Yacht charter in the Mediterranean – Page 256

Where in the Mediterranean should you charter a yacht?

This page lists every charter yacht on the Mediterranean in one place. To narrow it down, start with the country.

Greece has the most boats: the Ionian Islands for sheltered sailing, the Cyclades and the Dodecanese for open water and island hopping. Croatia has more than a thousand islands and short hops along the Dalmatian coast. Italy ranges from Sardinia and Sicily to the Amalfi Coast and Tuscany. In France, choose between the French Riviera (Côte d'Azur) and Corsica, or see all of France. Spain's Mediterranean coast and the Balearics, with Mallorca and Ibiza, also have yachts in the listing, and there are a few in Turkey, Malta and Montenegro.

When is the best time to sail the Mediterranean?

The charter season runs from about May to October. July and August are the busiest and most expensive weeks; June and September bring warm water, quieter harbours and lower prices. Each area has its own summer wind: the meltemi blows from the north in the Aegean, strongest in July and August, and makes the Cyclades demanding for beginners. The mistral can blow hard for days along the French coast, and in the Adriatic the bora is a sudden, gusty north-easterly, more common outside high summer. The Ionian Sea is usually gentler in summer, with light afternoon breezes, which makes it a good choice for a first charter.

Bareboat, with a skipper or fully crewed?

Most Mediterranean yachts are chartered by the week, Saturday to Saturday. Bareboat means you sail the yacht yourself; the licence rules depend on the country, and the listing and the charter company tell you what is needed. With a skipper, a local professional sails the boat while you still have the yacht to yourselves. Crewed yachts, such as larger catamarans and gulets, come with a skipper and a cook or host, for a holiday with no work on board.