Yacht Charter Fort Lauderdale

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Yacht Charter Fort Lauderdale

On a Fort Lauderdale yacht charter with Borrow a Boat you can explore South Florida, Florida Keys and Bahamas within an easy sail. From big game fishing boat rental to a shopping and partying sailing vacation, a South Florida sailing holiday is going to be an unforgettable experience.

With canals and waterways linking the Atlantic Ocean with the Everglades, Ft Lauderdale is widely held as the yachting capital of North America. Whether on a private yacht charter or on a smaller bareboat boat rental, you will find plenty do do afloat and in the water here!

On your Florida yacht charter you may wish to hit the bars, restaurants and top end shopping of Las Olas Boulevard in downtown Fort Lauderdale for fun, or relax on a trip up the New River and canals that pass mansions and preserved parkland.

As one of the top water sports playgrounds in the world, Fort Lauderdale has almost everything you could wish for. Let’s take a look on what’s nearby and where else you could go on your Fort Lauderdale yacht charter.

Explore Fort Lauderdale By Renting A Yacht

Immediately to the north of Fort Lauderdale is the far quieter, laid back Pompano Beach where you can dial things back a bit and relax. The Palm Beaches - Palm Beach and West Palm Beach - market themselves as North America’s ‘first’ holiday resorts. Here you can enjoy the clean waters, coral reefs and some of the best beaches in the world.

There are three essential playgrounds for the water sports enthusiast - Biscayne Bay, the Florida Keys to the south and the Bahamas to the east.

Biscayne Bay around Miami is a fantastic water sports playground. Everyone from sport yacht sailors to superyacht cruisers and yes, fishing boat users are out here, feeling the year round sun and the general vibe around Miami. Just inland is the intracoastal waterway that is a maze of rivers and canals that you can enjoy in almost any direction from Fort Lauderdale.

For those who enjoy the manmade fun of Las Olas Boulevard in Ft Lauderdale, South Beach in Miami is where it’s at! As with Fort Lauderdale, there will be somewhere to leave your boat, though do remember the US authorities are quite tight on boating while under the influence.

Directly to the south and leading in a curve west into the Gulf of Mexico are the Florida Keys. Key Largo and Key West are famous among these as places to seriously chill, and perhaps see the odd celebrity hiding from the world. These are coral islands and you will have ample opportunity to snorkel, dive, fish, swim and paddle board - or just watch it all happen from your luxury yacht!

For those a little more adventuorus, do the 70 mile trip from Key West to the Dry Tortugas - a 100 square mile nature reserve with seven small islands but is mostly sea.

From a day trip out on Biscayne Bay or up the intracoastal waterways, to a longer trek out to the islands nearby, there is plenty to choose from on a Florida yacht charter.

How To Get To Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale International Airport

Served by airlines from all over the world, Fort Lauderdale International Airport has direct flights from much of Europe and the US. You can take a bus or taxi to the marina from where your yacht charter will start.

Marinas In Fort Lauderdale

In the yachting capital of North America, you can imagine there will be a lot of marinas to choose from. There are more than 20, though mostly these are smaller affairs with less than 50 berths, dotted all over Downtown Ft Lauderdale. Here we will look at four of the largest in the city.

Lauderdale Small Boat Club:

Though one of the largest marinas in Ft Lauderdale, this caters to boats under 22ft. It has small-boat owners offering crewed and bareboat charter of sailing yacht, motor yacht rental, fishing boat and speed boats.

Berth Characteristics:

265 berths

Max Length 6.7m (22 Feet)

Max Draught 2.4m (8 Feet)

List of additional services: Shore power, water, WiFi, shower/WC, launderette, garbage disposal, cash machine, currency exchange, gym, supermarket, restaurant.

Bahia Mar Resort and Yachting Center:

This mid-sized marina is also a yacht charter hub with charter companies and boat owners offering private yacht charterand bareboat charter sailing catamaran , sailing yacht, sport yacht, luxury yacht rental, fishing boat and motor yachtrental.

Berth Characteristics:

250 berths

Max Length 91m (300 Feet)

Max Draught 3.6 m (12 Feet)

List of additional services: Shore power, water, WiFi, shower/WC, launderette, garbage disposal, cash machine, currency exchange, supermarket, restaurant.

Lauderdale Marine Center:

This mid-sized marina is a yacht charter base with charter companies offering private and bareboat charter of sailing catamaran, sailing yacht, luxury yacht, fishing boat, speed boats and motor yacht rental.

Berth Characteristics:

208 berths

Max Length 61m (200 Feet)

Max Draught 5m (16 Feet)

List of additional services: Shore power, water, WiFi, shower/WC, launderette, garbage disposal, cash machine, currency exchange, supermarket, restaurant

Pier Sixty-Six:

Catering to some of the largest yachts in Ft Lauderdale, this is a yacht charter base with charter companies offering private and bareboat charter of sailing catamaran, sailing yacht, luxury yacht, fishing boat, speed boats and motor yachtrental.

Berth Characteristics:

127 berths

Max Length 122m (400 Feet)

Max Draught 7.6m (25 Feet)

List of additional services: Shore power, water, WiFi, shower/WC, launderette, garbage disposal, cash machine, currency exchange, supermarket, restaurant

Suggested Sailing Routes From Fort Lauderdale

So, what do you want from a South Florida yacht charter? Relaxing on some of the best beaches in the world? Shopping and partying? Or just enjoying the islands and waters of this famous playground?

7 Days - Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas: With Fort Jefferson your destination on day 5 you spend the first day at sea hanging out on Biscayne Bay. Key Largo on Day 3 is a chance to go diving on the artificial reefs - the largest such in the world. Key West on Day 4 with its escapist vibe, amazing bars and restaurants will be your next night afloat, and then make the 70 mile crossing to the seven islands of Dry Tortugas. Take in the wild beauty of the islands and sea, and make landfall at Fort Jefferson before returning to base in Ft Lauderdale the next day.

7 Days Upper Florida Keys Family Trip: This trip will mean more time ashore/in the sea and less big sailing time (unless you want to!). Out of your Fort Lauderdale marina you will sail out to Biscayne Bay for the first day afloat. Enjoy the vibe and water sports. Hang out and snorkel at Elliot Key the next day and then head out to Pumpkin Key for the evening. Little Grecian Rock Reef for the next morning’s swimming and snorkeling where you will find Christ of the Abyss under the sea. Off to Key Largo for the evening. Day 4 takes you to the family friendly Windley Key to enjoy the theatre and nearby dolphin research center. Northeast on a gentle sail to Marina del Mar the next day, and then back to Biscayne Bay for some more fun, perhaps mooring near South Beach in Miami for some fun ashore. Handover the next day.

Best Times To Hire A Yacht In Ft Lauderdale

Unlike Europe, the sailing season in the this part of the world runs from November to May - perfect for a dose of winter sun. The NE Trades are settled and you will encounter weather between 25-35 degrees C.

Within this period, March and April after the winter northerlies have passed are cooler yet the sailing is just as fun as the rest of the year.

For those who want to try something a little outside their comfort zone, August and September are said to be the very best sailing months of all.

There’s a problem with this - many yacht charter fleets will not be in the area thanks to hurricane season that runs between July and November. If booked and a hurricane is on its way your holiday will be cancelled. There is no minimising the danger of being in the region in a hurricane - there is no high ground and with the general trend for ever fiercer storms, it is not an experience to even risk being around for.

The Climate

North East Trade Winds: These are regular and can get up to F6 at times, but steady and predictable.

FAQs:

What should I consider when hiring a Yacht or Boat?

The main points to consider are what is your budget, have you got the necessary sailing experience and qualifications to manage the boat if it’s not going to have a skipper, whom you are taking sailing, where exactly you wish to go and what will the weather be like on the proposed dates of your trip.

What are the Marinas in Fort Lauderdale?

There are dozens of smaller marinas in the Fort Lauderdale area. The three largest, catering to yachts of up to 400ft are Bahia Mar, Lauderdale Marine Center and Pier Sixty-Six.

When are the best times to hire a boat in Fort Lauderdale?

Miami is in the northern Tropics and this means blissful trade winds and comfortable temperatures year round. The cooler part of the year from November to May is better for yacht charters simply because the hurricane season coincides with the hotter and wetter part of the year. As ever, if serious chill is the name of the game, then come out outside of school holidays.

Do you have to pay a deposit when hiring a Yacht in Ft Lauderdale?

You will typically pay 50% up front on booking the yacht hire and the balance on arrival. You will either pay a security deposit with your credit card on departure or can get insurance covering damage in advance. In some cases (such as the recent Covid situation) charter companies may be more flexible but this depends on the individual charter companies themselves.

What happens if my Yacht breaks down?

If you are at sea and in danger, call MAYDAY on VHF Ch16 or ring the coast guard on your phone if you have reception. If you have a mechanical fault and can make it to or are on a mooring you will be able to phone a help line number given by the boat charter company.

What should I think of before I hire a Yacht or Boat in Fort Lauderdale?

You should consider do you have the experience to handle the yacht charter or boat hire before you book and where do you want to go along with what the weather will be like. Dress for warm weather but do have something for tropical rains - light but waterproof.

What Qualifications Do I need to hire a boat or yacht?

If you want to sail without a skipper then you will need relevant qualifications like RYA Day Skipper/International Certificate of Competence (ICC)/ASA 104 Bareboat certificate or the US Sailing Certificate. For small ‘day boats’ or if you choose to have a skipper on board your yacht charter you typically don’t require licences.

Frequently asked questions
What should I consider when hiring a Yacht or Boat?

The main points to consider are what is your budget, have you got the necessary sailing experience and qualifications to manage the boat if it's not going to have a skipper, whom you are taking sailing, where exactly you wish to go and what will the weather be like on the proposed dates of your trip.

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