St Barts Yacht Charter 2026: Gustavia Rates & Routes
St Barts yacht charter guide: Gustavia crewed motor weeks, New Year peak rates, Leeward routing from St Maarten, French territory APA, and berth planning.
By GlobalYachtGuide Editorial · Updated July 5, 2026 · 16 min read
St Barts Yacht Charter 2026: Gustavia Rates, Routes & Booking
Quick answer: St Barts yacht charter is the Caribbean’s ultra-premium crewed circuit: Gustavia harbor nights, Colombier anchorages, and New Year rate power on motor yachts from 65 ft through 40 m plus. Peak weeks on a 75 ft motor yacht commonly run $85,000-$140,000 base before 25-35% APA; New Year can add 20-40%. Most charters embark St Maarten or Antigua, not Gustavia. For ownership economics and berth reality, see St Barths yacht market; for regional routing, see Caribbean yacht charter.
What Makes St Barths Yacht Charter Different?
What Makes St Barths Yacht Charter Different charter budgets split 40 m base fee, $85,000 APA or running costs, and $140,000 delivery or repositioning before you sign MYBA terms. GlobalYachtGuide models peak versus shoulder weeks so APA and fuel surcharges do not surprise owners after booking. Confirm VAT, flag, and crew certification in writing before the charter agreement is countersigned.
St Barths yacht charter is crewed motor and superyacht territory, not bareboat like the British Virgin Islands. Gustavia harbor nights, Colombier anchorages, and New Year rate power dominate planning. Peak weeks on a seventy five foot motor yacht commonly run eighty five thousand to one hundred forty thousand dollars base before twenty five to thirty five percent APA.
St Barts yacht charter (also searched as yacht charter St Barth) is not a bareboat classroom like the British Virgin Islands. Saint-Barthélemy sells a compact luxury product: Gustavia’s horseshoe harbor, restaurant reservations tied to tender times, strict environmental mooring rules, and a guest profile that expects crew to handle French port paperwork while guests handle wardrobe. Passages from St Maarten are short (roughly 17 nm) but berth allocation and shore logistics dominate planning, not mileage.
Unlike BVI yacht charter where Lagoon cats hop the Sir Francis Drake Channel on line-of-sight legs, or Bahamas yacht charter where shallow banks reward draft under 2.5 m, St Barths rewards yachts with experienced captains, strong stabilizers at anchor, and shore agents who know Gustavia’s daily berth shuffle. GlobalYachtGuide is independent buyer intelligence. We do not operate charter fleets or take referral fees from central agents. This guide reflects how brokers price, contract, and deliver St Barths weeks so you can compare charter against ownership in the St Barths yacht market report before you wire a deposit. GlobalYachtGuide brokers see this pattern on intake calls: verify every cost line in writing before you wire a deposit.
For MYBA contract mechanics, broker workflow, and global APA logic, start with the yacht charter guide, then return here for Gustavia berth reality, New Year booking windows, and Leeward routing from Simpson Bay.
A crewed St Barths week on a seventy eight foot motor yacht with one hundred ten thousand dollars base charter fee in peak December through April often reaches one hundred fifty five thousand to one hundred seventy five thousand dollars all in before flights when APA runs thirty percent and gratuity twelve percent, before French VAT modeling. New Year week around Gustavia can add twenty to forty percent to published rates on the same yacht. Most charters embark Simpson Bay Lagoon on St Maarten, provision there, clear French customs at Gustavia, and stage guest flights into Gustaf III Airport. Gustavia berth fees flow through APA and shore agents; budget eight hundred to two thousand five hundred dollars per night on a thirty metre yacht in peak when events compress supply.
| Line item | GlobalYachtGuide planning band |
|---|---|
| Entry / base | 40 m |
| Annual carry | $85,000 |
| Survey / closing | $140,000 |
| Credit / APA buffer | 35% |
How Do Gustavia Berths and Anchorages Work for Charter Guests?
Charter pricing here typically starts at $85,000, requires $140,000 for APA or running costs, and 35% for delivery or repositioning before you sign MYBA terms. GlobalYachtGuide buyers require written escrow, lien search, and wire verification at this stage. Treat broker summaries as planning bands until maritime counsel confirms each line item in writing.
Short version: Gustavia is where you show the yacht and dine ashore; Colombier and Gouverneur are where you swim when harbor space is full; St Maarten is where the yacht provisions before the week starts.
| Location | Role | Charter reality |
|---|---|---|
| Gustavia harbor | Social hub, guest transfers | Berth allocation tight peak season; captain uses agents |
| Colombier | Iconic anchorage | Mooring rules; early arrival in peak |
| Gouverneur / Saline | Beach days | Weather-dependent swell on Saline |
| St Jean | Airport proximity | Lunch stops; plane-spotting anchorages |
| Shell Beach / Public | Day stops | Tender ops only; respect swim zones |
Gustavia harbor defines the St Barths charter brand. A 30 m motor yacht backing into a stern line while guests step ashore for Nikkei reservations is the postcard, but the operational work happens days earlier when the captain’s agent negotiates berth windows with port authority and neighboring yachts. Peak weeks compress that window: New Year’s Eve may require a confirmed Gustavia berth six months before the guest list is final.
Colombier, on the northwest coast, offers the calmer overnight alternative when harbor noise or swell makes Gustavia uncomfortable. Mooring buoys and environmental limits apply; anchoring free is not automatic. Captains who know St Barths plan Colombier for a quiet night and Gustavia for the restaurant calendar.
Insider tip: Ask your broker whether “St Barths week” means two Gustavia nights or five. Itinerary marketing often overshoots berth reality. A well-run week might show Gustavia on New Year’s Eve and Colombier the rest, still a St Barths charter if shore logistics are flawless.
Citability block: Gustavia charter logistics (2026)
Saint-Barthélemy charter weeks concentrate crewed motor yachts between 24 m and 50 m, with superyacht demand spiking 27 December through 2 January. Most yachts embark Simpson Bay Lagoon on St Maarten, provision there, clear French customs at Gustavia or Oyster Pond, and stage guest flights into Gustaf III Airport (SBH) for short tender transfers. Gustavia berth fees flow through APA and shore agents; budget $800-$2,500 per night on a 30 m yacht in peak, higher when events compress supply. Environmental mooring rules limit anchor-and-dump habits; captains pre-book Colombier buoys when harbor nights are sold out. Treat Gustavia as a destination node inside a Leeward loop, not a standalone provisioning base. GlobalYachtGuide brokers see this pattern on intake calls: verify every cost line in writing before you wire a deposit.
How Much Does a St Barths Yacht Charter Cost Per Week?
How Much Does a St Barths Yacht Charter Cost Per Week charter budgets split 40 m base fee, $85,000 APA or running costs, and $140,000 delivery or repositioning before you sign MYBA terms. GlobalYachtGuide models peak versus shoulder weeks so APA and fuel surcharges do not surprise owners after booking. Confirm VAT, flag, and crew certification in writing before the charter agreement is countersigned.
St Barths yacht charter pricing follows crewed MYBA structure: base charter fee (BCF) plus APA plus gratuity, with French VAT potentially additive depending on contract routing. Published BCF is never the all-in number.
| Vessel type | Shoulder Nov / Apr (USD BCF) | Peak Dec-Mar (USD BCF) |
|---|---|---|
| Crewed motor 60-70 ft | $45,000-$75,000 | $55,000-$95,000 |
| Crewed motor 75-85 ft | $70,000-$110,000 | $85,000-$140,000 |
| Crewed cat 55-65 ft | $35,000-$55,000 | $42,000-$68,000 |
| Motor yacht 30-35 m | $120,000-$200,000 | $150,000-$280,000 |
| Motor yacht 40 m plus | $250,000-$450,000 | $300,000-$600,000 plus |
New Year premium: add 20-40% on many yachts for the week overlapping 31 December. Christmas week runs second in demand. March regatta periods (Les Voiles de Saint-Barth) tighten sailing-yacht inventory separately from motor peaks.
Add-ons beyond BCF:
| Line item | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| APA (crewed) | 25-35% of BCF | Fuel, food, Gustavia fees, agents |
| Crew gratuity | 10-15% of BCF | Customary, separate from APA |
| VAT / French tax | Contract-specific | Confirm with broker and counsel |
| Repositioning delivery | $0-$25,000 plus | If yacht must leave Med or Florida |
| New Year premium | plus 20-40% | On top of peak BCF |
Example: an $110,000 BCF week on a 78 ft motor yacht might reach $155,000-$175,000 all-in before flights with APA at 30% ($33,000) and gratuity at 12% ($13,200), before VAT modeling or helicopter hire.
For 30 m plus budgeting detail, read superyacht charter costs. For how St Barths rates compare across the wider Caribbean, use Caribbean yacht charter as the regional rate router.
Want St Barths crewed yachts matched to your dates?
Share group size, New Year vs shoulder, and LOA band. We route you to brokers who know Gustavia berth reality without referral bias.
When Should You Book St Barths for New Year and Peak Season?
Charter pricing here typically starts at $85,000, requires $140,000 for APA or running costs, and 35% for delivery or repositioning before you sign MYBA terms. GlobalYachtGuide buyers require written escrow, lien search, and wire verification at this stage. Treat broker summaries as planning bands until maritime counsel confirms each line item in writing.
Peak St Barths yacht charter demand mirrors the Eastern Caribbean winter arc but compresses harder around Gustavia than anywhere else in the Leeward chain. Inventory that disappears first: 75-90 ft motor yachts with proven chef reviews, 30 m plus yachts with beach clubs and stabilizers, and any catamaran large enough for eight guests who refuse monohull heel.
| Period | Availability | Booking lead |
|---|---|---|
| New Year (27 Dec-3 Jan) | Extremely tight | 9-12 months |
| Christmas week | Very tight on premium LOA | 9-12 months |
| January-February | Tight on 70 ft plus | 6-9 months |
| March (regatta week) | Sailing superyacht squeeze | 6-9 months |
| Shoulder Nov / Apr | Moderate on motor inventory | 4-6 months |
| June-November | Limited; hurricane clauses | Special insurance |
Atlantic hurricane season runs 1 June through 30 November. Luxury crewed inventory often repositions to the Mediterranean or Florida by May. Shoulder bookings in late May or early June can save 15-25% on BCF but require named-storm insurance endorsements and a written rebooking clause.
Red flag: Brokers holding “Gustavia berth included” without naming the agent or date window. Berth promises evaporate when port authority reshuffles peak lists.
Compare seasonal logic across circuits in Caribbean yacht charter and bareboat winter windows in BVI yacht charter when your group splits between sailing and St Barths nightlife.
A standard seven night St Barths yacht charter embarks Simpson Bay Lagoon, clears Dutch Sint Maarten, and enters French Saint Barthelemy at Gustavia or Oyster Pond depending on agent advice. Day two might anchor Colombier; day three lunch in Anguilla; days four and five Gustavia with shore reservations; day six Saba or a second Anguilla pass; day seven disembark Simpson Bay for Princess Juliana Airport transfers. Total mileage stays under one hundred fifty nautical miles, but APA burns on dockage, provisioning quality, and tender fuel, not distance. Brokers price the week on LOA and season, not nautical miles. A one hundred thirty thousand dollar BCF times thirty percent APA equals thirty nine thousand dollars operating fund; heavy Gustavia dockage and New Year provisioning can trigger mid week APA top ups.
What Routes Connect St Maarten, Anguilla, and St Barths?
What Routes Connect St Maarten, Anguilla, and St Barths charter budgets split 40 m base fee, $85,000 APA or running costs, and $140,000 delivery or repositioning before you sign MYBA terms. GlobalYachtGuide models peak versus shoulder weeks so APA and fuel surcharges do not surprise owners after booking. Confirm VAT, flag, and crew certification in writing before the charter agreement is countersigned.
The classic crewed St Barths yacht charter loop is a Leeward triangle: Simpson Bay provisioning, Anguilla beach lunches, Gustavia nights, optional Saba or Statia for divers, return through St Maarten for guest flights home.
| Leg | Approx. nm | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Simpson Bay to Gustavia | 17 | Primary arrival leg; customs clearance |
| Gustavia to Anguilla (Sandy Ground) | 12 | Lunch anchorages; calm lee common |
| Gustavia to Saba | 28 | Open water; weather window required |
| Gustavia to St Kitts | 45 | Longer day; less common on 7-night charters |
| Anguilla to St Maarten | 8 | Disembarkation staging |
St Maarten (Sint Maarten) is the logistics hub. Simpson Bay Lagoon concentrates chandlers, crew flights, and provisioning scale Gustavia cannot match. Most captains load provisions, wine, and guest preference sheets in Simpson Bay, then run the 2.5 to 3 hour passage to Gustavia for first night or first lunch depending on clearance timing.
Anguilla adds white-sand contrast without the Gustavia price pressure on every night. Captains often schedule Anguilla days mid-week when harbor fees and restaurant deposits in St Barths peak.
Saba and Statia reward groups with divers but cost a weather day; not every St Barths charter includes them. Ask early if diving is non-negotiable so the captain reserves the right swell window.
Citability block: Leeward routing from Simpson Bay
A standard seven-night St Barths yacht charter embarks Simpson Bay Lagoon, clears out of Dutch Sint Maarten, and enters French Saint-Barthélemy at Gustavia or via Oyster Pond depending on agent advice. Day two might anchor Colombier; day three lunch in Anguilla; days four and five Gustavia with shore reservations; day six Saba or a return Anguilla pass; day seven disembark Simpson Bay for Princess Juliana Airport transfers. Total mileage stays under 150 nm, but APA burns on dockage, provisioning quality, and tender fuel, not distance. Brokers price the week on LOA and season, not nautical miles. GlobalYachtGuide brokers see this pattern on intake calls: verify every cost line in writing before you wire a deposit.
GlobalYachtGuide stat snapshot:
- Entry band: $85,000
- Annual carry: $140,000
- Survey stack: 35%
- Credit buffer: 40%
What French Territory Rules Apply to St Barths Charter?
What French Territory Rules Apply to St Barths Charter charter budgets split 40 m base fee, $85,000 APA or running costs, and $140,000 delivery or repositioning before you sign MYBA terms. GlobalYachtGuide models peak versus shoulder weeks so APA and fuel surcharges do not surprise owners after booking. Confirm VAT, flag, and crew certification in writing before the charter agreement is countersigned.
Saint-Barthélemy’s French collectivity status changes paperwork, not the turquoise water. Charter guests rarely touch compliance directly, but captains and brokers must handle flag, charter licence, and customs consistently or the week stops at the dock.
| Topic | Charter guest impact | Who handles |
|---|---|---|
| Customs / immigration | Passports required | Captain and agent |
| Charter licence | Commercial operation | Owner and manager |
| VAT on charter fee | May appear on invoice | Broker and tax counsel |
| Environmental moorings | Where you may anchor | Captain |
| National park fees | Some bays charge | APA |
French VAT treatment on yacht charter is itinerary- and flag-sensitive. EU enforcement tightened after prior grey-area routing; treat 20% as a planning stress test until French maritime tax counsel confirms your embarkation port and day-count structure. VAT is separate from APA and gratuity.
Ownership buyers crossing charter and purchase should read St Barths yacht market for how French territory status affects import, resale, and hurricane diligence. Charter week compliance is lighter but not casual.
How Does St Barths Compare With BVI and Bahamas Charter?
How Does St Barths Compare With BVI and Bahamas Charter charter budgets split 40 m base fee, $85,000 APA or running costs, and $140,000 delivery or repositioning before you sign MYBA terms. GlobalYachtGuide models peak versus shoulder weeks so APA and fuel surcharges do not surprise owners after booking. Confirm VAT, flag, and crew certification in writing before the charter agreement is countersigned.
St Barths, the BVI, and the Bahamas sit in the same winter calendar but serve different guest contracts.
| Factor | St Barths | BVI | Bahamas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary format | Crewed motor / superyacht | Bareboat cats plus crewed | Crewed Exumas plus Abacos bareboat |
| Typical weekly BCF (peak) | $55,000-$600,000 plus | $8,000-$90,000 | $3,500-$90,000 |
| Navigation | Short legs; harbor skills | Line-of-sight channel | Shallow banks |
| Tax on contract | French VAT possible | No EU VAT | No EU VAT |
| Best guest profile | UHNW lifestyle, dining ashore | Sailors, beach bars | Cay-hopping, sandbars |
Choose St Barths when Gustavia, Colombier, and restaurant-driven evenings are the point of the week. Choose the BVI yacht charter circuit when two qualified sailors want to drive a cat through the Drake Channel. Choose Bahamas yacht charter when shallow Exumas cays and Nassau customs fit Florida-linked travel.
Many repeat Caribbean charterers alternate: bareboat BVI one year, crewed St Barths New Year the next. The mistake is expecting BVI pricing on a Gustavia New Year motor yacht. See Caribbean yacht charter for honest circuit comparison before you brief brokers.
What APA and Gratuity Should You Budget on a St Barths Week?
What APA and Gratuity Should You Budget on a St Bart… charter budgets split 40 m base fee, $85,000 APA or running costs, and $140,000 delivery or repositioning before you sign MYBA terms. GlobalYachtGuide models peak versus shoulder weeks so APA and fuel surcharges do not surprise owners after booking. Confirm VAT, flag, and crew certification in writing before the charter agreement is countersigned.
APA on crewed St Barths yacht charter follows MYBA norms: 25-35% of base fee, captain-managed, reconciled after disembarkation. Gustavia weeks often sit at the upper APA band because dockage, premium provisioning, and shore agents consume the fund faster than mileage-heavy itineraries.
| APA driver | St Barths tendency | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel | Moderate | Short legs; generator hours at anchor add up |
| Provisioning | High | Wine, seafood, guest lists drive cost |
| Dockage / moorings | High in Gustavia peak | Agent fees in APA |
| Shore transport | Medium | Tenders plus occasional car hire |
| Toys / diving | Guest-dependent | Saba trips add fuel and fees |
Gratuity is customary at 10-15% of BCF, paid to captain for crew distribution. It is not APA and not optional on well-run luxury charters even though it is not legally mandatory.
Example APA math: $130,000 BCF times 30% APA equals $39,000 operating fund. If Gustavia dockage, New Year provisioning, and agent costs run heavy, captains may request a mid-week APA top-up, normal on St Barths and not a billing surprise if you model upper-band APA upfront.
Full superyacht APA dynamics on 40 m plus yachts are covered in superyacht charter costs.
How does sample 7-day st barths leeward itineraries shape yacht planning?
Sample 7-Day St Barths Leeward Itineraries charter budgets split 40 m base fee, $85,000 APA or running costs, and $140,000 delivery or repositioning before you sign MYBA terms. GlobalYachtGuide models peak versus shoulder weeks so APA and fuel surcharges do not surprise owners after booking. Confirm VAT, flag, and crew certification in writing before the charter agreement is countersigned.
Adjust daily for swell, berth confirmations, and guest flight times into SBH or SXM.
Crewed motor yacht (Simpson Bay embark, New Year week):
| Day | Destination | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clearance; Gustavia or Colombier | Embark Simpson Bay; evening ashore if berth confirmed |
| 2 | Colombier / Gouverneur | Beach club setup; calm anchorage |
| 3 | Anguilla (Rendezvous Bay) | White sand; lower harbor fees |
| 4 | Gustavia | Shopping, restaurants, NYE if applicable |
| 5 | St Jean / lunch ashore | Plane-spotting bay |
| 6 | Saba or second Anguilla pass | Weather-dependent |
| 7 | Disembark Simpson Bay | SXM flights |
Crewed catamaran (Antigua embark, regatta shoulder):
| Day | Destination | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Antigua to St Barths | Longer first leg; overnight Colombier |
| 2 | Gustavia | Clear in; dinner reservations |
| 3 | Shell Beach / Public | Tender days |
| 4 | Anguilla | Shoal Bay lunch |
| 5 | Gustavia | Harbor night if berth available |
| 6 | St Maarten approach | Staging disembark |
| 7 | Simpson Bay | Guest departure |
Neither itinerary survives rigid restaurant times without captain flexibility. St Barths rewards crews who reorder days when swell or port authority changes the Gustavia plan.
Who Should Choose St Barths Yacht Charter?
Who Should Choose St Barths Yacht Charter charter budgets split 40 m base fee, $85,000 APA or running costs, and $140,000 delivery or repositioning before you sign MYBA terms. GlobalYachtGuide models peak versus shoulder weeks so APA and fuel surcharges do not surprise owners after booking. Confirm VAT, flag, and crew certification in writing before the charter agreement is countersigned.
Best for:
- Groups wanting crewed motor luxury without long passages
- New Year and Christmas celebrations tied to Gustavia dining
- Guests flying private or commercial into SBH with tender transfers
- Charterers comparing future purchase in St Barths yacht market
- Leeward loops combining Anguilla beaches and St Barths nightlife
Less ideal for:
- Bareboat sailors without crew: use BVI yacht charter instead
- Budget-first Caribbean weeks: see Bahamas or BVI rate bands
- June-November travel without hurricane insurance and rebooking clauses
- Deep-draft exploration itineraries: draft and mooring culture favor 2 m to 2.5 m comfortable planning
Decision framework
| Your profile | Lean toward |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Eve in Gustavia | 75 ft plus motor yacht; book 12 months ahead |
| Family with non-sailors | Crewed cat 55-65 ft from St Maarten |
| First Caribbean charter | BVI or Bahamas first; St Barths second trip |
| Superyacht 30 m plus | Full APA modeling via superyacht charter costs |
| Sailors who still want St Barths | Crewed week; keep bareboat for BVI leg |
How does st barths yacht charter booking checklist shape yacht planning?
St Barths Yacht Charter Booking Checklist charter budgets split 40 m base fee, $85,000 APA or running costs, and $140,000 delivery or repositioning before you sign MYBA terms. GlobalYachtGuide models peak versus shoulder weeks so APA and fuel surcharges do not surprise owners after booking. Confirm VAT, flag, and crew certification in writing before the charter agreement is countersigned.
Before you sign:
- Confirm embark port. Simpson Bay vs Antigua vs St Thomas
- Verify Gustavia berth or anchorage plan in writing for peak nights
- Model BCF plus APA plus gratuity plus VAT stress test
- Ask repositioning fee if yacht delivers from Florida or Med
- Check guest count against certified berths and tender capacity
- Read hurricane-season clause if shoulder booking
- Request chef resume and recent St Barths charter references
- Confirm SBH vs SXM guest flight plan and tender times
- Compare against yacht charter guide MYBA terms
- Cross-read St Barths yacht market if purchase is on horizon
After signing:
- Wire APA and balance per contract schedule only
- Submit preference sheet 4-6 weeks ahead
- Pre-book critical restaurant dates through crew
- Share dietary restrictions and allergy details early
- Pack soft bags for tender transfers
| Line item | GlobalYachtGuide planning band |
|---|---|
| Entry / base | 40 m |
| Annual carry | $85,000 |
| Survey / closing | $140,000 |
| Credit / APA buffer | 35% |
GlobalYachtGuide Broker Desk Notes (2026)
2026 patterns we see on St Barths yacht charter enquiries: guests requesting “full week Gustavia harbor” on a 28 m yacht without agent contact. Captains deliver three harbor nights and four Colombier nights; satisfaction holds when restaurants are flawless. New Year $95,000 BCF quotes on 72 ft motor yachts reaching $148,000 all-in after 32% APA and Gustavia dockage, before gratuity. BVI bareboat clients adding a “St Barths day” without crewed upgrade find French customs and harbor protocol shut that down; route them to a crewed St Maarten loop instead. Shoulder November weeks saving 18% on BCF while APA dockage still priced at peak formulas: model upper APA anyway. GlobalYachtGuide brokers see this pattern on intake calls: verify every cost line in writing before you wire a deposit.
Planning a St Barths week and want crewed motor yachts matched to your dates? Share group size, embark preference, and New Year vs shoulder timing through our shortlist request. We connect you with brokers who know Gustavia logistics without referral bias.
Frequently Asked Questions
Crewed motor yachts staging a St Barths week typically run $55,000-$150,000 per week base charter fee (BCF) for 65-85 ft boats in peak December-April, $120,000-$280,000 for 30-40 m superyachts before APA. New Year week around Gustavia can add 20-40% to published rates on the same yacht. Add 25-35% APA for fuel, provisioning, dockage, and shore logistics, plus 10-15% crew gratuity on the base fee.
Most crewed weeks embark St Maarten (Simpson Bay or Philipsburg), Antigua, or St Thomas, then route into Saint-Barthélemy for Gustavia nights and Colombier anchorages. True Gustavia embarkation is limited because berth allocation is tight and provisioning flows through St Maarten. Disembarkation usually mirrors the start port unless your broker confirms a one-way repositioning fee.
Peak demand runs late December through April, with New Year week as the apex. Christmas and February school breaks tighten 70 ft plus motor inventory 9-12 months ahead. Hurricane season runs 1 June through 30 November; most luxury crewed yachts leave the Leeward circuit by May unless insurance and storm plans are explicit.
Bareboat is not the St Barths product. Saint-Barthélemy has no BVI-scale bareboat fleet; harbor maneuvering, French port protocol, and guest expectations assume professional crew. Competent sailors sometimes bareboat in the BVI or USVI and day-sail across, but a dedicated St Barths week is crewed motor yacht or large cat territory.
Saint-Barthélemy is a French overseas collectivity with EU-linked customs frameworks. Commercial charter contracts may carry French VAT exposure depending on flag, embarkation port, and itinerary structure. Treat VAT as a line item to confirm in writing with your broker and French maritime tax counsel, not as something brochure silence eliminates.
The BVI is bareboat cat territory with short channel hops and no EU-style VAT on contracts. St Barths is crewed luxury with Gustavia berth pressure, higher base fees, and French territory compliance. Many groups choose BVI for sailing credentials and add St Barths only on a crewed Leeward week routed from St Maarten.
APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) is a prepaid operating fund, typically 25-35% of the base charter fee, managed by the captain under MYBA terms. On a St Barths week it covers fuel for inter-island legs, premium provisioning, Gustavia dockage, mooring fees, tender fuel, and shore-agent costs. APA is separate from crew gratuity, customary at 10-15% of base.
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