Yachts

Sailing vs. Motor Yachts: Which Is Right for You?

Learn the differences between sailing and motor yachts to determine the right fit for you.

Tristan Rutherford

| May 25, 2025

A large, modern sailing yacht with multiple masts glides on deep blue water under a bright, partly cloudy sky, with distant land visible on the horizon. — Aquijo is ideal for long-range cruising.

Chartering a superyacht is like taking over an entire One&Only hotel — at sea. Service and privacy pair with memories that only a voyage of a lifetime can provide.

But sailing and motor yacht charters are subtly different. Booking a wind-powered sailing yacht is slower and calmer. A motor yacht grants access to huge areas within a short time, while carrying bigger toys.

Read our lowdown on which yacht type to choose for your ocean adventure. New to the world of yachts? Check out our ultimate guide to what is yachting.

What’s the Biggest Difference Between Sailing and Motor Yachts?

Athos boasts five stunning cabins and accommodates up to 10 guests.

One word: atmosphere.

On sailing yachts, part of the thrill is navigating silently among destinations. “The moment when the sails are up, when everything goes quiet, is magic,” says Tamsin Priestley, charter specialist at Y.Co.

“Sailing allows guests to feel at one with the meditative rhythm of the sea,” says Dominic Meredith Hardy from Classic Charters, which specializes in sailing yachts. “It’s something our Gen Z clients especially value: a raw, authentic, and Instagrammable experience that also speaks to sustainability and exploration.”

By contrast, motor yachts are slicker and quicker. They blast through the waves using multiple diesel engines. Motor-powered superyachts are more associated with onboard parties, fast toys, and dress-up dinners — especially in upscale Mediterranean ports like Cannes in the South of France and Santorini in the Greek islands.

Which Has the Better Toys: Sailing or Motor Yachts?

Aerial view of a yacht with a wooden deck, lounge chairs, and water toys including jet skis, kayaks, and two small sailboats floating on calm blue water. — Sea Eagle offers a range of water toys, including water scooters, stand-up paddleboards, and kayaks.

Not better. Just different.

Motor yachts are known for high velocity and global capability. They pack the toys to match, often inside a specialized garage that opens seaward. When chartering in the 75-foot motor yacht range, expect Seascooters, inflatables, and a fast tender to pull wakeboards and water skis.

In the 150-foot sector, there will be scuba kits, jet skis, and multiple tenders to undertake simultaneous missions on land and sea. Above 300 feet, the world is your oyster. Imagine helicopters, personal submersibles, and fully equipped decompression chambers staffed by experienced master divers.

Top-tier sailing yachts carry a similar toybox. Sea Eagle, for example, patrols the Pacific from €550,000 ($615,100) per week and comes with eFoil electric surfboards, jet skis, and a super-fast Windy SLR 60 chase boat. She also packs sailing-style toys that focus on soft adventure: one-person dinghies, fishing gear, and snorkels.

Smaller sailing yachts like 105-foot Farfalla host stand-up paddleboards, kiteboards, and underwater cameras for a €70,000 ($78,000) per week charter fee. You would get more kit on a similarly sized motorboat, but sailors would argue that the yacht herself is the ultimate toy.

Which Is Quicker?

A large luxury yacht sails on clear blue water with small islands and green hills in the background under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds. — Alfa Nero crosses from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean each autumn and returns in May.

Silly question. If you want to slice from Monaco to Saint-Tropez in 60 minutes flat or thrash through the 7,000 islands of the Caribbean during a seven-day vacation, a motor yacht will accomplish the task.

A good comparison are the luxury catamarans built by Sunreef, some of which are powered by motor, others by sail.

“The Sunreef Power range (like Sol, which charters from $92,500 per week) is perfect for covering greater distances quickly,” says charter spokesperson Carole Madar. By contrast, Sunreef Sail catamarans (like Viva la Vida, which charters from $79,000 per week), “offer a quieter and eco-conscious cruising experience.” Formula One driver Fernando Alonso and tennis champ Rafael Nadal are both Sunreef Power owners.

Which Is More Luxurious?

A modern luxury yacht with an upper deck dining area, a mid-deck pool with loungers, shaded seating, and an expansive swim platform at the rear, floating on calm blue water. — The B.Loft concept features impressive high ceilings and vast outdoor spaces.

For opulence, a motor yacht wins hands down. The latest designs from Benetti, one of the top luxury boat brands and the world’s largest, feature New York City-loft-style layouts and double-height ceilings. The forthcoming B.Loft is a floating villa. Lower down the scale, almost every motor superyacht charter will boast a hot tub, an alfresco bar, and a chef trained in a Michelin-starred kitchen.

Sailing yachts have narrower dimensions, so luxury must be squeezed in. Their décor is generally more dated. That’s because some classic vessels were styled to attract salty sea dogs, rather than Air Jordan-wearing techies from Silicon Valley.

One reason behind the differing levels of luxury is age. Although sailing yachts make up about 15% of the global superyacht fleet, they account for just 5% of those currently being built. The older the yacht, the less luxurious it usually is.

That said, there are many chic sailing yachts out there. They include Jeff Bezos’s 417-foot sailing yacht Koru, which blends tradition with tech. Just don’t expect to charter it through Amazon.

Can I Charter Sail and Motor Yachts in the Same Locations?

Luxurious yacht deck with cushioned seating and a round hot tub, surrounded by clear blue water and scenic green hills under a bright sky. — Emir charter rates start at $790,000 weekly.

Motor yacht charters are available almost everywhere, from Alaska to Australia. “But sailing charters tend to flourish in regions with good, consistent winds that make sailing enjoyable,” says Hardy from Classic Charters. This means destinations like Croatia or the Greek Islands, where you can explore a variety of locales without traveling too far.

Sailing yachts are also common in remote locations, which are often frequented by grand yachts undertaking around-the-world voyages. “In Fiji, where Aquijo, is available, there is less need to refuel with a sailing yacht, so you can cover significant distances and explore further,” says Priestly from Y.Co. In Aquijo’s case, there are luxurious accoutrements, including a beach club, three outdoor bars, and an internal elevator. A trip on a sailing yacht this elegant starts at €505,000 ($565,000) per week.

What Is the Ecological Footprint of Sailing and Motor Yachts?

A traditional sailboat with white sails glides on calm blue water, surrounded by lush green islands and forested hills under a clear sky, with a palm tree in the foreground. — Lamima is available for charter in Indonesia through Eyos Expeditions.

A fast motorboat drinks gas. A midsize superyacht can burn through 100 gallons per hour while underway.

Sustainability attracts many clients to sail. “You are not burning fuel, so it’s also better for your wallet,” adds Hardy from Classic Charter.

This is reflected in the sailing yacht APA, the advance provisioning allowance deposit required to board a superyacht. For sailing yachts, the APA is often 25% of the total fee, instead of 35% for a motor yacht. Hardy charters When And If, which cruises through the Caribbean for around $20,000 per week, using around two gallons of fuel per hour.

What About Costs?

A large white sailing yacht with multiple masts and sails glides on blue water under a clear sky, with a distant green shoreline visible in the background. — Puritan accommodates up to eight guests and seven crew members.

“Charter rates for sailing yachts tend to be lower than motor yachts of a similar size,” explains Priestly from Y.Co. There’s a variety of factors at play. First, fuel-related costs are minimal compared to running powerful motors. Second, there are fewer costly toys for owners to pay for. The latest Lift5 eFoil electric surfboards, for instance, cost $15,000 a piece but are considered must-haves on all top yachts.

The third and most important factor is space. “For a like-for-like size yacht, a sailing charter would have less volume, so this is ultimately reflected in the rate,” continues Priestly.

For example, a head-turning sailboat like 126-foot Puritan charters in the Mediterranean from €57,500 ($64,000) per week. A similarly sized motor yacht might cost four times that fee.

Sailing vs. Motor Yachts: Which Is Best for Me?

A luxurious yacht deck with white cushioned seating and wooden tables overlooks a calm ocean at sunset, featuring a pink and orange sky with scattered clouds. — Sea Eagle, built by Royal Huisman, is one of the largest sailing yachts in the world.

To sum up, both sailing and motor yacht charters promise unparalleled experiences in fabulous locations, with distinct differences.

Love comfort, style, and a need for speed? A motor yacht will have the biggest toys. Prefer wind-in-your-hair thrills in timeless locations? A sailing yacht channels a barefoot bohemian spirit alongside a sense of adventure.

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