Yachting Results 2025: How Chartering Has Changed

In 2025, sailing yacht and catamaran charters not only demonstrated their viability but also demonstrated some interesting trends. While these trends aren't entirely positive for us yachtsmen, a general trend can be discerned.

In this short report, we'll discuss how the Scandinavian region has become more popular among yachtsmen, how catamarans have gained an even larger market share, and how the demand for skippered yachts has grown. 

This article is based on a report by GlobalSailor and BoatNews.

The Mediterranean is the pearl of sailing charters

Were you expecting anything different? Yes, as per tradition, the top three charter countries remain the same: Greece, Croatia, and Italy. Yachtsmen from all over the world flock here for weekends and vacations under the sail. 

As for France, Corsica remains the most popular destination. Mainland France was visited slightly less frequently this year, with preference given to the French overseas territories and departments. 

Among these regions is Guadeloupe, which in 2025 showed 45% more bookings for marinas, berths, and hotels. 33% all shipments from France go to this island.

Sweden's unexpected rise in popularity for charter flights

Sweden and the surrounding region lead the way among relatively new destinations. This country demonstrated the highest growth in 2025: +1,161,000 bookings over six years. This figure is impressive even compared to the previous year, when annual growth was 46.41,000.

Stockholm and Gothenburg have become quite popular departure points due to their calm waters, beautiful scenery and, most importantly, milder summer temperatures. 

The region doesn't compare to the Mediterranean, which offers a "classic" hot summer, but many yachtsmen have noted Sweden's pleasant summer climate. Competitive prices and the emergence of new charter boats have also contributed to the region's popularity.

Inflation and demand for sailing catamarans

According to BoatNews.com, the average price of a week-long bareboat charter in 2025 was $5886 (or €5067, or £4456). This figure is 36% higher than in 2019. Experts explain this price increase:

• currency inflation,
• rising costs for the construction and maintenance of yachts and catamarans,
• rising fuel prices.

The price of a skippered and/or crewed charter showed the same trend: an increase of 23% over almost six years. However, we urge you to treat this section of the report with some skepticism, as the median price, rather than the average price, is a much better indicator of the real market situation. 

A minute of statistics

It's important to note that BoatNews data is based on average charter prices, which are typically inflated by expensive luxury yachts. A more accurate indicator is the median price: it reflects the actual market level and is usually lower than the average. Therefore, the actual cost of a weekly charter in 2025 may be less dramatic than the increase in the average price of 36%.

Catamarans are becoming more and more popular!

But price increases aren't the only factor. In 2025, catamarans of all models and sizes became significantly more popular, showing significant growth over the next six years. In 2019, multihull yachts accounted for 331 TP1T of all bookings, but in 2025, this figure rose to 471 TP1T. Almost half of all charter yachts are catamarans!

Skippers are being hired more and more often

With the influx of inexperienced cruisers and newcomers to yachting, demand for professionally skippered cruises and charters has increased. Since 2019, GlobeSailor has recorded a 41% increase in skippered yacht and catamaran bookings. Shared charters—when people rent a cabin rather than an entire yacht—have grown by 23% over the same period.

According to the same BoatNews and GlobeSailor report, cruising on small boats and catamarans is becoming increasingly accessible. Many avid luxury enthusiasts are even switching from cruise ships to smaller boats, while those without experience are getting the chance to experience the sea for a "moderate fee."

There is no bad weather for yachting

Another interesting observation in 2025 was the change in the booking calendar. While in 2019, the so-called "high season" (July-August) accounted for 481,000 bookings and departures, in 2025 this figure dropped to 381,000.

The situation is the opposite with other times of the year, and people started booking yachts more often in the first quarter of the year (+50%, especially in the West Indies region), +24.7% by June and September.

New video on Interparus channel

The main B2B exhibition, METSTRADE 2025, has concluded! In this new issue, we'll cover the exhibition, all the latest developments, and offer a glimpse into the industry's future.

Don't forget to rate this article. Other interesting articles can be found at the links below or in the "News" section.

03.12.2025