22 Sailing Movies You Must Watch In 2025
If you’re looking for sailing movies you absolutely must watch then you’ve come to the right place! Here are our top picks of the best sailing films out there to keep you dreaming of your next sailing adventure.
Adam and I have spent many a winter evening huddled together under a blanket watching sailing movie after sailing movie, and we found some great ones that we’ve watched over and over (and some awful ones too!)
I have to say that some of these might not be great ones to watch with nervous family members before you head off on any kind of voyage. They also might not be great for you to watch before embarking on a sailing adventure!
But even though we were living on a sailboat when I watched most of these, and even though I’m not the best at separating real life from fantasy, I didn’t get put off sailing. So you might be fine!
Obviously, films are a personal taste, but here are our picks of the best sailing shows out there – you’ll just have to watch them all to decide whether you agree with us or not.
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Jump To
- The best true-life sailing movies
- Adrift
- Kon Tiki
- Chasing Bubbles
- The Mercy
- Deep Water
- The Dove
- Red Dot On The Ocean
- COYOTE: The Mike Plant Story
- Escapism sailing movies
- Wind
- Moana
- White Squall
- Styx
- Captain Ron
- All Is Lost
- Open Water 2: Adrift (2006)
- Dead Calm (1989)
- The best period drama sailing films
- Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
- In The Heart Of The Sea
- The Endurance
- Sailing movies on Netflix
- True Spirit
- Maiden
- Untold: The Race Of The Century
Our Top Picks – The Best Sailing Films Out There
The Best Sailing Movies Based On True Events
These are our favourite sailing movies based on real events. Obviously, the filmmakers have had a lot of artistic license, and when you read up on what really happened it doesn’t always correlate with what you see in the film.
We still find these the most gripping films as you can imagine someone actually going through the events. Here are some of the best based on true events.
#1 Adrift
Adrift is probably my favourite sailing film of all time because I am in awe of Tami and her survival skills!
Although the movie itself rather overdramatises the events to pull on the heartstrings, it’s still a true story of Tami Oldham Ashcraft’s ordeal of sailing into a Pacific hurricane.
The boat rolls and she’s left unconscious. She wakes to a dismasting and then sails solo under a jury rig for 41 days alone to Hawaii with limited supplies.
It’s based on the book of her experience, ‘Red Sky In Mourning’, which you can get a copy of here.
I’d recommend reading the book first. I got so involved with the whole story that I read up on Tami afterward and her strength and courage through all she’s had to face in life, even after the catastrophic event, is really incredible.
✔ Get a copy of the DVD here
#2 Kon Tiki
Another of the best out there, in our opinion. The ones based on real-life events are so much more exciting!
This sailing movie is based on Norwegian explorer, Thor Heyerdahl, who crossed the Pacific Ocean in a balsa wood raft in 1947, together with five men, to prove that South Americans could have crossed the sea and settled on Polynesian islands back in pre-Columbian times.
We loved how the film was done, with the dramatic lead-up to a voyage that seemed so sure to fail, to the days the men spent at sea in a tiny floating raft. I won’t ruin the ending for you, but it’s a must-see film in our opinion!
#3 Chasing Bubbles
If you want to see what sailing the world is really like then Chasing Bubbles is the documentary for you.
Alex was a farm boy turned day trader who set off on a voyage around the world at the age of 25. He had no idea how to sail, but stuck at his adventure for 4 years and filmed it all.
This is a true real-life sailing movie. It’s gritty, and raw, and the footage is far from professional, but that’s what makes it so compelling.
I found it hard to watch in places, and it certainly didn’t have the happy ending I was hoping for, but it’s great if you want to know what life at sea is really like.
You can watch it all for free on YouTube.
#4 The Mercy
In this sailing movie Colin Firth plays Donald Crowhurst, an amateur sailor who competed in the 1968 Sunday Times Golden Globe Race in the hope of becoming the first person in history to single-handedly circumnavigate the globe without stopping.
I found this an incredible emotional watch, but it’s one of the best films about sailing out there, with some superb action shots and a great true storyline. And an all-star cast really helps too! Give this one a few hours of your time and you won’t be disappointed.
#5 Deep Water
This is a documentary of the film above and is a great watch if you enjoyed The Mercy.
This documentary-style movie uses original 16mm footage, tape recordings, and interviews, and reconstructs Donald Crowhurst’s tragic, perhaps foolish but certainly brave and determined journey to complete the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race.
It’s not always the most cheerful watch but it will certainly get you thinking!
#6 The Dove
This feel-good film tells the true story of Robin Lee Graham, a 16-year-old boy who set sail in an attempt to be the youngest person ever to complete a solo circumnavigation.
Shortly after setting sail he falls in love, and the film shows this romance blossom as she meets him at different places around the world.
There are the obvious ups and downs, and we won’t ruin the ending, but it’s a happy one and this film is uplifting compared to some in the list!
#7 Red Dot on the Ocean (2014)
The inspirational story of Matt Rutherford, a severely troubled youth, who went on to become a sailing legend.
This film shows how Matt Rutherford overcomes obstacle after obstacle in his sailing journey, until facing his biggest ever challenge. To complete a non-stop circumnavigation of the Americas, solo.
This 27,000 mile journey saw him tackling icebergs and the legendary Cape Horn, a voyage many professional sailors declared “a suicide mission.”
It’s a truly inspirational story that you’ll want to watch if you have plans for a great sailing voyage yourself!
#8 COYOTE: The Mike Plant Story
This is more of a documentary than a film but it’s definitely worth a watch if you’re looking for some sailing inspiration.
It depicts the life of the single-handed American yachtsman, Mike Plant, and focuses on his sailing career. It’s an unconventional life, full of pushing boundaries and some notable successes before his tragic death at sea in advance of the 1992 Vendée Globe.
The Best Sailing Movies For Escapism
If you’re looking to forget about life for a while and be transported to the sea then check out these shows for escapism and be transported to the wind and waves!
#9 Wind
Wind follows a sailor’s dream of winning the America’s Cup. It’s pretty cheesy to be honest, with fast boats, lots of drama, and of course a love story, but it’s a great film with some wonderful camera work – especially the sailing shots.
We really enjoyed this easy to watch classic.
✔ You can get a DVD copy here
#10 Moana
I’m not sure if you can really class this as a sailing movie, but I’m including it in this list.
Adam and I aren’t Disney fanatics, but we did really enjoy this Disney sailing movie! It’s about a girl born to sail but held back by her family, until she just goes for it anyway and has the adventure of a lifetime.
I think any sailor will appreciate the nautical themes and the adventurous spirit of this uplifting show. If you don’t find yourself singing songs from this on your next sail then you need to watch it again, on repeat, until you know all the words!
#11 White Squall
This sailing movie is based on the 1961 sinking of the schooner, Albatross, in the Gulf of Mexico. When caught in a white squall, the skipper tries to lead a bunch of school kid crew through survival tactics at sea.
I’ve got to be honest, we didn’t really enjoy the actual film production. The special effects are a little unbelievable and it’s a bit overdone.
But the actual boat is incredible and it’s an easy watch. It’s definitely one to make you dream of being out on the ocean again!
#12 Styx (2019)
This isn’t a feel good escapist sailing film like some of the others but it will have you completely absorbed for the duration!
Styx is the story of a young woman torn away from her own little sailing bubble, when she comes across a group of refugees shipwrecked at sea.
She faces many moral dilemmas out on the ocean that most of us hope never to have to face, yet here she is with some serious, life-saving decisions to make.
This is a film full of drama, and a little too much like real life. It will certainly make you think.
#13 Captain Ron (1992)
This is such a funny film and an absolute must-watch if you want to take your mind off things for a few hours and have some belly laughs.
Captain Ron is employed by a Chicago businessman who inherits a yacht, to skipper it from the Caribbean to Mexico. Captain Ron is perhaps not the most trustworthy of sailors! He wiggles his way into favour with the business man’s family, all while making a million and one sailing mistakes.
It’s a great watch and we highly recommend it!
#14 All Is Lost
I should really put a disclaimer here: I absolutely hated this film. But I know so many people who love and it is always recommended on sailing forums as one of the best sailing-related movies out there, so it has to make the list!
It’s a one-man show and starts with disaster when his sailboat is hit and begins to sink. It is an interesting look at all the mistakes you could make when stranded at sea, miles from anything.
My best guess is that they are trying to show how you don’t always do the most logical thing when in a tricky situation out there alone, but I couldn’t help but just feel incredibly frustrated!
#15 Open Water 2: Adrift (2006)
This is a bit of a silly story plot but I still found I wanted to watch to the end. When six friends head out for a sailing trip and jump in a calm ocean, none of them expect to be stranded in the ocean with no way of boarding their boat again.
You watch the excitement turn to terror as they realise they are lost at sea with no way to get back to safety.
#16 Dead Calm (1989)
This psychological thriller has an all-star cast and a big reputation.
It tells of an Australian couple who take to sea to find solitude after the death of their son. They find a lone sailor who is the only survivor of a sinking ship, and he joins them on their yacht.
Obviously that’s a super simplified version and we’d recommend you give it a watch for yourself. It’s a little over-dramatised, but then aren’t all the best escapism movies!?
The Best Period Drama Sailing Movies
I love a good period drama, and throw in a set of sails and I’m happy for the evening! Here are my top choices.
#17 Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
We actually watched this in Pilos, the site of a huge sea battle, in a super calm anchorage surrounded by castle ruins and twinkling distant town lights. Maybe that had something to do with how much we enjoyed it – though I doubt it!
This critically-acclaimed film was nominated for 10 Oscars and won for best cinematography and sound editing. We could see why! It stars Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany. It was based on a series of novels by the author Patrick O’Brian.
The sailing movie is set during the Napoleonic wars and dramatises the story of an arrogant captain attempting to capture a French warship.
Obviously, there are some tense battle scenes that will keep you on the edge of your seat, but some of the real highlights of this sailing show are the depictions of friendships formed on the high seas, and the tough decisions that needed to be made in times of war.
#18 In The Heart Of The Sea
Starring Chris Hemsworth, this period drama sailing film is based on the great novel Moby Dick. This film goes into more detail than the novel, and explores the real-life events that inspired its writing. With the recent orca attacks on sailing boats in the Mediterranean, this film has even more relevance.
In the winter of 1820, a New England whaling ship was attacked by a gigantic whale with a thirst for revenge. This movie delves into the aftermath left by the whale and the unthinkable decisions the crew had to make to survive.
#19 The Endurance
This is a retelling of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s tragic expedition to Antarctica in 1914-1916. It’s fascinating because it features new footage of the actual locations and interviews with surviving relatives of key expedition members.
You’ll also hear archived audio interviews with expedition members, and get to see footage from the trip.
The Best Sailing Movies On Netflix
There aren’t many sailing movies out on Netflix, though we’re pretty sure this will change in time. We’ve added a few you can watch in the meantime.
#20 True Spirit
It’s no wonder True Spirit took the world by storm when it was released on Netflix. It’s based on the true story of Jessica Watson, who aimed to be the youngest person to sail non-stop around the world.
It’s seriously tense in places but it has such a feel-good nature that we couldn’t tear ourselves away. Seriously, what an incredible girl to have endured so much and come through smiling. It’s the perfect sailing film to get you itching to go out for a sail!
#21 Maiden
This sailing movie is the true story of Tracy Edwards, a 26-year-old female skipper who led the first-ever all-women crew to compete in the Whitbread Round the world race. We really loved this film.
She was awarded the 1990 Yachtsman of the year award – the first woman to have ever received the award. It’s an inspiring story of perseverance in the face of adversity and a must-see for any sailors – especially women!
You can get your copy here or watch it on Netflix.
#22 Untold. The Race Of The Century
This isn’t actually a film, it’s a documentary, but you can watch as though it is a film and get totally absorbed in the action.
‘Untold’ is the story of the Australia II’s historic victory at the 1983 America’s Cup. The crew tell the story of their absolute commitment to winning the race, and every step they took to get them there.
It’s really well put together and gripping from the start, with lots of great sailing footage. This one is definitely worth a watch!
Conclusion: The Best Sailing Movies
So there you have it, our pick of the best sailing films and documentaries out there for you to enjoy sailing vicariously!
Hopefully, that’s enough to lift your spirits until the next time you can make it out on the open waters and create sailing movie adventures of your own!
you missed a big one. Mutiny on the Bounty. i enjoy all three versions.