Top charter innovations in the 2022 season

Before each new season, charter companies acquire several brand-new boats — sailboats, catamarans and motorboats. Not only are they beautiful, but they boast state-of-the-art equipment and unparalleled comfort. We've picked out the most interesting ones that you definitely shouldn't overlook this year. Which one do you like best?

What’s new in Croatia?

In the Croatian shipyards, charter companies have added several new models to their inventories from popular manufacturers such as Dufour, Bavaria and Hanse; as well as catamarans and sportier boats such as those from Elan. Mostly, however, they offer improved versions of popular existing models.

Dufour 430 Rocky II sailboat

Battle like Rocky in the waves with this eponymous boat! Modern on the outside but with a more conservative traditional looking interior, this vessel can accommodate up to 10 people. Advantages include the self-tacking jib, so you won't have to deal with the sheets, and a classic mainsail which can be nicely trimmed. Although the Dufour 430 Rocky II is not that long (13.24 m), it has a bow thruster, making it easier to manoeuvre in port. As a result, we recommend this boat to novice skippers.

Harbour: ACI Marina, Vodice

Bavaria C42 sailboat

The C-line from the Bavaria shipyard has a unique more v-shaped bow. In fact, reviews claim that this sailboat is one of the biggest innovations in the yachting industry in recent years. One thing is for sure, the boats in this range have won award after award. In addition to good handling characteristics, the interior provides comfort and space with plenty of room in the hull, which can accommodate three cabins, two toilets and a shower. Plus, there’s a sound system with outdoor and indoor speakers to make your voyage even more pleasurable. Recommended for anyone who feels the classic Bavaria line lacks speed.

Harbour: Marina Kornati, Biograd na Moru

Hanse 388 sailboat

What makes this gorgeous boat extra special is its incredibly bright saloon, which apparently lets in more natural light than any other yacht in its category. In addition, it has three double cabins and a very practical and well-organised cockpit area. It's a bit of a shame that it’s only equipped with one bathroom, which is why we’d recommend it for a family or group of close friends. Nevertheless, with a large swim platform and comfortable deck it won’t take much convincing to lie down and do a bit of sunbathing. A great choice of boat for a relaxing holiday basking in the sea and sun.

Harbour: Marina Kornati, Biograd na Moru 

YACHTING.COM TIP: Some people prefer one hull, others prefer two. But if you love space, comfort and virtually zero heeling, we’ve picked out some fantastic new models in the catamaran sector. Never tried a catamaran? Read our article on why you definitely should.

Lagoon 40 catamaran

Although this catamaran is recommended for groups of friends who are really out to enjoy their holiday, it would also work for a family. The interior is bright and modern, the toilets are electric, and as the winches are too, there’ll be no chafing to deal with. It comes equipped with solar panels, indoor and outdoor speakers for that holiday atmosphere, and heating for those chilly evenings. A total of 3 cabins and 2 bathrooms provide just enough privacy.

Harbour: Pula, ACI Marina Pomer

Lagoon 42 catamaran

The design of this catamaran is actually based on research into crew behaviour, which revealed how ten crew members are most likely to move around on deck, where they will concentrate, etc. This has not only increased efficiency when operating the boat, but more importantly improved the comfort of the crew. As the mast is closer to the stern on this model and the jib is self-tacking, this catamaran can be handled under sail from basically one spot. We recommend it for large families, a couple of families or a group of friends.

Harbour: Marina Mandalina, Šibenik

Excess 11 catamaran

At sea, the Excess 11 catamaran is unmistakable and totally unique when compared to other models. Not only is it perfect for sailing around the Mediterranean islands, it’s also great for longer expeditions with all the features and amenities of a larger catamaran making it comfortable to live aboard. Plus, it handles very well under sail. As the manufacturer claims it’s "inspired by racing, made for cruising". We recommend it to anyone who would like to try an unconventional catamaran and truly enjoy a sailing experience.

Harbour: ACI Marina Vodice

Bali 4.2 catamaran

Offering maximum comfort and convenience, this catamaran comes with air conditioning and heating, solar panels, and a chartplotter in the cockpit: Basically all you need for a relaxing holiday at sea. This makes it particularly suitable for a couple of families who wish to enjoy the summer with all the comforts. It can accommodate up to 11 people and the 4 cabins and 4 bathrooms provide couples with their own private toilet. When it comes to catamarans, the Bali brand is one of the most popular and we recommend all models from this range.

Harbour: Marina Šangulin, Biograd na Moru

Adriana 44 (Bianca) motorboat

Meet the motorised beauty that goes by the name Bianca, with air conditioning to cool you down on those hot summer nights and two 230-horsepower engines to cruise at lightning speed during the day. As the Adrianna 44 has a draught of just under a metre, there’ll also be no need to worry about scraping the seabed. The 3 cabins can sleep up to 7 people but because of the interior layout, we do recommend it for people who know each other well. The crew will definitely welcome the beautiful but compact fixed swim platform and the fact that Bianca's home marina of Sukošan is one of the nicest in Croatia.

Harbour: Marina Dalmacija (Zlatna Luka), Sukošan

Elan GT6 sailboat

This is simply a thing of beauty, especially for those who love sportier charter boats. The GT line, similar to the GT range of cars, means you can look forward to a fast, powerful boat that also provides plenty of comfort, and all in a near perfect hull with exquisite curves. If you want to enjoy working the sails on a boat that is truly something special, then the Elan GT6 is for you. Plus, we appreciate it being moored at the Kornati marina, because Biograd is fantastic and has excellent taverns nestled in its backstreets.

Harbour: Marina Kornati, Biograd na Moru

Elan Impression 45.1 sailboat

We’ve heard nothing but praise from our clients about its predecessors, but this latest Elan Impression comes with an even more spacious cockpit. With an interior that’s bright, modern, light and airy, and almost more windows than you can count, this 45-ft sailboat feels much more spacious than it is and never cramped. Because of this, we’d recommend it to people who don't like enclosed spaces or are a little concerned about suffering from cabin fever with their other half. It can also accommodate more people than the Elan GT6, with up to 10 able to comfortably sail.

Harbour: Marina Kornati, Biograd na Moru

First 53 sailboat

With a beautiful teak deck, a chartplotter in the cockpit, a generator, a bow thruster, air conditioning and heating, and superb sails, this boat is absolutely stunning. So if you’d like to set sail in a real head-turner, you should definitely take the plunge with the First 53. We especially recommend it to experienced seafarers who love carving up the water. Curiously, it has more toilets (4) than cabins (3) but it can accommodate up to 9 people. From its home marina at Trogir, we recommend taking an evening stroll through the historic centre to soak up the atmosphere and immerse yourself in history.

Harbour: Trogir, Marina Baotič

Grand Soleil 44 sailboat

This racer has been the focus of a great deal of interest at every boat show it’s appeared at. Meeting all racing requirements and providing a high level of comfort to boot, it has a well-designed hull that makes winning regattas a breeze. The Grand Soleil 44 can of course be rented with a gennaker, but it’s still packed with equipment that would put any cruiser to shame, including a Volvo engine. Our only criticism is that there is no air conditioning. As this model is also available through one of our most popular charter companies, NCP Charter, you will be expertly taken care of.

Harbour: Marina D-Marin Mandalina, Šibenik

Fjord 41 XL motorboat

Not only is this boat extremely powerful thanks to its 740-hp engine, but it’s unique and sporty design will make you feel like a real-life James Bond! The teak deck and spacious swim platform make it a real draw when it comes to summer fun but as the Fjord 41 has only 2 cabins, we recommend it to either two couples who know each other well, just one couple or a small family. Definitely don't expect considerable interior space here.

Harbour: Marina Kaštela, Kaštel Gomilica

Prestige 420 Fly motorboat

We'd almost go as far as to say this boat is designed with motoring enthusiasts in mind. 850 horsepower? Crazy?! This is an incredibly powerful boat with an upper deck and the comfort of two cabins, each with its own bathroom. Air conditioning and heating is a given here, so you can rest assured you’ll never be too hot or too cold. We recommend this motorboat for anyone who wants to feel the wind in their hair and skim across the water at high speed. As the boat also has a tender, anchoring in the bay to visit a restaurant on the shore won’t be a problem.

Harbour: Marina Mandalina, Šibenik

Merry Fisher 895 Wind motorboat

The perfect boat for combining swimming with island hopping. With a draught of just 63 centimetres, you’ll be able to steer it almost all the way to the beach and there’s a swim platform for sunbathing and convenient access to the water. However, it is a smaller boat in terms of capacity, so we recommend it to people who know each other well and have already spent some time together, especially as it only has one bathroom and two cabins. Also, as the water tank holds just 160 litres, count with the fact you’ll have to refill the water tank at the marina more often.

Harbour: ACI Marina Pula

Discover Italy

Do you normally sail around Croatia every summer but fancy a change? See what new delights you can discover in Italy this year. It certainly has a lot to offer sailors.

Dufour 530 sailboat

With 6 cabins and room for up to 13 people, this sailboat is simply huge! Naturally, it comes with a bow thruster too. It’s rather more traditional looking interior is packed with all the amenities you need for comfort (air conditioning, a tender, large water tank, etc.). Just watch out for the higher draught (2.3 metres), so you won't scrape the keel on the seabed. We recommended it for up to three families or a large group of friends. Dufour is one of the most popular brands as people appreciate the comfort, but also the jib, which is great to sail under.

Harbour: Marina Palermo, Sicily

Jeanneau 54 sailboat

This incredibly spacious Jeanneau sailboat has 5 cabins. With so many people on board you might worry about your privacy, but the 3 bathrooms ensure there is enough for all the crew. On board you will find various features, including a chartplotter in the cockpit, an extractor fan in the galley, a saltwater pump, and a cockpit with comfortable seating and a relatively large dining table. Plus, the Jeanneau 54 has a full-batten mainsail, which definitely keeps sailing interesting even though it is more of a holiday boat.

Harbour: Marina di Stabia, Castellammare

Greek islands in all their glory

The Greek sea and its beaches are said to be some of the most beautiful in Europe. Discover the Ionian or Aegean Sea from the deck of the latest boat.

Fountaine Pajot Isla 40 catamaran

Each of the 4 cabins has its own bathroom, inside you’ll find a TV, air conditioning, etc. Need we say more to convince you that you’ll feel right at home on this catamaran? We recommend it for a couple of families, but as it can accommodate up to 11 people, we’re also tempted to recommend it for a bunch of friends for a proper sailing party. Everyone will be able to retreat to their own cabin and during the day they can gather in the spacious saloon for a meal or a get-together. In short, it’s fabulous! Plus, this catamaran is operated by Pitter, one of the largest and most reliable charter companies, which we have almost no negative reviews of.

Harbour: Lavrion Marina, Lavrion

YACHTING.COM TIP: Check out our article on tips on places to go sailing in Greece for inspiration.

Even Turkey is full of surprises

Have you ever thought about yachting on the azure waters of this beautiful country? In 2022 you can look forward to gorgeous new boats from, for example, the popular Bavaria brand.

Bavaria C38 sailboat

Thanks to its furling mainsail and self-tacking jib, the Bavaria C38 offers a comfortable sailing experience requiring minimal effort when tacking. We wouldn’t recommend this boat for those who like playing around with sails and lines but for a family holiday, it is ideal. The C-line from Bavaria is more stylish than the regular Bavaria range and this year's new additions include solar panels and a bow thruster as standard. Recommended for two smaller families.

Harbour: Marin Türk Village Port, Gocek

Bavaria C50 sailboat

An incredibly spacious swim platform (the boat is up to 5 metres wide), makes for extremely comfortable swimming or sunbathing on this boat. The Bavaria C50 can accommodate up to 9 people, but don't worry about feeling overcrowded as it has 3 large cabins and 2 bathrooms with showers. Thanks to a generous water tank (650 litres), you'll be able to go for longer before having to refill in the marinas and it comes with a 80-hp engine that is pretty powerful for a sailboat. Thanks to the numerous skylights in the saloon and the light wood furniture, the interior of this Bavaria is also modern and bright.

Harbour: Marin Türk Village Port, Gocek