Yacht charter brokers

A yacht charter broker is a specialist travel agent which acts as a representative for the chartering of a yacht or boat. The yacht charter broker also commonly organises travel arrangements and other vacation details.

Yacht charter is most common in the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas, which are also the most popular waterways for leisure boating. A yacht charter broker may specialize in the charter of crewed luxury yacht or bare-boat charter, or both.

The term ‘yacht charter broker’ can sometimes be confused with the term ‘yacht broker’. A yacht broker acts as an agent in the sale of yachts, rather than the sale of charter time on yachts. Occasionally a person will carry out both roles but more commonly a company as a whole will carry out both roles and employ both yacht charter brokers and yacht brokers. The roles are therefore normally specialised and distinguished.

There are several industry organisations which help control the yacht broker industry. In Europe, for instance, The Mediterranean Yacht Broker’s Association (MYBA) takes on this role while the Yacht Broker’s Association of America (YBAA) is the American equivalent.

There is also an international yacht broker organisation called The International Yacht Council. The IYC is a worldwide coalition of professional yacht broker associations. The Council is made up of six member associations including the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers, Florida Yacht Brokers, California Yacht Brokers, Northwest Yacht Brokers, British Columbia Yacht Brokers and Yacht Brokers Association of America.