Yachting has become one of the most luxurious past times for any upscale boater. Sailing the open waters brings all passengers on a yacht to a relaxing place where the cool ocean breeze and warm sun come together. For any first time sailing yachter, though, there are many choices in the lifestyle of yachting. Before deciding on a yacht to purchase, consider the options and classifications for yacht sailing.

For the beginner, a small, day sailing yacht may be the perfect fit to give you a feel for the open waters and yacht controls. They are often called dinghies, which is a popular term among fellow sailors. A day sailing yacht is meant for typical weekends or long days for yachting, but they have no overnight cabin. Day yachts provide a cubby for important items and an area to find shelter from ocean spray, but overall their use is mainly for a day of cruising with friends and family.

For longer sail yachting, weekend yachts can provide facilities for short, vacation trips. They are designed to allow beaching for an overnight camping, or to take a break from the open water. They have a small cabin with a bed and facilities to keep items for overnight stays. The bed usually has a capacity for two or three people.

Cruising yachts are the most popular type of yachts designed for long trips and easy open water maneuverability. They have enormous space both inside and outside to allow larger families and group gatherings to enjoy a long sailing vacation. Their size ranges from twenty five to fifty feet long, and they are designed with several amenities for comfortable cruising.

Some sailors enjoy the ability to cruise with a motor instead of sails for a period of time. Motor sailor yachts provide a method of using a motor in place of sails for as long as the driver needs. This option is perfect for days when weather turns sour, or wind is not properly available. They are also good vacation yachts with large rooms in the interior for overnight stays.

Luxury sailing yachts are the largest of the sailing yacht styles. They are generally over eighty feet in length with enormous fiberglass hulls. They are equipped with the highest and most advanced computerized equipment, and they are packed full of quality amenities such as television and air condition. Luxury sailing yachts are the finest extended vacation yachts with generators to provide long term electrical power.

Finally, in an effort to bring yachters a sport they enjoy, racing yachts are available for competitive sailing. They are made with the lightest materials and created with the sleekest design to avoid wind drag. Their sails are massive to provide the most efficient wind propulsion ability. The sport of yacht racing has become popular among yachting enthusiast for its competitive nature while maintaining an overall enjoyment of yachts and their performance.

If you are in the market for a sailing yacht, consider all your options before you buy. Yachting is truly a luxury that everyone enjoys if finances permit.

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Whether you decide to opt for a sailing yacht or a power yacht depending on your taste and experience the categories of charter are the same, what ever your budget, and there are three basic types.

Bareboat charter is for the more experienced person who has been sailing before. In fact the boat owner will insist on some type of qualification from a national authority before agreeing on the charter. This qualification will be something like an Offshore Skipper Certificate, depending where you are from. On a bareboat charter you are your own skipper, mate, mechanic, deckhand, chef and dinghy driver. Whilst on charter it is up to you to arrange all the watch keeping, safety, daily routine etc. To be able to take on a bareboat charter you will be familiar with a yacht routine and know what to do. If you are a little rusty or not familiar with the type of yacht then you may wish to employ a skipper for the whole charter or for just a few days. You will quickly learn from the skipper before taking over on your own but you must realize that the skipper will require a cabin for his time on board so allow for that when planning your vacation.

Yachts offered for bareboat charter are more than likely to be older yachts that have been used as instructional yachts as well as hired by less than accomplished sailors. They are unlikely to be in pristine condition as they have been used and have acquired bumps and scratches from contact with jetties and inside galley spills leaving their mark. However you will still have lots of fun with good value for money a the charter rate will be lower for this type of yacht.

The size of the yacht could be anything up to 60 feet and will be comfortable and easy to handle for you and your party. Single hull sailing yachts, catamarans and power yachts are all available for the same cost or less than the cost per person on a mid range cruise ship. If you wish to employ a skipper or a chef/deckhand then obviously the cost will increase to pay their wages, possibly up to $300 per day for the skipper, who will do most of the work on board and make life easier for you.

If you are lacking the experience or would feel happy with company nearby then you might choose to take a flotilla charter instead. This allows you to sail your own yacht but have the support of a professional skipper and crew member leading the flotilla on their own yacht. You sail in company with other yachts and the agenda is arranged by the flotilla skipper who has all the local knowledge to make your vacation pleasurable. As you acquire knowledge and become more confident you may wish to sail independently of the flotilla but arrange to meet up with them at the next harbor or anchorage. You will still be able to stay in contact with the flotilla by radio in case you need help.

The other category is that of a crewed yacht. This can be any amount of crew from just a skipper/owner through to a large yacht with captain, mate and full crew. A husband and wife crew on their own yacht is quite common where the wife will do all the cooking and domestic chores and lend a hand crewing as well. You will not be asked to do too much work but of course you can be involved as much as you want. So what is the difference here to the skippered bareboat, it is the fact that the yacht is owned by the husband and wife team and will be in better condition and well maintained. They will take greater pride in their yacht and will see themselves as hosts rather than paid crew.

Fully crewed yachts are the most expensive option but if you can afford it then you will find yourself fully pampered and served by the crew. If you are combining your budget with your friends then possibly your will be able to charter such a yacht. The yachts vary tremendously in size and style but luxury and service are the key words. A 46 foot sailing yacht with four guests will cost around $20000 for a week plus expenses such as food, fuel and berthing fees. At the other end of the scale hiring a 170 foot motor yacht with accommodation for ten guests would be around $250000 plus expenses. So you can see that at this end of the market there is a yacht for every taste as long as you can afford to pay for it.