Sailing Yacht vs Motor Yacht: Which Should You Charter?

Every first-time charterer eventually hits the same question: sailing yacht or motor yacht. Both get you to the same coves, but the experience of getting there — and what happens once you're there — is genuinely different. Here's how to actually decide.

The core difference: how each one moves

A sailing yacht is powered primarily by wind, with an engine as backup. It moves at the pace the conditions allow, and part of the experience is the sailing itself — trimming sails, feeling the boat heel, the quieter sound of wind rather than engines. A motor yacht is powered by its engines from the start, moving directly and predictably regardless of wind, with the emphasis on the destination rather than the journey there.

Speed and flexibility

A motor yacht can commit to a full itinerary in a single day — several stops, precise timing, a return by a set hour — because it isn't dependent on wind. A sailing yacht is more weather-dependent by nature, which suits guests who enjoy that variability, but makes it a harder fit for a tightly planned single day.

Comfort and deck space

Sailing yachts carry rigging, sails and lines that take up deck space and require some awareness of where you're standing. Motor yachts, without that rigging, generally offer more open, usable deck space for the same length — sun deck, seating, swim platform, all unobstructed. For a relaxed day of swimming and sunbathing rather than active sailing, that open layout tends to matter more than people expect going in.

The onboard experience itself

Sailing appeals to guests who want to participate — who like the physicality and the connection to the water that comes with wind power. Motor yachts appeal to guests who want the experience to be entirely about arrival, comfort, and ease, with the crew handling everything and the guests simply enjoying the ride.

So which should you choose?

If you have sailing experience, enjoy the process, or specifically want that slower, wind-driven pace, a sailing yacht is worth seeking out. If your priority is a smooth, flexible day with maximum comfort and no dependency on conditions — particularly for a group that just wants to relax and swim — a motor yacht is generally the better fit, and it's what we operate.

Aura's motor yachts

We run motor yachts built for exactly this kind of day: the [Ferretti 39](/yacht/ferretti-39-2024), compact and easy for couples or small groups, and the [Leopard 23 'Cheetah'](/yacht/leopard-23-1997), larger and built for bigger groups or multi-day stays. For more on modern motor yacht comfort, see our guide to [yacht technology at sea](/articles/modern-yacht-technology).

Find the right yacht for your group

If you're still deciding, [get in touch](/yachts-for-charter) and we'll help match a yacht to what you actually want out of the day.