Yachting can be one of the most fun ways to spend your holiday. It’s often the dream, where you’ll hop from port to port and island to island, sipping on a colorful cocktail, watching yet another sunset. But the yacht world is a complicated one. From simple sailboats to mega superyachts, whether you’re buying from a yacht trader or chartering through a tour company, it’s tough to know where to begin. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a guide to yachting that’ll show the ropes and provide the direction you need to get started.

What is Yachting?

Yachting is a general term. It’s often used liberally, but the actual meaning pertains to taking out a boat with a focus on leisure. It’s about comfort, exploration, and how you spend your time on the water.

It could apply to day boating, short cruises, or multi-day trips spanning entire oceans. Yachting could also mean chartering a boat or even becoming an owner via connecting with a yacht brokerage. The common denominator is that you’re boating with leisure in mind.

What are the Different Yacht Types?

Deciding to invest in a yacht for yourself means understanding the types of vessels you’ll encounter. This is just as important if you’re chartering a boat instead, because the type of boat defines the experience you’ll have.

Within the yacht world, there are plenty of ways to slice through the various vessels available today. The easiest way is by hull count. A monohull is the classic ride with a single hull and a narrow interior. In contrast, catamarans have two hulls linked by a salon.

These yachts can be further split into the traditional sailing yacht, where you’ll manually handle the boat and drift into the wind, and a power yacht, which is a yacht powered by a motor. Moreover, there are hybrid versions, such as the power catamaran or the motorsailer, where you can switch between the two and enjoy the best of both worlds.

You’ll likely notice that people refer to boats by their sizes. Here’s what that looks like in practical terms:

·  30-40 Feet – These boats consist of one or two cabins and a simple galley and head. They’re among the smallest boats and tend to be used for day and weekend trips.

·  40–55 Feet – Within this category are the boats you’d take your family and friends on. These usually consist of multiple cabins, real galleys, and other amenities designed for entertainment and comfort.

·  50–70 Feet – Fancy spreading your wings? Boats of this size contain multiple cabins, utilities for a crew, and all the features needed to sail for weeks at a time.

·  80+ Feet – Now, we’re reaching the superyacht category. Superyachts are all about luxury and contain entire crews, chefs, and formal service. Naturally, when you get into this category, you’ve essentially got a floating home you might spend an entire season in.

But what’s the answer for choosing the right yacht for you? The general rule of thumb is that the smallest boat that fits your use case and expected comfort level will give you the best balance and most enjoyment.

Should I Buy or Charter a Yacht?

No guide to yachting can be complete without discussing the advantages of buying your own yacht vs. chartering one. It’s difficult to say that one is better than the other because everybody is different.

Let’s run through both of these options and see when they make sense.

Chartering a Yacht

Chartering a yacht essentially means you’ll rent the boat for a fixed period. Most charters are run with a crew. However, if you’ve got the necessary licenses, you can opt for a bareboat charter where the yacht trader supplies the yacht and you handle everything else.

The upside is that chartering a yacht means you can sit back, relax, and let someone else deal with everything. The downside is you’ve got no equity in the trip. Moreover, you’re restricted by both availability and the charter company itself.

Owning a Yacht

Yacht ownership has been the dream for so many. Nevertheless, a permanent place for your vessel in the marina doesn’t come without its issues. For a start, you’re responsible for everything. That means you’ll need to worry about maintenance, crew upkeep, licensing, and any other bits of paperwork your home port might demand.

Of course, it’s also the more significant investment option, and it’s no secret that yachts depreciate quite quickly. Aside from that, owning a yacht gives you the unparalleled freedom to do whatever you want, and that’s priceless for so many yacht owners.

Fractional Ownership/Club Programs

An increasing number of sailing clubs now offer fractional ownership options. Essentially, you reduce your investment by buying a boat from a yacht brokerage with several other owners. The boat is managed by the collective, and you can choose which parts of the year you’d like to use it.

Essentially, it’s the middle path between the equity of ownership and the more laid-back option of chartering a boat.

The Crew: Who Does What and Where?

Crews aren’t essential for every type of vessel. Smaller boats may be piloted by the owner alone, but as you start climbing into the larger yacht categories, there are certain types of professionals you won’t be able to go without.

Here’s a breakdown of the different crew members and what they do:

• Captain/Skipper – Holds ultimate command over the boat and everyone onboard. Handles safety, navigation, routing, mooring, and compliance.
• Chef/Steward – Responsible for provisioning, housekeeping, cabins, and all food served onboard.
• Deckhand/Engineer – In charge of water toys, watches, maintenance, tenders, and lines.
• Bosun/First Mate – These are usually only found on larger yachts and sit one step below the captain in managing every other aspect of the boat.
• Purser – Again, this is a position only found on larger yachts and as part of flotillas. They coordinate the accounts, vendors, and logistics.

Generally, when you’re dealing with a vessel of 50 feet or less, many owner-operators will choose to go without a crew if they’ve already got sailing experience. Beyond this, the size of the crew and the number of positions expand as it becomes too difficult to manage all the moving parts of a successful trip.

How to Learn to Drive a Yacht

If you’d rather pilot your own boat, how do you learn how to drive a yacht? Like learning to drive a car, the answer is to take a course. There are so many organisations offering sailing and yachting courses, whether you’re working with a motor yacht or a traditional sailing boat.

The advantages of taking a course include:

• Structured learningTime with experienced instructor
• Hands-on experience
• Formal certifications

Always do your research when looking up different courses. Better yet, speak to anyone you know within the yacht world and ask them for any recommendations for organisations or instructors who can help you find your sea legs.

Of course, your beginner’s course is only the beginning. Piloting a yacht requires practice. The more time you spend at the helm, the more confident and comfortable you’ll become. After your course, it’s vital to practice.

Start small. If you’re entirely new to yachting, start with a smaller boat, as these are easier to handle. Pay special attention to docking, as this is often the part that beginners struggle with. Try not to take your yacht out in challenging conditions at this stage, as safety should always come first.

If you’re already part of a local yachting club or community, this is ideal because you can also benefit from supervision as you embark upon your first few voyages in the real world.

Enter the World of Yachting Today

This guide to yachting is designed to provide you with a basic overview of different vessels, crew members, and how to pilot a yacht. Despite how straightforward it can be to own your own vessel and take to the waters of the Mediterranean and beyond, it takes a lifetime to master yachting.

Are you ready to enter the yachting world for the first time?

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