Sailing superyacht charters cost €15,000–€180,000+ ($16,000–$194,000+) per week. APA is 25–30% — lower than motor yachts. Silent passages, shallow draft, no sailing experience required. Best in Greece, BVI, and the Med.
Sailing Yacht Charter — Complete Guide 2025
A sailing superyacht charter offers something a motor yacht cannot: silence. The sound of water on the hull, sails drawing, and wind in the rig — an experience that experienced charterers and sailors actively seek out. This guide covers the types of sailing yacht available, rates, APA differences, and the best destinations.
Why choose a sailing yacht over a motor yacht?
Silence under sail
No engine noise at cruising speed. The most peaceful way to cross a body of water. Arrive in anchorages without disturbing marine life.
Lower APA
25–30% vs 30–35% for motor yachts. Less fuel burned means a meaningfully lower APA budget — particularly relevant on longer charters.
Shallower draft
Sailing yachts (fin keel aside) can access shallower anchorages unreachable by deep-draft motor yachts. More privacy, more discovery.
Active experience
Take the helm if you want. Trim the sails. Learn to navigate. A sailing charter is fundamentally more engaging than a motor yacht for those who want involvement.
Better value per metre
A 45m sailing yacht typically charters for significantly less than a 45m motor yacht. You get more boat for the budget — though interior volume is smaller.
Destination range
Sailing yachts can passage safely offshore — crossing from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean, or Atlantic voyages, that most motor yachts won't attempt.
Types of sailing superyacht
Performance sailing yacht
Oyster · Swan · Baltic · Vitters
Built for sailing performance. Carbon rigs, modern hull forms, fast passages. Smaller crew (3–5). Suited to experienced sailors who want to be involved in the sailing. Less interior volume than equivalent motor yacht.
Rate: €15k–€55k/wk
APA: 25%
Classic cruising ketch
Perini Navi · Wally · Abeking & Rasmussen
Two-masted ketch or schooner rig. More deck space and stability than a sloop. Excellent for downwind trade wind passages. Perini Navi 50m+ vessels are the most sought-after in this category — the definitive Mediterranean sailing charter boat.
Rate: €30k–€100k/wk
APA: 25–30%
Luxury sailing superyacht
Royal Huisman · Alloy · Perini Navi 56m+
Custom-built flagships. Interior volumes comparable to a small motor yacht. Full crew of 8–15. Helicopters, submarines, and full water toy inventory increasingly common. The pinnacle of the sailing charter market.
Rate: €80k–€180k+/wk
APA: 28–32%
Racing / performance charter
IMOCA 60 · TP52 · Volvo Ocean Race refits
High-performance race yachts occasionally available for charter — particularly former Vendée Globe and Ocean Race vessels. Extreme performance, minimal comfort, for sailors who want the racing experience. Very niche segment.
Rate: €10k–€40k/wk
APA: 20%
Best destinations for sailing yacht charters
Greece (Ionian & Cyclades)
Reliable Meltemi wind July–August in the Cyclades. Calmer Ionian for first-timers. 6,000 islands.
British Virgin Islands
Consistent NE trade winds, flat Sir Francis Drake Channel, 60 anchorages in a compact area.
Croatia (Dalmatian Coast)
Afternoon Maestral fills in reliably. Protected channels ideal for sailing. Less wind than the Aegean.
Caribbean (Grenadines)
Trade winds 15–20kts NE throughout season. Tobago Cays, Mustique, Bequia. Spectacular sailing.
Mediterranean (general)
May–October. Combines destinations: France–Corsica–Sardinia–Sicily is a classic offshore passage.
Norway Fjords
Light winds but dramatic scenery. Explorer sailing yachts with range for Lofoten and Arctic passages.
Sailing yacht charter — FAQ
What is a sailing yacht charter?
A sailing yacht charter is a crewed holiday aboard a sailing superyacht — a vessel primarily driven by wind under sail. On a crewed charter, the captain and crew handle all sailing. You are a guest. Sailing yachts are typically quieter under sail than motor yachts, have lower fuel consumption (lower APA), and can access shallower anchorages due to their hull design.
How much does a sailing yacht charter cost?
Sailing superyacht charter rates range from €15,000 (~$16,000) per week for a 28m performance cruiser to €180,000 (~$194,000) per week for an 80m+ sailing superyacht (such as an Alloy, Perini Navi, or Royal Huisman). APA is typically 25–30% of the base rate (lower than motor yachts due to reduced fuel consumption).
Is a sailing yacht or motor yacht better for charter?
The choice depends on priorities. Sailing yachts offer silence under sail, lower fuel costs, a more active on-water experience, and access to shallow draft anchorages. Motor yachts offer more interior volume for the length, greater speed (covering more ground in a day), larger beach clubs and water toy inventory, and independence from wind. Most first-time charterers choose motor yachts; experienced sailors often prefer a sailing yacht.
Do I need sailing experience on a crewed sailing charter?
No. On a crewed sailing charter, the professional captain and crew handle all sailing. You can participate as much or as little as you wish — taking the helm, trimming sails, or simply relaxing on deck while the crew does everything. No qualifications are required or expected.
What is the largest sailing superyacht available for charter?
The largest sailing superyachts available for charter are typically 60–80m+ sloops, ketches, and schooners from builders including Perini Navi, Royal Huisman, Alloy Yachts, and Vitters. The 90m Sailing Yacht A (Nobiskrug) and similar vessels represent the pinnacle of the segment. Charter rates for the largest sailing yachts can exceed €200,000/week.