How to choose a perfect yacht for the Mediterranean: beginner’s guide
What kind of yacht shoud one choose to get the most out of the Mediterranean vacation?
One of the first questions that brokers ask a potential yacht buyer is about the water areas where the vessel is going to be operated. And even if a beginner, who doesn’t know much about yachting yet, tries answering this question, it will most probably be obvious that a yacht for the North Sea is different from the one for the Mediterranean.
One can see a variety of very different vessels in the marinas of Italy, France, Spain and other countries, which proves the fact that owners do not always make a conscious choice. Some boats are just incapable of reaching the full potential of holidays on the Mediterranean. As a result, such vessels spend a lot more time in marinas than cruising or exploring picturesque coves.
Size
Yachts of 20-24 metres in length are capable of meeting all the needs of the vast majority of owners in the Mediterranean. Compact vessels have more opportunities and fewer restrictions for exploring coastal areas and beautiful anchorages. They are more economical and have a smaller draft. Such yachts can be handled by the owner or with a minimal crew, which makes the process of preparation for going out to sea simpler and faster, let alone a considerable decrease in the cost of ownership.
Сramped marinas, high cost of berths and fairly busy traffic are other reasons choosing a smaller yacht. The same applies to the such typical features of the Mediterranean holidays as frequent and short one-day or weekend getaways. The well-developed infrastructure of the Mediterranean allows one to go on longer cruises on a compact boat, too. Just pay attention to how suitable and comfortable accommodation and conditions on board are.
Speed
Unless your plan is to explore the Mediterranean leisurely in all directions, forget about slow displacement yachts. Go for either planing or semi-displacement ones. Speed is important, as it gives you an opportunity to reach a beautiful spot for bathing, take a boat trip to another city and get back to your marina till dawn in case of bad weather, as well as simply enjoy handling your vessel.
Although shipyards have been trying to change the situation recently, for now there is still some dependence: the higher the speed, the fewer opportunities there are for relaxation by the water. So, when choosing a yacht, decide, what is more important for you or look for compromises. In our opinion, the optimal range of top sped for a Mediterranean yacht is 20 to 30 knots.
Contact with the sea
Few people want to sit in a closed cabin with air conditioning switched on, trying to get a glimpse of the sea through small portholes. All the yards are well aware of it and do their best to offer the solutions that will allow the guests to feel communion with nature and be literally surrounded by the sea. Expansive glazing, sliding doors and windows, opening skylights and hardtops, large and comfortable exterior areas all serve this purpose.
Modern yachts’ design differs greatly from what it used to be just 10 years ago, as the owners of the Mediterranean yachts want to spend most of their time outdoors. And it is only natural they don’t want to lose contact with the sea even when they are indoors.
Recreation by the water
The demand for lounge areas as close to the water as possible is extremely relevant for the Mediterranean. Today even small boats under 30 m feature spacious recreation areas aft. They are often located at water level and can sometimes be united with lounges in the cockpit and can increase their area considerably with the help of fold-down bulwarks or transformable swim platforms.
Thanks to this, the beach areas that appear here can offer numerous opportunities for having fun on the water, doing water sports or just relaxing in the sun right by the sea. The larger and more comfortable these areas are the better, as swimming and water sports are essential ingredients of holidays on the Mediterranean and the reason why a lot of people keep their yachts here.
It is also a good idea to think of a garage for a tender or a way to carry it, as well as storage for water toys, which will help you make the time spent on the water more diverse and exciting.
Top 5 perfect yachts for the Mediterranean
Bluegame BG74
The huge aft section of this 22.82-metre boat allows for a superyacht beach club here, as well as carrying a tender and water toys. This area can be connected both with the lounge on the main deck and with the saloon on the lower deck, which can also be opened and united with the aft platform. To take a break from the sun, the guests are offered three comfortable cabins and a saloon below deck.
Pardo E72
The flagship 22-metre model in the Endurance range recently unveiled by Pardo Yachts offers huge opportunities for recreation on the water. When at anchor, the fold-down platforms and glass doors turn the enclosed boat into an open one, completing the exterior areas in the cockpit, on the flyabridge and foredeck. Below deck there are four guest cabins and a full-beam master suite.
Azimut Seadeck 7
The main idea behind this 21.7-metre yacht is to blur the lines between exterior and interior spaces, creating the so called “Fun Island” for living a happy time by the water in contact with nature. The main saloon can be united with the area in the cockpit and the swim platform, while the fold-down bulwarks increase the area by the sea and provide constant contact with the sea. There are four guest cabins below deck, including a full-beam master suite.
Arcadia A80
The yacht that was created especially for the Mediterranean stands out for the largest flybridge in her class, the enclosed main saloon that can be transformed into an open one and the beach club united with the lounge in the cockpit. Moreover, it is the first RPH model by Arcadia, which allowed for the internal volume of 131 GT, a master suite on the main deck and four more cabins below deck.
Sanlorenzo SX76
The most compact model in the SX range of crossover yachts is the embodiment of the idea of a modern Mediterranean villa on the water. The non-trivial interiors (particularly in the version offered by Piero Lissoni) feature an unusual layout and are full of light and air. Four cabins below deck are equipped with everything necessary for long cruises, while the flybridge and spacious aft platform provide an opportunity of stylish al fresco lounging and allow for arranging a beach club and storing a tender.
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