The MYBA contract.
The standard charter agreement, written by the industry's trade body and used on essentially every quality charter.
What MYBA is
MYBA — the Worldwide Yachting Association (originally Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association) — is the industry trade body of charter brokers. Their standard Charter Agreement is the de facto contract for crewed yacht charters worldwide. If your broker quotes you a yacht and the contract is anything other than the MYBA Charter Agreement, ask why.
Why it matters
The MYBA agreement is balanced: it protects the owner from charterer damages and the charterer from owner non-delivery. The cancellation schedule is standardised. The APA reconciliation procedure is standardised. Disputes go to MYBA arbitration in London — not to a court in whatever flag-state the yacht happens to fly.
Clauses worth reading
- Clause 1 — Description. Vessel name, flag, length, year, guest capacity. Mismatches happen; check it matches the brochure.
- Clause 6 — Cancellation. The forfeiture schedule (covered in /charter/cancellation-insurance).
- Clause 11 — APA. How the deposit is handled and reconciled.
- Clause 20 — Force majeure. What happens if a named storm forces cancellation.
- Clause 26 — Dispute resolution. MYBA arbitration, London seat.
The broker walks you through any clause you flag. The desk reviews if you want a second opinion.