yacht week nye

ADVENTURES WITH STACKS

• Jun 23, 2019
• 15 min read

The British Virgin Islands - The Yacht Week

Updated: Oct 16, 2019

Here we go – Yacht Week #3 . This one is all about New Year’s Eve in the British Virgin Islands. If you look at my posts on YW Croatia and YW Greece, you’ll start to understand that there’s a theme to the structure of these posts, but this one will probably change, at the very least, my opinion on the company.

While the BVI themselves, and the USVI for that matter, are absolutely gorgeous, they are way different from what you experience with TYW in Europe. If you're still debating on going or not, keep in mind that the boats are about double the price of their boats in Europe, the islands are super small and very laid back, and traveling in a regatta like that means you have to park in marinas where you end up paying $150+ each in cab fares for the week. That's the case for NYE week - I've heard W1 was much different.

That said, TYW is always a good time, especially with the right people, and if you can't find a group of people to sail the BVI with, the yacht week is a great way to do it!

As usual, I’ll break down the discussion on TYW into a few categories:

1. Choosing your boat

2. choosing your crew.

4. The first day

5. The parties

6. the sightseeing, 7. the food, 8. tyw clichés, 9. the costs you may not already know about.

So here goes…

This time we only had two of us, so it was on us to find a way onto a boat. Originally, we booked a two-person cabin – everything included (skipper, hostess, water, lunches and bfasts, etc. on a premium yacht) for 2000EUR. While that’s about double what we paid for our boats in both Greece and Croatia, we figured it’s New Year’s Eve week and it’s the Carribean so it makes sense. We also assumed that a premium yacht meant a catamaran, because there’s no way 2000EUR each would put us on a monohaul. Well, we were wrong about that. When YW says premium yacht for the cabins, they mean either a brand new monohaul with AC or a super old catamaran without AC. When we found that out, we immediately attempted to sell our spots in the cabin and join another boat.

At that point, it was probably about September, and that’s when people started posting their open spots in the Facebook group. More and more boats opened up as we got through October and November, so even though it was late, we did finally sell our spots and switch to another boat. This one was a four bedroom, four bath catamaran with AC. I have to say, the catamarans are 100% worth the extra money. Just the fact that your kitchen is on the same level as the outdoor dining table and you have a huge flat surface to lay out on is a game changer.

Air conditioning – MUST HAVE

Four double bed rooms all the same size

Four bathrooms

Larger living room with more seating than the last one and it’s on the same level as your outdoor space

Tons of storage at the bottom of the stairs for those two that might be sleeping in the galley

Large space for laying out, both on the front of the boat, and on top.

Same pros as the previous boat (stereo system, cooler, etc.)

Huge cooler on the back of the boat where we could keep booze/cider

The skipper and hostess (if you have one) or your last guest, will be sleeping in what is essentially just flat holes in the boat on the front end. There’s really no actual bed for them, so keep that in mind.

As I mentioned, it was just the two of us so we were basically just sending messages to anyone with open spots. The facebook group is probably the easiest way to do this. You can email the help desk on the YW homepage and they can add you or send you the link.

We ended up joining a crew of groups of 1 and 2. While it could have gone horribly wrong, I think it actually was a good mix.

2First and most importantly, you have no room for hard suitcases/normal rolling bags so avoid those – go for duffles that you can flatten. Usually I’d say if you need a bigger bag, you can store it at the marina, but because of the hurricanes, the marina was pretty much destroyed and they barely have docks, let alone luggage storage. I'm not sure if that's changed since NYE 2018.

Here’s a packing list that we got from Marcus (our skipper in Croatia) and our thoughts on each thing (in italics):

Dramamine (non drowsy) – absolute must, especially in the BVI – the waves are huge, everyone threw up all week long

Sleeping mask + ear plugs – not a bad idea depending on how easily you sleep

Floaties – I’m not actually sure you need it on this trip because the waves are usually too big to do the circle float day – I wouldn’t spend a ton of money on them

Costumes for the regatta on the last day – come up with a theme. Bae-watch is way overdone, Santa’s helpers is the most common one you’ll see in the BVI

Sunscreen -- duh

Flags – it will help you identify the boat – bring a bunch. And bring big ones – we underestimated how small ours would look

Sharpie Marker – to help mark your belongings – never needed this

Aux cable – for music to play through the boat speakers

12 Volt USB car charger – while not in the marina, this is your only source of power - to connect your phone to the car (would recommend getting one with a few usb slots so you can charge multiple phones at one)

External Rechargeable USB Battery Charger – yes. Keep in mind if you get a big one, you might blow a fuse. There’s plugs in every room so probably just get a few small ones

Deck of cards – just in case it rains or for drinking games

Boat shoes, sneakers and flip flops – girls please leave the heels at home! – agreed. Don’t bother with heels

Sweatshirt – it may get windy at night -- yep

Beach towel – yep although if you don’t have room for it, just buy a cheap one when you get there and throw it away before you leave

Bluetooth speakers – yep – sometimes annoying to have to change your song when the phone’s plugged in downstairs

Go Pro/waterproof camera/disposable waterproof camera – try your best to capture the most amazing week!! -- yep

Glowsticks, body paint, glitter -- yep

Battery powered Christmas lights for the boat – DEFINITELY. There is no light on the boat and you’ll come back on a taxi boat and have no clue which one is yours. The more unique the lights, the better. Zip ties to attach them to things also helps.

Bug Spray! -- ehhhhh

Sunglasses – bring a couple of pairs as you may break or lose a pair during the week – true, and you lose them because they go overboard so don’t bring expensive ones out during the day while sailing

White outfit for the white party – they call it something else now, Riviera chic or something stupid, but it’ll always be white party to us

Here’s what we brought that he missed:

Waterproof phone case

A hat to block out the sun some days

Converters – you never know if your plugs in the BVI will be American, British, or European, so bring options.

One of the other things that we did the first time around was pack a box full of Costco stuff as a checked bag. Two of our friends were flying directly there from SF and they filled a box with liquor, paper plates, solo cups, peanut butter, plastic silverware, paper towels, and sunscreen from Costco because it was SO much cheaper to do it that way. Then at the end of the week they just tossed whatever was left and had no checked bag on the rest of their flights on low-cost airlines.

4. Getting there and The First Day

There are multiple options for getting to the island you’ll head out from. We left from the marina on Tortola, which is one of the larger islands in the BVI. If you look at flights into EIS, you’ll find that there are none direct from the US. You’ll have to layover probably in Puerto Rico. Some of us didn’t want to deal with that so we took the direct flights to St.Thomas in the USVI, spent the night, and then took the ferry over the next day. While it may seem like this is the cheaper option, let me just tell you that it’s not. They collect multiple taxes on leaving and arriving both ports the ferry goes into/out of. You’ll end up paying probably another $60-$75 in taxes anyway. In addition, the ferries filled up the day of. There were people that ended up showing up late because they couldn’t make it to the ferry. Just save yourself the hassle and fly into and out of Tortola.

Once we got to Tortola, it was completely down-pouring rain, and we had to wait in a line for probably an hour for customs. We then met our crew at a lunch spot and then headed out to the boat. Check in was kind of a mess because not all of the boats were ready at the same time. Luckily for us, ours was, and we got on it right away.

We had pre-ordered food from the suggested YW grocery store, and when it finally arrived 3 hours late, it was missing all kinds of things. One of our friend’s boats ordered from another company and they got everything they ordered on time. I’d highly recommend going through someone other than the YW recommended company.

That first night, they allow you to book a reservation for dinner at the location where the party will be. By the time our hostess called, all of the tables were already booked. I’d highly recommend making all of your reservations yourself the day you get the YW schedule. Do not wait until YW does it for you. Do not wait for your hostess to attempt to do it. A lot of the places will also respond on facebook messenger if you can’t get them on the phone.

As always, after you get the boat insurance paid for, the skipper will check it out to ensure it’s all in working order. Make sure either they take pictures of everything or you do, especially if you don’t do the flat rate deposit. You don’t want the owner to blame you at the end of the week for something that was already there.

First piece of advice – unlike the other locations, the BVI really doesn’t do table/bottle service. Like I mentioned in the section above, make your dinner reservations in advance. Most of the parties are at the dining locations. The one I’d say you do want to do dinner and a table for is at Coco Maya. They have tables for dinner and separate tables for the beach. They literally right on top of one another, but we opted for both.

Brandywine Bay – this is the first night, and the location that I mentioned you need to reserve a table for dinner at in advance. It’s a pretty cool location and you can jump up on the rock wall if you’re feeling adventurous. The way you’ll get drinks is by paying in advance at the door for tokens. You’ll then use those to go up to the bar. You can get a similar set up to bottle service and there’s some tables set up around the dance floor where you and your crew can gather.

Leverick Bay – this is another location where you can either eat on your boat or on shore. I’d definitely recommend getting a table either way and mention to them that you’re with Yacht Week so they put your table on the beach. The restaurant has a bunch of food, but it took literally hours to get it after we ordered, so I’d say eat on your boat and come later. They do have painkillers on happy hour though so maybe don’t wait too long to get to shore.

Big Bamboo – This is a fun bar on Anegada. Yacht Week will provide dinner that night and it’s a huge barbeque complete with lobster if you get in line early. The party goes on all night and it’s on the beach so wear your flip flops. You’ll jump in YW provided cabs to head back to your dingy.

Jost Van Dyke and Foxys (NYE) – they like to promote this as THE party to be at in the BVI and one of the most amazing NYE parties in the world. I have to say it was a huge let-down. No one dresses up except the YW people so you’ll be out of place. You’ll be surrounded by older people drunk AF. There’s a BBQ buffet but it’s $25 per person and it’s not worth the price. Drinks were also crazy expensive. And it rained. At the end of the night, getting a cab back is a total nightmare. This was not at all what I expected, especially from the way YW promotes it.

Willy Ts – This is pretty much what I’d call the only day party of this route. During the day you’ll head into Bight Bay and hang out at Willy T’s which is more or less a floating bar. It’s pretty cool and it’s big, but insanely crowded especially if it’s pouring rain like it was for us. Unfortunately, the waves and wind were so bad that we missed our stop at Pirates Bight and the hostesses all had to scramble to provide their boat’s another dinner.

Coco Maya - This is the closing party and it's an incredible spot. You can book dinner at the restaurant before the party starts, and I'd highly recommend doing it way in advance over email or phone. The party itself starts later and it's right on the beach. Definitely wear flip flops. They also have table/bottle service at this one if you're interested. We got a gigantic bottle of Belevedere and our friends got a huge bottle of champagne. The DJ was bumpin and it was a blast.

The BVI route was very different in this aspect from the European routes. The islands you visit are much smaller and basically are just tourist spots, with the exception of Spanish town.

Things we’d recommend:

The Baths – As soon as you get into Spanish Town, snag a taxi and head up the Baths. They’re pretty amazing, and even if there’s a line, it’s well worth it. Also bring cash because it costs a small fee to get in. If you remember to bring your paperwork from YW, it’s actually included. We did not.

Jost Van Dyke – We were at JVD for a couple days, and went out to the Soggy Dollar on the first day. I think the other weeks actually got to park right in front of the Soggy Dollar and didn’t have to worry about taxis, but we didn’t have that luxury. Taxis are $10 per person to each bay. If you park at Foxys Taboo, that’s two bays over from Soggy and you’re looking at $40 there and back per person. Plus, there’s only about 10 taxi trucks on the island, so you’ll be waiting a looooong time. That said, Soggy Dollar is a blast and so worth it. Make sure you get a painkiller!

Anegada – definitely rent scooters to get around. Call in advance and reserve them. Try to get the slower ones in case no one on your boat is comfortable driving what is essentially dirt bikes. Take the scooters out to Cow Wreck Beach and hang out. Don’t forget a towel!

Groceries :

TYW recommends a grocery company to you – I’d highly recommend doing your own research. The one they recommend gets incredibly overwhelmed and screws up.

We also had a hostess this time around that helped a lot with what to buy, but in case you don’t have one, here’s our recommended grocery list:

Alcohol (survey your boat and figure out what people will and won’t drink and what they’re willing to pay especially if you have guys and girls and tanks and lightweights)

Water - get literally as much water as you can. Huge bottles are usually best.

Breakfast croissants, bagels, toast, or cinnamon rolls (anything that doesn’t need to be refrigerated)

Eggs and breakfast meats – you can definitely make breakfast easily especially if you have a hostess, just remember how many people you’re feeding and how many eggs people eat in one sitting.

Stuff for sandwiches – grab salami or ham or whatever the local meat is, some bread, and some spreads (mustard or mayo or tzatziki) and whatever else you might want. Sandwiches and chips are the easiest lunch to have while sailing.

Plan for at least two dinners on the boat – go with something easy. Salad, pasta, grilled cheese, etc. Keep in mind you probably have two pots/pans maximum and a tiny stove. One night we had steaks – the boat was supposed to have a grill, but it didn’t work so the Texan guys cooked them in a pan.

Paper plates, silverware, and plastic cups. Again, no one wants to be down in the boat doing dishes, unless you have a hostess – then that’s literally her job.

Toilet paper

Paper towels – trust me you want a lot of this

Garbage bags (big ones for the kitchen and maybe small ones for the bathroom)

Restaurants :

Coco Maya - hands down my favorite food on the trip. Unreal lettuce wraps. The only unfortunately thing was that the night we went they weren't doing any specialty cocktails including their famous sangria.

Leverick Bay Restaurant - This place was cool and I'm sure that the actual restaurant surrounding the pool has fantastic food, but they were not ready for the group that was the Yacht Week. We had a table on the beach near the DJ, and while we were able to order pizzas, it took over an hour to get them and then two of them got dropped on the sand. I'd highly recommend eating on your boat instead.

JVD/Soggy Dollar area - you cannot get food to go at the bars around the Soggy Dollar. That said, they have an easy spot to grab a sandwich that's grilled right there on the side of the building. It was great and cheap. Definitely a good option.

Willy T's - they did have a small kitchen and they made some good chicken tenders. It's definitely all fried food.

Pirate's Bight - We were supposed to go here and the menu looked amazing, but the stop got cut from the agenda. Did have reservations in advance though just in case.

These are the things you see in the YouTube videos that make yacht week so unique. All of these other companies that also do circle floats absolutely copied it from TYW.

Circle Float: This actually didn’t happen this time around because of the weather and the bad waves. We were all very disappointed.

Regatta Day : One of the days you’ll get all decked out in your themed gear and all of the boats will race (aka have a regatta) to the next location. The staff will sail around trying to get pictures and videos of all of the different themes, so be ready to show off your creativity. Santa’s Helpers (oops), Greek gods and Bae-Watch themes are way overdone. We saw some cool themes like penguins, Titanic, Top Gun, the Croatian Bobsled team, etc.

You buy all of your skipper’s and hostess’s meals and drinks. They have full access to your kitchen. Don’t be awkward about it at dinners where they’re with you. Just split everything evenly. Splitwise is your friend but don’t use multiple currencies - it gets super confused.

Skipper and Hostess Tip – this is usually about 10-20% of the total cost of your boat for each person. Give it to them on the last day as you leave the boat.

Hostesses – they’re a blast and they buy all of your groceries for you so you never have to shop, but they’re expensive. They also take up a spot on your boat, so keep that in mind. It means that you’re splitting the cost of the boat with one less person AND you pay an extra 600 euro on top of that to have her plus all of her meals and her tip at the end of the week. It adds up quickly. We did have one on this trip but I’m still not convinced it was worth it.

The Kitty – when you first get on the boat, the skipper will ask you for kitty money. It’ll cover your gas, your taxi fees, and your docking fees. I think we did 150 euro each in the BVI. Our skippers always made sure to keep receipts for everything so we had them if we wanted them.

The weather – be prepared for rain. Its still their rainy season there so don’t be surprised. I’ve also heard that the wind is always bad and the likelihood that you’ll have high waves is like 90%. BRING DRAMAMINE. Some boats had literally the entire crew throwing up.

That’s Yacht Week BVI in a nutshell…or maybe more than a nutshell. Our last words of advice on TYW:

It’s hopefully going to be one of the best weeks of your life – embrace the insanity

If your skip hits on you, which we’ve heard stories about, talk to someone in a crew tshirt. That’s not cool, unless your interested in him/her too haha.

Try not to hit on your skipper. That being said, if it happens and it’s mutual….oops?

The skippers and hostesses do not get paid the same amount – there’s a survey at the end of the week and their salaries are based on their survey results

Don’t let your skip get too drunk. Someone has to sail the boat in the morning.

If you can come up with something fun to introduce yourself around on either float day, do it. For example, we had shots of rose with rubber duckies in them that we call Ducky Rose and people loved it

Don’t be that asshole that brings a floating barge as a floatie that fits 8 people. You’ll take up too much space and everyone will hate you

Full cans of beer/cider float. Do with that what you will.

Once you pick your ratio when you’re booking your boat, it’s hard to change it. Especially if you want to take a girl off and add a guy in, so try to know your ratio before you book.

Make friends with the photographer – they might just end up on your boat for the day and then you could end up in their Instagram posts on Thanksgiving!

Book your flights early. The prices go WAY up as you get into Sept/Oct.

No shitting where you sleep! DO NOT go #2 on the boat. Just trust us. It’s gross and everyone will know you did it. Tell everyone else on your boat that’s a rule. SOS - Shit on-shore.

#theyachtweek #britishvirginislands #usvirginislands #usvi #bvi #anegada #spansihtown #TYW #liveTYW #sailing #saillife #newyearseve #carribeanlife #islandlife

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If you're thinking about a sail week this year, make sure that it's a trip of a lifetime with our take on what really matters when you book.

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Not All Sailing Holidays Are Made Equal

Sometimes it's the little details that matter most to make a trip of a lifetime. If you're considering a sail week but not sure who to go with - we've got the lowdown from our community on why Yacht Week is the most unforgettable experience (for all the right reasons).

"My Yacht Week experience was an absolute 10 out of mothereffing 10”

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Here's What Makes Yacht Week Different

At Yacht Week, we put experience first. Our team is constantly working to plan out the best routes and programmes and source the best yachts.

Everything, curated.

Over the course of 18 years, we've perfected our routes, venues, and parties. We know the music matters, that's why we bring the DJ directly to you in the middle of the circle raft on our buzz boat. We know the experience matters which is why we have a brand new theme every year to transport you into an entirely new world of adventure and exploration.

The best routes & programming.

There's more to a Yacht Week than a circle raft (though we do those too). Our team is on the ground early, making sure that every activity, swim stop, yoga session, and party is planned out - so you have the time to explore, relax and party. Not only this but we run weeks specifically curated around the music so if you have a certain genre you love, we've got a week for you.

Exclusive stops, venues and parties.

We book the best boats available on the water, whether you pick a catamaran, monohull or cabin, you're in safe hands. No one wants to be surrounded by randomers when you’re trying to dance like nobody's watching, which is why our parties are Yacht Week exclusive in the biggest and best venues in all destinations.

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• THE JOURNEY

The Yacht Week Announces ‘The Islands’ Destinations For 2022

From 2022 the renowned ‘floating festival’ will take adventurous young travellers to island destinations in the Bahamas, Tahiti, and Martinique & St Lucia. The new routes will see The Yacht Week continue to offer a proven, safe environment and flexible tickets allowing groups of friends to book with confidence and spend a life-changing week in paradise…

The Yacht Week has opened bookings for 2022 with the announcement of three routes to stunning island destinations in the Bahamas, Tahiti, and Martinique & St Lucia. Young, adventurous travellers can pick their paradise destination and join a small flotilla of yachts headed for the trip of a lifetime. With flexible ticket terms and a proven safe environment, groups of friends can now book a yacht with confidence. ‘The Islands’ routes rediscover the sense of awe and excitement that only travelling to far-flung paradise destinations can bring. Guests can charter a yacht of their choice, equip it with a skipper and a host and enjoy seven life-changing days with like-minded explorers. With resident DJs flown in from around the world for parties at amazing locations, The Yacht Week always delivers the fun, alongside carefully curated activities, and once-in-a-lifetime cultural experiences. The Yacht Week will make dreams a reality with the best yachts at the best prices available. Check www.theyachtweek.com for full pricing on all routes and more info.

It’s definitely time we all got some adventure back in our lives and The Yacht Week has delivered it with ‘The Islands’. With routes already set to Croatia (Original / Ultra Festival / Hideout Festival routes), Greece, Montenegro and Sardinia Emerald Coast, ‘The Islands’ adds a new page to the bucket list.

The Treasured Islands – the  Bahamas were once considered the pirate islands and as part of a flotilla of 10 – 15 yachts sailing from 26 th March to 2 nd April, swashbuckling travellers can dive to sunken shipwrecks, sail clear waters and walk deserted white sand beaches. Activities include feeding and swimming with wild pigs, snorkelling with turtles, beach parties, shoreside yoga and of course, a sampling of local culture with delicious food and rum cocktails. As the sun goes down, there is treasure to be found in the stunning skies at Sunset Beach.

The Lost Islands – Tahiti and the  Polynesian islands are unique. Set alone in the middle of the vast South Pacific Ocean these islands are like entering another world. Each one is different to the last, but all with turquoise waters and coral teeming with spectacular underwater life. From 9 th – 16 th April and 16 th – 23 rd April, The Yacht Week takes 20 – 25 yachts to lose themselves in the natural beauty and ancient traditions of Tahiti. Explorers can hike Mount Temehani, visit sacred temples and pearl farms or enjoy sunrise yoga and surfing. With gourmet Polynesian food and parties including a New Moon Bora Bora beach party, this is a pure bucket list adventure.

The Carnival Islands – explore two of the Caribbean’s most vibrant cultures. From the French chic of  Martinique to the carnival vibes of  St Lucia. There’s no better way to see in the New Year than on a yacht with friends on the open Caribbean Sea. From 27 th December to 3 rd January, and 3 rd – 10 th January, The Yacht Week celebrates the arrival of 2022 with calypso beats, cocktails and a next-level adventure. Guests can enjoy the thrills of treetop zip-lining, kayaking, water sports, climbing The Pitons, an eco ATV tour, diving in crystal clear waters and more.

A new generation of explorers have missed out on a year of adventure. The Yacht Week Spring programme is giving them the opportunity they’ve been waiting for to really leave the world behind. Pick any paradise location from ‘the islands’ and guests can enjoy an action holiday, a wellness break, a cultural experience, a party trip, a chance to explore new places – and that’s before considering the unrivalled feeling of sailing the open seas with friends.

The Yacht Week will also be drawing on their years of experience as the original ‘floating festival’ to host a series of exclusive themed parties on each route. As always guests can enjoy the iconic ‘circle raft’ parties out at sea, dancing in crystal blue waters, as well as live international DJs performing at incredible venues. These events will be an unmissable part of an unforgettable week.

Now with bookings open, and safe, flexible tickets for 2022, The Yacht Week Islands are likely to sell out fast, but those lucky enough to rally the crew and secure a place should prepare to disconnect from everyday life and reconnect with their sense of adventure.

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Set Sail in Style! Inside the Ultimate Travel Adventure Experience of 'Yacht Week'

Sept. 17 2024, Published 8:20 a.m. ET

Summer vacation options are vast these days, with new variations of trips and tours in different parts of the world popping up every year, making holiday choices endless for traveller's seeking an overseas getaway, however in the world of ultimate luxury and adventure travel, few experiences rival the exhilaration of Yacht Week .

Yacht Week is a sailing adventure journey like no other, set against the stunning backdrop of the Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas that has quickly become a bucket list travel experience for tourists worldwide seeking the yachting life adventure of a lifetime.

The Yacht Week journey is about so much more than just the destinations—it's about the voyage itself. They say you never forget your first, which is very true of this experience, as OK! got an exclusive VIP experience onboard our first Yacht Week and the unforgettable ultimate travel adventure on the high seas it promised.

A Birds Eye View of the infamous Circle Raft during Yacht Week.

The Yacht Week adventure begins the moment you step aboard your private yacht with your fellow sailors and embark on your sailing trip for the week. The first decision of the Yacht Week journey begins with choosing whether you're boarding with a group or just looking for a cabin.

Options are available for all types of sailors, whether you have a group of up to 10 friends you'd like to charter your own yacht with, or if you're a solo sailor or with a small group seeking other sailors to fill your yacht cabins. All variations are welcome as the Yacht Week team partners people up in different combinations dependent on needs, and how bare essentials or luxurious you wish to make your experience. One necessity that every yacht is provided with is a skipper, who most importantly will sail the yacht, but also act as a leader onboard the vessel as you set sail on the charter.

" I grew up on fishing boats with my Dad," explains Finn , the skipper of our yacht for the week, "Every week it's a new group of people to get to know, a whole new dynamic of people to watch experience Yacht week for the first time. It's pretty incredible" .

That special experience Finn speaks of is one that many come seeking every year as Yacht Week season begins.'The Summer of Love', was the name of the Yacht Week 2024 season, with week long routes in Greece , Sicily and the original Croatia route ,which was the route sailed on this particular journey.

A Row of 'Yacht Week' Boats Sit Docked Ready to Take off on Voyage.

" We went for the no frills yacht option. No air conditioning, no host," explains Tyson , 25, from Toronto who was onboard his yacht with three friends also from Canada. Tyson and his friends ended up cabin matched with four girls in their mid twenties from Brazil. " We got lucky, it's been a great cabin match for us with our yacht", Tyson says with a coy grin on his face.

The cabin booking system tries to be as gender split as possible, and for those not wanting to risk putting the fate of their yacht mates grouping into someone else's hand, there is Crew Finder; a Facebook group that works as sort of an internal nautical friend finder, where you can find your ideal travel companion group and form your own yacht crew without the aid of the Yacht Week cabin booking system. Despite many yacht mates been assigned together seemingly at random, there weren't many complaints of ill matched cabins that could be observed on this route with most Yacht Week guests expressing their surprise at the quick bonds that had formed from day 1, with strangers quickly becoming a family unit onboard, and the close living quarters onboard forcing you to become very comfortable, very quickly, with your fellow sailors.

That aforementioned host Tyson and his friends chose to forego from their trip, is an optional addition on a Yacht Week charter, where each yacht has the option for an onboard host who can cook meals for you and provide that added luxury of waking up and not having to worry about which one of your cabin mates is going to boil a egg, or even brew some morning coffee for the group. The host can take care of all that, and forget about a simple boiled egg for breakfast, it's quite amazing what the Yacht Week hosts are able to cook up in a simple yacht galley, often whipping up onboard meals that could rival local restaurants with all the added special touches and impeccable presentation.

" I first came as a guest for yacht week in 2019 " , explains Babi , the Brazilian born host of our particular yacht. " After that week I knew I wanted to keep coming back to Yacht Week, so I decided the easiest way to do that was to work for Yacht Week" .

As a Yacht week host, Babi is assigned a different yacht each week where she must complete the weekly grocery shopping for the yacht and decide what meals she'll cook for her assigned group, while also having to take into account food allergies or any dietary requirements of the onboard guests; no small feat in today's world of various picky preferences eaters. From vegans to gluten free, creating a meal that suits all tastes and preferences can prove more than a little challenging at times, but Babi considers it well worth it.

" I love my job, sure it can be difficult at times, but its hard to complain when this is the backdrop every day.'" she says as she stares out into the crystal blue Croatian waters.

Another day of paradise in and out of the water on 'Yacht Week'.

Yacht Week was born almost as a joke in 2006, when friends from Sweden, William Wenkel, Johan Kuylenstierna and Erik Biörklund decided to create a travel adventure for explorers and sailing enthusiasts like themselves. The inspiration struck while they were skippering sailboats during family sailing holidays the previous year and they realized they were able to visit stunning, often secluded locations only reachable by boat, but the trips primarily only catered to families.

Wanting to offer a similar experience for close friends, they approached their charter company and persuaded them to reserve a few boats for the following summer. The idea took off from there, and the rest is history; Yacht Week was born. Today, that close-knit group of friends has grown into a vibrant community of over 70,000, with no signs of slowing down. Yacht Week has united adventurous souls, vast seas, and a collective of musicians, collaborators, sailors, and partygoers with more than 1.4 million guests having joined the Yacht Week experience to date over the past 18 years since it's inception.

A mid sea Floatie Party for Tunnel Raft Day on 'Yacht Week'.

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" We all met through our husbands actually, " explains Rachel, 32, who hails from Texas and was experiencing her first Yacht week with five girlfriends, all military wives currently stationed with their husbands on service in Northern Italy.

" We wanted to do a girls trip together, so we decided on Yacht Week because we'd heard a lot of great things about it and thought it'd be such a different vacation experience than just spending a week in a hotel in Europe somewhere," Rachel says.

The promise of a travel experience outside the norm is one that many have been drawn to of late, with the typical European vacation no longer satisfying the average traveller who seeks an experience a little more outside the box than what may have been yearned for in the past. After all, in the days of social media influencers and aspirational travel adventures, spending a week onboard a yacht is a travel vacation that's sure to make anyone's instagram followers more than a little envious.

" We are ready to win the Yacht Week regatta. We have a whole Texan cowgirl theme ready to go" Rachel says.

This regatta she's referring to is another Yacht Week highlight, where each yacht dresses to a chosen theme, as the yachts form a parade on the seas, with sailors going all out with effort to claim the victory trophy as the Regatta winner for the week.

An 'Under the sea' theme, Winter wonderland Christmas and a performing circus act were just some of the highlights of this weeks regatta, but they were no match for the 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' themed yacht, armed with costumed Oompa Loompas and Golden Ticket themed bathing suits ,that ended up claiming a much deserved Yacht Week regatta victory. Watching the absolute insanity of 40 plus yachts sailing through the Croatian seas, filled with sailors dressed in different themed outfits while busting out dance moves and battling it out to take victory, is a win for anyone lucky enough to bear witness to a Yacht Week Regatta.

The Yachts Set Sail For The 'Yacht Week' Regatta Event.

" I was worried we'd maybe be too old", confesses Jana, 36, a New Zealander traveling with her friend Renee, 35 " We'd always wanted to do Yacht Week, but figured we'd never find enough friends who could come. When we realized we could be matched with other pairs of friends and solo sailors to make up a full yacht, we decided to just go for it and booked in."

The question of age is a common one for group travel adventures like Yacht Week, and can sometimes be a cause for concern for potential sailors who feel they may not be young enough to participate, especially if judging by the social media videos and online photographs that tend to highlight an early 20's crowd, often frolicking on inflatables in the water while knocking back beers like a college frat party. However once aboard your Yacht Week experience it quickly becomes apparent that Yacht Week is so much more than the debaucherous partying and endless drinking that it may initially appear to be and there's a wider spectrum of ages than just early twenty somethings.

" The 9's are out sweet spot" explains Barry Gifford , CEO of Yacht week, " 29 and 39, is an age where people really want to do something like Yacht week, but may not have a group of friends who can just drop everything and go sailing around Europe for a week "

While partying is definitely a highlight focus of Yacht Week and the weekly sail itinerary definitely has more than a few unforgettable parties on schedule, the community of a Yacht Week sail group forms so quickly through these parties that they can truly be whatever experience guests want to take from them. Whether that experience be sitting in the corner with a small group taking in all the festivities from afar, or dancing the night away on the crowded dance floor keeping the party going late into the night, there's an experience that can be accommodated for every preference. One of the scheduled nights perfect for this is the 'Garden of love' party that takes place at the Yacht week owned Fort George in Vis, Croatia. This Croatian fortified citadel from the 19th century that overlooks two natural bays of Vis, is a venue that could easily stand in for a location in 'Game Of Thrones' , and provides an incredible locale for an epic party venue that puts the average indoor nightclub setting to shame.

Another highlight of the week is the Circle and Tunnel raft events, which you've likely seen many photos of from Yacht Week marketing materials and previous Yacht Week guests social media posts. That birds eye drone view of a perfectly formed circle or two tunnel lined rows of all the yachts for the week docked in perfect symmetry in the middle of the crystal blue bay look almost CGI generated they're so visually breathtaking, but we can confirm there's no cheeky editing tricks here, it truly looks as spectacular in reality as the photos depict.

The Tunnel Raft party in particular ends up serving as quasi nautical house party hopping event, as sailors climb aboard each others yachts in search of whichever social vibe they are feeling for the occasion. While some Yachts might be celebrating in a more low key fashion with quiet chats over drinks and perhaps a game of cards, others are taking the party up a few notches and welcoming fellow sailors onboard into their home for the week, and dancing the night away on whichever yacht has ultimately become the unofficial party host boat for the night.

" I love that we've become the party yacht for the tunnel raft." says Megan, 24 ,from New York, who's catamaran yacht she set sail on with six girlfriends had become the unofficial party host yacht of the night " As long as nobody messes with our playlist, we are happy to keep this party going to sunrise" she says with a smile, clearly proud to play host yacht to one of the most memorable Yacht Week experiences that serves as an ultimate group bonding experience.

An Incredible Birds Eye View Of The 'Tunnel Raft' Day on 'Yacht Week'.

After the Yacht Week experience sadly comes to an end for another week, with all the yachts safely docked back at shore and the sailor guests having to return to the reality of life on land once again, it's impossible to label the Yacht Week experience as just another vacation. It’s a week long journey that allows you to break away from the daily routine of life and get onboard with an escape to a new reality of life on a yacht, where every day of the week brings a new adventure.

" Everything we do is dedicated to the guest experience. We really feel the weight of making sure we live up to being the best week of our guests' lives. " explains Yacht Week CEO Barry Gifford.

This guest experience Barry refers to is clearly a top priority for the Yacht Week team, and been witness to the camaraderie that is built so quickly among sailors throughout the week is truly something special. From strangers on day one to some lifelong friendships formed by Day 7, Yacht Week offers an experience like no other, blending relaxation, celebration, and adventure into one unforgettable journey that one needs to experience themself to really understand what an unforgettable travel escapade it is.

If you're ready to join the adventure and experience the Yacht Week phenomenon, bookings are now open for 2025 Season .

Start planning today for a sailing adventure of a lifetime, and get ready to check Yacht Week off your travel experiences bucket list!

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Pick your own adventure.

Start with a destination you love.

Thinking about a specific destination?

Each Yacht Week route is tailor-made adventure for those seeking an extraordinary experience with like-minded companions. Choose one of our Original Festivals and get the best vibes on earth.

Original Floating Festivals

Croatia, Original Festival

Greece, Original Festival

Sicily, Original Festival

Caribbean, New Years Festival

Or let the music guide you..

More interested in a specific soundtrack or vibe?

Curate your time in the water with the music that drives you. Yacht Week brings handpicked DJs and exclusive events together for Special Festivals that celebrate hip-hop, disco, house and more.

Special Floating Festivals

Ultra Festival, Croatia

Electric Rodeo Festival, Croatia

Discophoria Festival, Greece

Vibras Festival, Greece

Rhythm and Waves Festival, Greece

Refined Route, Greece

Talk to the team

You've got questions, they've got answers. Jump on a call with our Yacht Week experts and let's get you on the water this summer.

Yacht Week brand and concept is owned by Day 8 AB - a private limited company registered in Stockholm, Sweden. Day 8 Experiences Ltd acts as a travel agent on the behalf of Yacht Week.

© 2024 Yacht week. All rights reserved.

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EUROPE , GREECE , SAILING · March 23, 2018 Last Updated on July 22, 2024

8 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU GO ON THE YACHT WEEK

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Have you heard of The Yacht Week ? If not then let me introduce you to what could be the best week of your life. Back in 2014 I spent a week sailing around Greece on an all girls Yacht Week boat. We had an incredible time but there were some things I wish I would have known before the trip that could have made it even better. So here are eight things you should know before you go on The Yacht Week!

1) THE YACHT WEEK COULD BE THE BEST WEEK OF YOUR LIFE – JUST GO!

As you can see from the video above The Yacht Week looks like a lot of fun, and it is! This video is of The Yacht Week Greece trip I was on featuring some clips of our boat. I booked with one of my friends and prior to the tip I hadn’t met any of the other girls who were going to be on our sailboat. All the girls turned out to be awesome and we all made fast friends.

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If you can’t get a group of friends together to book your own sailboat don’t let that stop you from going on The Yacht Week. Just find one friend to go with you and book a two-person cabin! You’ll make new friends, and have the time of your life, especially after reading all my tips so you’ll know what to expect.

2) THE YACHT WEEK IS MORE ABOUT PARTYING THAN SAILING

The Yacht Week is basically one big floating festival! If you want to have a serious week of peaceful sailing then The Yacht Week is probably not for you. You will sail from location to location but you’ll spend a lot more time partying than sailing on most of The Yacht Week routes. You need to be in the right frame of mind for this prior to the trip. So if you plan on going on The Yacht Week put your party hat on and be ready to have some fun!

3) CHOOSE YOUR YACHT WEEK ROUTE BASED ON PACE

You’ll likely look at The Yacht Week website and see a destination you want to go to and decide this is the route you want to take. I advise against this. In order to have the best time possible book a route based on the pace you want to go at.

Since I went on The Yacht Week they have added several new routes including an Italy route which they are marketing as slower paced for “sophisticated sailors and the food fanatics.” I have only been on the Greece route so I can’t vouch for this claim but if you want to do less partying, and more sailing and exploring, booking the Italy route seems like the way to go.

The Greece route I went on is labeled at a mid paced route. I love music and parties but I personally would have preferred more sailing and sight-seeing. Based on my experience, I would describe the mid paced Yacht Week routes (Greece, Montenegro and BVIs) as party routes and the fast paced routes (Croatia and Croatia Ultra) as ultra party routes.

4) SKIP SOME OF THE DAY PARTIES & EXPLORE

As I said above The Yacht Week, overall, is more about partying than anything else but you are visiting amazing places on all of their routes so I suggest skipping some of the parties and exploring your surroundings. On the Greece route there was a day party and a night party at each stop. When we docked at Hydra Island , my friend and I skipped the day party and explored the island which turned out to be one of my favorite days on the trip! There are plenty of parties so don’t worry about skipping some of them and opting to take in some sights and local culture instead.

5) SPLURGE ON A PREMIUM SAILBOAT

This is a gross topic but I have to bring it up because I would never want anyone to be in the same situation the girls on my boat were on. Our Yacht Week boat was a cheaper, economy sailboat and it was not equipped for us to be able to do anything besides pee in the toilets. That’s right, we did not have proper use of toilets on our boat for an entire week! Because of this my friend and I ended up renting several hotel rooms during Yacht Week (read Nikki Beach Porto Heli and Hotel Miranda Hydra Island ) just so we could have use of a toilet and shower.

So what is the moral of this story? Don’t go for the cheapest boat you can find. There are now four types of yachts you can book with The Yacht Week – Economy, Standard, Premium and Premium Plus. Spend the extra money to book a premium sailboat, and check that you’ll have unrestricted use of the toilet onboard before you book.

6) THE YACHT WEEK IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN YOU THINK

I budgeted around $75 a day for food, drinks and extras for our seven-day trip and quickly realized this was not going to be enough. Upon arrival we were told we needed to go shopping for costumes for the sailing competition and parties. Next, we had to put money in for the “Kitty Fund,” which is food and drinks for the boat for the week. We also had to pitch in money to tip our skipper and pay for gas for the boat.

At The Yacht Week parties you usually get one or two free drinks with your wristband, but after, that you have to pay for your drinks. Drinking every day can get expensive, especially if you want to splurge on bottle service. If you plan to drink and eat out and don’t want to worry about running out of money, you should plan to spend around $130 USD/day.

$150 Kitty $50 Costumes $525 ($75/Day Restaurants + Cocktails x 7 Days) $100 Gas/Tip for Skipper $100 Bottle Service _______ $925 TOTAL

7) YOUR SAILBOAT WILL GET DIRTY REALLY QUICKLY

We had an all-girls crew and our sailboat still got very dirty every day. In order to keep your boat from becoming filthy get everyone on your boat to agree from the start to all help clean. If everyone pitches in, it takes less than 20 minutes a day to keep your boat clean. Do your dishes right after you are done eating, and keep all your personal stuff in your own cabin. No one wants to spend a week in a tiny cramped, dirty space. This is the real Yacht Week v. your Instagram Yacht Week…

8) CHOOSE WHO YOU BOOK WITH WISELY

The last thing you want to do is go on what could be the week of your life with someone who can’t go with the flow, relax and enjoy an adventure. If you’re booking a two-person cabin with a friend make sure you are on the same page about what type of trip you both want to have.

If you can’t wait to get to The Yacht Week and party all week and your friend is looking for a peaceful, relaxing week of sailing and sightseeing it is not going to work. If your friend wants to do a luxury sailing trip but you want to book an economy sailboat to save money it is not going to work. This seems pretty obvious but I saw both of these scenarios happen and it is a buzz kill for everyone. Make sure you are on the same page with whoever you book The Yacht Week with, wether you are booking a two-person cabin or an entire sailboat.

Have you been on The Yacht Week? If you have any additional tips for our readers or questions for me please leave these in the comments below.

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May 4, 2018 at 2:53 am

Hi, where did you get your bikinis? I love them! Thanks!

James Methew says

August 28, 2018 at 6:02 am

Great Blog! Yacht Charting is considered the best way of spending your holidays and is an interesting activity to include in your traveling.

May 5, 2019 at 5:30 pm

Im about to book the Greece trip with a friend but now I am really concerned about the bathroom situation… can you maybe tell me a little bit more about that?

June 18, 2019 at 7:11 am

The boats have marine toilets; you can use them for #1 and #2, you just can’t flush anything else down them. So that means you have a baggie for toilet paper you throw out once or twice a day. It’s not ideal, but it’s not as bad as you might think, and you get used to it pretty quick. Plus, you’re on land a lot and can use regular toilets pretty much any time you’re not sailing.

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Set Sail in Style! Inside the Ultimate Travel Adventure Experience of 'Yacht Week'

Sept. 17 2024, Published 8:20 a.m. ET

Summer vacations options are vast these days, with new variations of trips and tours in different parts of the world popping up every year, providing countless holiday choices for traveller's seeking an overseas getaway, however in the world of ultimate luxury and adventure travel, few experiences rival the exhilaration of Yacht Week .

Yacht Week is a sailing adventure journey like no other, set against the stunning backdrop of the Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas that has quickly become a bucket list travel experience for tourists worldwide seeking the yachting life adventure of a lifetime.

The Yacht Week journey is about so much more than just the destinations—it's about the voyage itself. They say you never forget your first, which is very true of this experience, as we got an exclusive VIP experience onboard our first Yacht Week and the unforgettable ultimate travel adventure on the high seas it promised.

A Birds Eye View of the infamous Circle Raft during Yacht Week.

The Yacht Week adventure begins the moment you step aboard your private yacht with your fellow sailors and embark on your sailing trip for the week. The first decision of the Yacht Week journey begins with choosing whether you're boarding with a group or just looking for a cabin.

Options are available for all types of sailors, whether you have a group of up to 10 friends you'd like to charter your own yacht with, or if you're solo sailor or with a small group seeking other sailors to fill your yacht cabins. All variations are welcome as the Yacht Week team partners people up in different combinations dependent on needs, and how bare essentials or luxurious you wish to make your experience. One necessity that every yacht is provided with is a skipper, who most importantly will sail the yacht, but also act as a leader onboard the vessel as you set sail on the charter.

" I grew up on fishing boats with my Dad," explains Finn , the skipper of our yacht for the week, "Every week it's a new group of people to get to know, a whole new dynamic of people to watch experience Yacht week for the first time. It's pretty incredible" .

That special experience Finn speaks of is one that many come seeking every year as Yacht Week season begins.'The Summer of Love', was the name of the Yacht Week 2024 season, with week long routes in Greece , Sicily and the original Croatia route ,which was the route sailed on this particular journey.

A Row of 'Yacht Week' Boats Sit Docked Ready to Take off on Voyage.

" We went for the no frills yacht option. No air conditioning, no host," explains Tyson , 25, from Toronto who was onboard his yacht with three friends also from Canada. Tyson and his friends ended up cabin matched with four girls in their mid twenties from Brazil. " We got lucky, it's been a great cabin match for us with our yacht", Tyson says with a coy grin on his face.

The cabin booking system tries to be as gender split as possible, and for those not wanting to risk putting the fate of their yacht mates grouping into someone else's hand, there is Crew Finder; a Facebook group that works as sort of an internal nautical friend finder, where you can find your ideal travel companion group and form your own yacht crew without the aid of the Yacht Week cabin booking system. Despite many yacht mates been assigned together seemingly at random, there weren't many complaints of ill matched cabins that could be observed on this route with most Yacht Week guests expressing their surprise at the quick bonds that had formed from day 1, with strangers quickly becoming a family unit onboard, and the close living quarters onboard forcing you to become very comfortable, very quickly, with your fellow sailors.

That aforementioned host Tyson and his friends chose to forego from their trip, is an optional addition on a Yacht Week charter, where each yacht has the option for an onboard host who can cook meals for you and provide that added luxury of waking up and not having to worry about which one of your cabin mates is going to boil a egg, or even brew some morning coffee for the group. The host can take care of all that, and forget about a simple boiled egg for breakfast, it's quite amazing what the Yacht Week hosts are able to cook up in a simple yacht galley, often whipping up onboard meals that could rival local restaurants with all the added special touches and impeccable presentation.

" I first came as a guest for yacht week in 2019 " , explains Babi , the Brazilian born host of our particular yacht. " After that week I knew I wanted to keep coming back to Yacht Week, so I decided the easiest way to do that was to work for Yacht Week" .

As a Yacht week host, Babi is assigned a different yacht each week where she must complete the weekly grocery shopping for the yacht and decide what meals she'll cook for her assigned group, while also having to take into account food allergies or any dietary requirements of the onboard guests; no small feat in today's world of various picky preferences eaters. From vegans to gluten free, creating a meal that suits all tastes and preferences can prove more than a little challenging at times, but Babi considers it well worth it.

" I love my job, sure it can be difficult at times, but its hard to complain when this is the backdrop every day.'" she says as she stares out into the crystal blue Croatian waters.

Another day of paradise in and out of the water on 'Yacht Week'.

Yacht Week was born almost as a joke in 2006, when friends from Sweden, William Wenkel, Johan Kuylenstierna and Erik Biörklund decided to create a travel adventure for explorers and sailing enthusiasts like themselves. The inspiration struck while they were skippering sailboats during family sailing holidays the previous year and they realized they were able to visit stunning, often secluded locations only reachable by boat, but the trips primarily only catered to families.

Wanting to offer a similar experience for close friends, they approached their charter company and persuaded them to reserve a few boats for the following summer. The idea took off from there, and the rest is history; Yacht Week was born. Today, that close-knit group of friends has grown into a vibrant community of over 70,000, with no signs of slowing down. Yacht Week has united adventurous souls, vast seas, and a collective of musicians, collaborators, sailors, and partygoers with more than 1.4 million guests having joined the Yacht Week experience to date over the past 18 years since it's inception.

A mid sea impromptu floatie party for Tunnel Raft Day on 'Yacht Week'.

" We all met through our husbands actually, " explains Rachel, 32, who hails from Texas and was experiencing her first Yacht week with five girlfriends, all military wives currently stationed with their husbands on service in Northern Italy.

" We wanted to do a girls trip together, so we decided on Yacht Week because we'd heard a lot of great things about it and thought it'd be such a different vacation experience than just spending a week in a hotel in Europe somewhere," Rachel says.

The promise of a travel experience outside the norm is one that many have been drawn to of late, with the typical European vacation no longer satisfying the average traveller who seeks an experience a little more outside the box than what may have been yearned for in the past. After all, in the days of social media influencers and aspirational travel adventures, spending a week onboard a yacht is a travel vacation that's sure to make anyone's instagram followers more than a little envious.

" We are ready to win the Yacht Week regatta. We have a whole Texan cowgirl theme ready to go" Rachel says.

This regatta she's referring to is another Yacht Week highlight, where each yacht dresses to a chosen theme, as the yachts form a parade on the seas, with sailors going all out with effort to claim the victory trophy as the Regatta winner for the week.

An 'Under the sea' theme, Winter wonderland Christmas and a performing circus act crew were just some of the highlights of this weeks regatta, but they were no match for the 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' themed yacht, armed with costumed Oompa Loompas and Golden Ticket themed bathing suits ,that ended up claiming a much deserved Yacht Week regatta victory. Watching the absolute insanity of 40 plus yachts sailing through the Croatian seas, filled with sailors dressed in different themed outfits while busting out dance moves and battling it out to take victory, is a win for anyone lucky enough to bear witness to a Yacht Week Regatta.

The Yachts Set Sail For The 'Yacht Week' Regatta Event.

" I was worried we'd maybe be too old", confesses Jana, 36, a New Zealander traveling with her friend Renee, 35 " We'd always wanted to do Yacht Week, but figured we'd never find enough friends who could come. When we realized we could be matched with other pairs of friends and solo sailors to make up a full yacht, we decided to just go for it and booked in."

The question of age is a common one for group travel adventures like Yacht Week, and can sometimes be a cause for concern for potential sailors who feel they may not be young enough to participate, especially if judging by the social media videos and online photographs that tend to highlight an early 20's crowd, often frolicking on inflatables in the water while knocking back beers like a college frat party. However once aboard your Yacht Week experience it quickly becomes apparent that Yacht Week is so much more than the debaucherous partying and endless drinking that it may initially appear to be and there's a wider spectrum of ages than just early twenty somethings.

" The 9's are out sweet spot" explains Barry Gifford , CEO of Yacht week, " 29 and 39, is an age where people really want to do something like Yacht week, but may not have a group of friends who can just drop everything and go sailing around Europe for a week "

While partying is definitely a highlight focus of Yacht Week and the weekly sail itinerary definitely has more than a few unforgettable parties on schedule, the community of a Yacht Week sail group forms so quickly through these parties that they can truly be whatever experience guests want to take from them. Whether that experience be sitting in the corner with a small group taking in all the festivities from afar, or dancing the night away on the crowded dance floor keeping the party going late into the night, there's an experience that can be accommodated for every preference. One of the scheduled nights perfect for this is the 'Garden of love' party that takes place at the Yacht week owned Fort George in Vis, Croatia. This Croatian fortified citadel from the 19th century that overlooks two natural bays of Vis, is a venue that could easily stand in for a location in 'Game Of Thrones' , and provides an incredible locale for an epic party venue that puts the average indoor nightclub setting to shame.

Another highlight of the week is the Circle and Tunnel raft events, which you've likely seen many photos of from Yacht Week marketing materials and previous Yacht Week guests social media posts. That birds eye drone view of a perfectly formed circle or two tunnel lined rows of all the yachts for the week docked in perfect symmetry in the middle of the crystal blue bay look almost CGI generated they're so visually breathtaking, but we can confirm there's no cheeky editing tricks here, it truly looks as spectacular in reality as the photos depict.

The Tunnel Raft party in particular ends up serving as quasi nautical house party hopping event, as sailors climb aboard each others yachts in search of whichever social vibe they are feeling for the occasion. While some Yachts might be celebrating in a more low key fashion with quiet chats over drinks and perhaps a game of cards, others are taking the party up a few notches and welcoming fellow sailors onboard into their home for the week, and dancing the night away on whichever yacht has ultimately become the unofficial party host boat for the night.

" I love that we've become the party yacht for the tunnel raft." says Megan, 24 ,from New York, who's catamaran yacht she set sail on with six girlfriends had become the unofficial party host yacht of the night " As long as nobody messes with our playlist, we are happy to keep this party going to sunrise" she says with a smile, clearly pleased to play host yacht to one of the most memorable Yacht Week events that serves as an ultimate group bonding experience.

An Incredible Birds Eye View Of The 'Tunnel Raft' Day on 'Yacht Week'.

After the Yacht Week experience sadly comes to an end for another week, with all the yachts safely docked back at shore and the sailors having to return to the reality of life on land once again, it's impossible to label the Yacht Week experience as just another vacation. It’s a week long journey that allows you to break away from the daily routine of life and get onboard with an escape to a new reality of life on a yacht, where every day of the week brings a new adventure.

" Everything we do is dedicated to the guest experience. We really feel the weight of making sure we live up to being the best week of our guests' lives. " explains Yacht Week CEO Barry Gifford.

This guest experience Barry refers to is clearly a top priority for the Yacht Week team, and been witness to the camaraderie that is built so quickly among sailors throughout the week is truly something special. From strangers on day one to some lifelong friendships formed by Day 7, Yacht Week offers an experience like no other, blending relaxation, celebration, and adventure into one unforgettable journey that one needs to experience themself to really understand what an unforgettable travel escapade it is.

If you're ready to join the adventure and experience the Yacht Week phenomenon, bookings are now open for 2025 Season , Start planning today for a sailing adventure of a lifetime, and get ready to check Yacht Week off your travel experiences bucket list!

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