A New Approach to Yacht Ownership: Expert Dealers, Global Sailing and More
Buy your new boat through our network of specialist dealers, benefit from professional fleet management and unlock access to a worldwide network of sailing destinations with Dream Yacht.
Most people who dream of owning a yacht picture the same things: a favourite anchorage, a week of island-hopping with the family, the freedom to slip the lines whenever the weather looks good. What they picture less often is the paperwork, the maintenance schedule, the mooring fees and the months when the boat sits unused.
At Dream Yacht, we’ve built an ownership model that keeps the first picture and takes much of the weight out of the second. You choose a brand-new yacht through one of our specialist dealers, then place it in our professionally managed charter fleet under the ownership program that suits you. One decision leads naturally into the other, so buying the boat and running it are planned together from day one.
How yacht ownership with Dream Yacht works in three steps
- Choose your yacht. Work with a specialist dealer to select a new catamaran or monohull from Fountaine Pajot, Lagoon, Dufour or Beneteau.
- Choose your program. Decide between the Guarantee Program and the Performance Program, depending on whether you value predictable income or a closer link to charter results.
- Start sailing. Your yacht joins the Dream Yacht fleet at its home base, while you enjoy owner sailing time on board – and across our worldwide network.
Step one: finding the right boat
The yacht comes first, and it should be one that genuinely excites you.
Catamarans – Fountaine Pajot and Lagoon. Both shipyards are known for cruising catamarans with generous living space, stable platforms and easy access to shallow bays and beaches. They’re a natural fit for families, groups of friends and anyone who values comfort at anchor as much as time under sail.
Monohulls – Dufour and Beneteau. For sailors who love the feel of a responsive hull, these two yards offer cruising yachts that range from relaxed family boats to models with a sportier edge.
Your dealer will walk you through available models to find the one that’s suited to you. Every yacht in our programs is configured for charter use, so the specification works for you as an owner and for the guests who sail her when you’re not aboard.
Step two: choosing your ownership program
No two owners want exactly the same thing from their yacht. That’s why we offer two programs, each built around a different balance of income, simplicity and personal use.
The Guarantee Program – predictability and simplicity
If you’d rather know where you stand, the Guarantee Program is designed for you. Owners receive a guaranteed income under the terms of their agreement, with eligible operating costs covered as set out in the program.
You also get up to eight weeks of owner sailing each year, which you can spend on your own yacht or on a similar yacht at any Dream Yacht base worldwide. Because the program also includes a variable element above the guaranteed income, it can support a “boat as a business” approach – worth discussing with your own tax adviser.
The Performance Program – a closer link to charter results
The Performance Program offers a generous revenue sharing model, so your income reflects how well your yacht performs in charter and the applicable expense arrangements, rather than a fixed figure.
It’s built for owners who want plenty of time on their own boat: the program allows for nearly unlimited sailing on your own yacht, plus two high-season weeks a year on a similar yacht at any of our worldwide bases, subject to availability and program conditions.
One yacht, a world of cruising grounds
This is where Dream Yacht ownership stands apart from conventional charter management. Your yacht isn’t just a boat waiting for you in one marina – it’s your way into a global sailing network.
With a fleet of more than 650 yachts and ownership locations across the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, owners can plan very different vacations from one year to the next. Our ownership bases include:
- Caribbean & Bahamas: British Virgin Islands, St. Martin, Martinique, Guadeloupe, the Exumas
- Mexico: La Paz
- Mediterranean: Dubrovnik and Trogir (Croatia); Athens and Corfu (Greece); Port Pin Rolland (France); Naples and Sardinia (Italy); Turkey
- Indian Ocean & Asia: Seychelles, Thailand
- South Pacific: Tahiti
Imagine a summer in the Greek Ionian one year, a winter escape to the Exumas the next, and a long-awaited trip to French Polynesia after that – all without owning more than one boat.
Is this the right route for you?
If you’re buying your first yacht, a managed program means you don’t have to learn every aspect of ownership at once. Bookings, marketing and day-to-day fleet operations are handled for you, according to your program.
If you’re an experienced sailor, it’s a practical way to share the running costs of a new boat while keeping meaningful time on the water – and gaining access to destinations you might never sail on your own keel.
The best choice depends on how often you plan to sail, how you feel about variable income, and how you want to balance personal use with charter activity. Our team and your dealer can help you weigh it up.
Frequently asked questions
Which yachts can I buy through the program? New yachts from Fountaine Pajot, Lagoon, Dufour and Beneteau, sold through our network of specialist dealers.
What is the difference between the Guarantee and Performance Programs? The Guarantee Program provides guaranteed income and up to eight weeks of owner sailing a year. The Performance Program uses a revenue sharing model, with nearly unlimited use of your own yacht plus two high-season weeks elsewhere in the network.
Can I sail at other Dream Yacht bases? Yes. Both programs include opportunities to sail similar yachts at our bases around the world, subject to program conditions and availability.
Who manages my yacht when I’m not using it? Dream Yacht markets the yacht, handles charter bookings and manages the relevant fleet operations, as set out in your program.
Start your ownership journey
Tell us which yacht and which way of owning appeals to you, and we’ll connect you with a specialist dealer near you to take the next step. Where will your yacht take you first?
