While the industry is brimming with sensational motor yachts, there is nothing quite like handing yourself over to the elements and discovering the joys of sailing. With plenty of vessels to choose from this season, BOAT showcases the very best luxury sailing yachts for charter….
Sea Eagle
Stats: 81m, Royal Huisman, 2020, 10 guests, 15 crew
Highlights: As the ninth-largest sailing yacht in service and the world’s second-largest all-aluminium sailing yacht, it’s no surprise that Sea Eagle is among the most impressive sailing charter yachts. She sports a modern aesthetic with her striking plumb bow and simplistic lines, while her long waterline and powerful Panamax schooner rig deliver distance.
The sailing yacht comfortably ticks over 21 knots in a moderate breeze, making her a top choice for keen sailors. Her sail area is 2,580 square metres upwind across three mainsails and can easily be hoisted or lowered at once, taking no more time than a sloop half the size.
Sea Eagle is available to charter with Y.CO with a weekly rate from €550,000
Maltese Falcon
Stats: 88m, Perini Navi, 2006(2023), 12 guests, 18 crew
Highlights: Maltese Falcon single-handedly transformed the superyacht industry after her delivery in 2006. A head-turner in any port, the 88-metre took six years to complete due to the complexity of her radical unstayed masts – made of 'weapons-grade' carbon fibre – and her computerised sail and mast control system.
Following an extensive refit at Italian yard Lusben, the refit division of Azimut-Benetti, Maltese Falcon was injected with a new lease of life and saw several major structural modifications, including the addition of a new 10-square-metre pool and sunbed on the aft portion of the flybridge deck. She also received a new steel-structured aft awning running from the superstructure to the stern sofa. Almost the entire interior was upgraded too, presenting her in immaculate condition for the 2024 charter season. A force to be reckoned with on the water, few yachts have such a presence in the industry, making the Maltese Falcon a fabulous charter yacht and a sublime choice once she resurfaces from her refit later this year.
Maltese Falcon is available to charter with Burgess with a weekly rate from $490,000
Twizzle
Stats: 57.5m, Royal Huilsman, 2010 (2023), 9 guests, 11 crew
Highlights: Twizzle, the 57.5-metre performance flybridge ketch is nothing short of remarkable in both appearance and performance. She is the product of years worth of research and one that pushed the boundaries of what is possible under sail. Her design is a collaboration between RWD, Dubois Naval Architects and Todhunter Earle, and she sports a unique sweep in her superstructure and wraparound glass.
Twizzle is the only Dubois-designed yacht where the superstructure design and interior layout were handled by another company. The complexity of the styling also called for automotive technology to be used in the process with the Alias car surface fairing program.
Twizzle is available to charter with Camper and Nicholsons with a weekly rate from €265,000
Q
Stats: 51.8m, Alloy Yachts, 2009 (2024), 12 guests, 9 crew
Highlights: Originally launched in 2009 as Mondango II at Alloy Yachts, this Dubois-designed bluewater cruiser is a multi-award-winning ketch-rigged sailing yacht offering an outstanding combination of performance excellence and comfort. Following a refit this year (2024), her interiors are intrinsically contemporary, designed by Reymond Langton with plenty of glass, polished metal finishes, and a subtle oriental influence.
Out on deck, Q boasts a flybridge with a comfortable seating area a dining table, and a large Jacuzzi surrounded by sunpads, ideal for entertaining and relaxing after a day out on the water. Her toy box is brimming with entertainment, from kayaks and water skis to snorkelling gear and inflatables.
Q is available to charter with Camper and Nicholsons with a weekly rate from €255,000
Athos
Stats: 63.2m, Holland Jachtbouw, 2010, 12 guests, 10 crew
Highlights: Perfectly equipped to facilitate the perfect family sailing holidays, Athos strikes the perfect balance between high-powered performance and luxury living at sea. Her vast exterior deck offers plenty of space for socialising, with a shaded dining area on the aft and a private deck area adjoining the master suite. She is one of the largest two-masted schooners in the charter fleet, and thanks to her speed, delivers on the race circuit too.
The yacht recently returned to the charter market having undergone an extensive refit, which included a 1.25-metre extension at the stern and a total rebuild of the interior. Hoek Design once again stepped in to oversee the naval architecture, interior styling and layout changes of the guest accommodation, main saloon, crew service areas and deckhouse. Her styling is now warm and inviting, which has made her a more sophisticated offering.
Athos is available to charter with Y.CO from $220,000 per week.
Parsifal III
Stats: 53.8m, Perini Navi, 2005 (2024), 12 guests, 9 crew
Highlights: After gaining a starring role in the hit superyacht reality TV show Below Deck Sailing Yacht, Parsifal III will undoubtedly cause a stir in any marina. But this isn’t the only reason why this 53.8-metre sailing yacht is one of the finest charter vessels out there, her performance as one of the fastest yachts Perini has built, hitting top speeds of up to 16 knots thanks to her high-tech carbon masts and fully automated in-boom furling.
Hot on the heels of a recent refit in 2024, the yacht now stands in immaculate condition ready to take on the summer charter season. Outdoor entertaining areas are equipped with a hot tub, sunpads, a wet bar, and al fresco lounging and dining with an optional awning. For something a little different, guests can choose to dine on the hydraulic swim platform with the waves gently lapping at their feet. She has a striking interior styled by Rémi Tessier with dark ebony and light sycamore finishes offering further dining and socialising areas.
Parsifal III is available to charter with Camper and Nicholsons with a weekly rate from €245,000
Baracuda Valletta
Stats: 50m, Perini Navi, 2009, 10 guests, 7 crew
Highlights: Having been created by a partnership of the finest names in yachting, Baracuda Valletta is undoubtedly a pedigree. The 50-metre sailing yacht’s deep purple sails are immediately recognisable – alerting neighbouring yachts that there is a real performance ketch in the vicinity.
A canting keel offers stability when underway and lifts to leave a four-metre draft, allowing her to access shallow harbours and anchorages closer to shore. Baracuda Valletta’s interiors are minimal and contemporary, with pops of purple throughout – in keeping with her sails. She can accommodate up to 10 guests in five cabins.
Baracuda Valletta is managed by Parsifal Yachting from €185,000 per week.
Ohana
Stats: 49.7m, Fitzroy, 2012, 10 guests, 8 crew
Highlights: With an impressive regatta history, this 10-guest, 49.7-metre Ohana won’t let you down if you decide to bookend your cruise with a little competition. Built in 2012 with an extensive 2019 refit, she certainly doesn’t sacrifice comfort for sailing prowess.
On board guests will discover a whitewashed oak interior, a glamorous aft dining saloon encased in glass and a sprawling flybridge deck that’s perfect for socialising and sunbathing. There are also plenty of toys and diving gear on board, including water skis, a wakeboard, and paddle boards.
Ohana is managed for charter by Fraser from €185,000 per week (winter rate)
Atlantic
Stats: 64.5m, Van der Graaf, 2010, 12 guests, 11 crew
Highlights: A true-to-life replica of one of the world’s most iconic sailing yachts, Atlantic offers classic charm with modern amenities. The original vessel, also called Atlantic, was commissioned by Wilson Marshall, a notable New York Yacht Club member, and was designed by William Gardner; one of America’s foremost yacht designers. The original broke the record for the fastest crossing from New York to Cornwall, clocking up 341 miles in 24 hours and reaching a top speed of 14,1 knots. Sadly she was broken up in the early 80s, making room for the new Atlantic.
Today her classic lines are just as commanding and her traditional wood-panelled and red velvet interiors intrinsically welcoming. But on board, guests will find modern tech, with upgraded AV systems throughout. Meals can be taken al fresco or indoors aboard this rigged schooner, with a toybox offering sailing dinghies, Jet Skis and waterskiing gear for charter guests to enjoy.
Atlantic is available to charter with Edmiston with a weekly rate from €110,000