{"id":43167,"date":"2021-06-07T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-07T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/?p=43167"},"modified":"2023-05-06T17:35:40","modified_gmt":"2023-05-06T21:35:40","slug":"benefits-of-oyster-yacht-charter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/story\/charter\/oyster-yacht-charter-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"Benefits of Oyster Yacht Charter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Oyster <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Chartering your yacht provides extraordinary value in terms of carefree luxury sailing.<\/span>\n Oyster Yacht Charter<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

With high hopes of sparking a love for sailing, Chris Shea first took his wife, Susan, on a holiday in Scotland in a 32-footer. They spent a week beating round Mull. \u201cI thought we would live the dream,\u201d he laughs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Shea\u2019s family never quite shared his enthusiasm, he says, until 2014 when they decided to charter an Oyster 66 in the Caribbean. \u201cI had been interested in Oysters for many years and when I started to be at the point where I thought I might be able to buy, I decided to charter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

The moment Susan stepped aboard, he says, \u201cshe felt entirely confident in the crew running it. The hostess\/cook and crewmate were lovely, entertaining women and it was great fun.\u201d The level of luxury and comfort was a game changer. \u201cThe family thought: if this is what we are going to do, that is fine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Once bitten by the Oyster bug there was no going back. The following year an order for a new Oyster 56, Magrathea, was on the books, followed two years afterwards by an Oyster 72. Both were immediately and continuously marketed for charter through the Oyster Charter<\/a> service until the Sheas sold Magrathea in 2015.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Charter allows owners to offset the costs of running their boat and employ crew to maintain it year round. That can keep a yacht in prime order and provide extraordinary value in terms of carefree, luxury sailing and boat ownership<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Oyster <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Charter allows owners to offset the costs of running their boat and employ crew to maintain it year round.<\/span>\n Oyster Yacht Charter<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

After crossing the Atlantic in his Oyster 54, Alan Parker found his horizons expanding. \u201cI wanted to travel further, sailing in the Caribbean in the winter and the Mediterranean in summer, and maybe even further into the Pacific,\u201d he says. He owned a property in Mallorca and thought that an Oyster 82 \u201ccould be the same as having a villa but be mobile\u201d, so he sold the villa and bought the five-year-old Dama de Noche for charter and his own use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt has turned out to be a great combination. I have a large boat for my personal use but at the same time I have an income from the chartering business,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Having a full-time professional crew means Parker and his family get to use their boat perhaps more than they might otherwise do. \u201cBeing a charter boat it is used much, much more, doing the Caribbean season in winter and the Med season in summer so we are chartering 12-20 weeks a year. But we use it ourselves for about ten weeks a year and we\u2019ve crossed the Atlantic twice,\u201d he says. \u201cOur experience with charter is that you tend to have bigger horizons and go more places.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Oyster <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Chartering is something to be considered by anyone who is thinking of buying a yacht large enough to require crew.<\/span>\n Oyster Yacht Charter<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

Why Charter a Yacht?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n

Oyster\u2019s charter management service was set up in 2005 by the then company owner Richard Matthews and Molly Marston. Why charter a yacht? Chartering is something to be considered by anyone who is thinking of buying a yacht<\/a> large enough to require crew, says Marston, Head of Oyster Charter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

A full-time crew will establish a consistent maintenance schedule, deliver the yacht to where it should be and look after the day-to-day minutiae. Working together with the crew to coordinate the charter and schedule details, Marston\u2019s aim is to alleviate \u2018ownership angst\u2019. \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t have to think about your yacht except when you\u2019re using it,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Richard Matthews owns an extended Oyster 82, Midnight, which he charters through Oyster for about eight to ten weeks a year. \u201cWe give charter bookings a priority and then use the time around it,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

But he emphasises: \u201cThe key to the whole thing is understanding that most owners don\u2019t expect to turn a profit, they do it as a way of offsetting running costs. For me, going back 30 years, I have always taken the view that it keeps the boat in better condition and I have the boat moved around. Chartering makes sense, otherwise a boat is like a horse in a stable: it continues to eat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Oyster <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Yachts 56 feet + are the ideal size for chartering.<\/span>\n Oyster Yacht Charter<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

The Right Formula for Charter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n

So what is the right size of yacht for chartering<\/a> and what are the costs and income that you could expect? Molly Marston says that \u201c56ft and above\u201d is ideal. Yachts of between 60ft and 70ft would need two crew and from 80ft upwards you would need three: a skipper, mate and stewardess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

The Oyster 885 is something of a sweet spot, in that it borders on superyacht territory yet stays within the 24m ruling for charter coding. Above this size, additional crew, such as an engineer and another stewardess, would be required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Typical rates for charter vary from \u20ac18,000 a week for an Oyster 625 to \u20ac45,000 a week for an Oyster 885. If using the Oyster charter service, the owner will net 80% of that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Oyster <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n A yacht has to be available in the right places at peak times, typically in the Caribbean over the winter, and the Mediterranean or New England in the summer.<\/span>\n Oyster Yacht Charter<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

A yacht has to be available in the right places at peak times, typically in the Caribbean over the winter, and the Mediterranean or New England in the summer. During the winter season from December to April, it is possible for an owner to sail for three weeks and charter their yacht for between four and eight weeks (the latter if the yacht is new) before heading across the Atlantic to Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Owners who want to maximise income have to be reasonable about the use they make of it themselves, says Molly Marston. \u201cBut that won\u2019t compromise your enjoyment with reasonable use,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a business, it depends how much personal use you are going to get out of the boat \u2013 that is the 64,000 dollar question,\u201d agrees Richard Matthews. \u201cWhere and when are you using it and does it leave enough capacity to have a viable business as well?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Oyster <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Oyster Charter advises on everything from the best layout and models when considering a new build or buying a brokerage yacht for charter, to what equipment and guest amenities are popular.<\/span>\n Oyster Yacht Charter<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn most cases, I would say yes, but it depends on family circumstances. It works really well provided you don\u2019t have expectations to use your yacht continuously in the high season. You will need to be realistic. Christmas, Easter and the high season of July and August are prime times and if you want to use it then yourself, you may be disappointed,\u201d he advises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith the right crew, you offset potentially 50% of maintenance costs with a hands-on approach, ongoing work that would otherwise need to be paid for. And it is a huge advantage that you can turn up and your boat is totally ready to go and the menu planned.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

How Does Yacht Charter Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n

Oyster Charter advises on everything from the best layout and models when considering a new build or buying a brokerage yacht<\/a> for charter, to what equipment and guest amenities are popular. It will also recommend a management company to help with corporate set-up and regulatory requirements, such as MCA coding and MLC compliance, which may be needed to ensure the vessel is legal to charter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Oyster <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Oyster Charter markets the yacht worldwide to clients and industry brokers.<\/span>\n Oyster Yacht Charter<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

So, how does yacht charter work and how can Oyster Yachts support? Oyster Charter markets the yacht worldwide to clients and industry brokers, puts together all the contacts and charter schedule, handles funds and is the liaison between owner, crew and guests. A starting point is always understanding how much an owner wishes to use their own boat, and where.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe service means you don\u2019t have to worry about all the contractual and payment issues,\u201d says Chris Shea. \u201cMuch more significantly, Magrathea was marketed with full knowledge of my own plans for her use. Prospective customers were matched with the way we liked the boat and the crew to be used.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is totally flexible and I adapt a programme to meet the owners\u2019 views,\u201d says Molly Marston. \u201cIf someone only wants to charter two weeks per year, that is fine. If they want as much as possible, that is also fine. The goal is to make chartering a good fit with each owner. We are one of the only companies with in-house charter management and it\u2019s like a boutique \u2013 it is customised for the owner and it has to feel right.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Most owners operate their yacht as a business and offset business costs, which means that they pay the charter fee and VAT in the country where they use their boat. \u201cYou can\u2019t run with the hare and hunt with the hounds,\u201d cautions Richard Matthews. \u201cPeople fall into the trap of trying to have the best of both worlds and that is not realistic. EU countries have different rules pertaining to charter and a lot require a licence and undertake safety checks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

He counsels that a good crew is fundamental in making charter work. Finding the right people is also something Oyster undertakes through its introduction and vetting service. \u201cIt\u2019s all about having the right crew,\u201d he says. \u201cYou are in a confined space and the crew have to strike the right balance as people have different expectations. They could want fine dining or hands-on sailing, or a party, or family time with swimming, snorkelling and paddleboarding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Oyster <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Finding the right people to crew your yacht is also something Oyster undertakes through its introduction and vetting service.<\/span>\n Oyster Yacht Charter<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

But he believes that running as a charter business actually helps with getting a suitable skipper and crew. \u201cGood crew don\u2019t want to sit on the dock. They are there because they love the sailing,\u201d he says. Owner Alan Parker agrees. \u201cYou tend to find people who are more experienced and like being charter skippers and that opens up new possibilities,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Try it Out by Chartering a Yacht<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n

If you want to know whether owning and chartering a yacht is for you, there is no better way than chartering someone else\u2019s yacht first to experience how it works. It enables people who are not expert sailors to learn from professional crew. Guests don\u2019t need any sailing knowledge at all, or they can be super energetic, do lots of miles and get hands on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Even if you decide to buy an Oyster, chartering can be worthwhile. Chris Shea did exactly that while his Oyster 72 Magrathea was being built. \u201cBuilding times are substantial so there is plenty of sailing to be done before delivery. There is also the issue of deciding on the options. What better way than to review them on real boats?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Better yet, why not quiz the crew mercilessly about what should and should not be added. The skipper of our third charter must have been climbing the wall with my incessant questioning as we sailed the Croatia coast.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Oyster <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n If you want to know whether owning and chartering a yacht is for you, there is no better way than chartering someone else\u2019s yacht first to experience how it works.<\/span>\n Oyster Yacht Charter<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

Now he has sold his yacht and is back to chartering on other people\u2019s, he looks back on the experience as entirely positive. \u201cOur crew were very careful and respectful of our feelings. It was extremely good, the boat was never damaged, the crew were happy and we had all the charters we wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Alan Parker says: \u201cIt has turned out to be a great combination having a large boat for our own personal use and at the same time an income. I am retired now so I could possibly squeeze in more time in terms of long distance trips and potentially go around the world or to New Zealand. That is going into a different phase of usage, though. For now, I have got a very happy medium.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

For more information, visit the Oyster Yacht Charter website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chartering your yacht provides extraordinary value in terms of carefree luxury sailing. So, why charter a yacht and how does yacht charter work?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28319,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"BS_author_type":"BS_author_is_guest","BS_guest_author_name":"By Oyster Yacht Charter","BS_guest_author_url":"","hydra_display_date":"20210607","hydra_display_updated":false,"_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"161","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Chartering your yacht provides extraordinary value in terms of carefree luxury sailing. So, why charter a yacht and how does yacht charter work? Oyster Yachts explores the answers to this question.","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","arc_story_id":"FM3LLVIP4VHCLGH6NJKZVLWZYM","arc_website_url":"story\/charter\/oyster-yacht-charter-benefits\/","custom_permalink":"story\/charter\/oyster-yacht-charter-benefits\/","arc_subtype":"right-sidebar","arc_exclude_from_feeds":true,"sponsored":true,"sponsored_label":"Sponsored Content","sponsored_display_label":true,"sponsored_image":0,"post_right_rail":true,"post_right_rail_ad_1":true,"post_right_rail_ad_2":true,"post_right_rail_ad_3":false,"post_right_rail_ad_4":false,"post_right_rail_recirc":true,"fixed_anchor_ad":true,"post_top_ad":true,"post_off_ramp":true,"post_taboola":false,"labels":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"\"\"","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[161],"tags":[169,1241,160,1242,143],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43167"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43167"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43167\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28319"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43167"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43167"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43167"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}