Yacht Charter Glossary
From APA to windlass — every yacht charter term you need to know, explained in plain English.
A
- APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance)
- A pre-paid fund (typically 25–35% of the charter fee) covering fuel, food, drinks, port fees, and other running costs during a yacht charter. Any unspent balance is refunded after the voyage. Learn more →
B
- Beam
- The width of a yacht at its widest point. A wider beam generally means more interior volume and greater stability at sea.
- Berth
- A sleeping space on a yacht, or alternatively, a mooring space in a marina or port.
- Bow
- The front of the yacht. The bow cuts through waves and often features a sun deck or seating area on luxury yachts.
- Broker
- A professional intermediary who connects charter guests with yacht owners. A good broker (like Navélia) matches you with the perfect yacht, negotiates terms, and handles all logistics. Learn more →
C
- Cabin
- A private bedroom on a yacht. Luxury charter yachts typically offer en-suite master, VIP, double, and twin cabin configurations.
- Captain
- The licensed professional in command of the yacht, responsible for navigation, safety, and the overall charter experience.
- Catamaran
- A twin-hulled vessel offering exceptional stability, shallow draft, and spacious deck areas. Popular for family charters and calm-water cruising.
- Charter
- The rental of a privately crewed yacht for a set period — typically a day, weekend, or week. All Navélia charters include a professional captain and crew. Learn more →
- Charter Agreement
- The legal contract between the charterer (guest) and the yacht owner, specifying dates, route, pricing, insurance, and terms of the voyage.
- Crew
- The professional team operating the yacht, including the captain, chef, steward(ess), engineer, and deckhands. Crew size depends on yacht size.
- Cruising Speed
- The comfortable, fuel-efficient speed at which a yacht travels on passage. Typically 10–14 knots for motor yachts and 6–8 knots for sailing yachts.
D
- Day Charter
- A yacht rental lasting one day, typically 8–10 hours. Ideal for beach hopping, island visits, and coastal exploration on the French Riviera. Learn more →
- Displacement
- The weight of water displaced by the hull, essentially the yacht's total weight. Displacement yachts are heavier, more stable, and designed for long-range cruising.
- Draft
- The depth of water a yacht needs to float. Deep-draft yachts can't access shallow bays; shallow-draft vessels offer more anchorage flexibility.
E
- Embarkation
- The process of boarding the yacht at the start of a charter. Embarkation typically takes place at a designated port or marina.
F
- Flybridge
- An upper deck above the main helm, usually open-air, with additional seating, sun lounging, and often a secondary helm station.
G
- Galley
- The yacht's kitchen. On luxury charter yachts, the galley is a fully equipped professional kitchen where the onboard chef prepares gourmet meals.
- Gross Tonnage (GT)
- A measurement of the yacht's total enclosed internal volume. Yachts above 500 GT are classified as superyachts and require larger crew.
H
- Head
- The bathroom or toilet facilities on a yacht. En-suite heads are standard on luxury charter yachts.
- Hull
- The main body and structural shell of the yacht. Hull design determines speed, stability, and seaworthiness.
J
- Jet Ski / WaveRunner
- A personal watercraft typically included in the water toy selection of superyacht charters.
K
- Knot
- A unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour (1.852 km/h). A yacht cruising at 12 knots travels approximately 22 km/h.
L
- LOA (Length Overall)
- The total length of the yacht from bow to stern. LOA is the primary measurement used when classifying yacht size.
M
- Marina
- A harbour facility with berths, fuel, water, electricity, and shore services for yachts. Key Riviera marinas include Port Hercules (Monaco), Port Vauban (Antibes), and the Old Port of Saint-Tropez. Learn more →
- Mooring
- Securing a yacht in place using anchors, buoys, or dock lines. Popular mooring spots on the Riviera include Pampelonne Bay and the Lérins Islands.
- Motor Yacht
- A power-driven yacht, as opposed to a sailing yacht. Motor yachts offer higher speeds, more interior volume, and generally more deck space.
- Multi-Day Charter
- A yacht charter lasting 2–14+ days, including overnight accommodation, full crew, and often a custom itinerary across multiple destinations. Learn more →
N
- Nautical Mile
- A unit of distance used in maritime navigation, equal to 1,852 metres (1.15 statute miles). Saint-Tropez to Monaco is approximately 50 nautical miles.
P
- Planing Hull
- A hull design that rises onto the surface of the water at speed, reducing drag. Planing yachts are faster but less fuel-efficient than displacement hulls.
- Port
- The left side of the yacht when facing forward, marked with a red navigation light. Also refers to a harbour or marina.
- Provisioning
- The process of stocking the yacht with food, beverages, and supplies before a charter. Covered by the APA on crewed charters.
R
- RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat)
- A lightweight, fast tender used to transfer guests between the yacht and shore. Also known as a dinghy or tender.
S
- Sailing Yacht
- A wind-powered yacht with masts and sails. Modern luxury sailing yachts combine traditional sailing with modern amenities and comfort.
- Starboard
- The right side of the yacht when facing forward, marked with a green navigation light.
- Stern
- The back of the yacht. Many modern yachts feature a swim platform and beach club at the stern.
- Superyacht
- A professionally crewed motor or sailing yacht typically exceeding 24 metres (80 feet) in length, offering ultra-luxury amenities, gourmet dining, and extensive water toy collections. Learn more →
- Swim Platform
- A flat platform at the stern of the yacht, at water level, used for swimming access, water sports, and tender boarding.
T
- Tender
- A smaller boat carried on or towed by the main yacht, used for shore transfers, water sports, and exploring shallow areas.
W
- Water Toys
- Recreational equipment carried on charter yachts, including jet skis, paddleboards, kayaks, snorkeling gear, seabobs, inflatable slides, and diving equipment.
- Windlass
- An electric or hydraulic winch system used to raise and lower the yacht's anchor.