hat is yachting

“Yachting” is about more than being paid to party, it’s Hollywood’s murkiest open secret

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Celebrities Accused Of 'Yachting' In Hollywood — And What Being A 'Yacht Girl' Really Means

Rumors suggest some women are paid to play..

• Micki Spollen

Written on Jan 11, 2022

It’s easy to be envious when seeing the Instagram photos of young, carefree celebrity women seemingly having the time of their lives on yachts floating in exotic waters and in the VIP sections of the most exclusive clubs.

However, rumor has it there is much more than meets the eye when it comes to these ‘yacht girls’ and their extravagant lifestyles.

What is a yacht girl?

According to Urban Dictionary , a yacht girl is “an attractive young woman who finds ways to get access to luxurious surroundings by being available to wealthy men.”

For example, you may follow a woman or two on Instagram who always seems to be partying or vacationing somewhere expensive (notably without ever showing who she’s actually with). This is a person you could potentially describe as being a yacht girl.

And it’s not just those Instagram models and wannabe stars that are considered yacht girls. As you work up the wealth chain, you may be surprised to recognize some celebrity names synonymous with yachting.

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What is 'yachting' in Hollywood?

In Hollywood, the term yacht girl essentially means a woman who works as an escort for high-end clientele , not just on yachts but for any social event.

While the practice has only somewhat recently gained mainstream notoriety, if you think back on the many tabloid photos of models and actresses on yachts from years past, it appears to be something that's gone on in Hollywood “for 60 years,” according to Elie Nahas, who ran a Beirut-based modeling agency before being arrested on charges of running a prostitution ring in 2007.

In 2013, "The Hollywood Reporter" ran a feature describing this so-called yachting during the Cannes Film Festival.

“Every year during the festival there are 30 or 40 luxury yachts in the bay at Cannes, and every boat belongs to a very rich person. Every boat has about 10 girls on it; they are usually models, and they are usually nude or half nude,” Nahas told THR.

At the end of the night, each woman would receive a “gift,” a generous amount of money that the client would put in an envelope for her.

And while many of these women were self-proclaimed local prostitutes and escorts, the Cannes Film Festival is, of course, known for its celebrity attendees — and it’s rumored that celebrity women trying to fast-track a name for themselves in Hollywood become yacht girls, too.

“Women installed on yachts in Cannes during the film festival are called ‘yacht girls,’ and the line between professional prostitutes and B- or C-list Hollywood actresses and models who accept payment for sex with rich older men is sometimes very blurred, explains one film industry veteran,” Dana Kennedy wrote for THR.

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Some women in Hollywood have accused their celebrity peers of being yacht girls.

A 2017 blind item (celebrity gossip that doesn’t outwardly name the celebrity) allegedly written by a struggling actress describes being lured by another actress into the world of yachting :

“The actress I was talking to made it sound super easy and that she only had [sex] a few times with guys while yachting and that it was mostly partying and being arm candy,” she writes, explaining that eventually she agreed to try it for $25,000 upfront, but admitting that the experience was less than glamorous.

Blind item readers guessed that Canadian actress Vanessa Lengies wrote the blind item and further surmised that it may be one of the Glee actresses Naya Rivera or Heather Morris that introduced her to yachting. None of these claims have ever been substantiated.

If you believe the rumors, it would seem that yachting is a rite of passage for women hoping to “make it” in Hollywood, and even some celebrities we now consider A-List are thought to be former yacht girls.

In an excerpt from her 2021 memoir , “My Body,” Emily Ratajkowski details being paid $25,000 at the start of her career to go to the Superbowl with now-disgraced Malaysian financier Jho Low, who "‘just liked to have famous men and women around,’” she explains her manager told her at the time.

She writes about attending the star-studded Coachella on someone else’s dime, having drinks paid for at clubs, and attending afterparties with Oscar-winning actors before actually becoming a celebrity herself.

One could infer from this recollection that, in order to be able to tell these stories, Ratajkowski was herself a yacht girl. “My Body” suggests as much, and in it, she subtly gives away the identity of another celebrity woman who yachted alongside her.

Ratajkowski describes watching as Low gave shots to a Victoria’s Secret model. While she doesn’t name drop, Ratajkowski gives just enough information for readers to figure who that model likely was.

“Now she kept her eyes locked on him as he took his shot, throwing her head back dramatically as he did, only to quickly toss the alcohol over her shoulder,” Ratajkowski writes. “When he faced her again, her eyes sparkled and the famous dimples appeared on her cheeks.”

Low has since become a fugitive wanted for allegedly running an international money laundering scheme, and in 2017, Reuters reported that model Miranda Kerr — known for her dimples — was being ordered to return “diamond pendants, earrings and other jewelry worth about $8 million” that Low allegedly gifted her to government agents.

In 2017, Ratajkowski also posted a video on Instagram potentially outing Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber as yacht girls as they danced aboard a yacht during that year’s Cannes Film Festival.

          View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata)

Many people have also accused Meghan Markle of yachting (but then again, what haven't people accused Markle of at this point).

People have pointed to an old photo of Markle on a yacht as proof that she’s a former yacht girl.

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Another old blind item also suggested the former actress was available to “rent.”

"If you see B actress post scantily clad photos of themselves on Social Media, this is often a Comm to [them] that this person is available to ‘rent’ for a weekend of ‘yachting,’” the tweet says, including a photo of Markle in a swimsuit.

"If you see B actress post scantily clad photos of themselves on Social Media, this is often a Comm to [them] that this person is available to “rent” for a weekend of “yachting”. Typically worth $30K for the “party” - Meghan Markle @3Days3Nights https://t.co/E3WfMjnVL9 pic.twitter.com/QFv476GL0b — yacht girl (@yachtgirlmm) November 27, 2019

Markle’s close friendship pre-Harry with actress Priyanka Chopra has naturally led some to guess that Chopra once yachted as well.

Another actress that faces endless rumors of yachting is Russian actress Irina Shayk , which according to THR, is par for the course as the outlet writes that yachting your way to stardom happens with “disturbing frequency,” particularly when it comes to foreign-born actresses.

According to THR, who claims to know “of at least one now-prominent actress who made her first connections on a Cannes yacht and quickly landed her debut role in a U.S.-shot movie,” such as with Shayk’s 2014 film “Hercules,” it’s “a red flag any time you see a foreign-born actress with no credits suddenly make her way into a U.S.-shot movie.”

Of course, when it comes to yachting in Hollywood, all of these claims appear to be unfounded.

These rumors make for good gossip, whether you’re talking about low-level social media influencers or high-profile celebrity actresses.

However, nothing is proven, leaving us to wonder any time we see a photo of women on a yacht.

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Micki Spollen is an editor, writer, and traveler focused on relationships, news, and pop culture. Follow her on Instagram .

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Decoding Hollywood's Disturbing "Yachting" Culture Beneath the Glamour

Published Dec. 19 2023, 10:41 p.m. ET

We explore the hidden meaning of "yachting" in Hollywood: individuals, often women, get paid large sums to spend time with wealthy individuals for career advancement.

Individuals may face uncomfortable situations, including sexual assault, trading dignity for fame, and money in a corrupt industry.

Prominent figures like Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Kylie and Kendall Jenner, Nina Dobrev, Hailey Bieber, and Emily Ratajkowski have all been linked anecdotally to Nonsense Pudding .

Thanks to influencers like Deux Moi , normies are finally getting a peek into the life of the rich and famous. And while pictures aboard yachts surrounded by luxury may look glamorous to all of us, it isn't necessarily all that it’s cracked up to be. Stories have been coming out for decades about people, often women, who subject themselves to “yachting.”

We may associate yachting with rich guys sailing in races, but it actually has a much darker meaning in Hollywood . It’s often considered Hollywood’s oldest “open secret,” but what actually is “yachting”? Keep reading for all of the details.

In Hollywood, "yachting" is the practice of getting paid large sums of money to spend time with wealthy people.

At its most innocent, “yachting” is a PR opportunity for an up-and-coming actor or model. However, it’s often much more sinister. Basically, typically women on their way up in the industry may get paid a large sum of money — five, six, or even seven figures — to spend time with wealthy men. The benefit for the women is the money, the photo ops of luxury, and a potential opportunity to meet someone who could give them a leg up in the industry.

However, they often aren’t told what strings are attached before agreeing to “yacht” with someone. Many of these excursions often lead to sex and other forms of assault. Although the women tend to be up and coming celebs and influencers, they are essentially selling their body for the entirety of their time on the yacht. It gives “the implication” a whole new meaning.

“Yachting” is a common and known practice in Hollywood, but it could also be considered prostitution.

In 2007, businessman Elie Nahas was convicted of running a prostitution ring at the Cannes Film Festival. He claimed that he was only responsible for getting women to Cannes and had nothing to do with what happened after, but even if he did, there are hundreds of other men doing the same thing.

Many of us see pictures of celebrities on yachts and luxury vacations and think, "Wow, imagine living that life!" But in reality, they're being paid to spend time with someone they may not like just because it could further their career. But in doing so, many give up their bodies.

In fact, one Redditor wrote : “You are essentially being bought for a certain period of time. Hence why people get drugged, raped, fondled, sleep with men older than their fathers, pissed and shat on. Once everything is said and done, the trauma and memories of doing those things stay with you forever. Your dignity is being leveraged for fame and money. Let’s not forget a lot of these encounters are filmed and can easily be used to blackmail these young stars.”

It’s an example of powerful men taking advantage of young women with dreams of succeeding in an already corrupt industry. But the practice is so common that stories have circulated about Selena Gomez , Ariana Grande, Kylie and Kendall Jenner , Nina Dobrev, Hailey Bieber, and many other big stars.

@al.laure1209 Best way to fill the pool 🛥 #yacht #yachtlife #yachtdesign #boat #boating #luxuryyacht #sailing #superyacht #topyacht #yachtinglife #yachtingworld #yachting #yachtlifestyle #yachtcrew #cannes #cannesyachtingfestival ♬ original sound - Alex

Emily Ratajkowski also talks about it in her memoir, My Body . She explains how she was paid $25,000 early on in her career just to accompany Jho Low to the Super Bowl, without understanding what she was expected to do. So while the idea of riding around on a luxury yacht might sound ideal, many paths there aren’t as great.

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What is Yachting? From Yacht Girls to Luxury Companions – Everything You Need to Know

June 11, 2024

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Yachting is synonymous with luxury, exclusivity, and the allure of the open sea. This glamorous lifestyle captivates the imagination with images of sleek vessels, sun-soaked decks, and fun, gorgeous companions.

In this comprehensive guide, we aim to demystify the world of yachting, delving into the basics and unraveling the mystique that surrounds it. From understanding the excitement many have over yachting excursions to the role of yacht girls and luxury companions, this article offers a thorough overview for both novices and seasoned enthusiasts. 

As a premier provider of luxury travel companionship and concierge services for VIPs and high-net-worth individuals, Elite Muse brings you an insider’s perspective on this extraordinary way of life.

Understanding Yachting

What does yachting mean?

Yachting refers to the practice of sailing or cruising on a yacht, a specialized vessel designed for ultimate leisure and luxury on the seas. It encompasses a variety of activities, from serene coastal cruising to thrilling competitive sailing. Yachting is not just about the act of sailing; it embodies a lifestyle of elegance, adventure, and exclusivity, often associated with high society and luxury living.

A Brief History

The origins of yachting can be traced back to the 17th century when the Dutch used small, swift ships called “jaghts” to chase pirates and carry important messages. The term “yacht” itself is derived from the Dutch word “jacht,” meaning “hunt.” The sport and leisure aspect of yachting began to flourish when King Charles II of England received a yacht as a gift from the Dutch. This royal endorsement set the stage for yachting to become a popular pastime among European aristocracy.

Over the centuries, yachting evolved from a utilitarian activity into a symbol of wealth and sophistication. The Industrial Revolution and technological advancements in the 19th and 20th centuries brought significant changes to yacht design and construction. 

Steam power and, later, internal combustion engines revolutionized yachting, making it more accessible and luxurious. By the mid-20th century, yachting had firmly established itself as an exclusive leisure activity for the affluent, with the creation of luxury yachts that featured opulent interiors and state-of-the-art amenities.

Today, yachting remains a powerful symbol of luxury and prestige, attracting high-net-worth individuals and celebrities who seek the ultimate in comfort and style on the water.

The Different Forms of Yachting

There’s so much fun to be had when you go yachting. This outdoor water activity can be broadly categorized into three main forms: leisure yachting, competitive sailing, and luxury charters . Each form offers a unique experience and caters to different interests and preferences.

Leisure Yachting

If you are a more relaxed gentleman and you’re looking to enjoy the scenic beauty of various coastlines, as well has hopping from one port and harbor to another, then coastal cruising is the perfect activity for you.

However, for those with limited time but still want to enjoy, then day sailing offers the perfect experience of yachting without the need for long-term commitment. It’s a perfect way to enjoy a sunny day on the water with lovely company.

Some seasoned enthusiasts like to embark on longer journeys, exploring distant shores and even crossing oceans. If this sounds like an ideal voyage for you as you want to escape for weeks or even months, then extended yachting voyages make for a truly enriching and immersive yachting experience.

Competitive Sailing

And if you’re the type of gentleman who seeks thrill and excitement, then racing on yachts might be where you fit right in. First on the list are regattas . These are organized yacht races that test the skill, strategy, and speed of sailors. Regattas can range from local club events to prestigious international competitions like the America’s Cup.

Match racing , on the other hand, involves two yachts racing head-to-head, focusing on tactics and maneuvering. It’s a thrilling and intense form of competitive sailing that so many gentlemen also love to partake in.

Finally, there’s also offshore racing . These races cover long distances, often involving challenging weather conditions and navigation skills. The Volvo Ocean Race and Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race are prime examples of offshore racing.

Luxury Charters

But if it’s true opulence on the turquoise shores that you’re after, then private charters are the way to go. High net-worth individuals often charter luxury yachts for private use, enjoying personalized itineraries and exclusive experiences. These charters come with professional crews, including captains, chefs, and stewards, ensuring a bespoke and lavish journey.

Some businesses also do charter yachts for corporate events for an exclusive and unique setting for meetings, client entertainment, and even team-building activities. 

There are also themed cruises where the luxury boats are decorated with specific themes in mind, such as culinary cruises, wellness retreats, or exotic destination explorations, providing guests with specialized and memorable experiences.

Yachting, in all its forms, continues to captivate and inspire, offering unparalleled opportunities for relaxation, adventure, and luxury and Elite Muse is here to arrange yachting excursions depending on your preference and taste.

Who Yachts? Exploring the Elite Enthusiasts of the Yachting World

Yachting attracts a distinguished array of enthusiasts, including VIPs, celebrities, and high-net-worth individuals, who are drawn to its exclusivity, luxury, and unique experiences.

Many VIPs and celebrities yachts for privacy and seclusion, using it as an escape from public scrutiny. Events like the Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Grand Prix highlight the presence of celebrity yachts, turning harbors into glamorous venues.

High-net-worth individuals also view yachting as the pinnacle of success and luxury. They own or charter yachts to explore exotic destinations, host lavish gatherings, and enjoy top-tier amenities, blending adventure with luxury.

There are also countless unique experiences and exclusive events that yachting has opened doors to. Some of these include intimate dinners with Michelin-starred chefs and private underwater explorations. 

Not only that, yachting offers customized itineraries to secluded islands, Mediterranean coasts, or even Arctic waters for exclusive access to the world’s most stunning destinations. Enthusiasts often attend events like the Monaco Yacht Show and the America’s Cup, which serve as both yacht showcases and social gatherings for the elite. 

With Elite Muse’s bespoke concierge services and luxury travel companions, all of these encounters are made even more exciting. From private onboard events to reservations at exclusive spots, Elite Muse elevates the yachting experience to new levels of luxury and sophistication.

Yacht Girls and Yacht Models

What is a yacht girl? The term “yacht girl” historically refers to women who accompany wealthy individuals on yachts, often providing companionship during voyages. Originally, this term carried a casual connotation, but it has evolved to include a more professional aspect with the rise of yacht models.

Yachting girls, or yacht models, often fulfill roles that enhance the yachting experience. They are expected to be well-versed in yachting etiquette, engage guests with charm and grace, and contribute to the overall ambiance of sophistication. The responsibilities of these boat girls can range from hosting and entertaining to assisting with various onboard activities, ensuring that the yachting journey is enjoyable and memorable for all guests aboard.

So, where do you find these fun and beautiful yacht girls to join you on your escapades?

Elite Muse is a premier provider of elite travel companions , including yacht models who are experienced in yachting etiquette. These professionals can accompany clients on their yachting adventures, bringing grace, sophistication, and a polished presence that enhances every aspect of the journey.

Whether for private charters , corporate events, or themed cruises, Elite Muse ensures that our clients enjoy an unparalleled yachting experience.

Luxury Travel Companions

Luxury travel companions, particularly paid female travel companions, provide an exclusive service highly sought after by the elite crowd. The demand for such services has grown as high net-worth individuals seek to enrich their travel experiences with the engaging and elegant companies.

Advantages of hiring a luxury travel companion for your yachting trips include:

• Enhanced experience
• Seamless social interactions
• Personalized service
• Increased comfort

Tips on Selecting a Reputable Agency and Finding the Perfect Companion

Being matched with a beautiful companion is one thing, but being matched witt the perfect companion for your needs and preferences is another! 

• Research thoroughly. Look for agencies with excellent reputations and verified reviews. Elite Muse is among the premier companion introduction agencies preferred by most elite gentlemen. With our track record and feedback from satisfied clients, you’re sure to find something you like within our roster.
• Check company credentials. Ensure the agency and companions you’re going for have proper credentials and experience in luxury travel. Peruse their website and trust your gut. 

Get personalized matching. Choose an agency that offers personalized matching services to find a companion whose interests and personality align with your preferences. From blonde beauties to mystical brunettes, our selection of yacht companions ensures you find someone you’re not only attracted to but will make for an amazing companion as you cruise the seas.

Luxury Yachting Planning with Elite Muse: Your Personal Concierge

Chartering a luxury yacht involves several steps, each requiring meticulous planning and attention to detail. But of course, Elite Muse simplifies it all for your convenience.

• Determine Preferences. Discuss your preferences, including destinations, type of yacht, and desired amenities.
• Select the Perfect Yacht. Our team will present a curated selection of yachts tailored to your specifications, ensuring the perfect match.
• Plan the Itinerary. Collaborate with the concierge team to create a customized itinerary that includes your preferred destinations and activities.
• Arrange Onboard Services. Elite Muse will coordinate all onboard services, from gourmet dining to spa treatments, tailored to your needs.
• Confirm and Enjoy. Once all details are finalized, simply embark on your luxurious yachting adventure and enjoy the experience.

Elite Muse’s dedicated concierge team plays a crucial role in making it your most exciting yacht trip yet. VIP experiences , private events, and exclusive shore excursions await you at the top yachting destinations around the world:

• Mediterranean . Discover hidden coves and historic ports with guided tours and private beach access.
• Caribbean . Enjoy vibrant cultures, pristine beaches, and secluded islands with tailored excursions.
• South Pacific. Explore remote archipelagos and underwater wonders with personalized diving and snorkeling trips.

Elite Muse’s expertise ensures that every destination offers unparalleled luxury and insider access, transforming your yachting journey into an extraordinary adventure.

Cruise the World’s Waters with Elite Muse

Ready to elevate your yachting journey? Go yachting with a travel companion arranged by Elite Muse. Discover the unparalleled luxury and personalized experiences we can bring.

Contact Elite Muse today to plan your bespoke yachting adventure and experience the epitome of sophistication on the open sea.

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What is the meaning behind the term "yacht girl" and why is it associated with Megan Markle?

The term "yacht girl" refers to a controversial concept in which young women, often models or aspiring actresses, are rumored to engage in relationships or companionship with wealthy individuals in exchange for financial benefits, luxurious experiences, or career opportunities. These relationships are said to occur within the context of luxury yachting trips, where the women accompany wealthy individuals on their yachts.

Association with Megan Markle: There have been rumors and speculation regarding Megan Markle's alleged involvement as a "yacht girl." However, it is important to note that these claims are unsubstantiated and lack concrete evidence. Megan Markle is a well-known actress and philanthropist who gained significant public attention when she married Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, in 2018. The association between Megan Markle and the term "yacht girl" seems to be based on speculation and gossip rather than factual information.

It is crucial to approach such rumors with skepticism and consider the lack of credible evidence supporting these claims. Megan Markle's personal and professional achievements should be evaluated based on verified information rather than unfounded rumors.

Learn more:

• YouTuber SLOAN Says Meghan Markle Was a Yacht Girl and Implies She Was Involved With Epstein and Prince Andrew Before Harry | Lipstick Alley

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Could Open Hatches or a Large Mast Have Contributed to Sicily Yacht Sinking? What We Know So Far

Questions remain about what exactly led a large luxury yacht to seemingly sink in minutes off the coast of Sicily

Abigail Adams is a Human Interest Writer and Reporter for PEOPLE. She has been working in journalism for seven years.

Lo Bianco/Anadolu via Getty

As the search for the missing continues , questions remain about what exactly led a large luxury yacht to seemingly sink in minutes off the coast of Sicily — and investigators are still looking for answers more than 48 hours later.

There were 22 people on board when the  Bayesian , a 183-foot vessel, sank around 5 a.m. local time on Monday while moored about a half mile from the coast of Porticello, the Italian coast guard said in a statement that was previously obtained by PEOPLE.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, 15 people were rescued, according to the cost guard. Six people were declared missing after the yacht sank — and five bodies have since been found in the wreckage — while a body was also separately retrieved near the vessel and later identified as chef Recaldo Thomas.

One theory is that the boat capsized after being struck by a waterspout (which refers to a tornado over the water), though there may have been more factors at play that contributed to the sinking. 

Jonathan Brady/PA Images via Getty Images

"The dynamics aren't clear — lightning, mini tornado, water spout, it's not clear exactly what happened," one person close to the search efforts tells PEOPLE. "The most likely hypothesis is that the cause was indeed a tornado that began at land and then sped out off coast and became a waterspout at sea with a speed of more than [180 miles] per hour, to the point that it managed to practically sink the ship whilst causing minimum damage to both the mast and the hull."

 "Eyewitnesses said the boat went down in minutes," this person adds.

The source says the vessel’s upper hatches could have been open at the time of the disaster, which would have caused the boat to quickly fill up with water. The source also says that large amounts of water may have flowed onto the ship through the hatches as the vessel rocked back and forth during the storm.

“This would be the only thing that could cause the hull to rear up which, as several survivors told the investigators, made the ship sink in literally 60 seconds​​​​​​​​​​​​​​,” the source says.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The boat’s 236-foot mast may also have also played a role in allowing the boat to rock, similar to a pendulum.

Speaking with the BBC , Matthew Schanck, chair of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council, said that the large mast may have acted more like a sail during the strong winds.

As for whether it broke, Karsten Borner, a captain on a nearby boat who saw what happened and helped rescue survivors , told an Italian newspaper that he did see the mast "bend and then snap," according to the BBC .

"The evidence that we are getting from the divers is the vessel is basically intact, lying on its side reportedly," Schanck, the chair of the outside search and rescue council, said while speaking with the BBC. "If the mast was broken, that would be a significant thing that would be reported."

 ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images

 Another factor that could have caused the yacht to lose stability was its movable keel, which is an underwater blade designed to help keep boats upright and prevent them from swaying back and forth, the source close to the investigation tells PEOPLE. They say that the 30-foot keel was allegedly retracted to about 13 feet when the storm hit, while natural experts say it would have been strange to retract the keel at that location if the crew knew bad weather was approaching.

Speaking with USA Today , meteorologist Rick Shema said that while the waterspout "was an uncommon occurrence" that "these things happen, especially in warmer water."

Schema went on to note that on the day the ship sank, the water was about 3 degrees hotter than on average, which can likely be attributed to climate change.

One person still remains missing as crews continue to investigate the fatal incident, a source close to the investigation previously told PEOPLE.

The six people who disappeared after the storm are British entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his daughter Hannah, New York City-based lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his wife, Neda, as well as Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Judy.

Authorities have not confirmed the identities of the five victims already removed from the wreckage. 

Search efforts are ongoing, officials say, including inspection of the wreck. 

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What Is a Yacht Girl? The Dark TikTok Secret Explained

W hen you think of the phrase “ perfect summer ,” what comes to mind? For some, it’s being on a boat big enough to hold all of their friends. Sun-kissed skin, a gentle breeze, h’ordeuvres and libations. Music is pumping and love is flowing as we swag surf like ocean waves. Something about the water and being on a huge boat makes this new core memory all the more special. That’s a yacht fantasy, shared by a girl’s girl.

However, “yacht girls” do yachting a lot more often and have a different take on the aquatic activity. So, what happens in the cases when billionaires join the party, when money is no object and time is even more abundant? Here’s where we drop the anchor and get to the bottom of the question, “What is a yacht girl?”

Yachting vs. Being a Yacht Girl

According to TikTok , yachting is an experience afforded to folks who are accustomed to sailing on big boats. Yacht girls, however, take on those appearances and some extra duties too. They serve as the entertainment for well-off men that request their company. They must look the part and have time to spare, as traveling is a part of the deal. A background in service work may come in handy as drinks and appetizers are often on the menu. The girls may find that they’re on the menu too, but it’s been said that the money makes it worth it. A few celebrities may have had a past in yachting before evolving in their careers, from Nina Dobrev and Miranda Kerr to Nicole Scherzinger and Chantel Jeffries.

The Life of a Yacht Girl

As we know, with money comes a certain amount of power and with that comes influence. Yacht girls who have agency-backing might feel a bit more protected than those booking gigs on their own or through a friend. The yacht environments are high-pressure for girl’s who aren’t willing to accommodate guests requests. And captains have been known to minimize yacht girls’ concerns. A TikToker shared one of her follower’s stories about their “yacht girl” experience: what the expectations were, what she was willing and not willing to do. 

When sex is apart of the expectations , payment comes in the form of money and sometimes jewels (i.e. $80,000 and a diamond bracelet). Seeing as escort services remain illegal and taboo, yachting is still a rather secret way of living, leading to a lot of mistreatment going under the radar. The alleged celebrities and Instagram models who participate in this industry have successfully kept it all under wraps, even as personal accounts and documentaries surface. As the digging deepens though, we can expect to hear more horrifying stories about this style of travel that has developed sinister undertones. 

Safety and Rules

For those who are only embracing the aesthetic and a good time with friends, by all means, live your life. Don the striped bathing suits and two-pieces. These are memories to be made and reflected upon in years to come. However, if you find yourself on the other side of yachting, be sure to put safety first and write your own rules when you can.

The post What Is a Yacht Girl? The Dark TikTok Secret Explained appeared first on 21Ninety .

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How Many of these Yachtie Terms Do You Use?

Pre-galley, Nina Wilson trained as a dive instructor and skippered sailing boats in Greece before starting her yachting career in 2013. Currently head chef on a 55-meter, her talents included telling brilliant jokes and being able to consume six cheeseburgers and feel no guilt. Follow her on Instagram @thecrewchef .

You would be forgiven for scratching your head once or twice upon hearing the jibber-jabber yachties like to toss around. Henceforth, I present a translation sheet — feel free to forward to your land-based family and friends so they can start studying for your triumphant return.

“Well, my owner is worth 6 billion and only eats albino caviar.”

Yes, we frequently refer to the owner of the vessel as our owner. Try not to think too much about the psychology behind this. (Do we truly believe we are slaves? Slaves don’t get free shampoo…right?)

“I’m going to go down for a few hours,” OR “Where’s Tommo?” “He’s gone down. ”

Alas, get your heads out of the gutter. Simply, going down below, down to their cabin, to put their head down and get some down time.

“Sorry, can’t do beers tonight, I’m boss on. ”

Boss is on board, all fun is cancelled.

“Make sure you candle-ise the boat at sunset.”

This is not even a real word. It’s a made-up word by some over-rose’d chief stewardess to describe the process of decorating the boat with candles. (Before you question me, I have heard it used on multiple vessels ranging from 55 meters to 80 meters. FACT.)

“We’ll do the vac-dust on Thursday.”

Dusting, but with a vacuum. We have evolved from just wiping the dust around with a cloth, we hoover it out of existence with a high powered piece of Miele engineering. Genius.

“Friday is wash down day.”

Washing the boat, but only from the top down. And in-to-out (or vice versa depending on your Chief Officer’s method).

“Please fill in your HORS today.”

Pronounced like ‘whores’ and stands for Hours of Rest, not any particular red light district inhabitant.

“I can’t make it, I’m on watch. ”

Basically, the boat is a vulnerable, delicate child and you are the babysitter for a 24-hour period. Don’t let the baby burn, sink, or get stolen.

“ Now, now ”

A South African import. Sometime between now, before, and later — I’m afraid nobody born outside the continent of Africa truly knows.

“ On My Last Boat ”

A precursor to a long-winded story about how their last boat was infinitely better, had unlimited crew champagne and razor blades, and how everything was done differently (but better).

“Damn, it’s gonna be WAF today.”

No, unfortunately not Wives and Friends day. It’s gonna blowing its tits off, be proper gusty, OR say it how you mean it and use Windy As F***.

“Have you pulled for dinner?”

This one means gathering all the crockery/cutlery, etc. for service, essentially pulling knives and forks out of drawers, so…yes, I guess this one makes sense.

“ Dog Box ”

A terrible, tiny cabin that the MLC have not been informed of and that all junior deckhands inhabit. Get a UV light in there and it looks like a Jackson Pollock painting.

“ It’ll buff out. ”

Usually said after a significant blunder (say, driving the tender into the swim platform bow-first) causing significant damage, and taking a significant amount of time, effort, and money to fix.

“ CV sent ”

Believe it or not, jobs do sometimes get posted on those yachtie Facebook groups — however, if you apply it’s mandatory to comment that you have sent your CV so as to ‘double tap’ the poster’s attention. If you don’t comment, you won’t get the job, FACT.

“Tomorrow is pick up day. ”

We’re collecting the guests, prepare to service everyone’s needs but your own for the next 7/10/59 days.

“ Do it for the tip. ”

Poo in the Jacuzzi? Scoop it out. Guests want sushi at 1 a.m.? Put the rice on. Everyone has their price, and we WILL do what it takes to get that fat envelope at the end of the charter. Let’s say it together now…FOR THE TIP!

“Tomorrow is drop off day. ”

We boot these rich cats off in less than 24 hours, ice those beers STAT. Got any powdered charcoal? Get it on standby.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but hopefully a good inroad into the twisted bedsheets of yachting vernacular.

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Berthon Winter Collection

Latest issue

August 2024

In the August 2024 issue of Yachting World magazine: News Few finish a tempestuous Round The Island Race European rules are eased for cruising to France and Greece Olympic sailing…

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Best sailing hats: Top boating headwear from simple caps to sou’westers and helmets

• David Harding
• August 25, 2023

Whether for warmth or sun protection, going afloat means wearing a hat. David Harding picks out 12 of the best sailing hats available right now

Whatever the season, there are two staples you need for the open water. A  good pair of sailing sunglasses  and the best sailing hat for protection from the sun (especially those of us who sport low-profile hairstyles).

For dinghy and keelboat racing , many prefer a peak but no brim – a cap, in other words. And if your boat has a low boom, select a sailing hat with built-in skull protection. Being bashed on the head is painful at the very least. Besides, who wants blood on the deck?

On colder days, a sailing hat is essential to keeping you warm on the water. The ubiquitous beanie might be the obvious starting point. Don’t overlook a lined sailing hat, perhaps a waterproof option. Look out for an hat that incorporates ear-warmers and a peak.

At a glance: Henri-Lloyd Mal HL sailing cap – Best classic sailing hat  – Buy it now airSUP Bucket Hat  – Best bucket hat for sailing – Buy it now Tilley T3 sailing hat  – Best brimmed sailing hat – Buy it now DexShell Beanie Solo  – Best beanie hat for sailing – Buy it now

What makes a good sailing hat?

Some of the best sailing hats serve multiple purposes. It might have a brim for sun protection or the sailing hat could be made of a water-repellent material. Before opting for a brim, consider how wide and how stiff it should be. A wide, stiff brim might seem best in the sun, but could present a challenge when you’re ducking under the rail on a racing yacht.

Another consideration is that as much UV is reflected from the water as you’re exposed to from above. So a sailing hat in the ‘bucket’ style – with a brim that’s narrower and lower – might be more effective, if not quite as stylish. What’s more, it’s less likely to blow off in a breeze. Any style of brim that’s too floppy is unlikely to be much use in stronger winds either.

Whichever type of sailing hat you might choose, there’s plenty to think about. Here is our pick of the best sailing hats available right now in various styles.

The best sailing hats available right now

• Sailing caps
• Brimmed sun hats
• Winter hats
• Sou’westers

Classic sailing caps

Henri-Lloyd Mal HL sailing cap

Specifications:  100% Organic Cotton, one size and back strap.

Reasons to buy: Made by a high-end yachting apparel brand; fast-drying; offers a high level of UV protection.

Reasons to avoid: Cheaper options are available if the HL brand is your main consideration.

Do you like to keep it classic? A straightforward cap should be your starting point when it comes to choosing a sailing hat. If you’re anything like me, you have probably picked up such a collection from the water (oddly, most sailing caps don’t come with retaining lanyards) that we’ve never needed to buy one.

Then again, what you find floating past your boat isn’t necessarily what you would choose to wear, so if you want something new, smart and branded with one of the best-known names in sailing clothing, you might go for something like the Mal HL sailing cap from Henri-Lloyd.

Available in navy blue or pale grey, it’s made from a polyester twill that’s said to be fast-drying and offers a UV protection factor of over 50.

Buy it now from Henri-Lloyd

Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

Gill pursuit cap.

Specifications:  100% polyester, 50+ UV protection and h and wash only.

Reasons to buy: Retaining a lanyard means you’re less likely to drop it overboard.

Reasons to avoid:  May not suit sailors with smaller heads.

Ever lost your hat looking overboard? We’re with you. The Pursuit Cap from Gill is one of the few sailing hats that comes with a retaining lanyard. A clip on the end attaches to your collar, so you’re less likely to find yourself fishing one of these out of the oggin.

Available in bright blue, dark blue, graphite or silver, it features a UV treatment of 50+ and a generously sized peak to help keep the sun out of your eyes. With features like the underside of the peak designed to absorb light reflected from the water, it’s clear to see why this would be a hit with any navigator.

Breathable fabric (polyester for easy cleaning) and a wicking headband should help you keep a cool head in the heat of battle on the race course.

Buy it now on Amazon

Best-brimmed sailing hats

Tilley T3 sailing hat

Specifications:  100% cotton, UPF 50+ and machine washable. 

Reasons to buy: Classic design, water-repellant finish; secret pocket for storing cash.

Reasons to avoid: There are much cheaper ways to keep the sun off your head.

I have been wearing these classic Tilley hats for over 15 years and am now on my third. They don’t last forever, despite the lifetime guarantee, but Tilley will replace them if/when (for those of us who practically live in them) they wear out.

The cotton duck gives good sun protection (factor 50+) and this sailing hat also has a water-repellent finish to help keep the rain off.

Padding in the top affords a degree of protection and that’s where you find the secret pocket for stashing away an emergency fiver.

The padding contributes to the buoyancy, which you might appreciate if you haven’t made use of the double head-straps to stop it from blowing off.

With its brass grommets for ventilation, and poppers for snapping up the brim on either side, the Tilley is a tried and tested titfer with a well-deserved following among sailors.

Buy it now on Tilley.com

airSUP Bucket Hat

Specifiations: Polyester, removable flap and UV sun protection.

Reasons to buy: Chin strap makes it almost impossible to lose; ear protection is a rare feature.

Reasons to avoid: Styling is reminiscent of the early 90s rave scene.

This might not be a sailing hat you would choose to wear for style alone  – but if functionality for active watersports is your priority and you prefer not to have a wide brim, it might be a good choice.

For a start, a strap that buckles under the chin means it really shouldn’t come off no matter what you’re doing on (or even in) the water.

The strap broadens out at the top to cover the ears and the side of the face too.

If you’re after further sun protection, the button-on neck flap that pulls out from an inside pocket will protect the nape. The brim is firm enough not to flip up or down in the wind or unexpected watery encounters.

Buy it now on eBay

Best beanies for sailing

DexShell Beanie Solo

Specifications:  100% polyester, micro fibre fleece lining and machine washable.

Reasons to buy: Windproof, waterproof and breathable – a beanie for all seasons.

Reasons to avoid: May not fit sailors with larger heads.

Traditional beanie hats aren’t for every sailor. Yes, they have limitations as sailing hats, but they will keep your head warm as long as you’re not out in the wind or rain (or exposed to salt spray).

That’s why this one from DexShell comes with additional features: it’s claims to be windproof, waterproof and breathable, with a waterproof membrane and microfleece lining for warmth.

The outer shell in acrylic gives the beanie its knitted look and comes in a range of colours from grey and black to cyan blue and even high-vis yellow for those who really don’t want to get lost.

SubZero Factor 4 Softshell Windproof Hat

Specifications:  97% Polyester and 3% Elastane, double thickness banding and soft fleece inner face.

Reasons to buy: Flat stitching makes for a comfortable fit.

Reasons to avoid: Shower-proof, but not fully waterproof.

With this British-made beanie from SubZero, head warmth and protection from the wind is the top priority.

The soft-shell fabric itself is waterproof, but unfortunately not the stitching, so it would be best to think of it as shower-proof.

If you are searching for an alternative that has full-water repellency, check out SubZero’s waterproof beanie.

To keep the wind and cold at bay, the Factor 4 hat has a soft fleece inner face designed to trap warm air around your head.

A double-thickness headband provides extra insulation around your ears and brow, while the flat stitching should eliminate uncomfortable rubbing – something not all sailing hat manufacturers seem to think about.

There’s no knitted look with this beanie: the windproof fabric on the outside is smooth to reduce the effects of wind-chill.

Buy it now on SubZero.co.uk

Best winter sailing hats

Sealskinz Waterproof Extreme Cold Weather Hat

Specifications:  Outer: 100% nylon | Inner: 100% polyester, sizes available: S-XXL and a micro fleece lining.

Reasons to buy: Machine washable; available in a wide range of sizes.

Reasons to avoid: Sizing comes up small – if in doubt, go one size up.

Are you searching for a sailing hat that incorporates ear-warmers and a peak that’s also windproof and waterproof? Sealskinz might have the answer.

As its name suggests, it’s designed to cope with seriously wet and cold conditions. I appreciate that the ear-warmers tuck away if needed and that the peak can be folded back and held with a popper.

Made with a waterproof breathable membrane sandwiched between an outer nylon shell for durability and a fleece inside for warmth, it comes in sizes from small to XXL.

There’s also a Velcro tab at the back to make sure of a snug fit. If it does blow off and get dirty, just throw it in the washing machine: it doesn’t need any special treatment.

Musto Fleece Lined Waterproof sailing cap

Specifications:  Polyester, r eflective printed screen and fleece lining.

Reasons to buy: Fleece lined; waterproof, windproof and breathable; taped seams should make for a comfy fit.

Reasons to avoid: Only one size available.

An alternative to the Sealskinz comes from Musto. Offered in one size it has been designed to accommodate larger heads. Available in black (or green for your country weekends), this sailing hat has good features such as fleece lining, a larger, stiffer peak, and fold-down protection for the ears and neck.

A drawstring can be secured under the chin in windy weather, but if this one blows off, you’re advised not to put it in the machine: it’s for hand-washing only.

The polyester fabric is claimed to be waterproof, windproof and breathable, with taped seams helping to make sure no water seeps in.

Musto also suggests that taping the seams eradicates stitch holes and reduces abrasion against the skin.

Best sou’wester sailing hats

Guy Coton sou’wester

Specifications: Polyester, sizes available: S-L and strong stitching.

Reasons to buy: Excellent face and neck protection; built to last.

Reasons to avoid: The Captain Birdseye look isn’t for everyone…

The sou’wester was good enough for lifeboat crews in days of yore, but has fallen from fashion in recent decades, and we don’t know why.

When you’re getting high-pressure spray full in the face, a well-fitted hood might be a more effective solution – and, being attached to your jacket, it’s always there when you want it – but even the best hoods can often be restrictive. Sometimes a proper sailing hat just feels better.

So it’s good to see that Guy Cotten, a company known for its traditional-style, and no-nonsense clothing, continues to offer the humble sou’wester in equally traditional colours: green or bright yellow.

It’s made from the company’s ‘classic fabric’ – PVC-coated polyester – which it describes as ‘extremely long-lasting, tough and cheap’.

Helly-Hansen Svolvaer Sou’wester

Specifications: PVC-coated polyester, drawstring and cotton-lined.

Reasons to buy: The most affordable option on our list, despite being from a big-name brand.

Reasons to avoid: The Guy Cotton sou’wester offers better face protection.

It says something about the practicality and appeal of the sou’wester that two of today’s better-known manufacturers of this traditional sailing hat are from parts of the world that still have a strong fishing industry.

Helly Hansen’s offering, made from PVC-coated polyester with a cotton lining, incorporates ear-flaps and has a chin strap to keep it on.

It features a shallower brim at the front than some sou’westers, with a suitably long one at the back to keep the rain well away from your neck.

Given the resurgence of retro styles in so many walks of life, perhaps a classic sou’wester would make a perfect and inexpensive Christmas stocking-filler for the practically-minded sailor who thought he or she had everything.

Best hard sailing hats

Gul Elite Watersports Helmet

Specifications: Outer: Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) | Inner: foam, lightweight and modern design.

Reasons to buy: CE compliant; plenty of ventilation; adjustable lining and chin strap.

Reasons to avoid: Unless you’re racing something seriously fast, or partaking in extreme watersports, a helmet will probably look out of place.

A sailing hat or a cap might help stop your head from getting cold or sunburned when you’re afloat, but what about protection from bangs?

It used to be rare to see sailors wearing helmets, but their use on some of today’s high-profile race boats has made them more acceptable to a wider cross-section of sailors.

Modern styling also means you’re less likely to look as though you’ve just walked off a building site.

Gul’s Elite Helmet is designed for all manner of watersports including dinghy sailing.

Complying with the CE EN 1385 standard for personal protective equipment, it has ventilation holes, a quick-release chin strap, ear protection and an adjustable liner.

The shell is made from impact-resistant ABS.

SafaSail hard sailing hat

Speficiations: Material: moulded shell to offer protection and foam padding.

Reasons to buy: Added protection without compromising on style; available in a choice of peak sizes.

Reasons to avoid: No protection for neck or ears.

For bump protection in a less obvious form than a helmet, Nauticalia’s SafaSail cap might be what you’re looking for.

At a glance it looks almost like an ordinary peaked sailing hat, but inside is an injection-moulded shell that offers similar protection to that of a building worker’s bump cap.

Foam padding should make it comfortable to wear and there’s a chin-strap to help keep it on.

If the standard peak is too long and gives you a crick in the neck when you have to look aloft, you can order the SafaSail with a shorter one.

Didn’t find what you’re looking for? Head to Amazon’s dedicated boating page for more marine products.

Beginners Yachting Guide

March 24, 2021 By : Administrator

From our Nomad: Life on Water Series

We all dream of a gorgeous luxury vacation at one point or another… someplace where you can feel the sand between your toes, hear the rush of the ocean waves, and simply relax. Maybe your dream includes adventure sports like jet skiing or parasailing, or maybe you’re more interested in simply exploring new destinations. Perhaps you want to float between islands in the teal waters of the Caribbean, or maybe the deep jewel tones of the Mediterranean call to you like a siren song. 

Maybe you’re looking for more than just a vacation, but an entirely new lifestyle…Yachting is the solution. 

Yachts come in all sizes and types and charter for (or book to go to) all kinds of destinations. Yachting can be a luxury vacation, a new lifestyle, or even a new vocation. Yachting is a rich world of exploration and enjoyment for just about anyone (not just the uber wealthy!) 

In this beginner’s yachting guide we will cover all of the basics about yachting including:

What is Yachting?

• History of yachting

Who goes yachting?

Where do yachts go, what kind of yachts exist, what amenities do yachts have, how do i book a yacht, how much does it cost to take a yacht vacation, who crews a yacht, how do i work on a yacht.

• Yachting guide terminology

Safe Yachting Guide

And much, much more. So if you want to uncover all the secrets in the yachting world, let’s dive in to this yachting guide!

One of the most important parts of yachting is staying safe while overseas. We always recommend travel medical insurance that includes adventure sports coverage. To learn more about travel medical insurance and what plans are available, click here!

Yachting is the use of a boat designed for recreation or leisure to cruise or race.

Yachts are boats that differentiate from working boats like shipping or fishing boats because they are specifically tailored to include luxurious amenities and travel to various vacation destinations. 

Boats that are considered yachts can typically house up to twelve guests in staterooms onboard, as well as crew members like deckhands and stewards to keep the boat in “ship shape”, or clean and ready to sail. 

Yachting can be a short charter for a vacation of one or two weeks, or it can be an entire lifestyle. 

History of Yachting

No yachting guide would be complete without a bit of history. While sailing has been around since before recorded history, yachting has its roots in more recent nautical history. 

The first mentions of the word “yacht” appear in reference to boats designed for racing in 17th century europe. Boat racing became the pastime of the royals and the wealthy in England, Holland, France, and Spain. Eventually open ocean yacht racing became popular all the way to America and Australia. 

Yacht races are still commonly held to this day, and include various lengths from crossing small bodies of water all the way up to racing around the world. 

Yachts originally were designed as light, nimble ships in the water custom designed for speed. Their sizes ranged from that of a dinghy to ships that rivaled military battleships. These racing vessels were eventually classified into different sizes resulting in some of the terminology used to describe different ships to this day. 

These days yachts are not only defined as ships designed for racing. In fact, the majority of yachts are not designed for speed at all. Now yachts are known as the height of luxury in life on water, specializing in leisure over work. 

The simple answer? Anyone!

Yachts are designed for so many different types of lifestyles and people that there is no one kind of person that goes yachting. 

These ships are great for people who want to spend some time away from the hustle and bustle of a 9 to 5 job and enjoy being on open water for a few days. Yachts are also great for large families or groups that would like to vacation privately together. Yachts are even good for small families looking to explore many different destinations in one single trip!

As you can see, there is no single group or type to go yachting because each charter is tailor made for the person or group booking the ship. 

Like a tailor-made yachting charter, it’s also important to protect yourself with a tailor-made travel or expatriate medical insurance plan. Learn more about travel medical insurance that includes adventure sports in the video below!

Yachts can go pretty much anywhere where there is relatively smooth sailing water and reasonable access. Depending on their size yachts can be on smaller bodies of water like lakes such as the Ozarks and Great Lakes in the United States, or they can call the entire ocean home and sail around the world regularly. 

According to LuxuryDefined some of the best destinations for yachts include: 

• The French Riviera
• U.S. Virgin Islands
• Palm Beach, Florida
• Costa Smeralda, Italy
• St. George’s Parish, Bermuda 
• Newport, Rhode Island 
• Nantucket, Massachusetts
• Greater Victoria, Vancouver Island

Source: https://christiesrealestate.com/blog/9-of-the-worlds-best-yachting-locations/

Yachts typically have a “season” in which they are most active. Depending on their home harbour, yachts will be most active in the summer months (May- August in the northern hemisphere) or the winter months. Spring and Fall seasons are generally times in which the boat is resting or preparing for the next active season. 

There are many different types of yachts from those that sail exclusively with motors, to those with two hulls called catamarans. Here is a basic yachting guide for the different types of yachts and their definitions: 

Sailing Yacht: a yacht mainly propelled via wind and sails

Motor Yacht: a yacht propelled via one or more motors

Gulet Yacht: a hybrid yacht with both sails and motors

Open Yacht, Cruiser, Cabin Cruiser, Express Cruiser: an otherwise uncategorized standard yacht for cruising and entertaining

Luxury Yacht: a yacht that includes high-end finishes and features and the latest in modern performance technology. The term ‘luxury’ can precede any type of yacht, i.e. “luxury motor yacht”, “luxury sailing yacht”, etc.

Sports Yacht: a yacht geared towards fishing, water sports, or cruising with a sleeker design and more powerful motor for faster cruising speeds. The term ‘sports’ can precede other types of yachts as well, i.e. “sports motor yacht”.

Catamaran Yacht: a yacht with two hulls (pontoons) often made of fiberglass that can be used in shallow waters.

(source: https://vanislemarina.com/when-is-a-boat-a-yacht/ )

As you can see, yachts include a wide variety of types of ships with different methods of propulsion and design. Just like there isn’t one type of person that goes yachting, there isn’t just one type of yacht available. The opportunities and options are boundless when it comes to yachting!

Stay tuned for our next blog article all about sailing and the different types of ships that can be commissioned for vacation, or even a new lifestyle powered by the wind!

Basic yacht charters include provisions (food and consumables) as well as entertainment such as adventure sports equipment like scuba, snorkeling, or other water sports. Many yachts will include lifestyle amenities like wifi, cable TV, pools and jacuzzis, and indoor and outdoor seating or gathering areas to enjoy all the views the yacht will have to offer on charter. 

Amenities are dependent on the yacht itself, so be sure to clarify with your broker what specific amenities you want when booking your vacation, or hiring crew. 

Some of the craziest yacht amenities we’ve heard of include: 

• Tennis Court
• “Nemo Lounge” or underwater observatory
• Drive in Tender Bay
• Outdoor Cinema

(Source: https://luxatic.com/coolest-luxury-yacht-amenities-on-superyachts-that-you-didnt-know-existed/ )

According to boatinternational.com some of the amenities you can expect to be available on different yachts include: 

• Beach Club (water level rear deck)
• Salon Services

And of course, plenty of places to work on a tan.

(Source: https://boatinternational.com/charter/luxury-yacht-charter-advice/a-life-of-leisure-onboard-a-superyacht–1811)

Booking a yacht can seem like a daunting process, especially if you’ve never been before. Well, the experts at International Yacht Charter Group have put together a yachting guide to make it much easier. Here are their steps: 

1. Choose a Yacht Charter Specialist.

Find a specialist who makes you feel comfortable with the process and who willingly seeks your input. This is the best way to ensure you book the ideal charter yacht. Choose a specialist without ties to specific charter yachts; you want information on the whole range of options, not limited to a small “in-house” selection. The specialist should be experienced and very competent so that you will feel confident about your yacht charter booking.

2. Select the Yacht and Destination.

Browse online to start gathering information about all your yacht and destination options. You will choose between motor and sailing yachts as well as what part of the world you want to explore. The specialists at International Yacht Charter Group visit many yachts worldwide each year and have extensive knowledge about what will work best for individual clients.

3. Fill Out Paperwork.

Once the ideal yacht is chosen for the dates you want, it will be reserved with a yacht charter contract between you and the charter yacht owner. Booking a yacht charter is different from reserving a plane ticket or villa! A standardized contract is drawn up, which is then discussed in depth with your specialist. The signed contract and 50% deposit will prevent anyone else from booking the yacht.

4. Prepare to Travel.

Prior to boarding the yacht, your charter specialist and the Captain and crew will prepare the yacht for your vacation. You will have filled out a preference sheet regarding food, wine, and activities (as well as your arrival/departure information). That way the yacht will be provisioned according to your preferred items. The Captain will prepare a draft itinerary for your yacht charter based on your thoughts and ideas, which you are encouraged to discuss via email or phone prior to departure.

Before you depart make sure you purchase travel medical insurance for all travelers that includes emergency evacuation. You can see travel medical and evacuation plans here and get a fast and simple quote simply by clicking on the orange “Quote” button in the top right corner. 

5. Enjoy the Vacation!

While on charter, the Captain and crew are obviously your primary point of contact for questions about activities, meals, etc. Your Captain and crew act as concierge for your land-based adventures and on board activities. It’s recommended to discuss plans in advance whenever possible. Overall, a private yacht charter means there is no fixed itinerary, and typically some plans change en route.

Source: https://internationalyachtchartergroup.com/How-to-book-a-yacht-charter.php

You can contact international Yacht Charter Group to book a yacht by simply filling out their contact form: https://internationalyachtchartergroup.com/contactus/contactus-landing.php

The cost of renting a yacht depends on the size and type of ship, and the kinds of amenities desired in a ship. 

According to worldwideboat.com, “the average weekly cost of a 100-foot sailing yacht is between $50,000-100,000. A weekly 80-foot catamaran charter runs around $40,000-100,000, and a week-long 100-foot motor yacht rental is anywhere between $50,000-80,000.”

A 100-foot yacht will typically comfortably house 12 guests in complete luxury, meaning each person can expect to contribute around $5000 for their week long vacation. While this is quite the luxury vacation, it is priced similarly to a high end all inclusive resort, and less expensive even than some of the high end cruise lines where your vacation is shared with hundreds of people!

If booking a yacht for a vacation isn’t the right choice for you, but you are interested in exploring the world or working on a yacht, this next section is for you!

Yachts can have crews anywhere from a single captain to nearly 100 people. Depending on the size and amenities of the ship, the crew will include many different positions. Yacht crews are divided into four different departments, or categories: deck, interior, engineering, and galley. 

On deck there are different levels of crew, the names of which are classically in the common lexicon including members like the captain, the first mate, and deckhands. 

The people on deck are responsible for the navigation and bridge operation, safety, maintenance of the exterior, communication, and tender and recreation activities. 

The interior department includes stewards and amenity specific positions like bartenders, salon services, masseuses, laundry, and finances. 

Those assigned to the interior are responsible for the service on board, cleaning and maintenance of the cabins and living spaces, event planning and entertainment, and the indoor amenities offered onboard. 

Engineering

The engineering department is responsible for all things related to the engine, electrical system, sanitation and environment control, planned maintenance, and troubleshooting issues on board. 

Engineering generally consists of a smaller department of a chief engineer and either several specialists or simply a 2nd under them. 

The galley department is responsible for all things food and beverage related. This department is always run by the head chef who will place provisional orders and with the help of a sous chef or other cooks will design and prepare a menu specific to the preference sheet of the guests. The galley is also responsible for provisions for the crew most often. 

Getting a job on a yacht starts with appropriate training. Depending on the department or type of work you want to do, the training can vary from a few weeks all the way up to getting licensed as a captain. 

Most deck crew have what is called a 6-pack captains license which allows them to captain the tender, or the smaller boat that takes people to and from the yacht when it is anchored. 

Generally, the interior crew and galley crew are required to have food handlers certifications as they are serving food and alcohol regularly to guests. 

After training, typically you would apply for positions in the months before a season and then maintain a position on a specific vessel for the entire season. Some crew management companies specialize in placement on different types of yachts, but typically the first year or two is spent on smaller vessels. 

Getting into the yachting industry can be difficult as there is always competition due to the shorter seasons of work. Yachting requires workers to be away from home for many weeks at a time as well as includes strenuous physical labor. This means most yacht workers are young, single, and highly independent. 

Before taking off on your new yachting job, make sure you have the right kind of international medical insurance. Learn more about international medical insurance to cover a roaming lifestyle at sea now!

Start your yachting career by searching for specific entry level positions in the department you’re most interested, and be prepared to travel!

Yachting terminology

Want to know more about yachting? Well, this yachting guide includes some terms we’re sure you’ll run into throughout your adventure:

1. Aft – The back of a ship. If something is located aft, it is at the back of the sailboat. The aft is also known as the stern. 

2. Bow – The front of the ship is called the bow. Knowing the location of the bow is important for defining two of the other most common sailing terms: port (left of the bow) and starboard (right of the bow). 

3. Port – Port is always the left-hand side of the boat when you are facing the bow. Because “right” and “left” can become confusing sailing terms when used out in the open waters, port is used to define the left-hand side of the boat as it relates to the bow, or front. 

4. Starboard – Starboard is always the right-hand side of the boat when you are facing the bow. Because “right” and “left” can become confusing sailing terms when used out in the open waters, starboard is used to define the right-hand side of the boat as it relates to the bow, or front. 

5. Tender- a vessel used for servicing and providing support and entertainment to a private or charter yacht. They include utilitarian craft, powered by oar or outboard motor, and high-speed luxury craft, supporting superyachts, powered by inboard engines, some using water-jets.

6. Charter- the practice of renting, or chartering, a sailboat or motor yacht and travelling to various coastal or island destinations. This is usually a vacation activity, but it also can be a business event

Now you know the lingo, it’s time to get off on your adventure!

Whether on crew or on vacation on a yacht, one of the most important things is safety. While yachts are remarkably safe on water, it’s important to always listen to crew members and follow instructions. 

By nature yachts can be slippery due to moisture on deck, difficult to balance due to waves and wind conditions moving the boat, and challenging to move through with smaller hallways and lower ceilings than typically seen on land. 

Before going on any yachting adventure, in addition to a yachting guide, it’s important to make sure you have the right kind of protection in your pocket. That’s where international medical insurance comes into play. 

Protecting yourself with an international medical plan, whether it’s just for a short trip of one or two weeks, or for an entire season offshore, is the most important step you can take to ensure your safety. 

Travel and expatriate medical plans can cover you in the event of injury, illness, trip cancelation, evacuation, and much more. Plans are less expensive than you think starting at less than $1 a day, and you can get up to $1 Million in coverage or more depending on the plan of your choice. 

Your safe yachting starts on dry land with your purchase of the right international insurance plan today. Click “get a quote” to get a quote now for your upcoming vacation, or explore plans by clicking on “plans” in the menu at the top of this page. 

Good Neighbor Insurance is always here to answer any questions you may have and make sure you get the best insurance for your situation. Call our Gilbert, Arizona office at 480-813-9100, or click “chat with us” to get started right away!

Happy yachting!

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Here's what to know about Mike Lynch, the tech tycoon missing in the Sicily yacht disaster

By Aimee Picchi

Edited By Anne Marie Lee

Updated on: August 21, 2024 / 12:05 PM EDT / CBS News

Mike Lynch, once hailed as "Britain's Bill Gates," is now among the six people missing after his luxury yacht sank in a violent storm off the coast of Sicily. At the time of the disaster, Lynch had been trying to shake more than a decade of legal entanglements that ended in June when he was cleared of fraud and conspiracy charges . 

On Wednesday, two bodies had been brought to shore in Porticello, near Palermo, and two more were in the process of being brought ashore. Britain's Telegraph newspaper reported that the bodies of Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter were among the remains recovered Wednesday, but the civil protection chief would not confirm that report to CBS News. 

Lynch, 59, rose to prominence in the late 1990s with the development of his software company, Autonomy, which helped businesses quickly find information buried in email and other digital documents. In 2011, Lynch sold the business to Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion, giving him a $800 million payday and cementing him as one of the U.K.'s richest people. 

But the acquisition was later called one of the "most notorious failed mergers and acquisitions" after HP discovered alleged accounting issues, leading to Lynch's firing by HP's then-CEO, Meg Whitman. HP claimed that Autonomy had used accounting improprieties to bolster its underlying financials ahead of the acquisition, charges that Lynch steadfastly denied. 

The case stretched into a 12-year legal fight that ended in June 2024 when a federal court jury in San Francisco delivered not-guilty verdicts.

"I am looking forward to returning to the U.K. and getting back to what I love most — my family and innovating in my field," Lynch said in a statement after the verdict.

Here's what to know about Lynch. 

What company did Mike Lynch start?

Lynch, who earned a PhD in mathematical computing from the U.K.'s Cambridge University, first cofounded a company called Cambridge Neurodynamics, based on the cofounders' work with pattern recognition. The firm used the tech to match fingerprints and car license plates, according to a 1997 article in The Guardian.

From there, Lynch cofounded Autonomy in 1996, which relied on a statistical model called Bayesian inference, named after a theorem developed by the 18th century statistician Thomas Bayes. (Lynch's luxury yacht was christened the "Bayesian.")

The company tapped into the growing need of businesses to sort through and find information within the vast reams of data created by the increasing use of computers and digital documents.

Autonomy's steady growth during its first decade resulted in Lynch being awarded one of the U.K's highest honors, the Office of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 2006.

Lynch told The Guardian in 1997 that people didn't quite believe that a growing tech business could emerge from the U.K. 

"I have actually heard the comment, 'England, software? I thought you made bone china,'" he told the newspaper. 

What happened after Autonomy's acquisition by HP?

At first, HP celebrated the purchase as a huge coup that would propel the Palo Alto, California, company down a promising new path, but then quickly came to regret it under then-CEO Meg Whitman.

HP claimed it found accounting irregularities, and the company ended up recognizing $8.8 billion in losses in the Autonomy deal. Whitman eventually fired Lynch in 2012, while also laying off thousands of workers as HP's fortunes sagged. 

Throughout the past 12 years, Lynch rejected the allegations. He told the Wall Street Journal in 2012 that he was "ambushed" by the claims, which he described as "completely and utterly wrong."

What happened with Mike Lynch's legal case?

Lynch maintained his innocence while testifying earlier this year before a jury during a 2 1/2 month trial in San Francisco. U.S. Justice Department prosecutors called more than 30 witnesses in an attempt to prove allegations that Lynch engaged in accounting duplicity that bilked billions of dollars from HP.

The jury, as noted above, delivered not-guilty verdicts in June, vindicating Lynch, who pledged to return to the U.K. and to find new ways to innovate. 

Who is Mike Lynch's wife? 

Mike Lynch is married to Angela Bacares, who is one of the people rescued from the Mediterranean after the yacht sank. Lynch and Barares have two daughters. One of them, Hannah, 18, is among the missing, according to the BBC. 

Bacares, 57, owns shares in Darktrace, a British cybersecurity company she and Lynch co-founded, the Sun noted . She sat in the front row of the courtroom during her husband's trial, but generally has preferred to stay out of the public eye, the Times of London reported in July.

"We made the decision that Angela would not be involved in the case. She stayed completely separate. Her focus was the family and children," Lynch told the Times last month.

— With reporting by the Associated Press.

Aimee Picchi is the associate managing editor for CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and personal finance. She previously worked at Bloomberg News and has written for national news outlets including USA Today and Consumer Reports.

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What Is Yachting? 5 Certain Benefits Of Yachting

If you’re someone who appreciates a relaxing day on the water, then you’re in for a treat. Yachting is one of the most popular forms of leisure activity, and it’s not difficult to see why. From cruising around the harbor to exploring uninhabited islands, yachting is perfect for anyone who wants to enjoy a luxury day out. But what is yachting actually involved? Let’s take a closer look!

Index of The Article:

What Is Yachting?

Benefits of yachting, how to do yachting, required equipment for yachting, faqs about what is yachting.

Yachting is the practice of racing or cruising using recreational boats and ships known as yachts. The term “yacht” comes from the Dutch dictionary “Jacht”. Larger yachts are primarily distinguished from working ships for their recreational purpose. Sailing is the term for sailing a sailboat, whereas powerboating is the term for motorboating.

Yachting is regarded as a famous water sport in the countries like the UK, Australia, America, and Canada.

Playing the water sport of yachting can offer many benefits, including:

• Yachting provides a relaxing and enjoyable experience that can help to reduce stress levels.
• This recreation is an effective form of exercise that helps improve cardiovascular health and strength levels.
• The opportunity to explore new areas while enjoying a scenic view is what makes sailing or boating so exciting, and rewarding.
• Being on the ocean allows you to take in plenty of marine life, which can provide valuable nutrients for your diet or even be used as ingredients in recipes later on!
• Plus, acting as both crewmember and captain offers flexibility when it comes to working hours as well as allowing you to share family time with friends while exploring some beautiful scenery together!

If you want to do yachting, it is important to have a good understanding of the process. Many steps need to be taken for you and your boat to reach your destination safely and comfortably. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do yacht sailing:

Firstly, choose the right vessel. The first thing you need before beginning any activity is to find the right vessel. This includes choosing the size, type (open vs enclosed), engine power, and other features that will make your experience comfortable and exciting.

Secondly, get properly licensed – Once you’ve chosen your vessel, now it’s time to get licensed by authorities who oversee maritime activities such as navigation laws, safety procedures on board the ship, etc. Without proper documentation from governing bodies like these agencies, sailing can easily become dangerous or illegal!

Next, Dress appropriately. Irrespective of whether it’s beach weather or not dressing Warmly when boating outside protected by lifejackets especially at night IMO highly advised especially if traveling alone. If inclement bad weather conditions exist consider windproofing clothing below deck too.

Finally, enjoy the journey!

• A luxury yacht needs a mast, sails, rigging, and other associated equipment.
• It needs a hull, engine, and other essential components.
• Navigation equipment is also necessary for safe sailing.

Source: Wikipedia

People frequently ask the following questions about what is yachting. See the replies for more information on the topic.

What is the difference between boating and yachting?

Boating refers to any water activity that uses a boat, while yachting is the more specific term for sailing vessels.

What kind of vessel do I need to start yachting?

The best type of vessel to start yachting is a sailing yacht. This style of boat is designed for long-distance voyages, and as such, it is equipped with all the necessary features.

Is there any difference between yachting and cruising?

There is a lot of debate surrounding the true differences between yachting and cruising.

Some people contend that yachting is more focused on speed and navigation while cruising focuses on relaxing and enjoying the sights and sounds of nature.

Others argue that there is no real difference between the two types of vacations, they are just different ways to enjoy waterfront living.

Ultimately, it’s important to choose what style of vacation appeals to you most so that you can have a memorable experience.

Is yachting and sailing the same?

No, Yachting and sailing are two very different activities that involve different equipment, skills, and locations. Yachting is generally associated with the seaside while sailing is more typically enjoyed in large bodies of water like oceans or lakes.

The world is changing at an increasing pace and so are people’s tastes. Yachting has become a new trend that a lot of people are enjoying despite the increased cost of the vessel.

As you can see, there is much to consider when choosing the right yacht for your trip. No matter what type of sailing you are planning on doing, hopefully, our guide will help make sure that everything goes as planned. If you like the information, spread it on social media among your friends.

We will be happy to hear from you if you decide to book a yacht trip soon! Share your experience in the comment box below. Happy yachting!

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21 Common Yachting Terms Explained

Does it ever feel like yacht enthusiasts speak a whole other language? We get it. Everyone was new to yachting once and we all had to learn what different terms mean. Luckily, you have Ahoy Club to show you the ropes. Brush up on your sea vocabulary with some common definitions in our glossary below.

Essentially, parking your yacht so that you can hop over to shore and explore. It also refers to the literal anchor which holds your yacht in place.

APA (Advanced Provisioning Allowance)

A deposit paid by charterers to cover expenses during their trip. Expenses may include taxes, harbour fees, food and alcohol.

Base charter rate

The rate that you pay for the hire of your yacht and its crew. This does not include on board expenses and taxes which are covered by your APA (see above).

The total width of the yacht at its widest point.

The bedrooms on your yacht.

A type of yacht with two hulls. It was designed this way for increased stability on the water.

Explorer yacht

A yacht that is built to go to the farthest corners of the globe and into rough terrains. See examples in our past blog .

The territory under which a yacht is registered. The yacht’s flag state will govern the laws and regulations which it must follow.

A traditional motorised sailing yacht typically found in Turkey.

The main body of the yacht floating in the water; covers the front, sides, back and underside.

A boat or yacht’s speed measured in nautical miles per hour (see below).

A large luxury yacht typically measuring over 70m.

A boat with a single hull. May be a sailing yacht, motor yacht, luxury super- or megayacht. See Catamaran above for comparison.

Motor yacht (or M/Y)

A yacht which is powered with engines. 

Nautical mile

A measure of distance on the water. One nautical mile is equal to 1852 metres or 1-minute of latitude on a navigational chart.

Preference sheet

The questionnaire that guests fill out before beginning their charter. It is meant to provide as much information as possible to the captain, crew and chef so that they may meet your preferences for an excellent trip.

Sailing yacht (or S/Y)

A yacht which is primarily powered with wind sails. Most also have motors as a backup.

The main living or lounge area on your yacht. Pronounced ‘sal-on’ not ‘sal-oon’.

A luxury yacht measuring between 24-69m.

A smaller boat housed on your yacht which can be used for transfers to shore, with your watertoys or on short day trips.

VAT (Value Added Tax)

A compulsory consumption tax set out by the countries you are visiting. See our blogs on the recent changes in Italy and France to learn more.

Yachting from A to Z with Ahoy Club

With Ahoy Club, you can expect everything about yacht chartering to be simpler. From our digital platform allowing you to browse thousands of yachts to our concierge team here to help with any questions. Check out our yachts for charter and test out your new yachting lingo ASAP.

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A sea tornado just sank a yacht in the Mediterranean. We might be seeing more of them.

A deadly waterspout is strongly suspected of sinking a yacht off the coast of Italy. Scientists weigh in on whether they’ll worsen as the planet warms.

A superyacht carrying 22 people, including British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, sank off the coast of Palermo, Italy, in the early hours of August 19.  

The 183-foot Bayesian yacht is believed to have been hit by a waterspout —a tornado that forms over the ocean—and some experts are concerned that climate change could worsen these storms in the Mediterranean and other quickly warming waters.

Here’s what you need to know about waterspouts and whether hotter temperatures could cause more of them.

What is a waterspout?

A waterspout is a tornado that forms over water. “The tornado doesn't really care what surface it’s over,” says David Sills, executive director of the Northern Tornadoes Project in Ontario, Canada. “Whether it's a city or a forest or crops or water, the tornado is going to do its thing."  

These columns of rotating air “form where an air boundary exists, for example where warm and cold air collide,” says a spokesperson at the Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) via email.

Changes in wind direction at different heights can cause a rotation.

“Imagine just above the ocean, the wind is blowing in one direction,” says Peter Inness , meteorologist at the University of Reading. When the wind higher up blows in another direction, “the air between those two levels of wind starts rotating around the horizontal axis.”

The warm air below rises and these “spinning parcels of air are also lifted and stretched in this process and can concentrate on the surface of the water creating a vortex,” says the BOM.

As the air is sucked upwards into the storm, the spinning intensifies like taking the plug out of the bath, says Innes: “the water going down the plughole rotates very intensely because it's being sucked downwards.”

It’s similar to a figure skater, adds Sills: “When they bring in their arms, and then they spin faster and faster.”  

How dangerous are waterspouts for boats?

Although the wind associated with waterspouts can reach 55 miles per hour, they typically move at under 25 miles per hour, are short-lived, and don’t cause much damage. “They usually only impact any single point for a few minutes,” says the BOM.

The Bayesian was moored overnight when it sank. Although people have attributed this to a waterspout, it’s not yet been confirmed.  

“It was dark and there are no images available,” says Luca Mercalli, president of the Italian Meteorological Society , via email.

Boats are designed to right themselves when blown over by strong winds. “Those sailboats have a big, heavy keel so that when you start to go over, it pulls you back up,” says Sills.

But if water gets into the ship, it can lose buoyancy. “It's called a knockdown,” he says. “Time spent over like that means water and waves can get into open doors and it starts to take on water. Then you start to sink.”

The rapid change in wind strength and direction are also dangerous for boats, says Innes, “because it could result in the boat rocking backward and forward very violently.”

Will climate change cause more waterspouts?

One study has found more frequent waterspouts off the coast of Spain’s Balearic Islands when sea surface temperatures are higher, particularly between 73 and 78°F.

This year, “the Mediterranean is [over 5°F] above average,” says Mercalli, which is “an anomaly considered "extreme". These unusually warm waters could be partly due to climate change as well as year-on-year variability.

Some people are concerned that climate change could cause an increase in tornadoes on land and water.

“Global warming will increase all weather extreme events, because it injects more energy into the atmosphere,” says Mercalli.

But experts are wary of confirming a definite link with climate change. “Waterspouts are a very short-lived and local scale phenomena, and therefore difficult to attribute to impacts of climate change,” says the BOM.

The Mediterranean is warming more quickly than the rest of the ocean. Although climate change will make sea surface temperatures warmer, it’s unclear how it will affect the other conditions needed to create waterspouts.

Waterspouts need a temperature difference between air and sea. If the air is warming at the same rate as the bodies of water, an increase in waterspouts is unlikely, says Sills.  

Low pressure is also needed. “Even if the water is really warm, if you've got an area of high pressure over the Mediterranean, you won't get those thunderstorms,” says Inness. “You won't get waterspouts.”

Wind direction also comes into play. In this region, humid air from the north is more likely to cause storms than dry winds coming up from North Africa.    

Due to poor historic data, it’s not possible to confirm that waterspouts are increasing, says Mercalli, “but surely all heavy storms, including thunderstorms that generate strong winds, downbursts, heavy rains and hail are increasing worldwide and in Italy.”

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Definition of yacht

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Definition of yacht  (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

Examples of yacht in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'yacht.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

obsolete Dutch jaght , from Middle Low German jacht , short for jachtschip , literally, hunting ship

1557, in the meaning defined above

1836, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing yacht

Articles related to yacht.

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Dictionary Entries Near yacht

yacht chair

Cite this Entry

“Yacht.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yacht. Accessed 22 Aug. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of yacht.

Kids Definition of yacht  (Entry 2 of 2)

from obsolete Dutch jaght (now jacht ), short for jachtschip, literally, "hunting ship"

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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for yacht

Nglish: Translation of yacht for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of yacht for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about yacht

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Yachting and Boating Glossary of Terms

Which side is "Starboard"? Important yachting and boating terms, all in one place!

The yachting world is full of nicknames and jargon - it can be hard to understand some of the technical language used. Scroll down to read through some of the most popular sailing terms and what they mean! 

Aft deck . On motor yachts, the guest area closest to the back of the boat on the main level. Often the location of the main outdoor dining area. Aft cabin . Sleeping quarters beneath the aft or rear section of the boat (sometimes called a mid cabin when located beneath the helm) Alee . The side of a boat or object away from the direction of the wind. Aloft . Above deck in the rigging or mast. Amidships . In the center of the yacht Anti-fouling paint . A special paint applied to a boat's hull to prevent marine growth. APA . Advance Provisioning Allowance. The APA is money paid to a bank account for the Captain of the yacht to provision on the charterer’s behalf. Key provisioning is fuel, food, drinks, and port fees.  The Captain is obligated to keep all receipts and balance the account for the charterer. At the end of the charter, the Captain provides a full account of expenditures, and any amounts not used will be refunded. Apparent wind . The direction and speed of the wind as felt in a moving boat - the way it 'appears”. Astern . The direction toward or beyond the back of the boat (stern). Athwartships . Perpendicular to the yacht’s centerline. An 'athwartships berth,” means the bed is parallel to the yacht’s sides instead of to its bow and stern. This can create uncomfortable motion while you sleep. Aweigh . An anchor that is off the bottom. Antigua. North of Guadeloupe , a popular bareboating destination. Anguilla.   An exclusive destination in the Caribbean. 

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Backstay . Support for the mast to keep it from falling forward. Banyan.  A short period of rest, often a day or so, while on a charter Bareboat . A yacht that you charter and run yourself, without a crew. See our Bareboat Page . Base charter rate . The rate the charterer pays on a charter for the yacht and crew. The base rate does not typically include provisioning or other expenses such as food, fuel, dockage and tip. Beam . Measurement of a boat at its widest point. Also, a transmitted radio, sonar or radar signal. Bearing . Direction to an object from your current position. Bear off . To turn away from the wind. Beating . Sailing upwind. Berth .  1 - A cabin or other place to sleep aboard a boat. 2 - A  boat slip at a dock where the boat can be moored. Bermuda Triangle . A section of the North Atlantic Ocean off North America in which more than 50 ships and 20 airplanes are said to have mysteriously disappeared. Bermuda . A British island territory in the North Atlantic Ocean known for its pink-sand beaches such as Elbow Beach and Horseshoe Bay. Bimini . A sun shade or rain cover that covers a portion of a yacht or boat. Blue Peter.   A blue/white flag that indicates the yacht is ready to sail Bow . Forward portion/front of a boat. Bowline. The most popular, and essential knot. It has many uses, and is easily 'broken' even when pulled tight.  Buoy (normally pronounced "boowie”, but sometimes "boy”). An anchored floating object that serves as a navigation aid or hazard warning.  BVI . The British Virgin Islands .  A major sailing and yachting area in the Caribbean, near the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico .

Bareboats!  

Captain-only charter . A yacht that comes with a captain but no additional crew. The captain drives the yacht, and you take care of everything else, including cooking and housekeeping.  Often called Bareboat with Skipper Charter yacht broker . A person who specializes in booking personalized yacht vacations on behalf of clients. Also, the firm that person works for, as in Charter Yacht Broker Agency . See our article on why you should use a Charter broker . Charter terms . The contract under which you charter a yacht. There are different terms used in different parts of the world. Some give you everything on an all-inclusive basis, some give you all meals aboard, some give you no meals aboard, and so forth. Charter yacht . A yacht that is available for charter/rental. Cockpit . The outdoor area of a sailing yacht (typically in the stern) where guests sit and eat, and from where the captain may steer and control the boat. Commission . The fee a yacht’s owner pays to a charter broker for booking a charter. Note - the charterer does not pay the charter broker’s commission directly. Crew . The team that operates your charter yacht. The crew can include a captain plus any combination of: mate, deckhand, stewardess, engineer and chef. Some crew has additional skills such as wellness/massage therapy and scuba instruction . Crewed charter . The charter of a yacht that has a permanent crew aboard who run and manage all aspects of the yacht and charter. See more about Crewed Charter . CYBA . Charter Yacht Broker Association, one of the primary professional organizations for reputable charter brokers. Corsica.   A French island north of  Sardinia. Cuba . Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba , is a country comprising the island of Cuba as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos located in the Caribbean sea .

Crewed Motor Yachts!  

Dead Ahead.   Right in front, just ahead. The direction you are sailing/cruising. Dinghy . A small boat that a yacht carries or tows. Used for transfers to and from shore, and short day cruises and, if powerful enough, water sports. Also typically called a tender on larger yachts. Displacement . The weight of water displaced by a hull. Also, a type of hull that smoothly displaces (pushes aside) water as opposed to tipping up and riding on top of it. Dodecanese .  The Dodecanese islands located in the southeastern Aegean Sea, are a group of Greek islands known for their medieval castles, beaches and ancient archaeological sites. Double cabin . A charter yacht cabin that includes a double bed to sleep two guests. Not to be confused with "twin cabin," which means a cabin with two twin-size beds. Draft . The depth of a yacht below the waterline, as measured vertically. It is important when navigating shallow water to assure the boat can pass.

Destinations!  

e-boat . A boat or yacht powered entirely by electricity (no diesel motor or generator). See more on our Electric Boat Revolution page. Ease . To slacken (loosen) a rope/line. Eco . 1) the spoken term for the letter "E" 2) short for Ecological, eg. good for the environment. Eddy water . Area of calm sea. Electric generator. Equipment that burns fuel to provide electricity aboard when there are no electrical connections or sources.

Fathom . Depth measurement equaling six feet. Fethiye . Fethiye is a port on Turkey's southwestern Turquoise Coast First Mate . The second in command on the yacht Fleet . A group of yachts that are under management by the same company, called a fleet manager or  CA. Flank . The maximum speed of a ship Flotilla . A group of yachts cruising together. Flying bridge  (or Flybridge). A raised, second-story helm station (steering area) that often also has room for passengers, providing views and a sun deck. Furling . Rolling or folding a sail on its boom. Many charter yachts today are 'self-furling” which takes much of the work out of dropping the sails. French Riviera. A stretch of coastline in the southern part of France. The 'Riviera' doesn't have an official boundary, however, most locals say that from Toulon to the Italian border is considered the  'French Riviera'.  

Galley . The kitchen/cooking area on a yacht. Gulet . A type of motorsailer typically found in Turkey. Gulets originated from sponge boats, but now offer luxury crewed charters, normally with en-suite bathrooms, large deck space, and full service. See more about Gulet Charters . Gunwale  (Gun-ul). The upper edge of the side of a boat. Gybe . Also spelled jibe. To change the course of a boat by swinging a fore-and-aft sail across a following wind (eg the wind is blowing from behind the boat). Gocek.  A popular bareboating sailing destination in Turkey.  Gulf.  Is a sizable amount of the ocean that penetrates the land. See 'Mexican Gulf'. 

Halyard . Line (rope) used to hoist a sail. Harbour. An area designated for yachts to moor. Harbor fees . Charges paid by the yacht, and normally passed on to the charterer, for docking in certain harbors around the world. The rate depends very much on the season and attractiveness of the port. Harbormaster . The person at a harbor in charge of anchorages, berths and harbor traffic. Head . Toilet room. Heel . To temporarily tip or lean to one side. Monohulls heel more than catamarans. Helm . The steering wheel of the boat or yacht Hull . The structural body of the boat that rests in the water and is built to float.

'Inclusive” charter rate . The cost of a charter that includes nearly all expenses, including the yacht and crew, food, alcohol (within reason), fuel and dockage. Itinerary . The course a yacht intends to travel while on charter. The itinerary is normally planned in advance but should remain flexible depending on weather conditions and guest preferences. Idle. When the engines run on 'idle' this means the yacht is just ticking over. Often referred to in fuel rates "Rates include fuel with engines at idle" In Irons. A sailing word to describe a yacht losing her forward momentum when heading into the wind. The yacht becomes untearable as she loses her way.  Ischia.   Ischia is a volcanic island in the Gulf of Naples , Italy, known for its mineral-rich thermal waters.  Inboard. When the engine is IN the yacht, as opposed to being attached to the stern - this would be called an OUTboard.  Inshore. Close or near the shoreline so line-of-sight sailing is possible.  Iron wind. Sailor's nickname to the engine.  

Jib . Triangular sail projecting ahead of the mast. Jibe . See gybe Jackeline's.  Lines that run from Aft > forward that your harness can be attached to in bad weather.  Jury rig (jerry-rig). A temporary fix to something which has broken on the yacht. 

Knot . A unit of speed equivalent to one nautical mile per hour. "We are cruising at 6 knots". See nautical mile. Kedge. A small anchor that can be thrown overboard to either change the direction of the yacht (pivot point) or to help anchor the yacht further in bad weather. Often used then yachts "raft up".  Ketch. A two-masted yacht.  Kicking strap. A name to the line that pulls the boom down to flatten the sail. 

Lee . The side furthest away from the wind.   Leeward . The side of an object that is sheltered from the wind. Often pronounced "loo ərd". Lee helm. In strong winds, the yacht can have a tendency to move to the lee without the rudder moving position.  LOA - Length Over All. The length of a charter yacht as measured from 'stem to stern”. This is important because yachts are usually charged a price by the foot for dockage at marinas. Luxury Yacht - a crewed charter yacht the strives to provide 5-star service to its charterers including cuisine, water sports, housekeeping, and navigation. See our  Luxury Yacht Charter Page. Lazy jack. A sail bag attached to the boom where the mainsail can fall into. Leech. The aft part of the sail.  Luff. The forward part of the sail.  Luffing up. Bringing the yacht into wind - moving the luff of the sail (the forward part of the sail called 'the luff' moves into the wind). 

Mainsail . The largest regular sail on a sailboat. Main salon . the primary indoor guest area on a yacht’s main deck. Make fast . To secure a line. Marina . A place where yachts dock and receive services such as provisioning, water and fuel.  Typically marinas offer protection from bad weather, and have hundreds of slips for yachts of various sizes.  Slips are rented long term or by the day. Mast . Vertical spar that supports sails. Master cabin . Typically the best/largest cabin onboard any charter yacht. Megayacht . A large, luxury motoryacht. No hard and fast definition, but normally crewed luxury yachts 100 feet or longer. Similar to Superyacht. Midships . Location near the center of a boat. Monohull . A yacht with one hull, as opposed to a multihull or catamaran that has pontoons.  While most motor yachts are monohulls, the term typically refers to sailing yachts. Motorsailor . A yacht built to sail and cruise under power with equal efficiencies, such as a Gulet.  They typically look like sailing yachts, but have strong engines and are often skippered like they are motor yachts. Motoryacht . A yacht whose primary form of propulsion is engines. Multihull . A yacht with more than one hull - typically a catamaran (two) or trimaran (three). They can be either powerboats or sailboats. MYBA - The Worldwide Yachting Association - originally the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association (pronounced 'Mee ba”). An international yacht brokers' association based in the Mediterranean, one of the primary professional organizations for reputable charter brokers.   MYBA Contract . A contract used for luxury yachts, that has become the standard in the Mediterranean and many other parts of the world.  Offers protections for charterers in case of cancellation and clearly states the legal rights of all parties to the charter.

Nautical mile . A distance of 6,076.12 feet or 1,852 meters, which is about 15 percent longer than a statute mile. Equivalent to one minute of latitude on a navigation chart. See our Charter Distance and Cost Calculator here . Navigation. All activities that produce a path Nautical. Anything relating to the sea or yachts.  Narrows. A narrow part of a navigable waterway.  Nautical chart. 'Maps' designed specifically for sea navigation.  Nun. Navigational, cone-shaped buoy (in IALA A = port in IALA B = starboard)

Outboard . An engine that is outside the boat (normally attached to the stern), as is commonly seen on tenders, dinghies, and smaller speed boats. Owner-operator . A person who owns and skippers a charter yacht, instead of hiring a captain to perform charters for guests.

Painter. The rope used to tie the dinghy or tender up to the boat. Passarelle . The passageway you walk on from the dock to the yacht. Often incorrectly called a gangplank. Personal flotation device (PFD). A safety vest or jacket capable of keeping an individual afloat. Pitch . The theoretical distance a propeller would travel in one revolution. Also, the rising and falling motion of a boat's bow and stern. Planing hull . A boat hull designed to ride on top of the water rather than plowing through it. Port (direction). The left side of a boat when facing the bow. Signified by Red. The opposite side from Starboard.  Trick to remember - 'After a party, there’s no red port left'. Port (place). A marina harbor or commercial dock for boats. Port (drink). A strong, sweet, typically dark red fortified wine, originally from Portugal. (Well not exactly a nautical term, but lots of yachties like a good port after dinner!) Power catamaran . A multihulled powerboat with two identical side-by-side hulls. Characterized by excellent fuel mileage and less rolling in the water than a monohull powerboat. Power cruiser . A motor yacht with overnight accommodations, typically up to 40 feet long. Preference sheet . A questionnaire that guests fill out before a crewed charter. It alerts the crew to allergies and medical conditions, as well as to preferences for types of food, wine and service. As such, it is an invaluable document for the crew to plan the charter and assists greatly in customer satisfaction. Private yacht . A yacht that is not available for charter. Provisioning sheet . A questionnaire that guests fill out before a bareboat charter. It tells the management company what foods and other supplies you want to have to wait for you when you arrive for your vacation.  It’s not mandatory, as many bareboaters prefer to provision themselves when they arrive. Pullman berth . A twin-size bed that is atop another bed, in bunk-bed fashion, that adds additional sleeping accommodation to the yacht.  It often 'pulls” out of the wall when needed. Pump toilet . A marine toilet that requires the user to pump a handle to flush.

Reach . To sail across the wind. Regatta . A boat race, often with classic yachts. See more on our regatta charter guide . RIB (acronym for Rigid Inflatable Boat). An inflatable boat fitted with a rigid bottom often used as a dinghy or tender. They are great for shallow water and landing on sandy beaches. Rope . A cord used to moor or control a yacht. Note: experienced sailors always refer to ropes as lines. Runabout . A kind of small, lightweight, freshwater pleasurecraft intended for day use.

Sailing yacht . A yacht whose primary method of propulsion is sailing. Nearly all sailing yachts have engines in addition to their sails. Sedan cruiser . A type of large boat equipped with a salon and a raised helm or bridge. Semi-displacement hull . A hull shape with soft chines or a rounded bottom that enables the boat to achieve minimal planing characteristics (see Planing hull).  This increases the top potential speed of the yacht. Schooner . A large sailboat with two or more masts where the foremast is shorter than aft mainmast. Skippered bareboat . A bareboat that has been chartered with a skipper, but no other crew. The skipper’s responsibility is navigating the boat and assuring the safety and wellbeing of the charterer.  The skipper may cook and provision, but this is not a requirement. Also known as a captain-only charter or skipper-only charter. Sky lounge . The indoor guest area on the bridge deck of a luxury motor yacht. Often less formal than the main saloon, and sometimes ideal for cocktail parties, happy hour or children’s activities, especially if the weather is not perfect. Starboard . The right side of a boat when facing the bow. Opposite of Port. Stabilizers . A feature that helps to prevent a Motoryacht from rolling too drastically, especially in bad weather, greatly improving the comfort of the guests. The most advanced form is a zero-speed stabilizer, which works both underway and at anchor. Stem . The most forward section of the hull. Stern . Aft (back) portion of a boat. Swim platform . The space at the back of the yacht from which you typically can go swimming or board a dinghy. Lately, these have become entire pool/beach areas on some of the larger luxury yachts.

Tack (sail). The lower corner of a sail. Tack (sailing). Each leg of a zigzag course typically used to sail upwind. Tandem charter . A charter that includes more than one yacht. Tender . A boat that a yacht carries or tows used for transfers to and from shore, and short day cruises and watersports. Also sometimes called a dinghy. Transom . The rear section of the hull connecting the two sides. True wind . The direction and velocity of wind as measured on land, distinct from apparent wind which is how it appears on a moving yacht. Twin cabin . A yacht cabin that features two twin beds, often best suited for children or friends.

V-berth . A bed or berth located in the bow that has a V-shape. VAT . Value-added tax (TVA in France). A tax sometimes charged to charter guests who book boats in certain nations, most often in Europe. VAT can add 20 percent or more to your bill. Very happy . The state that most charterers are in the majority of the time they are aboard their yacht! VHF . Very high frequency; a bandwidth designation commonly used by marine radios. VICL . Virgin Islands Charter League, an organized group of charter yacht owners in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Membership in this group indicates a yacht owner’s willingness to be part of the larger charter community and to follow its standards. VIP cabin . Typically the second-best cabin onboard any charter yacht.

Waterline . The intersection of the hull and the surface of the water. Waypoint . The coordinates of a specific location. Weigh . To raise the anchor. Windlass . Rotating drum device used for hauling line or chain to raise and lower an anchor. Windward . The side of a boat or object that is facing or being hit by the wind - the windy side. Windward Islands .  The Windward Islands are the southern, generally larger islands of the Lesser Antilles, within the West Indies Wet head . A bathroom that serves as both the toilet/sink area and the shower compartment, meaning the sink and toilet get wet when you use the showerhead.

Yacht . A sailing or motor yacht designed for pleasure boating that typically ranges from 40 to 100+ feet long. Yachting . The experience of being on a yacht. Yaw . To veer off course.

Zero-speed stabilizers . The most sophisticated type of motor yacht stabilizers that keep the yacht from rolling both underway and at anchor, significantly improving their comfort.

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The 11 Best Sailing Hats 2024: Top Yachting Headware

Getting the best sailing hat possible for those blissful days out on the water is essential for your enjoyment and your safety. If you’re spending any amount of time out at sea then you’re going to need the best hat you can find to offer all-around protection from both the cold and the sunshine.

Being exposed to the sunshine all day, often with little shade, can be a real health hazard and while you’re sailing one of the best ways to avoid getting too much sun is with a hat that will offer great protection.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We also earn from other affiliate programs. This means we may receive a small commission on products purchased through our links at no extra cost to you.

To be useful at sea that hat needs to fit a whole load of extra criteria to a hat you’d use at home. The best sailing headwear will have a whole host of extra useful features that you might not have even thought of till now!

Over two years of sailing, we’ve been through our fair share of boating hats, and we’ve spoken to lots of other full-time cruisers to get their top recommendations too!

Here’s our guide to the best sailing caps, beanies, and sou’westers to help you enjoy your time on the water to the max.

Quick Guide To The Best Yachting Headwear

• Helly Hansen Crew Hat
• Gill Marine Technical – The best budget hat
• Outdoor Research Sombriolet – Best for comfort
• Sunday Afternoons Adventure – Best for sun protection
• Gill Race Cap – Best baseball cap design
• Tilley LTM6 Airflo – Best in quality
• Sealskinz Hat – Best for cold weather
• Islamorada Catamaran Hat – Best for style
• Gill Offshore Hat – Best for offshore sailing
• Helly Hansen Roam Hat
• Best Sailing Hats For Kids

Should you wear a hat on a boat? What kind of hat do you wear sailing? Features to look for How to keep your hat on while sailing Why do sailors wear beanies?

The Best Sailing Hats

Here are our top sailing hat picks. We’ve included some of their best features to help you make the right decision for you. Remember, all of these hats also make great sailing gifts!

#1 Helly Hansen Crew Hat

This is a great budget option for anyone who wants to stay protected out on the water. It’s a simple baseball cap design, but in true Helly Hansen style it doesn’t compromise on quality and this cap is all you’ll need when out sailing in the summer.

It’s super lightweight, making it comfortable to wear. It dries quickly after getting wet from spray or rain, and it’s made from durable material that will last.

✅ Grab yours from Helly Hansen now

#2 Gill Marine Technical

This is one of the best budget sailing hats around, and it should meet all of your sailing hat requirements! Gill is a well-known sailing brand for a reason – they deliver quality sailing gear.

This sailing hat is no different. For starters, it floats! And it has an adjustable chin strap that you can remove if you need. We have lost way too many hats to the sea and the wind. Having a hat that floats is a real bonus.

The brim is wide which is perfect for keeping the sun off your face and neck, and it keeps the glare out of your eyes too.

This sailing hat is made from a really lightweight, water-repelling material which means it actually dries super quickly if it gets wet (which it will, obviously!) It also has an absorbent headband which is one of my sailing hat must-haves to try and combat sweat!

✅ For current prices head here!

#3 Outdoor Research Sombriolet Hat

This hat by Outdoor Research is a little more expensive than the Gill sailing hat but worth it if you’re spending a lot of time outdoors.

This hat has been made to last, with a wide foam stiffened brim and a UPF 50+ rating. It has a wicking headband to keep sweat off your face and breathable panels to keep you cool in the heat – perfect for lazing about at anchor in the sunshine.

We love how easy the drawstring cord is to adjust – you can do it with one hand while you’re sailing.

This hat is made out of durable materials, it’s easily washable and water resistant. It’s also super light and folds away easily for convenient storage or packing.

This is a great all-rounder sailing hat and is worth the extra money for a hat that will last.

✅ For current prices head here

#4 Sunday Afternoons Adventure Hat

If you’re after the best possible sailing hat for sun protection then this is it. This is a world-famous hat for all types of adventure sports with its huge brim and neck cape that provides all-around sun protection.

It floats, it’s light and durable, its size is adjustable and it has a wicking inner headband. The big difference between this hat and the others we’ve mentioned is the neck cap and wide brim. Perfect for covering up when spending all day in the sun.

The only negative with this hat is that it’s perhaps not the trendiest, but when you’re out at sea who’s looking anyway!?

✅ Buy now from Amazon

#5 Gill Race Cap

If you love baseball caps then you’ll know the dangers of wearing a standard one out on the water! Baseball caps don’t make great sailing hats because as soon as the wind picks up it catches the lip and blows them straight into the sea. It gives you a great chance to practice your MOB procedure but it can get a little tiresome!

Luckily there are sailing hats out there designed to overcome this problem. This baseball sailing hat from Gill comes with a strap and plastic clip to keep your hat from being anywhere but on you. If it blows off it won’t be going anywhere!

It has all the other features you’d want in a sailing hat, like a wicking headband, 50+ UV rating, water resistance, and durable fabric.

The only downside is that baseball caps don’t give as much all round sun protection and leave the back of your neck exposed. Consider grabbing a few buffs to combat this problem if you’re more comfortable in a baseball cap design.

✅ Buy now from Gill

#6 Tilley LTM6 Airflo Brimmed Sailing Hat

Tilley hats were designed by an avid sailor and have a bit of a cult following (for a reason). These hats are certainly not a budget option but they might just be one of the best.

The Airflo Collection  is designed for versatility and function in every outdoor adventure. Every hat is designed to be breathable, packable, and protective from sun, rain, and wind. Perfect for every sailing condition.

It comes with all the other expected features of a sailing hat, such as UPF 50+ ratings, floatation, washable, water resistance, and a strap to tie on in the wind. But these sailing hats have received a whole lot of extra love too.

Each Tilley hat is hand-sewn and all seams are lock-stitched so they won’t unravel. The crown of these sailing hats is slightly higher so the top of the hat doesn’t sit against your head (one of my pet hates in sailing hats).

This obviously allows more ventilation from the mesh. They have a sewn-in pocket for storing small valuables like a room key or cash.

These sailing hats are guaranteed for life and the manufacturers claim that this will be the last hat you ever buy! Perhaps the price looks a little more appealing now!

#7 Islamorada Catamaran Boating Hat

I have a real thing for straw hats (or straw-looking hats!) This is an awesome choice for sailing as it looks super cute but is also very practical and designed with sailing in mind.

The ultra-wide 4 1/4″ downsloping brim offers UPF 50+ sun protection with a chinstrap to keep it in place when the weather gets spicy! If you’re looking for something you can wear on and off the water then this is a great option.

#8 Sealskinz Winter Sailing Hat

If you’re looking for the best sailing hat for cold weather then look no further.

This sailing hat by sealskinz is 100% waterproof and windproof but still breathable. It’s designed for extreme cold weather with a three-layer construction. There are ear panels to keep your ears warm (my biggest hate!) and the adjustable fit means it won’t blow off in the wind.

#9 Gill Offshore Hat

The Gill Offshore hat is designed for anyone who will be out in the elements for extended periods. This is a pretty serious sailing hat!

It is made from two-layer quick-drying fabric, with a fleece lining to keep you cosy. The wire peak can be adjusted to help visibility in rain and spray, and there’s an adjustable and removable chin strap so your hat will actually stay on in a blow!

Buy the Gill Offshore hat now

#10 Helly Hansen Roam Hat

The Roam hat by Helly Hansen is another great option if you want maximum sun protection but with a little style. It has a wide-rim to protect your face and neck, and is made from quick drying fabric which makes it a great option for sailing.

Plus we love how it looks. I know it shouldn’t be important but let’s face it, it is!

Buy the Roam hat here

#11 Best Yachting Hats For Kids

The best sailing hats for kids are designed to be fun for them to wear (to encourage them to keep them on!) to be comfortable, and to provide maximum protection from the elements for their young skin.

We would opt for this Helly Hansen Ocean Race hat with it’s wide brim and toggle under the chin so there’s less chance of it going straight in the sea!

Should you wear a hat on a boat?

I wouldn’t like to tell people what they should and shouldn’t do, but if pushed I would say a definite yes, you should wear a hat on a sailboat.

Sailing exposes you to so many elements and it’s not always easy or possible to escape them. You will need a hat to protect you from the sun or the cold, or quite probably both! Even if you decide not to wear it in the end it’s an excellent idea to have one with you so you’re safe and comfortable out on the water.

What kind of hat should you wear sailing? Features To Consider

These days boating hats come with all sorts of fancy features – but what do you really need in the best hat for sailing?

We’ve put together a list of a few of the things you might want to consider before you buy a hat for sailing, ranging from the amount of protection from the sun and wind it gives you to some of the fancy extras like wicking bands and vents.

Ultimately, the best yachting hat for you will be a personal choice and you’ll have to decide what you want to prioritise. You might just be sailing for a few hours a week and want to prioritise your budget, or you might sail every day and need a sailing hat that will last.

Hopefully we’ve given you enough options to help you make the best decision for you! And don’t forget, decent sailing headwear will make a great present for that sailing-fanatic loved one in your life! For the ultimate sailing kit guide check out our post – essential sailing gear .

Why Sailing Hats Are So Important

A sailing hat has a few different jobs that are equally important. Firstly, as most of us prefer to sail in the sunshine, a hat will protect you from the sun’s harmful rays. This includes damage to your skin and heat from the sun.

If you sail in colder climates a good sailing hat will also protect you from the cold. We lose most of our heat from our heads so a decent quality winter sailing hat for cold weather is very important.

I would always recommend having headwear for both weather extremes on board just in case. You never know when the wind will pick up and you’ll need some warmth!

Consider Where You’re Sailing

Where you’re sailing, when you sail, and how often you sail will have a big impact on what you decide is the best sailing hat for you.

As I mentioned earlier, if you’re a weekend fair-weather sailor then you might decide you need a budget hat that will keep the sun off your face. If you plan on sailing through the UK winter then you’re going to want a hat that will provide protection from the wind and cold weather.

Decide on your priorities in a boating hat before you buy.

Think UPF Ratings

A UPF rating is a sun protection rating applied to clothing. It measures the amount of UVA and UVB radiation that penetrates the fabric and reaches the skin. In most cases, you’ll want a hat that provides a UPF rating of 50+ giving you nearly 100% protection from the sun through the material.

Brimmed Sailing Hats

For most activities, a really wide brim is a huge bonus as it will keep more sun and heat off of your face. However, when we’re out sailing the wind can be a pain. It will either force the brim of the hat up, whipping the hat off your head or leaving you unprotected, or it will force the brim down and you’ll be blinded!

Most of the best sailing hats combat this with a stiffened medium-sized brim.

Which Is The Best Sailing Headwear Material?

A sailing hat needs to be pretty durable . It’s going to be put through its paces out on the water spending lots of time wet, in the sun, being packed down small and repeatedly washed.

The best sailing hats will stand up to all of these things and will be made to last.

How To Keep Your Hat On While Sailing

This is not the easiest of tasks! If you’re having a great day’s sail then you’ve almost certainly got some great wind. Chances are, that great wind is also doing a great job of ripping that hat off your head!

So how do you keep your hat on while sailing? The answer is simple: you tie it on!

Most hats designed for sailors will come with a chin strap. Use this to secure your hat onto your head. It also helps if your hat fits snugly. You can also use hair pins to help secure your hat or cap, though these won’t always hold up in strong winds!

If your hat doesn’t come with a chin strap then you can buy a hat lanyard that attaches your hat to your clothes so it won’t blow away. Or if you’re really stuck, just tie some string around the top of your hat and under your chin! It isn’t the most stylish look but it will secure your hat in high winds.

Why do sailors wear beanies?

Beanies were traditionally worn by sailors on watch to keep them warm when on the lookout for hazards or enemy ships. They were usually made from wool yarn and protected the sailors from the harsh winds at sea.

These days sailors wear them for the same reasons, only technology has moved on a bit and you can get ones made from breathable, quick dry fabric that won’t soak up all that salt spray.

Conclusion: The Best Sailing Hats

Hopefully this guide has given you some ideas when it comes to choosing the best sailing hat for you so that you have more time for fun out on the water!

Now you’ve got your head sorted make sure you think about the best sunglasses for sailing and what to wear on your sailboat !

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Hi Emily and Adam, I was reading your blog on hats suitable for sailing and I’d like to introduce you to our Arntson Marine Tahoe Brim full brim sun hats that are high speed and gale force wind stable. There’s with no flapping, flopping, or flying off your head, providing UPF 50+ protection. Not only is it high wind stable, it floats! I would welcome the opportunity to send you each one of our Tahoe Brim WindSun hats so you can see for yourself why we’re so excited about this new design. Please check out our website at https://arntsonmarine.com/pages/arntson-marine-hats-caps , find a color and size that will work for you and email me your preference. As soon as I hear from you, I’ll ship you each a hat. I can be reached at [email protected] and 775-683-3388. Thank you for your time! Beth Coffey Curle Arntson Marine and Tahoe Blue Gear [email protected]

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Add a Nautical Flair to Your Outfit With the Best Captain Sailing Hats

If you spend long hours at sea, especially behind the helm of a ship, yacht, or boat, you certainly need some proper headgear for many different reasons. The biggest one is to keep you safe from the brutal summer sun and burn, flaking, or aging your skin faster than your ship moves! Secondly, it also gives a nice look to your overall outfit. This way, you kill birds with one stone — captain sailing hats!

These can instantly make you look like a naval chief, even when paired with a regular white shirt. It doesn’t just look like the real deal but also offers real-world practicality as the black visor is great at blocking out the sun when it’s right on top of you. Besides, it can easily double up as a great touch to your kids’ Halloween costume. But you wouldn’t want the cap to wear out after a single trip at sea, right? Sadly, most cheap quality caps do just that. Don’t worry, though. We’ve scoured the internet to gather the highest-rated captain sailing hats that you can buy in 2024. Let’s have a look!

Our Top Picks

• Best Overall: BESTOYARD Captain Sailing Hat Shop Now ➔
• Best Comfortable: SATINIOR Captain Sailing Hat Shop Now ➔
• Best Package: Dodowin Captain Sailing Hat Shop Now ➔
• Best Multipurpose: BBTO Captain Sailing Hat Shop Now ➔
• Best Costume: Valley Mall Captain Sailing Hat Shop Now ➔
• 3 Sun Protection

Why are captain sailing hats shaped the way they are?

What kind of hat do you wear sailing, what is a hat pin used for, related reviews, what is the great captain sailing hat in 2024, best overall.

BESTOYARD Captain Sailing Hat

Sitting at the top of this list is the Bestoyard Captain Sailing Hat. It leads the charts with its 100% cotton build, exquisite quality, and a realistic-looking yacht captain’s cap with a quintessential design. From children to adults, anyone can rock this with a perfect fit thanks to the easily adjustable snapback design. It’s commonly purchased for masquerades, Halloween, and costume parties but still packs enough practicality for sailors who want to use it at sea.

The pure cotton material composition ensures long-lasting durability, breathable comfort, and premium looks — making it the best option available on this list.

• Quality hat with top-notch workmanship
• Made up of 100% cotton
• Long-lasting durability
• It may run slightly small for some adults

Best Comfortable

SATINIOR Captain Sailing Hat

At number two, we have the SATINIOR Captain Sailing Hat. It comes as a two-pack, so even if one of them wears out, you’ll still have headgear backup to keep you safe from the summer sun! Speaking of which, the elongated black visor certainly fulfills that purpose, while the golden olive branch symbolizes peace. The classic twisted golden rope and the word “Captain” embroidered onto the hat help you look the part when you’re at the ship’s helm.

The material is soft, skin-friendly, soft, and breathable — which are all essential boxes to check for something you plan on wearing for long hours. So, whether you’re attending a nautical party, driving your yacht, or simply taking a boat trip — this two-pack has you covered on all fronts.

• Very realistic design
• Soft, comfy, and breathable for all-day wearing
• Can serve function or aesthetic
• Relatively poor packaging

Best Package

Dodowin Captain Sailing Hat

Next up, we have a six-pack of captain sailing hats — and such a large number of hats makes it evident that this one’s designed to be a costume piece rather than a genuine sailing accessory. It’s meant to be distributed around the family or fraternity to have a lit roleplaying party or a masquerade. It’s also great for a group cosplay to turn the whole family into eye-catching navy captains!

The hats are adjustable to fit different head shapes and sizes well. They’re also breathable, washable, and relatively lightweight with a blend of materials like lightweight till cotton and shiny patent leather. 

• Easy to clean as it’s washable
• Great comfort with lightweight cotton
• Adjustable tightness offers snug fitting for all
• Fabric is comfortable, but not long-lasting

Best Multipurpose

BBTO Captain Sailing Hat

At number four, we have a yacht captain sailing hat from BBTO — and it’s genuinely designed to get you some real-world practicality at sea. The hat is mostly made of polyester and machine washable, which is incredibly useful since the white color gets dirty quickly. You get golden metal buttons with an icon embroidered at the front of the unisex navy hat.

The strap has seven holes that offer lots of adjustabilities, making it a great choice for men, women, children, and teens. The sunshade is long and dark, helping you block out the sun and avoid its glare as you focus on your line of sight. There’s also a sweat-absorbing belt on the inside, a game-changing feature for ladies to keep their makeup intact. Overall, it’s a great buy for both real-world sailing and cosplay use.

• Polyester material that’s durable and machine-washable
• Lots of adjustability with a seven-hole strap
• Great sunshade blocking out the sun
• Polyester isn’t the comfiest material

Best Costume

Valley Mall Captain Sailing Hat

Last but not least, we have the Valley Mall Captain Sailing. This one isn’t supposed to be a legit captain’s hat for your boat but rather a decorative piece that’s worn as a costume or cosplay accessory. It’s unisex and features sufficient adjustability to fit adults and children well. 

While it’s ideal for raves and themed parties, you can always bring it along on your boat to add a fun twist to your outfit. But, everything about the build quality tells you that it’s supposed to be a low-cost costume item rather than a practical hat for real-world sailing use. 

• Very realistic-looking design
• Can easily fit adults and children 
• Great for themed parties and navy costumes
• Not meant for real-world sailing use

Buying Guide: Captain Sailing Hat

So, with some of the internet’s finest captain sailing hats out of the way, let’s have a brief look at the key factors that should determine whether or not you buy a certain hat or pass on it.

First and foremost, you’ve got to make sure that your hat fits you well. Whether you’re buying it for boating or just for a fun frat party costume, you can’t make compromises if the fit is too loose or too tight. It should neither fall off your head nor pinch on your ears, especially if you plan on wearing it for long hours at sea. So, the right size is the most important thing to look for before you examine a hat any further.

Next comes comfort — and it’s especially important if you’re buying it as a legit sailing hat for your yacht or boat. That’s because in that case, you’d be wearing it for hours, and that too in the sun. So, the hat should be breathable, lightweight, and well-fitted to feel as comfortable as possible on your head.

Sun Protection

Here’s another key consideration to keep in mind if you plan on using it as a proper sailor’s hat. Sun exposure is a real issue that boaters and yachters have to deal with, and if that’s your primary reason for buying a sailing hat, look for a long and dark visor. It should be large enough to at least keep your eyes in the shade at all times since you don’t want a sun glare blocking your line of sight as you navigate through the dangerous ocean waters.

The material of your captain’s sailing hat is another essential factor to look for. Ideally, it should be strong, light, and moisture-wicking to make sure you stay dry throughout the day.

As some parting words from this buyer’s guide, keep in mind that while fashion and looks are important, they’re never as meaningful as your overall user experience. So, never go for a flashier-looking captain sailing hat in place of one that’s more practical to use and offers better sun protection, breathability, and moisture-wicking capabilities.

People Also Asked

For over a century, the navy has maintained the same dixie cup shape on their hats, giving them a decent level of individuality in personal style. Uniform regulations forbid stylistic improvements on such accessories as reshaping or updating, but some sailors still try new things out.

Captain sailing hats aren’t the only types you can wear for sailing. In fact, they’re some of the least practical ones out there — but still, they look the best as they instantly make you feel like the captain of your own ship. But, they can blow off pretty easily, so you can wear baseball caps with retaining clips for a secure fit.

Hat pins have been used for the longest time for holding your hat to your hat, usually by pinning it with your own hair. Today, these pins are mostly used by women yet offer the same amount of utility to men to keep their hats from falling off. After all, it’s a pretty significant investment, and you have to protect it somehow.

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Bayesian Yacht Sinking: Climate Change Created Perfect Storm for Waterspouts

The waterspout blamed for the deadly sinking of a luxury superyacht carrying the British tech billionaire Mike Lynch in Italy has been called a freak “black swan” event. But scientists believe this kind of marine tornado is becoming more common with global warming.

While the cause of the sinking of the Bayesian hasn’t officially been determined, weather conditions and witness reports from Sicily, where the yacht was anchored off the coast, have led experts to suspect a waterspout, a whirling column of air and water mist. The key factor for waterspout formation is warm water—and the past year has seen the ocean surface heat up to record-breaking temperatures , in part due to climate change.

“If this rate of warming is going to be continuing in the future, it’s very possible these phenomena will be common and not rare,” says Michalis Sioutas, a meteorology PhD who studies waterspouts in Greece and is a board member of the Hellenic Meteorological Society. “It’s very possible to talk about waterspouts or even tornadoes and extreme storms becoming common.”

The 180-foot Bayesian sank in a matter of minutes after a sudden storm with strong winds and intense lightning snapped its mast around 4 am on Monday. Fifteen people who had been aboard were rescued, and one person was found dead. Six people are missing, including British tech billionaire Mike Lynch, who was recently cleared of fraud charges over the sale of his company to Hewlett-Packard. On Wednesday, the bodies of five people were recovered from the sunken ship but have yet to be identified.

Fishermen saw a waterspout near the yacht shortly before it sank, and a nearby schooner was tossed about by what its captain, Karsten Borner, called a “hurricane gust,” which he believes capsized the Bayesian . Experts have said the conditions were ripe for a waterspout.

This extreme weather phenomenon occurs when warm, moist air rises rapidly over water, spinning as winds change direction at different heights. The result is a long, bending funnel of spray between the water and the clouds, tapering off as it rises as much as 10,000 feet into the heavens.

It comes in two flavors. The more vanilla kind is a fair weather waterspout , which forms in relatively calm and even sunny conditions, often under a billowy cumulus cloud. It happens more often in places like the Great Lakes and the Florida Keys, reaches wind speeds of 50 miles per hour, and usually breaks up before it can cause significant damage.

Then there are severe waterspouts, essentially tornadoes over water, which “are another beast” entirely, according to Wade Szilagyi, a retired forecaster at the Meteorological Service of Canada who now directs the International Center for Waterspout Research. These tornadic waterspouts can move from land to water, or vice versa, and twist at 125 miles per hour or more. They’ve been known to throw debris, rip apart buildings, and overturn boats.

A waterspout documented by Sioutas in Methoni, Greece, in 2004 picked up a boat and sent it sailing through the air, striking and killing a 10-year-old boy. Last year, a sudden storm and waterspout with winds of over 40 miles per hour overturned a tourist boat carrying off-duty intelligence agents on Italy’s Lake Maggiore, killing four. Sioutas says waterspouts can even generate “massive water displacements similar to tsunamis,” citing the gigantic waves that struck the coast of the Greek island of Samos during a 2004 cyclone, tossing boulders like toys.

Tornadic waterspouts spring up only in stormy weather with strong winds, lightning, and sometimes hail, and are the product of two main ingredients: wind shear and rising, unstable air. The process begins when masses of cold and warm air collide. This brings together winds from different directions that start to spin around each other, creating vortices. If a thunderstorm also converges in the area, it can provide the instability, sucking warm air up into itself at dizzying speeds. Over water, it starts carrying moisture up as well. Szilagyi compares the waterspout’s development to a twirling figure skater.

“You can think of the skater, if she just spins around normally, that’s like the little vortex that’s already started,” he says. “But if she brings her arms in, then that’s like the column of that unstable warm air, pulling, stretching that vortex upward. She starts to spin faster.”

Waterspouts have been known and feared since ancient times. In the 1550s in Malta, a waterspout plowed through the harbor of Valletta, reportedly destroying an armada of warships and killing hundreds of people. It’s even thought that old stories of fish or frogs raining down on land may be the product of waterspouts sweeping the creatures up into the clouds.

Now global warming may be supercharging the phenomenon. The International Panel on Climate Change has not found a definite link—there hasn’t been much research into how climate change may be affecting waterspouts—but experts say that the conditions for waterspouts to form are happening more often. A 2022 study of 234 waterspouts in the Spanish Mediterranean over the past three decades found that they were more likely to break out when the sea surface was warmer, especially above 23 degrees Celsius (73 degrees Fahrenheit). And water temperatures are now at unprecedented levels.

Last year was the warmest on record for the ocean. The heat content of the upper 6,500 feet of the seas was the highest ever seen. The seas broke temperature records every single day between May 2023 and May 2024. Marine heat waves struck areas from Antarctica to the Mediterranean.

“Warmer oceans have more energy and more humidity to transfer to the atmosphere, the most important fuels for storms,” says Luca Mercalli, president of the Italian Meteorological Society. “The contrast of warm sea and colder air that flows over energizes vertical winds that could result in downbursts or waterspouts.” (A downburst is a powerful cascade of wind and rain from a thundercloud.)

That perfect storm of waterspout conditions hit Italy around the time the Bayesian sank. In recent days, a mass of high-level cold air has swept down from the Alps and over the country’s western coast, meeting the exceptionally warm air just above the sea surface. Four days before the Bayesian went down, sea surface temperatures were the hottest ever recorded across the Mediterranean Sea, with a daily median of 28.71 degrees Celsius. The ocean near where the Bayesian was anchored has reached almost 30 degrees Celsius this week, four degrees higher than the 20-year summer average, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.

Cold and warm air clashed. Winds started spinning, and overheated water provided the ingredient of instability needed for a waterspout outbreak. As a result, a total of 28 waterspouts were documented off the western coast of Italy from August 17 to August 20, according to the International Center for Waterspout Research.

The total number of waterspouts reported has been increasing in recent years, although a major factor has been that more people are able to capture them with phone cameras and post them on social media, Szilagyi says. But he says that warming waters and a longer waterspout season due to climate change are also contributing. In particular, he believes the number of severe waterspouts are on the rise.

“With the increased water temperatures, that’s probably resulting in more frequent tornadic waterspouts,” Szilagyi says. “There’s no scientific evidence yet that they’re getting even stronger. It’s just that they’re becoming more frequent.”

Warming sea waters are also expected to boost other extreme weather events like Mediterranean hurricanes, or “medicanes,” one of which contributed to the flash flood that killed thousands of people in Libya last year .

In this brave new world, countries need to improve early-warning systems and invest more in research to forecast and observe trends in waterspouts, scientists say. “We have to prepared for more dangerous waterspouts possibly in the future,” Sioutas says. “Significantly warmer waters contribute very significantly to the creation of waterspouts, especially the violent ones.”

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What caused the fatal sinking of the superyacht Bayesian?

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One of the world’s largest sailing superyachts sank in high winds off Sicily on Monday, with UK tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch on board .

The trip on the Lynch family’s yacht had been intended to celebrate his recent acquittal by a US jury, with nine guests and 10 crew on the vessel in addition to his wife and 18-year-old daughter.

The Italian coastguard said the 56-metre, 540-tonne, British-flagged yacht Bayesian sank within minutes after it was hit by ferocious winds of 60 knots (over 110km/h) near Palermo.

The rapid sinking of such a large, modern and well-equipped yacht due to bad weather, rather than as a result of a collision, raises concerns over marine safety as extreme weather events occur with more frequency and intensity.

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Why did the superyacht sink?

The yacht may well have been caught in a waterspout — a form of tornado — because the extreme wind speeds were recorded only in a localised area around the harbour of Porticello, where the boat was anchored about 300 metres offshore when it was struck.

Karsten Borner, the skipper of a nearby boat, told reporters he used his motor to maintain control of his own vessel and to avoid a collision with Bayesian when the weather hit. Bayesian “went flat [with the mast] on the water, and then went down”, he told Reuters.

His comment suggests that it was the combination of high winds and Bayesian’s 72-metre mast — the world’s tallest aluminium mast, according to manufacturers Perini Navi — that triggered the disaster.

Even with no sails up, a boat with a tall mast has a lot of “windage”, or surface area exposed to the wind, that can tip the vessel over in a storm. The boat may have heeled over so far that it took on water through open windows, hatches or companionways.

According to Perini Navi, Bayesian had a keel that can be lifted to reduce the draught of the boat — otherwise nearly 10 metres — for easier entrance to shallow harbours. If the keel were for some reason in the raised position rather than fully extended, that could compromise the boat’s stability in a strong wind.

Skippers of sailing yachts with exceptionally high masts typically aim to move out of harm’s way if strong winds are forecast.

Yacht designers and sailors are nevertheless puzzled by the boat sinking in such a short time. Even with water pouring in through open hatches, such a large vessel would not normally sink so quickly after being knocked down or capsized. The crew did not even have time to issue a Mayday distress call.

Should we blame climate change?

Climate change is likely to have been at least a contributing factor in the Mediterranean’s unsettled and sometimes violent weather this summer. The Mediterranean is a favoured cruising ground for superyachts during the northern hemisphere summer — in winter, the wealthy prefer the Caribbean or the Indian Ocean — because the weather is typically warm and sunny, and storms are rare. 

Meteorological experts have long predicted that climate change and the heating-up of oceans will help trigger more extreme weather events, including floods, droughts and more severe hurricanes.

Last Thursday, the Mediterranean reached a median temperature of 28.9C — its highest surface temperature on record — and similar records are being broken in other seas. June was the 15th consecutive month that global sea temperatures hit a record high and forecasters predict the warmer waters may fuel an intense Atlantic hurricane season.

Will disasters at sea occur more often?

While design improvements and safety regulations have made even the smallest boats safer, the potential dangers posed by bad weather are increasing in line with the rising number of pleasure vessels at sea.

Last week, a sudden and exceptionally strong thunderstorm with wind squalls blowing at up to 53 knots (about 100km/h) swept over the Balearic Islands of Ibiza and Formentera, driving several sailing and motor yachts to crash on to the shore. Among those damaged and grounded but later recovered was a luxury, 30-metre vessel made by the Monaco-based Wally Yachts .

The cause was a thunderstorm known as a “Dana”, a Spanish acronym for depresión aislada en niveles altos or isolated high-altitude depression. The bad weather also caused serious flooding in Mallorca and Menorca to the north.

How can boat makers and skippers help avoid more deaths?

The weather in the Mediterranean is often notoriously unpredictable and prone to sudden, unforecast gales — unlike the north Atlantic, where weather shifts are usually signalled days in advance by changing air pressure and cloud formations visible to the naked eye.

Safety at sea depends largely on two factors: the seaworthiness of the boat, and the skill and experience of the captain and crew.

Modern boats — Bayesian was built in 2008 and refurbished four years ago — are normally built to high safety standards and equipped with electronic navigation and communications systems, as well as standard emergency gear such as life vests.

Common accidents include people falling overboard, fires on board and accidental groundings or collisions — not sinking in bad weather.

The Italian coastguard said on Wednesday that divers searching the wreck found it on the seabed on its starboard side with the mast intact and no breaches visible in the hull, which contradicts speculation that a catastrophic mast failure could have punched a big hole in the boat.

In the words of one coastguard officer, Bayesian’s holidaymakers and crew were just “in the wrong place at the wrong time”.

Visual and data team: Alan Smith, Aditi Bhandhari, Ian Bott and Jana Tauschinski

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Italian divers find 5 more bodies, 1 still missing after superyacht disaster survivor's ominous text message

The two missing americans include a new york city attorney and his wife.

Moment luxury yacht sinks off coast of Italy caught on camera, with 6 presumed dead

Grainy CCTV footage shows the moment a storm struck the Bayesian luxury yacht, which sank Aug. 19, 2024, off the coast of Italy. Six people are missing, officials say. (Giornale di Sicilia)

Italian divers on Wednesday morning found five more bodies after a superyacht sunk off the coast of Italy on Monday, and one person is still missing.

The 184-foot British-flagged Bayesian carrying English entrepreneurs and tourists capsized and sank off Sicily in bad weather early Monday. Rescue officials located the body of chef Recaldo Thomas on Monday, and 15 people were rescued. The identities of the recovered bodies were not disclosed.

A tornado may have struck the yacht Monday, according to civil protection officials.

Among the rescued was Ayla Ronald, senior associate at Clifford Chance, a global law firm that recently handed a win to billionaire tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, who was acquitted of fraud accusations in San Francisco in June, according to The Telegraph.

Italian firefighter scuba divers bring ashore, in the green bag, the body of one of the victims from the British-flagged vessel Bayesian, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. The yacht was hit by a violent sudden storm and sank early Monday, while at anchor off the Sicilian village of Porticello near Palermo, in southern Italy. (Salvatore Cavalli)

Ronald's father, Lin Ronald, told the outlet that he texted his daughter after the superyacht sank. 

MOMENT LUXURY YACHT SINKS OFF COAST OF ITALY CAUGHT ON CAMERA, WITH 6 PRESUMED DEAD

Emergency services carry a body bag after a sailboat sank in the early hours of Monday, off the coast of Porticello, near the Sicilian city of Palermo, Italy, August 19, 2024. (REUTERS/Igor Petyx)

"[S]he hasn’t given me any updates about missing personnel or saved personnel. She has only said to me that there are deaths, and she and her partner are alive," Lin Ronald told The Telegraph, adding that his daughter "is a lawyer who is part of the legal team that was invited to go sailing as a result of the success in the recent United States court case."

Among the rescued was Ayla Ronald, senior associate at Clifford Chance, a global law firm that recently handed a win to billionaire tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, who was acquitted of fraud accusations in San Francisco in June, according to The Telegraph. (Clifford Chance)

Two Americans and four British nationals remain among the missing. The two Americans are Christopher Morvillo, a New York City partner at Clifford Chance who helped with Lynch's fraud case, and his wife, Neda Morvillo, a jewelry designer.

"We are in shock and deeply saddened by this tragic incident. Our thoughts are with our Partner, Christopher Morvillo, and his wife Neda who are among the missing, and with their families," a Clifford Chance spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "Our utmost priority is providing support to the family as well as our colleague Ayla Ronald, who together with her partner, thankfully survived the incident. Our thoughts extend to the other passengers and crew and all those affected. We have no further comment at this time. We, and the families, ask that their request for privacy is honored during this period."

MORGAN STANLEY INTERNATIONAL CHAIRMAN, WIFE AND 4 OTHERS STILL MISSING AFTER LUXURY YACHT SINKS OFF SICILY

Neda Morvillo and Chris Morvillo attend Summer Birthday Cocktails For Lawrence Kaplan at Tower 270 - Rooftop on June 21, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Morvillo, who owns residences in New York City and South Kent, celebrated Lynch's June 6 acquittal on LinkedIn in one of his final social media posts before the luxury boat accident, eerily writing that his family would live "happily ever after." 

"A huge thank you to my patient and incredible wife, Neda Morvillo, and my two strong, brilliant and beautiful daughters, Sabrino Morvillo and Sophia Morvillo," he wrote after thanking the legal team that helped in Lynch's legal success.

WHO IS MIKE LYNCH, THE BRITISH TECH ENTREPRENEUR MISSING AFTER YACHT SANK?

Emergency and rescue services work near the scene where a sailboat sank in the early hours of Monday off the coast of Porticello, near the Sicilian city of Palermo, Italy, August 19, 2024. (REUTERS/Igor Petyx)

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The boat sank sometime around 5 a.m. Monday near the port of Porticello, where it was anchored, according to the Italian coast guard. There were a total of 10 crew members and 12 passengers aboard the ship at the time.

"The wind was very strong. Bad weather was expected , but not of this magnitude," a coast guard official in Palermo told Reuters.

Fox News' Pilar Arias, Christina Coulter and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Audrey Conklin is a digital reporter for Fox News Digital and FOX Business. Email tips to [email protected] or on Twitter at @audpants.

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