Renting a sailboat is the cheapest way to spend a week aboard and the one that asks most of you. The company hands over a monohull, briefs you, and expects you to sail it, park it and bring it back. In exchange it is consistently the lowest published price in this record, and by a wide margin over anything crewed.
Ask several charter companies what your week costs
What it costs, across the published markets
Nautilus Yachting publishes a low-season two to three cabin Italian monohull from around 1200 pounds a week, the lowest published week here. The Moorings publishes $1,885 to $36,020 for a 7 day charter for 2 people in Croatia and $2,634 to $36,999 in Greece. Sailing Holidays in Croatia publishes small bareboat sailboats from about 2.000 EUR a week and four to five cabin boats at 4.000 to 6.000 EUR.
What sailboat chartering asks of you at the base
A sailing resume it finds convincing, a certificate of competence recognized by the yacht's flag state, and often a VHF operator's license. Expect a handover briefing and at some bases a check-out sail. If the base is not satisfied it will require a skipper, published by Sailing Holidays in Croatia at 1.260 EUR a week, and that is a condition rather than an option.
Monohull against catamaran, honestly
A monohull is cheaper, sails better upwind, is far easier to berth and costs less to keep in a marina. A catamaran is more comfortable at anchor, has four cabins with doors and does not heel while somebody makes lunch. Sunsail's published Caribbean figures put the low-season difference at about $3,500 against about $5,700 for the same week, which is the clearest public statement of the gap anywhere.
Questions people ask about sailboat rental
How much does it cost to rent a sailboat?
Nautilus Yachting publishes a low-season Italian monohull from around 1200 pounds a week; The Moorings publishes from $1,885 in Croatia and $2,634 in Greece for a 7 day charter for 2 people.
What licence do I need to rent a sailboat?
A certificate of competence recognized by the yacht's flag state and usually a VHF license, plus a sailing resume the base accepts. Requirements differ by country.
Is a monohull cheaper than a catamaran?
Yes, consistently. Sunsail's published low-season Caribbean figures are about $3,500 for a monohull against about $5,700 for a catamaran.