The Real Cost of Owning a Yacht

Contrary to the general impression, yacht ownership is no closed affair once the initial purchase is made. As a rule of thumb, it is always advisable to plan on setting aside around 10% of the boat’s value. This will enable you to cover maintenance and other yacht care-related costs that inevitably arise. Licensing, insurance and berthing fees will also add up, and are incurred annually. Add to all this the expense of additional equipment upgrades and accessory replacements: you’ll soon realise that buying your own boat was actually the most straightforward step in the lifelong commitment that yacht ownership has turned out to be.

Five-Star Yacht Management

Azure Ultra’s unique fractional yacht ownership programme offers members all the advantages of having one’s own yacht, without any of the hassles of having to care for it. Equipped with an expert yacht management team, all owners’ boating needs are taken care of from the word go. The services encompassed by the term yacht management are varied, and continue to be provided for the duration of your membership.

So what does having your own yacht management team to deal with all boat-related aspects truly mean? For starters, this entails boat registration – a lengthy process that can take weeks to finalise, and must be accompanied by a series of surveys that assess and certify the condition of your newly acquired asset.

From then on, a personalised, full-service boat maintenance and care programme will run as and when the need arises – to be enjoyed as part of your membership with Azure Ultra. Management of your luxury yacht will be in our team’s capable hands all year round – whether this entails making berthing arrangements, taking care of regular boat cleaning, routine upkeep and servicing, ongoing inspections, or ensuring your yacht’s wintering needs are seen to.

On a more personal level, we will always be ready to assist you with any travel and accommodation requirements prior to your arrival. We will even make the necessary arrangement for laundry, transport, catering and other requested services during your stay, and will be happy to make reservations at restaurants, book excursions and organise on-board or on-land activities on your behalf.

Full Yacht Maintenance Service

Over the winter months, from December through to March, the Azure Ultra team can usually be seen working round the clock to maintain the luxury yacht fleet in top condition. During this period, they spend five full days a week carrying out a thorough steam clean of the yachts’ interiors as well as deep cleaning of soft furnishings. The necessary antifouling treatment, servicing of motor, generator and pumps, full polishing and detailing, and complete refurbishing of all teak furniture aboard each of our luxury Sunseekers is also carried out. The cost for such routine care easily runs into the tens of thousands of euro per boat, each year.

New Yacht Toys & Accessories

This year specifically, Azure Ultra acquired a series of boat accessories and toys to complement the Sunseeker lifestyle. At the launch of the 2017 boating season, our luxury yachts will be seen sporting two sleek jet rib tenders to transport charter guests to shore, as well as for coastal cave exploration. The newly replaced blinds and curtains will continue to ensure maximum comfort and privacy, while guests can sip on their favourite cocktails in a brand new choice of elegant glassware.

The latest yacht accessory to make its way over to Birgu marina is a foldable Sunseeker Brompton bike. Light and compact, it offers fun and easy transportation during town and harbour stops on Mediterranean charters.

Ongoing Yacht Crew Training

Azure Ultra continues to guarantee members and guests a seamless, safety-first experience each time they holiday aboard. As part of a complete yacht management service, our crew continuously stay at the top of their game by attending courses, undergoing training and earning further qualifications to ensure their ongoing professional development. Over the past months, some of our crew members obtained certification in the prestigious Yachtmaster Ocean and RIB Master programmes, and participated in the 7-Star Service workshop, among others.