Photo from Arno Senoner on Unsplash       

The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly affected countless lives. Although more people are getting vaccinated, this outbreak has caused irreversible damages that could take years to recover from.

Borders closed, government officials enacted shutdowns, and the world started to adapt to what many deemed “the new normal.” While the yachting industry did have some adjustments to make, most captains and their crew have been able to stay afloat.

Yachting has its fair shares of trials and tribulations, but coronavirus catapulted the superyacht industry in ways that even a tenured captain could not have predicted. What was looking to be the end of spring and the beginning of new international summer adventures turned into modified charters and compulsive cleaning. Although the economy is slowly but surely attaining normalcy, what does the virus mean for the yachting industry?

Superyachts have always maintained an exceptionally high level of cleanliness, but with the spread of COVID-19 comes advanced hygiene protocols and innovative methods of cleaning. This means that yacht owners are taking on the additional cost of housekeeping and cleaning supplies, presumably meaning that charter prices will not decrease any time soon. Still, the charters are worth every penny for the remarkable experience.

Another additional cost for both guests and crew is personal protective equipment (PPE). A prepared broker will have extra PPE on board for the entire charter, but guests should also bring their own. It’s better to be safe than sorry!

As with many other festivals and in-person events, nearly all yachting events were canceled last year. This includes one of the most popular international yacht shows, the Monaco Yacht Show, which usually takes place in late September.

The cancelation of these exclusive, sought-after events has set the yachting industry back financially, so it may take some time before they make up the lost funds. However, the recent surge of Caribbean charter guests implies that business is looking up and should be back to normal in no time.

Like many other businesses, the pandemic has had some negative effects on the yachting workforce. The months of March, April, and May have usually been the busiest time for yacht crew, but with many lockdowns and border closures occurring, many charters were canceled or cut short.

While it was not ideal for crew to lose out on those wages and tips, it gave them more time to be with their families and hop back on the superyacht bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. In fact, some yachts even had owners move permanently onboard so that they were crewed up and busier than ever.

Our very own Chief Operating Officer, Anastasia Surmava, said that it is now a requirement on most boats for crew to be vaccinated. Crew now has to decide whether to get vaccinated and return to their jobs after a long hiatus or look for another career if they do not want to get vaccinated.

She also noted that there is an increase of charters going out of Florida now that most restrictions have been lifted and it is more open. That means the Bahamas and the Caribbean are boomin’ right now! Also, there are more job opportunities for crew, since it is much busier than it usually is. While summer in the Caribbean is typically not busy, it is looking like that will not be the case this year.

As we learned from the current season of Below Deck Sailing Yacht, which filmed in the midst of the pandemic, taking the right precautions and being proactive is the key to calming the COVID-19 storm. While one charter experienced a COVID-19 scare, Captain Glenn immediately sought medical professionals for guidance and handled the situation professionally, showing that it is possible to continue yacht chartering during these unpredictable times.

We don’t know how the rest of the year will pan out, but hopefully people continue to stay safe and healthy. The yachting industry is resilient and we’re confident that it will recover and continue to tackle any upcoming challenges. If quarantine left you with cabin fever and a desire to try something new, check out our OITA courses!