Bad Weather on a Yacht Charter: What Changes and What Doesn't

July. Eight guests. Seven nights in the Cyclades.

Day 3 is the long run to the island the family has talked about since the first call.

At breakfast the captain opens the forecast. 35 knots on the open stretch.

The route changes. Safety is the captain’s decision.

The family messages the broker before the first coffee is finished.

The broker asks two things. Where is the nearest sheltered anchorage? What did the family want most from day 3?

It was a birthday dinner.

The dinner moves to a bay on the lee side of the island. The table is still laid.

The route changed. The week did not end.

The short answer

Weather changes your itinerary far more often than it changes your fee.
In the standard MYBA charter agreement (2017 version), the owner does not warrant use and comfort in bad weather (Clause 2).
The captain has the final say on safety, and may refuse an order that is unsafe (Clause 7).
A sample itinerary is a plan, and a plan B is part of the plan.
A good broker cannot change the wind. A good broker can change what you do about it.

Your own contract governs. Clause wording differs between versions and contract forms, so ask your broker to show you the clause.

What the contract says about weather

Four clauses in the standard MYBA charter agreement (2017 version) shape how weather is handled.

Clause 2. The owner delivers the yacht insured, seaworthy, clean and ready for service. The same clause says the owner “does not warrant her use and comfort in bad weather conditions”.
Clause 4. Time under way is limited to an average of 6 hours a day. The captain, owner, broker and stakeholder cannot be held liable for a berth that is not allocated.
Clause 7. The captain follows reasonable orders. The captain may refuse orders that are unsafe.
Clause 18(a). Force majeure covers causes beyond the reasonable control of the owner, the crew or the charterer. “Storm” and “fog” are on the list.

Read together, they say this. The form has no general bad weather refund. Weather normally moves the route, not the fee.

The one exception worth knowing is a weather event that counts as force majeure and stops the yacht from being delivered, or disables it. Then other clauses can apply, such as the ones on delay, non-delivery and disablement. Whether a particular event qualifies depends on the facts, and it has to be shown in writing. Our page on what happens if your charter yacht breaks down walks through the breakdown clause.

Sample itinerary, fixed route, and plan B

Most itineraries you see before booking are samples. They show what is possible in a week. They do not fix where the yacht will be on Tuesday.

Some charters have a fixed element. A start in one place and an end in another. A date you have to be somewhere. When that is the case, say so on the first call and ask for it in writing.

Then ask for the plan B areas.

Which area is the first choice for your dates?
Which sheltered area is the fallback if the first one is windy?
How far apart are they, in hours at the yacht’s usual pace?

The captain knows the answers. The broker can ask. You only need to hear them before the week starts, not on the morning of day 3.

Seasons, as general facts

Two examples show how weather and route interact. Both are general seasonal facts, not forecasts for your dates.

Greece in July and August

The meltemi is a northerly wind that is common in the Aegean in July and August. It shapes which islands are easy to reach and which anchorages are comfortable. Captains plan around it. Our guide to the meltemi wind and Greece yacht charters explains how.

Caribbean, June to November

June to November is Caribbean hurricane season. Caribbean contracts use different forms, often with a 24-hour breakdown threshold and their own complaint deadlines; your broker will show you yours. Ask how your contract treats a named storm before you sign, not after one forms.

The same rule applies in every region. Put your dates next to the local weather pattern, and ask what the route looks like on a good day and on a windy one.

What a broker can still do

When the forecast turns, the contract sets the limits. Within those limits there is still room to work.

Re-route. Ask the captain for the best alternative that keeps the part of the week you care about most.
Use protected anchorages. A lee shore changes a rough day into a quiet lunch.
Shift the order. Swap a long day with a short one when the wind drops.
Ask for goodwill. Where a specific occasion is lost, such as a birthday or an anniversary dinner, your broker can ask the owner for a gesture. It is a request. It is not a right, and no outcome is promised.

Say what matters to you early. A broker can only protect what the broker knows about.

What your broker does

Answers the same day and always tells you when you will hear next.
Checks in personally on day 2 of the charter: “Are you having a 5-star vacation? If not, what can be done?”
Puts your issue to the yacht’s management in writing the same day.
Helps you put a complaint in writing on time, so your rights under the contract stay protected.
Pushes the owner for specific fixes, such as a crew change or replacement equipment, and for credits for things not delivered, shown on your APA statement.
Keeps separate problems separate, so a payment question does not hold up a charter issue.
After the charter, chases the APA account and any balance, and keeps you updated until it is closed.

The full picture of the week is on our page about what happens when a yacht charter goes wrong. If something is wrong on board right now, start with what to do in the first 24 hours.

Questions people ask

Can I get a refund if bad weather ruins my yacht charter?

The standard MYBA charter agreement (2017 version) has no general bad weather refund. Clause 2 says the owner does not warrant use and comfort in bad weather. Weather normally changes the route. Your own contract governs, so ask your broker to show you the clause.

Can the captain change my itinerary because of wind?

Yes. In the 2017 form the captain follows reasonable orders and may refuse unsafe ones (Clause 7). The captain decides what is safe on the day. The broker can ask for alternatives that keep your priorities.

Will the meltemi ruin my Greece yacht charter?

The meltemi is common in July and August, and it affects which anchorages work. It affects planning. Captains plan around it every season. See our meltemi guide.

Does hurricane season affect a Caribbean yacht charter?

June to November is hurricane season in the Caribbean. Caribbean contracts use different forms, so ask how yours treats a named storm. If you are thinking of cancelling, read our page on cancelling a yacht charter, and check which insurance you hold. The 2017 MYBA form says cancellation and curtailment insurance is not included (Clause 16(d)).

What if the weather means I miss the island I booked for?

Tell your broker which place or occasion mattered most, in writing, before the week starts. It gives the captain and the broker something specific to protect.