Sailing yacht charter. Quiet passages, lunch under way and a turn at the wheel if you like.
For people who want the sea rather than a floating hotel. The same standard of crew and cabin as a motor yacht, with quieter passages and a different rhythm to the days.
Why sail
A different kind of day
A crewed sailing yacht is run exactly like a motor yacht. A captain, a chef, stewards and deckhands, a preference sheet before you arrive and a cabin turned down each evening. What changes is the shape of the day. Passages are slower and quieter, lunch happens under way rather than at anchor, and the crew will ask whether you would like to take the wheel.
It suits people who find a big motor yacht too much, families who want their children doing something rather than watching a screen, and anyone who has sailed before and misses it. It suits a group in a hurry rather less. If your week is a list of ports to be seen, say so early and we will show you motor yachts instead.
The choices
Kinds of sailing yacht
| Type | What it is | What it is like on board | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modern cruising sloop | One mast, a large mainsail and a furling headsail, handled mostly by winches and push buttons. | The widest choice on the charter market. Generous interiors, air conditioning, a proper tender and toys. | A first sailing charter, families, mixed groups |
| Ketch | A second, shorter mast behind the main one, so the sail plan is split into smaller, easier sails. | Gentler motion and less heel for the same wind. Often found on older and classic yachts. | Guests who want to sail without the lean |
| Performance yacht | Lighter, with a taller carbon rig and a deeper keel. Built to sail properly rather than to motor. | Fast and exhilarating, and she will heel. Interiors are usually cleaner and more minimal. | Experienced sailors and anyone who wants the real thing |
| Classic and vintage | Restored schooners, yawls and ketches, many of them between fifty and a hundred years old. | Varnish, brass and low ceilings. Fewer cabins for the length, and every port turns to look. | Riviera regatta weeks and a particular kind of romance |
A catamaran is the fifth option: two hulls, level decks and no heel at all. Most charter yachts of any type are licensed to sleep a maximum of twelve guests, whatever their length.
At a glance
What to expect
- GuestsUsually fewer than a motor yacht of the same lengthA hull that has to sail is narrower below. A 30 metre sailing yacht often sleeps 8 where a 30 metre motor yacht sleeps 10.
- CrewTypically 3 to 7 at 24 to 35 metresEnough to sail the yacht and look after you at the same time. Larger yachts carry a dedicated chef and more stewards.
- DraughtDeeper than a motor yachtThe keel limits which bays she can enter. Some yachts have a lifting keel, which opens up shallow anchorages.
- Time actually sailingSome days, not every dayIn the western Mediterranean in high summer the wind is often light. Expect to sail on the days it is there and motor on the days it is not.
What to ask before you commit
The questions that decide it
- How much does she heel, and does the crew reduce sail for guest comfort or sail her hard
- Is there shade on deck under way, and somewhere flat to sit when she is leaning
- Where are the cabins: below in the hull, or a deck saloon layout with light and a view
- How many crew, and does the chef also stand a watch when you are on passage
- What is the tender, and can you still water ski and paddleboard when the yacht is at anchor
- Will the captain teach anyone who wants to learn, including the children
Where sailing yachts are at their best
Cruising grounds
Western Mediterranean
Italy, Greece and beyond
The part most charters leave to you
From your front door to the passerelle
Sailing yachts often start from quieter harbours than the big motor yachts do, which makes the journey there worth planning properly. We arrange the aircraft, the helicopter if it saves an afternoon and the cars at both ends, on the same itinerary and through the same person.
Request a proposal
Tell us who is coming
Dates, guests, where you would like to be, and whether anyone on board has sailed before. We reply with a shortlist and the full cost of each. Nothing is booked or charged online.
Prefer to talk? +44 2030 048300 or WhatsApp, at any hour.
Questions people ask
About sailing charters
Do we need any sailing experience?
None at all. The yacht is sailed by her professional crew. If you would like to learn, say so and we will choose a captain who enjoys teaching.
Will it lean over?
A monohull heels when she sails. How much depends on the yacht and on how hard the crew choose to sail her. If anyone in the party would find that uncomfortable, a ketch, a larger yacht or a catamaran is the answer.
Is a sailing yacht less expensive than a motor yacht?
Usually the running costs are lower, because fuel is by far the largest variable in a charter and a sailing yacht burns a fraction of what a fast motor yacht does. The charter fee itself depends on the yacht, not on how she is driven. See charter costs.
Can we charter for a regatta?
Yes, and it is one of the best weeks of the year on the Riviera, when the classic fleets gather in late September. Yachts that race are booked a long way ahead, so ask early.
What if the wind does not blow?
You motor, and you have an excellent lunch. Every charter sailing yacht has engines and the captain plans the week around the forecast.
