Once considered a niche vacation for those in the know, demand for yacht charters has soared post-pandemic and has become one of the most sought-after ways to travel. The market is expected to be worth $26.2bn by 2026. Denoting relaxation, exclusivity, independence and privacy, yachting is one of the top holidays available.
Tyson Fury, Paris Hilton, the Beckhams, Jay-Z and Beyonce are all known to rent yachts in Greece, Croatia and beyond for weeks at a time, hosting private parties and enjoying the relaxation of being on the open waters, away from the press and stress of their daily lives.
But why is chartering the ultimate luxury?
“Yachting provides an ultimate experience to people who like me love to explore and visit many of the spectacular reefs, coasts and islands in the Mediterranean Sea, combining rich cultures, traditions, art and beauty rooted in time across thousands of years,” says Giuseppe Lavazza, Vice President of the global coffee group Lavazza Group.”
The appetite for yachting has been on a steady increase as more and more people look to vacation in safer, quieter places away from crowds and bustling cityscapes. Of course, the luxury of yachting has always been popular with celebrities, the super rich and the upper class. But customer profiles have changed, says Peter Harrison-Hill, Chief Commercial Officer of the Borrow A Boat group.
“Our focus is opening the gateway to the world of yacht charter, whether you own a yacht or choose to charter one, we can assist in both areas. We champion peer-to-peer business, and can assist in getting your boat rented, along with enabling those who wish to sail the seas the opportunity to feel like a celebrity at a fraction of the cost.”
The stats on the super yachts
A superyacht is a commercially operated luxury yacht (motor or sail powered), which is professionally crewed and has a loadline length of 24 metres and above. The average value of a superyacht is $10 million, with a reported 5,000 plus superyachts around the world. In terms of owner nationalities, the United States is at the top with 23%, with the United Kingdom following at 6%, Greece at 6% Australia at 4%, Italy at 5%, and Russia at 3%.
What do buyers need to think about when purchasing a superyacht?
Many of the largest yacht builders are based in the Netherlands and Germany, such as Amel Holland, as well as Blohm + Voss, and Lurssen. Other builders are Italian, English, and American, including Sunseeker, Perini Navi and Navetta.
It takes an average of three to four years to build a fully custom superyacht. It’s important to look into the economies of running a ship of this size. Crews can consist of anything from five to 35 members but can reach as high as up to 50 or 60; for every 10 metres of boat there should be between two and four crew members, so this number can add up quickly.
There is nothing more exclusive than relaxing on your yacht whilst you are being taken care of. The quintessential 1st class service whilst out at sea is without doubt a memorable one. Access to hidden coves, bays, small town harbours intensify the motivation as to why charters are on the up. Crystal clear waters, untouched reefs. A magnitude of desires at your fingertips.
Why charter?
And all of this, without any of the maintenance, running costs, agent fees or crew salaries
The celebrities that have owned super yachts
So, who are the top celebrities that have had the luxury of owning superyachts? Well let’s start with P Diddy, who purchased his 195-foot-long super yacht for $72 million from the executive chairman of Google.
Then there’s French billionaire businessman and art collector Bernard Arnault. Chairman and chief executive of LVMH, the world’s largest luxury goods company - his current net worth is $145.8 billion. He owns Symphony, which is certainly a showstopper at 101.5 metres.
Of course, some celebrities tend to opt for a luxury yacht charter experience instead of purchasing it outright. That includes the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio who charters the boat Topaz when he’s looking to escape the limelight of Hollywood and has hosted various parties on it. The 483 feet super yacht is also home to conference rooms and state-of-the-art gym as well as two helipads.
So, is yachting the ultimate luxury? We think so…but maybe it’s best to charter!
The Borrow A Boat and Helm team’s look forward to several exciting new announcements following a year of accelerating growth and revenues in 2022.
Co-founded by Simon Morgan and Peter Harrison in 2015, Helm offers fully tailored yachting holidays. Well-known for quality yachts and excellent service, Helm’s team of expert sailors and brokers assist customers on every step of the journey, from enquiry to finalized booking and beyond, to ensure guests can enjoy the best yachting experience.
Helm offers bareboat, skippered, and crewed boats for hire globally, with specialist areas include Croatia, Sardinia, Turkey, Thailand, New Zealand, Australia, the Caribbean, and the British Virgin Islands.
Both seasoned sailors, Peter and Simon spent years in the industry, both as skippers and then as brokers, bringing an in-depth knowledge of the sector.
For more information, or to make a booking, visit the website www.helm.yt.
