How To Choose A Charter Yacht

A charter yacht is a type of boat you may rent for a high seas sailing vacation, with or without a crew. You may visit the Caribbean, the Alaskan waters, the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean, the Atlantic or the Pacific. Some of the best places to visit by sailing yachts include the Cayman Islands, the Virgin Islands, the Florida Keys, the Greek isles, the Seychelles or the Alaskan islands. The benefit of choosing a charter over your typical cruise line is that a charter allows you maximum freedom to travel wherever your heart desires, stopping and going as you please, choosing which amenities your boat has and even customizing the menu to your individual tastes. Forget the crowds. It is just you, your chosen companion(s) and the wide open seas! The first step to making this memorable vacation a reality is choosing the right boat.

A sailboat charter is a great choice if you want the ocean, the wind and the marine life to be part of your whole travel experience. Yet, it is not about getting where you are going. For you it is about the journey. You can coast leisurely during calm weather or be whisked away with the trade-winds, feeling the breeze through your hair and the mist on your face. You enjoy learning to raise the sail, ducking so you don't whack your head on the boom occasionally and coasting over the waves with natural wind power. Sail boats provide exhilarating rides and the price is right, although they may not be for everyone. When they speed up, the boat may tilt to the left a little and provide a wilder ride for novices. There is also less space on a sailing charter than what the powerboats have to offer.

You may decide that a monohull charter yacht is the ride for you. Many people are seduced by this boat based on its classy appearance alone! When you think of a mid-sized yacht, the image of the monohull power boat immediately comes to mind. The inside of these luxury boats can look just like a resort room with plush bedding, full kitchens and cozy deck seating. You can also choose a monohull sailboat, which will carry heavier loads, tack easier, go upwind better and feel more comfortable than a regular sailboat. The problem with the monohull is that you may get a hole in the hull, which means el sink-o!

A bareboat charter gives you the thrill of commanding your own charter yacht and sailing the high seas in complete privacy. You will need an Offshore Skipper Certificate or you will need to pass a test before you can just rent your boat, but ultimately you can decide upon your own route from start to finish. It is unlikely that new yachts will be given to you on this type of charter, although a used boat may do the task just fine and cost you considerably less money. Bareboats range up to 60 feet in size and are usually easy to handle. If you lack confidence on your boating skills, then you may also employ a skipper or deckhand for around $300/day.

More about charter yacht

Boats For Sale

While considering boats for sale, keep in mind you will also need marine insurance before you can get your boat out into the marina. Insurance quotes can range by as much as 200%, depending on who you call and where you live.

Yacht Brokers

In Sausalito, California, retail yacht brokers like Sandy Carney (Newport), Angela Connery (Salem) and Mary Crowley (Ocean Voyages) are looking over dozens of crewed yacht charters for just the right captains, crews, chefs and boats for their clients. These helpful concierges of the sailing charter industry are more than accommodating, suggesting calm waters for the seasick, customizing menus, redecorating boat interiors and interviewing crew members to find a good personality fit.