| There are many good reasons to own a boat. Its | | | | fees, or insurance costs; they simply pay one low |
| fun, it's sporting, it's romantic and it's adventurous. It | | | | annual or monthly fee to the management company. |
| bonds family and friends together for special | | | | A typical program will allow for seven guaranteed |
| memories. There's that irresistible pull of the ocean | | | | uses per month, plus as available use, and is generally |
| that says, "Let's go!" And, of course, there's a certain | | | | all inclusive for less than a typical owner would pay |
| prestige in owning a well maintained yacht. However | | | | for slip fees and fuel alone. If the program is |
| there are also many reasons not to. The costs | | | | structured correctly there should be no commitments |
| associated with maintaining your own yacht are high, | | | | and no buying or selling, make sure you have an |
| and so is the time commitment required. Mortgage, | | | | experienced professional management team working |
| maintenance, dockage, insurance, upgrades, storage | | | | for you. With the right Fractional Sailing program you |
| and cleaning are a year-round personal and financial | | | | will find yourself in top of the line facilities sailing on a |
| commitment. | | | | fully loaded sailboat: roller furling jibs and main sails, |
| Fractional Sailing programs remove all of the negative | | | | modern electronics, flat panel TV's with DVD players, |
| aspects of boating and allow you to enjoy your time | | | | electric heads, and powerful reliable diesel engines are |
| on the water with friends and family. Fractional Sailing | | | | just some of the features you can expect to find. |
| is day to day access to a new luxury sailboat in your | | | | Most yacht owners realistically sail their boats 2-3 |
| local waterway; it makes sailing practical, cost | | | | times per month. The cost of ownership is high; slip |
| effective and simple. Program members may take a | | | | fees are $250-$450 per month, the bank note varies |
| new sailing yacht out for a few hours after work, | | | | depending on the quality of the yacht but can range |
| getaway for a weekend, or cruise for an entire | | | | from $300 to well into the thousands, maintenance is |
| week. If you're looking for a flexible, no commitment | | | | expensive and time consuming, quality comprehensive |
| way to sail your luxury dream yacht then you've | | | | insurance is difficult to obtain and expensive, the list |
| found it in fractional sailing. | | | | goes on and on; fuel, pump-out, bottom paint, haul |
| OK, now that we have your attention, let's take a | | | | outs….. |
| look at some of the highlights of fractional sailing | | | | Previously the only alternative to ownership was |
| programs. Most programs allow you to sail a beautiful | | | | chartering. Chartering a yacht in a destination vacation |
| new sailboat in your local waterways and allow | | | | area is usually an enjoyable experience, however it is |
| morning, afternoon, evening, overnight, weekend and | | | | still expensive, and you are only on the water for the |
| week long time slots. The more established programs | | | | duration of your vacation. Fractional Sailing programs |
| use proprietary scheduling technology, usually | | | | give you the ability to sail in your local waterways for |
| accessed via the internet, to allow members to book | | | | a day, evening, half day, weekend, week or even |
| time on their sailboat. To help keep member costs | | | | just a few hours all season long. All the hassles, |
| down most programs also employ some type of | | | | worries and expenses associated with yacht |
| electronic check-in and check-out system at the boat | | | | ownership are handled by the management company. |
| that removes the need for a staff member on the | | | | Check out your local Fractional Sailing program today! |
| dock. Members incur no maintenance, bank notes, slip | | | | |