WILL BRUTON ON ‘TRY BEFORE YOU BUY’ CHARTERING
Chartering the type of yacht you are thinking about buying may be the perfect test before you make the leap
A typical first charter holiday, perhaps on a production boat in Greece or Turkey, holds a special place in most sailors’ memories, even if they go on to own their own yacht and sail further afield. A charter gives a taste of the responsibility, freedom and possibilities that owning a yacht might unlock.
The yacht you hire, though, is rarely what you’d choose to own. Charter yachts are often built with mass appeal in mind, packing in berths and cabins, and rarely geared for performance or living aboard full time. However, chartering the model of yacht you are seriously considering buying is very worthwhile, and something many don’t even realise is possible.
Swan is one company which offers charter as a ‘taste’ of ownership. Nicolò Telese, charter manager, says: “Chartering a Swan allows the client to explore a variety of destinations, but also is a way to start the sailing journey. Some of our owners start by chartering a Swan to then build their dream yacht.”
Spending a week or more on board can help you evaluate whether a yacht will fit your needs in the long term, and help specify it to suit.
CHANGING CUSTOMERS
Victor Jeunemaitre, Outremer’s commercial director, notes that in a changing market inexperienced customers are putting less time into their decisions when commissioning builds. “As a company building high performance catamarans, it’s important to us that customers understand what they are ordering,” he says. “It is not purely transactional at all.
“Ultimately, our relationship extends well beyond delivery, so we want it to be a good relationship, and that means ensuring an Outremer is right for them, both when they sign the cheque and when they are halfway around the world. In some cases, customers have ordered on the basis of chartering another brand of catamaran a couple of times, but the adventure they have planned is much bigger.
“We find that even a good test sail highlights clearly how we are different to most catamaran builders on the market, but also what we are not. For example, we actively encourage a relatively simple specification, while others are keen for owners to specify many options. Our hulls are narrower than most. They are preferences not only leaning towards performance, but also because we know that a good bluewater adventure is often underpinned by a boat that is relatively easy to maintain far from home.”
{If chartering with a skipper and crew, don’t forget to factor in tips and provisioning allowance costs.}
{Crewed charters allow you to abs
