The Yachtxchange blog

Guides for buying, selling and owning a yacht

Practical guides, market notes and checklists from the people who run Yachtxchange.

The stern of a white motor yacht at a Mediterranean quay, with her name, port of registry and ensign clearly visible

Mar 2, 2026 · 6 min read

Choosing a flag and registering your yacht

The flag your yacht flies decides which rules she follows, how she can be used and financed, and how easy she will be to sell. A practical guide to registries, the process and the mistakes to avoid.

A mid-sized cruising sailing yacht moored stern-to in a small Mediterranean harbour on a calm morning

Feb 3, 2026 · 5 min read

Buying your first sailing yacht: a checklist

How you will sail, what size to buy, what to inspect yourself before paying for a survey, and how to plan your first season. A practical checklist for first-time sailing yacht buyers.

A sailing yacht anchored in a quiet bay of clear turquoise water between pine-covered Dalmatian islands

Jan 29, 2026 · 6 min read

Coastal cruising in Croatia: regions, winds, berths and paperwork

Over a thousand islands, short hops and clear water. A practical guide to cruising Croatia: where to go, how the bora and jugo behave, where to stop for the night and what to arrange on arrival.

A yacht on the hard in a boatyard, with fresh antifouling on the hull and a technician inspecting the propeller

Jan 8, 2026 · 6 min read

The true cost of owning a yacht

The purchase price is only the start. A practical guide to what a yacht really costs each year, how those costs grow with size and complexity, and how to estimate them honestly before you buy.

A cruising catamaran and a sailing monohull at anchor side by side in a calm Mediterranean bay

Dec 19, 2025 · 6 min read

Catamaran or monohull: an honest comparison for buyers

Space and stability at anchor, or feel and windward ability under sail? A practical comparison of catamarans and monohulls, without the myths, to help you choose the right boat for how you will really use it.

A motor yacht anchored off a rocky Corsican coast of red granite cliffs and clear blue water

Dec 4, 2025 · 6 min read

Cruising the French Riviera and Corsica: winds, berths, anchoring rules and routes

From Saint-Tropez to Menton, the Îles d'Hyères and the wild west coast of Corsica. A practical guide to the mistral and libeccio, finding a berth in high season, France's anchoring rules and two sample routes.

A yacht moving slowly through turquoise water near a coral reef, with a crew member watching from the bow

Nov 8, 2025 · 6 min read

Navigating poorly charted or uncharted waters safely

Your chart plotter can show your yacht sailing over land. In remote cruising grounds, charts can be decades old or simply wrong. Here is how experienced skippers plan, read the water and keep a margin.

A crewed motor yacht at anchor in a calm Mediterranean bay, with a tender alongside and guests on the aft deck

Oct 29, 2025 · 6 min read

Putting your yacht into charter: what owners should know

Charter can offset part of the cost of owning a yacht, but it brings wear, rules and less time aboard. An honest guide to how charter works, what the yacht needs and what to ask before you sign.

A sailing yacht moored stern-to on the stone quay of a white-washed Greek island harbour at sunset

Oct 13, 2025 · 6 min read

Cruising the Greek islands: Ionian or Aegean, the meltemi, harbours and paperwork

Greece has two very different cruising grounds. A practical guide to choosing between the gentle Ionian and the windy Aegean, planning around the meltemi, mooring stern-to on your own anchor and arranging the paperwork.