What is the right boat for my sailing vacation?

Working at yacht charter industry for 25 years we found that one of the most common questions related to choosing the best boat is: “What is the right boat for my sailing vacation?”

There are 3 types of boats that yacht charter can offer, and these are sailboats, catamarans and motor boats. The difference between them is big, so we will try to explain it simply in this blog.

Before you start searching the web, consider the following:

• How big is your sailing group?

• Are there children in your group or older and less mobile?
• How do you imagine yourself on board? Leisurely, with plenty of swimming and rest? Active, want to see more? Want to learn to sail?
• Are you a rebel by nature?
• How long can you stay on board? Week? Two?
• Do you need a skipper? Hostess?
• Do you want to be seen on a special vessel, or do you want a smaller or more economical vessel with which your mooring and rental costs will be lower?
• Want to see a lot in a short time while being skipped by a skipper?

Sailing boat yacht charter

Monohulls are the most common form of charter in the Adriatic. For those who love active vacation and sailing this is the perfect choice as others (catamarans and motor boats) are always more expensive. Over the last 15 years sailing boats evolved so much that even the smallest boat in our fleet as Oceanis 30.1 and Oceanis 35.1 have a spacious cockpit that accommodates 6 to 8 persons without any problem. Bathing platforms are more and more popular, as they open out and make going in and out of the boat easier.

Interior of a sailboat depends on the model and has different number of cabins. The cabins sleep usually 2 persons, and in case you would need a skipper, it is polite to reserve one of the cabins for him. If your crew consist of 2 families and a skipper (2 couples with 4 children plus skipper), then the ideal choice would be a 5 cabin sailboat. Family without a skipper or 8 close friends can choose a 3 cabin boat, but the two people would have to sleep in the salon.

During summertime, a lot of our guests love to sleep out in the open, under the stars – in the cockpit.

Of course, there is a special kind of a sailing yacht, more luxurious, ones you notice out on the sea. We have a few of these in our fleet, but here we will mention the latest Beneteau model First 53 “Zenith” which not only excellent for sailing, but also luxuriously equipped. This sailboat was ordered as an owner 3 cabin version, and it is ideal for 6 persons and a skipper, but also gets rented out for 4 persons plus skipper and hostess. In the last year or two, there is an increase in demand for this type of a modern and luxurious sailboat. There are not a lot of them in supply as they are very expensive boats to purchase, so their rental price often aligns with the price of a catamaran rental.   

There are a few classic sailing yacht models available for renting, mostly from well-known shipyards as Beneteau Oceanis or Beneteau First line (racing boats), Jeanneau, Bavaria, Hanse…

• For those who want to escape to hidden bays, boat range of 30-45 ft (2 -4 cabins). These models can be found in Dubrovnik, Split, Trogir & Pula
• For the team-building events, it is best to choose similar or identical sailboats
• For individuals, or those who wish to learn how to sail, it is a good idea sign up for our sailing school in Split. We can also help with applying and organizing for an exam for a sailing certificate which brings you to being more independent in your future sailing adventures.

Sailboat is the right choice for you if:
• You want to learn to sail with professionals at a sailing school
• You want to sail at your own rhythm
• Sailboats are cheaper to rent than a catamaran or motor boat
• Sailing without the sound of the engine is a regeneration for the soul
• Mooring for sailboats is cheaper in marinas (comparison with catamarans)
• Participating in a regatta or team building on a sailboat is a special experience
• You want to take an active part on board
•You have school children (swimmers). Everything on the sailboat will be interesting to them

A sailboat is not for you if:

Catamaran charter

Catamarans are divided into sailing catamarans and motor catamarans. Motor catamarans meet the same needs as ordinary motor boats. Sail catamarans have been extremely popular for the past 8-10 years. They have a more spacious interior, the cockpit is large and can accommodate (depending on the number of cabins) 8-12 people. It is ideal for friends, groups with children, honeymoons. A catamaran or CAT for short is like a house on the sea. If you take a skipper and hostess on a larger catamaran, you will all have privacy during your stay on the double hull.

Catamaran is the right choice for you if:
• You want to treat yourself to a more luxurious stay at sea
• If you are with very young children, they will have more space for them
• If you have an elderly person or a person with reduced mobility in your group
• You want to relax in the cockpit, cook in more spacious conditions than on a sailboat

Motor yacht charter

Motor boats and motor catamarans can be the most expensive and have a hidden fuel cost that is significantly higher than on sailboats or catamarans. The advantages of a motor boat are that you can quickly get to the desired island and leave even faster if something else has occurred to you. The disadvantage of motor boats is that with larger waves they cannot avoid rolling (motor catamarans are more stable), so for those with a sensitive stomach, it is good to know that a motor boat runs best on a calm sea. Motor boats go from small range all the way to a super-luxury motor boats

Motorboat is the right choice for you:
• If you want to move quickly by sea
• If you love luxury