Blue water: Simply charter around the world?

The "Dream Yacht Charter Sabbatical" programme is aimed at customers who dream of a temporary break in exotic waters, but who cannot or do not want to take the time and effort involved in owning their own yacht or simply do not want to sail their ship across the Atlantic to the Caribbean or even the Pacific. "We want to offer such sailors a safe, turnkey solution," says Urs Rothacher, who developed the programme for Dream Yacht. "We see our customers as executives or entrepreneurs who want to interrupt their careers and fulfil their dreams of a blue water voyage without having to make high investments and expenditures." Rothacher himself has realised three blue water sabbaticals with his family between job changes or setting up his own company, so he knows what he is talking about.

The core of the programme is that the crews charter a ship from the Dream Yacht charter fleet for several months or even a year and go on a cruise, for example in the Caribbean, the Pacific or from the Seychelles or Madagascar. Customers are supported by an expert team when planning the itinerary and are trained on site by the base staff for simple maintenance work. For longer cruises, major maintenance work is organised in consultation with the base at specified stops. Dream Yacht CEO Loïc Bonnet is certain that there will be enough interested customers: "We know that more than one in two Germans would like to take a break. When they are at sea, it is important and reassuring to be able to count on someone who can offer them solid support."

The programme starts with cruises in the Mediterranean, South Seas, Caribbean, Asia and Transatlantic. One-way trips between the bases are also possible. For the new programme, Dream Yachts has also entered into a partnership with the French cat shipyard Outremer, whose high-quality and fast cats are popular with multihull fans. Such a boat is also available on request.

Prices naturally vary greatly depending on the area, duration and type of boat, but Urs Rothacher gave a rough guide value of around 10,000 euros for a one-month charter of a 40-foot catamaran at the kick-off event at boot in Düsseldorf.

Further information on the specially set up Website from Dream Yacht on the subject.