Yacht Charter in Saint-Tropez, From Compact Day Boats to Superyachts

A charter based in Saint-Tropez covers more ground than the town quay suggests. Boats anchor in the Gulf south of the port in five to twelve metres of water, tender ashore to Quai Jean Jaurès for the market and restaurants, or run further out to Pampelonne, Cap Taillat and Baie de Briande where the coastline turns quiet and the water clears. Some charters stay local for an afternoon; others cross west toward the Îles d'Hyères or tuck into the canal port at Port Grimaud for a calmer overnight. The fleet we work with spans the same range — from compact day boats built for a few hours on the water to crewed superyachts over 50 metres, so the boat fits the route rather than the other way round.

Timing changes the experience more than most guests expect. Through July and August the Gulf anchor field fills by mid-morning, so an early departure and a beach club reservation booked ahead of the tender run both matter. June and September offer the same anchorages with less competition for space, and Baie de Briande in particular opens up without other boats close by. October brings a quieter Gulf and steadier conditions for a passage toward Hyères, while May carries some spillover demand from the Cannes festival calendar. We plan the day or the itinerary around these patterns rather than promising a fixed experience regardless of month.

Not every charter here is the same shape. Families with older children often sail from Sainte-Maxime toward Cap Taillat for a picnic anchorage in sheltered water; corporate groups take a 40 to 60-foot motor yacht onto the Gulf for a client lunch with the village in view, catering and privacy arranged around the meeting rather than the beach; couples ask for a private anchor away from the main field. Guest capacity across the fleet runs from small day groups up to twelve on yachts such as the Feadship Emerald or Oceanco The Wellesley, and larger superyachts typically carry a chase boat for beach club access at Pampelonne. We size the boat to the group and the occasion, not the other way round.

Pricing follows a day rate plus an advance provisioning allowance, and we brief clients on what that APA is likely to cover before departure — fuel use stays modest for a Gulf-based day, higher for a passage out to the islands. Provisioning draws on the Tuesday and Saturday market at Place des Lices and the specialist suppliers on Quai Jean Jaurès, and can be arranged for a single lunch or a week aboard. Quay berths at the Nouveau Port are allocated months ahead for the high season and carry a holding deposit, which is one reason most yachts here anchor in the Gulf rather than compete for a berth. Whether the plan is a single afternoon or a multi-day route toward Porquerolles, we handle the logistics — reservations, provisioning, tender timing — so the day on the water stays straightforward.