How much does it cost to charter a catamaran?

Ideal for cruising the Mediterranean or the Atlantic Ocean, a catamaran is the boat of choice for pleasure sailing. Hire prices vary according to the length of the charter, the model and size of the boat and the number of passengers. Find out which catamaran is best suited to your holiday.

What is a catamaran?

A catamaran is a multihull boat (since it has two parallel hulls) offering more living space and easier navigation at sea. It has a shallow draught and can be anchored at shallow depths. This makes it the ideal boat for visiting isolated coves or sailing from island to island during a cruise. Its thinner hull makes it faster than a monohull sailing boat.

There are two types of catamaran: sailing and motor. Sailing catamarans include sports catamarans and cruising boats. The latter include catamarans designed for yachting along the coast and, in rarer cases, for fishing.

In a catamaran, yachtsmen can take advantage of an open cockpit on the aft or foredeck of the boat to relax and admire the scenery.

Do I need a boating licence to charter a catamaran?

This essentially depends on the country you are chartering from.

In France, a licence is not necessarily required to pilot this type of craft. However, a minimum amount of sailing experience is required (“nautical CV”). If you don’t have this experience, you can hire a skipper and crew for a fee.

Hiring the services of a crew is therefore more expensive, but it will enable you to sail in complete safety and possibly learn a few useful manoeuvres. A skipper will cost you around €150 a day.

In other countries, such as Greece, a licence is compulsory. The same applies in Spain if the boat is over 5 metres long or has an engine of at least 15 hp.

How much does it cost to hire a catamaran?

Hiring a catamaran is more affordable than hiring a sailing boat, and offers excellent value for money. Catamarans offer more space and greater stability on the water.

The price of a catamaran rental generally depends on the size of the boat, the rental period, the season and the number of people on board.

Smaller catamarans cost less but offer less space and comfort. An 8-metre catamaran with 2 cabins and crew costs between €1,000 and €1,500 per day.

On average, a cruising catamaran is between 10 and 20 metres long. Sailing varies according to the size of the boat. For a cruise, it is advisable to hire a catamaran of at least 10 metres.

Here are the average prices for chartering a classic catamaran, depending on its size:

• For an 8 to 10 metre catamaran, expect to pay between €1,000 and €2,500 per week.
• For an 11 to 13 metre catamaran, expect to pay between €2,500 and €4,000 per week.
• Finally, for a catamaran of 14 metres or more, expect to pay between €4,000 and €6,000 per week.

Where to sail a catamaran?

In periods of weak currents, the Mediterranean lends itself particularly well to catamaran sailing. There are many places around the Mediterranean suitable for catamaran sailing: the French Riviera, Marseille and its creeks, Corsica, Sardinia, the Italian coast, Malta, the Balearic Islands, Greece, Spain, etc.

The Atlantic Ocean also offers a variety of places to go catamaran sailing. From the Canaries to the West Indies, you’ll easily find the destination that suits you best for learning to sail.

What makes of catamaran are available for charter?

Bali” brand catamarans provide large living quarters, making them one of the preferred boats for budding sailors. Other brands include Catana, Fountaine Pajot, Lagoon, Saona, Ipanema, Aquila, Nautitech and many others.

To find the model that’s right for you, make sure you choose a boat that suits your needs. For example, do you prefer speed and manoeuvrability or comfort and relaxation? Answering questions like these will help you determine the ideal boat for you.