TAKING OWNERSHIP

WILL BRUTON ON BUYING A ‘READY TO SAIL’ YACHT

- WILL BRUTON

A good yacht that’s ready to sail away can be hard to find in the current market. Thinking outside the box about where to look can help you get on the water faster. We take a look at options to find a boat in turnkey condition

It’s no secret that if you want a new yacht the wait is now likely to be two years or more. But what if you don’t want to take on a refit and want to get on the water quickly? There is no simple answer, but casting the net wider, and working closely with brokers that know what you are looking for, are both crucial.

Like most brokerage businesses, Ancasta had an unusual 2021. Roger Bailey heads up their Sotogrande office. “We sold boats like never before, which was great, but it is now harder than ever to match clients with what they want. Under the £200,000 mark, there’s not much that’s of good quality and ready to go.”

In highest demand are yachts suited to living aboard and bluewater cruising and, despite the relatively high entry price, multihull demand is particularly strong.

“Clients now land here in Spain on a mission to do a deal, rather than speculate about something they might want to buy. The market remains very active, but faster-moving transactions tend to be much less protracted. It is worth outlining to us what your position is and what you are looking for early, even if you don’t see a listing that’s suitable,” explains Bailey.

A RARE SPECIES

Yachts returning to the market after less than a year of use might draw suspicion. However, more than often it is simply due to an owner’s change of circumstances and happens quite a lot, particularly with yachts of a higher value.