Evaluation of the 2024 sailing season

As the main summer sailing season in Europe comes to a close, we’ve decided to take stock and summarise the key insights for you. What trends are emerging in the world of yachting? What changed this year, and what can we expect for the future? We spoke to skippers, sailors, and boat dealers and examined various statistics to provide you with a comprehensive overview.

What’s been happening across popular yachting destinations, and which new areas are our clients exploring?

Croatia remains the most popular sailing destination in Europe. It continues to spark endless debate over costs, with some arguing that prices have risen to unreasonable levels. While some complain about the expense, others point out that many supermarket items remain cheaper than in other parts of Europe.

Our experience shows that marinas in Croatia can be pricey, with fees ranging from €100 to €190 per night depending on demand. In restaurants, it’s not unusual to pay over €200 for a high-quality fish dish. Some suggest that these price hikes are a deliberate effort to curb the impact of mass tourism, which, while boosting the economy, can distort local markets and erode traditional culture.

However, when it comes to boat charter prices, our traders report that Croatia still offers reasonable value. A yacht holiday costs around €600 per person per week, which is comparable to a holiday on the coast.

As last year, destinations such as Greece and Turkey continue to grow in popularity, particularly for yacht sales. For years, Greece was seen as a more niche destination with fewer sailors. However, that perception is changing. While you can still find tranquil, untouched spots in both Greece and Turkey, some islands have become significantly busier. Our clients particularly point to Lefkas having become much busier than it used to be.

The Sporades and the Gulf of Volos are likely to become more popular in the coming years, especially among those seeking a peaceful and relaxing holiday. If you’re looking for a tip, try sailing from Athens to Euboea, Greece’s second-largest peninsula, for a more authentic and serene experience.

We wholeheartedly recommend Greece, not just for its stunning beaches and turquoise waters, but for the warm hospitality of the Greeks. Our skipper, James, often receives tips on secret spots from locals or even samples of homemade delicacies.

The Canary Islands are gaining popularity due to their direct flights from Europe, though they aren’t for everyone. Sailing between the islands gives you a real oceanic experience, perfect for adventurous souls. According to our skipper, the Canaries remain largely unchanged this past year, still offering peace, natural beauty, and harmony.

We have compiled a selection of the most popular boat models chosen by our clients in a dedicated article, The most popular boat models in charter in 2024. Among the most rented brands in charter are traditional names like Bavaria, Sun Odyssey, and Lagoon. Which models were the most frequently chartered, and what makes them so special? What trends can we expect in the coming seasons? Read the article to find out.

What changes, trends and innovations will drive the charter world in 2024?

In 2024, we saw an increase in reported boat damage (and not always due to bad weather). One of the key lessons from this season relates to deposit insurance. Several times, we encountered boats damaged or found by the charter company to have issues at check-out (sometimes caused earlier), resulting in clients losing their security deposit. Clients were understandably upset, not just about the boat damage (because we love boats, and every scratch hurts us too), but especially about the financial loss. Without deposit insurance, unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do once the damage is done.

The question of whether to get insurance is no longer relevant. You never know what might happen at sea, so we strongly recommend getting deposit insurance for 2025 to sail with peace of mind. At yachting.com, we’ve expanded our EXTRA deposit insurance this year to cover repairs for technical defects on the boat. Along with liability and additional sail insurance, we’ve got you covered for any unexpected situations at sea.

Check out our article on 5 reasons to take out deposit insurance.

September was the standout month in 2024, with bookings during this period breaking all our records. The last-minute market, which peaks in September, plays a big part in this, as clients can secure boats at a fraction of the usual price. "But be prepared for some chaos if you book a boat less than a week in advance," warns our sales rep Evžen. In popular yachting destinations like Croatia and Greece, September is still stunning, with warmer seas and calmer conditions. So why not extend your summer with a sailing holiday in September or October? Check out our 5 reasons to set sail in autumn or get inspired by our guide — Autumn sailing: top destinations, rental boats and tips.

Our average weekly charter fee increased slightly by 7% compared to last year to just under €3,600. This is due to the fact that clients prefer newer boats and are happy to pay extra for them. 

Check out our article on the New Boats of 2025 and judge for yourself if they are worth it.

This year, unusually, the flood of orders for the next season came early. We hadn’t even had a chance to inform our clients about the First Minute offers for the new season, and yet we’ve already received a large number of enquiries for 2025 and even 2026. Captains are eager to secure a specific boat on a specific date.

At the start of the 2024 season, charter companies had slightly higher expectations than the market delivered. They initially inflated prices but had to offer discounts as the season progressed. For 2025, they seem to have "wised up" and are now offering boats at very attractive prices in their Early Bird 2025 deals.

Early Bird offers also bring up the issue of trip cancellations. Many of our clients have faced unfortunate events just before their holiday, preventing them from boarding the ship. We strongly recommend that all clients take out cancellation insurance when booking a boat. You never know when illness, injury, or a family emergency might occur – life’s unexpected challenges can strike at any time.

Charter companies have strict terms and conditions, and without cancellation insurance, clients are not entitled to a refund if they cancel for any reason. Many boaters are unaware of this, which can result in forfeiting the entire boat payment. The only safeguard is trip cancellation insurance, which guarantees a refund of up to 80% of the cost. Still unsure? Check out 7 reasons why cancellation insurance pays off.

Every year, we see a growing demand for skippered boats. We're not talking about luxury megayachts with mandatory professional skippers and uniformed chefs. More and more sailors are hiring skippers for their sailboats, either because no one in the crew has a captain's licence or because they simply want to relax and spend time with family without the responsibility of tying ropes or steering. We offer this service as an all-inclusive package, where the customer doesn’t have to worry about a thing, or as a recommendation of a professional skipper for the hired boat.