Yacht Charter Statistics 2022

With sailing becoming a popular choice as a hassle-free vacation the whole family can enjoy, it’s no wonder that yacht charters have become so popular the world over! If you’re ever wondered what the most popular sailing destination in the world is, or whether people prefer catamarans or monohulls for their sailing adventures, you’re in the right place!

Here, we reveal everything you need to know about the global yacht charter market in 2022… and more!

To find out all the insider info on the yacht charter market globally, we used 2022 yacht charter booking data from Online Booking Systems, MMK and Nausys, analyzing over 9,000 yachts. To discover whether or not interest in the yacht charter industry is on the rise, we used the Google Keyword Planner to analyze different Google searches conducted in the last 12 months globally.

Global Yacht Charter Statistics: A Flying Visit

Looking for a summary? Here’s the gist:

• Croatia was the most popular sailing destination in 2022, with over 38% of yacht charter bookings taking place in the country
• Whilst Croatia was the most popular destination thanks to its large quantity of bookings, Alimos Marina in Athens is home to the most yachts in the world, accommodating 8% of the global yacht charter fleet
• Monohulls are the most common vessel of choice, with Sailboats making up a whopping 65% of global yacht charter vessels
• The rise in vessel manufacturing is clear, with 58% of sailing vessels worldwide being under 5 years old
• Bavaria was the most popular yacht brand in the world in 2022, making up 19% of the global yacht charter fleet
• Lagoon 42 is the most sought after yacht model, making up 4% of the global yacht charter fleet
• The average price of a yacht charter in 2022 was €4,420
• View full report

Global Yacht Statistics

Most Popular Yacht Brand in the World

Our data found that:

• Bavaria is the most popular yacht brand in the world, making up 19% of the global yacht charter fleet

Most Popular Sailing Destination in the World

Our data found that:

• Croatia was the most popular sailing destination in 2022, with over 38% of yacht charter bookings taking place in the country
• Greece was the second most popular destination for chartering a yacht in 2022, making up 29% of global bookings

Most Popular City to set Sail From

Our data found that:

• Athens was the most popular city to set sail from in 2022, with 8% of global yacht charter bookings departing from Athens in 2022

Most Popular Marina in the World

Our data found that:

• Alimos Marina in Athens is home to the most yachts, accommodating 8% of the global yacht charter fleet
• Croatian marinas made up 7 of the top 10 most popular marinas in 2022

Most Common Yacht Type

Our data found that:

• Monohulls are the most common sailing vessel, with Sailboats making up a whopping 65% of global yacht charter vessels
• Catamarans were the second most popular sailing vessel, making up 25% of global yacht charter vessels
• Gulets made up a tiny fraction of global yacht charter vessels, coming in at less than 1%

Most Popular Yacht Model in the World

Our data found that:

• Lagoon 42 is the most sought after yacht model, making up 3.68% of the global yacht charter fleet
• Bavaria Cruiser 46 came a close second, making up 3.45% of the global yacht charter fleet

Most Popular way to set Sail

Our data found that:

• Experienced Skippers were the most common clients in 2022, with 88% of all yacht charter bookings operating as a Bareboat Charter in 2022
• Crewed charters proved less popular, making up only 11% of 2022 yacht charter bookings

Please note: Bareboat data includes bareboat charter bookings and charter with skipper.

Is Bigger, Better?

Our data found that:

• 4 cabin yachts were the most popular yachts in 2022, making up 33% of all bookings
• Small yachts with only 1 cabin were the least popular cabin layout, making up 1.38% of all 2022 yacht charter bookings

• Mid-sized yachts (13 - 14 meters long) were the most popular sized yachts in 2022, making up 20% of bookings
• Majority of all yachts booked in 2022 (72%) were between 11 and 15 meters long

Does the age of the Yacht Affect bookings?

Our data found that:

• Newer yachts (5 years old or less) were the most booked yachts in 2022, making up 65% of all yacht charter bookings

So, how Expensive was it to Charter a Yacht in 2022?

Our data found that:

• The average price of a yacht charter in 2022 was €4,420
• The majority of yachts (23%) were priced between €2,000 and €2,999

When was the Best Time to nab a Discount?

Our data found that:

• July and October were the most common months for a discount to be applied to yacht bookings

Is Demand for Yacht Charters on the Rise?

Utilizing the power of the wind and immersing oneself in the beauty of the sea and the sun, sailing has so much to offer those who love to set sail. But just how popular were yacht charters this year? And was there an increase in search demand for this type of luxury vacation? Using the tool Keyword Finder, we analyzed Google search volumes over the last 12 months globally to find out.

Global Yacht Charter Search Demand

Our data found that overall:

• There is a clear demand for sailing global, with over 27,000 average monthly searches for the keyword ‘Yacht Charter’
• The demand for keywords such as sail boat charter and catamaran charter increased by 22% and 21% respectively compared to 2021, further highlighting an increase in demand

Which country is the most popular for sailing?

Our data found that overall:

• Search volume data correlated with yacht bookings data to confirm that Croatia is the most popular sailing destination globally
• Croatia saw the most significant search demand related to sailing, with the phrases sailing in Croatia and yacht charter Croatia being typed into google, on average, 23,500 times a month
• Interest in sailing in Croatia has increased by 124% compared to 2021
• Greece is the second most popular sailing destination according to Google, with 9,800 average monthly searches for the keywords yacht charter Greece and sailing in Greece

Inspired to Set Sail on a yacht charter?

Hopefully this rundown has helped to give you an idea of the global yacht charter industry - and maybe even inspired you to charter a yacht yourself! If you’re looking for inspiration for your next sailing destination, check out our Private Yacht Tours and Bareboat yacht charters.