas, marinas, and yacht designers are all central to the plot, giving the show a unique place in sailing television history.

8. Below Deck Sailing Yacht (2020–present)

Aired: 2020–present
Network: Bravo (USA)

A spin-off of the Below Deck franchise, this version finally puts viewers aboard an actual sailing vessel rather than a motor yacht. Set on the large performance sailing yacht Parsifal III, the show documents charter seasons in the Mediterranean, following crew members as they juggle demanding guests, tight quarters, and the challenges of sailing.

While it leans heavily into reality-TV drama, Below Deck Sailing Yacht earns respect for showing real sail handling, heel, wind conditions, and the physical demands of running a sailing yacht. For many viewers, it’s the first time they’ve seen a modern sailing vessel portrayed as something other than a background prop.

The first few seasons of this show are much better than the last few if you do try to watch it.

Get Below Deck Sailing Yacht on Amazon

7. One Piece (1999–present)

Aired: 1999–present
Network: Fuji TV (Japan)

At first glance, One Piece might seem like an odd choice — an anime about pirates with supernatural powers. But at its core, this long-running series is fundamentally about sailing. Crews, ships, navigation, ports, ocean routes, storms, and life at sea are constant themes across hundreds of episodes.

What makes One Piece special is how it treats ships as characters. Each vessel has a personality, history, and emotional weight. While wildly fantastical, the show captures the spirit of sailing adventure better than many “realistic” productions, which is why it resonates with sailors worldwide.

This was originally an anime series that runs many seasons. Netflix also adapted it into a live action show.

Get One Piece (anime) on Amazon

6. El Barco (2011–2013)

Aired: 2011–2013
Network: Antena 3 (Spain)

El Barco (“The Boat”) is one of the rare modern TV series where a sailing ship is the literal center of the story. After a global catastrophe seemingly wipes out civilization, the crew and students aboard the tall ship Estrella Polar believe they may be among the last humans alive. Survival depends entirely on seamanship, leadership, and cooperation at sea.

Though often melodramatic, El Barco excels at portraying life aboard a sailing vessel under pressure. Navigation decisions matter. Storms feel dangerous. Supplies are limited. The ship isn’t just a setting — it’s the reason the characters survive at all. For sailing fans, that alone makes it essential viewing.

Get El Barco / The Boat on Amazon

5. The Terror – Season 1 (2018)

Aired: 2018
Network: AMC (USA)

Season one of The Terror dramatizes Sir John Franklin’s doomed Arctic expedition aboard HMS Erebus and HMS Terror. Trapped in the ice, the crew faces starvation, disease, isolation, and psychological collapse. Though horror elements are added, the foundation is historical and maritime.

From a sailor’s perspective, The Terror is unforgettable. It captures the fear of being powerless against nature, the importance of leadership at sea, and the mental toll of confinement aboard ships. Even without traditional sailing action, it feels deeply nautical and emotionally authentic.

Get The Terror on Amazon

4. Der Seewolf / Sea Wolf (2009)

Aired: 2009
Network: ZDF (Germany)

This German-Canadian miniseries adapts Jack London’s The Sea-Wolf and is set almost entirely aboard a sealing schooner in the Pacific. The story revolves around the brutal Captain Wolf Larsen and the psychological battle between power, morality, and survival at sea.

What sets Der Seewolf apart is its raw depiction of shipboard life. The sea is harsh, authority is absolute, and comfort is nonexistent. Sailing is shown as labor, danger, and dominance rather than romance — a portrayal that feels refreshingly honest.

Get Sea Wolf on Amazon

3. Hornblower (1998–2003)

Aired: 1998–2003
Network: ITV (UK), A&E (USA)

Based on C.S. Forester’s novels, Hornblower follows the rise of a young Royal Navy officer during the Napoleonic Wars. Across multiple episodes and TV films, the series showcases life aboard warships, naval tactics, and leadership under sail.

For many sailors, Hornblower represents the pinnacle of age-of-sail realism on television. Seamanship, command decisions, and the brutal discipline of naval life are treated with respect and accuracy, making it required viewing for anyone fascinated by traditional sailing.

Get Hornblower on Amazon

2. Vikings & Vikings: Valhalla (2013–2021 / 2022–present)

Aired: 2013–2021 (Vikings), 2022–present (Valhalla)
Network: History Channel / Netflix

These series brought Viking longships into mainstream television like never before. Sailing is central to everything: exploration, trade, war, and cultural expansion. Rivers, open seas, and coastal landings are recurring visual and narrative elements.

While dramatized, the shows succeed in portraying seafaring as the foundation of Viking power. Ships are essential tools of survival and conquest, and without them, the entire Viking world collapses. Few shows make sailing feel as historically essential.

Get Vikings on Amazon

1. Black Sails (2014–2017)

Aired: 2014–2017
Network: Starz (USA)

Black Sails stands alone at the top. Set during the Golden Age of Piracy, the series blends historical figures with fictional characters in a story where ships, wind, navigation, and the sea shape every decision. Battles are tactical. Voyages have consequences. Ships are precious, vulnerable assets.

What elevates Black Sails above all others is its respect for sailing as both craft and culture. The show understands that control of the sea means power — and losing a ship means losing everything. No other TV series has captured the stakes, beauty, and brutality of sailing so completely.

This is one of my favorite TV shows of all time. It’s not a show to sit down and watch with the kids. It earns every bit of its mature rating.

Get Black Sails on Amazon

Final Thoughts

From tall ships and Vikings to modern charter yachts and survival at sea, these shows prove that sailing can carry powerful stories when treated seriously. While television still lacks a true series about everyday sailors on ordinary boats, these ten stand as the best examples of sailing done right on screen.

What other good sailing related shows are out there? Let us know in the comments what shows were missing.

Leave a Comment