Motor or sailing – which yacht to charter?

Scope of offer

In the segment of smaller yachts (under 20 m) available for charter there are more sailing ones. You can find lots of offers in almost any part of the world, and this type of holiday will be quite low-budget – compared to a holiday at a hotel. However, in the segment of yachts over 25 meters in the world charter fleet there are a lot more motor boats, so if you are looking to charter a large sailing yacht, you’d better start searching and booking well in advance, as there will be fewer options available. 

Price gap

As a rule, it is more expensive to charter a motor boat than a sailing one – at least due to the fuel expenses. The larger the yacht, the more fuel it consumes, so the difference in the price of chartering a motor and a sailing yacht grows together with their size. Sailing yachts do consume fuel, too, but you can ignore this parameter in their case: the standard tank that a boat is normally handed over to you is enough for a standard 1-week charter and maybe longer, even if you only sail under motor power and don’t set sails at all.

Speed

Motor yachts are chosen by the customers who want to move fast and not to bother with setting and removing the sails, even if they don’t have to do it on their own. Most sailing yachts (we don’t take the racing ones into account here) move at rather an easy pace not only under sails, but under motor, too. It is very unlikely that you’ll cover a route longer than 200 miles (350 km), because you need time not only to move on, but first and foremost to relax, have fun and see the sights.  

Holiday style

As a rule, there is more living space on board motor yachts, and the level of comfort compared to sailing yachts of the same length is higher: there is an opportunity to store more water toys, there are more open deck areas, and they are more spacious. Motor yachts, particularly performance ones, allow you to go on fast and long voyages and visit more places in one go. However, many people find sailing yachts more romantic, as you hear the sound of the waves and the wind, and not the noise of the engine running. This kind of holiday is more relaxed and unhurried – unless it is a sailing regatta, of course, where there’s enough of speed and adrenalin.