Here, it’s worth taking a tip from the celebs such as Rod Stewart and the appropriately-named Tom Cruise, who rent rather than buy. Wealthy though he is, canny pop millionaire Stewart, for instance, always charters. He doesn’t believe in splashing the cash for a superyacht, just to see it bobbing at anchor in an expensive marina berth. And there are many more like him, saying: “Ownership? Who needs it!“
Chartering guarantees luxury and total relaxation, along with flexibility and fabulous destinations – but without the hassle. Yacht Charter Guide reports there are 4,973 charter companies around the globe, offering 11,115 models of yacht in 691 sailing areas. So you can choose between Australia’s magnificent coral reefs, dancing to a reggae beat on a Caribbean isle, exploring the glamour of the Mediterranean coast or enjoying the stunningly beautiful islands of the South Pacific.
It’s not just the leisure market enjoying the attractions of chartering. Corporate hire is also big business – and getting bigger. It’s easy to see why. There are a host of sound business reasons for booking a corporate function afloat.
To the romance of the sea, add flawless on-board service, luxurious accommodation, spectacular lounges and meeting areas and first-class cuisine. The perfect way to set the scene for any business meeting.
In addition, a completely customised travel experience with carefully selected destinations make a luxury yacht charter the ultimate escape.
An increasing number of CEOs and senior executives see a yacht charter as a key element in corporate bonding sessions and a charter yacht offers high levels of security and privacy.
Superyachts, which can cost as much as £90,000 a day to rent, are the equivalent of five-star-plus, self-contained private resorts, complete with business and conference facilities plus entertainment and relaxation amenities.
Mind you, as some unfortunates trying to trim costs have found, the actual chartering can be a highly technical and logistical matter – and one best left to the experts. In the top echelons of the yachting world, Edmiston is one of the major players promising to gauge the personal requirements of every client from offices in London, Monaco and Los Angeles.
Another highly-regarded operator is the Nigel Burgess Group, a large vessel specialist founded in London in 1975, which also has offices in Monaco, Miami, Moscow and Seattle.
Moody, based in Golfe-Juan, between Cannes and Antibes, specialises in Med charter, particularly conferences in Cannes such as MIPCOM, the audiovisual trade show, and MIPIM, the international market for property professionals, along with the Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Grand Prix.
The No 1 charter operator for the Caribbean is the Ed Hamilton company, started in 1972 and now based in Maine.
Founder Ed Hamilton, who sailed from England to Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands, to become one of the early managers for The Moorings, says charter boats are very popular for team-building exercises.
“Some companies want to put their managers in a different environment to help bond the group – and a sailing yacht can be an excellent venue. We even had one charter where the team-building instructors threw an employee overboard and told the others to rescue him. Most are not nearly that drastic but they all provide a venue where staff and managers can see each other in a new light.”
Formal or casual, adventurous or sophisticated…these companies promise to match clients’ aspirations with their yachts and programmes. And they usually do…
