Sail on "your" boat of the moment or take a stroll
Boat rental definitely remains the most pragmatic solution. In fact, the average use of a sailing boat over the year is less than ten days. A fact which encourages to rent rather than to own when you know the purchase price of a boat, without forgetting the maintenance or storage..
Renting a boat offers - besides a financial advantage - the possibility to change the type of boat, but also the place of navigation, while relieving oneself of the maintenance. On the other hand, it requires the ability to be a skipper or to have in his entourage a skipper experienced enough to take charge of a boat he does not know, in a possibly unknown area.
Otherwise, don't panic! Hirers also offer skippers to accompany you on your trip. This will of course cost you more, but you will be able to enjoy your sailing cruise in complete peace of mind, even if you don't know anything about it!
How to reduce rental costs?
To reduce the cost of renting a boat, you can direct your search towards destinations where there are many offers such as Brittany, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean rather than exotic destinations such as Sweden or New Zealand.
You should also favour off-season periods, as many promotional and negotiable offers are very attractive. There is nothing better than discovering Belle ile en mer, les Saintes or Corsica in the calm of the off-season.
Finally, sailing with friends will allow you to reduce the cost of the rental per person. Also share all the other costs: food, excursion, fuel... On the other hand, one of you will obviously have to know how to sail and see if you are able to sail alone or if you wish to have one or more crew members.
I mean, come to think of it, it won't cost more than a shore vacation.
