Yacht Charter Glossary
Sailing Yacht
Also known as: S/Y · Sailboat · Sailing Vessel
Full explanation
Modern luxury sailing yachts are not the spartan sailboats of decades past.
A 45m sailing yacht charters with a full air-conditioned interior, owner's suite with private terrace, professional chef galley, and the same stabilisation and entertainment systems as a comparable motor yacht.
The mast and sail plan add an aesthetic and an experience - the option to cross the Aegean under canvas at 9 knots with the engines off - that no motor yacht can replicate. Sailing-yacht categories: performance sailing yachts (Wally, Baltic, Hoek) emphasise speed and sailing purity, often with smaller guest accommodation relative to length. Cruising sailing yachts (Oyster, Swan, Royal Huisman cruisers) prioritise comfort and amenity, accept lower performance. Sailing catamarans are technically sailing yachts but treated as a separate category. Sailing-yacht charter economics: weekly rates from €25,000 (28m) to €450,000+ (60m+ performance sailing yacht).
APA typically 25% - sailing reduces fuel consumption significantly.
Crew sizes similar to motor yachts of the same length. Why sailing yachts are a different product: the experience is the sailing.
A weekend at anchor on a sailing yacht with the boom hoisted and the boat heeling 10 degrees under canvas is a sensory experience absent from motor yachts.
Buyers who specifically want this experience will pay the time penalty (slower passages) for the trade.
Why it matters for UHNW charterers
Sailing yacht vs motor yacht is partly about money (sailing is cheaper) and partly about temperament. Buyers who want the sailing experience know it. Buyers who don't know they want it should be steered toward motor yachts - a forced sailing experience without preference leaves charterers grumbling about slow passages.
Worked examples
Cruising sailing yacht, 30m, 7 nights, Ionian
Charter fee: €58,000. 4 crew, 4 cabins. Average passages 30–40nm/day at 7–8 knots under canvas. Total fully loaded: ~€90,000 - 40% cheaper than equivalent motor yacht.
Performance sailing yacht, 50m, 7 nights, Cyclades
Charter fee: €260,000. 9 crew, 5 cabins. Cruise speed under sail 12–15 knots, can pass cruising motor yachts. Premium-segment sailing yachting.
Frequently asked
About sailing yacht
Do I need to know how to sail to charter a sailing yacht?
On a crewed sailing yacht, no. The professional crew handles every aspect of sailing - you can be entirely a passenger. If you want to take the helm, the captain will teach you in a few hours.
Are sailing yachts safer or less safe than motor yachts?
Equally safe under professional crewing. Sailing yachts handle heavy weather differently (more comfortable in big seas with sails balancing the boat) but both vessel types meet the same MCA safety standards above 24m.
Can a sailing yacht do an island-hopping itinerary like a motor yacht?
Yes, with slightly longer passages. Mykonos–Santorini in a motor yacht: 4 hours. Same passage in a sailing yacht at 8 knots: 9 hours. Itineraries need to compress 1–2 stops or extend the charter to give the sailing yacht equivalent coverage.
What about catamarans - are they sailing yachts?
Sailing catamarans yes - they're a sub-category. Power catamarans (engine-only) are motor yachts. The catamaran-vs-monohull distinction is separate from sailing-vs-motor.
Related terms
Other definitions worth knowing
Motor Yacht
A motor yacht is a yacht propelled entirely by engines, with no sailing capability. Motor yachts dominate th…
Catamaran
A catamaran is a twin-hulled yacht offering exceptional stability, shallow draft, and large deck areas. Mode…
Superyacht
A superyacht is any private yacht of 24 metres (78 feet) or longer. Above 50 metres the term 'megayacht' is …
Captain
The captain is the senior officer aboard a yacht - responsible for navigation, safety, crew discipline, an…
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Ready to charter in Greece?
George P. Biniaris and the George Yachts team broker yachts in Greek waters under MYBA-standard contracts. Speak with us directly.