Guaranteed Income

This is a lease‑back style arrangement: you purchase a Sunsail yacht and place it into our charter fleet under a management contract. In exchange, we operate the yacht for you and pay a fixed, guaranteed monthly return while taking care of day‑to‑day running costs for the length of the agreement.

Contracts are generally structured for about 5 to 6 sailing seasons, depending on the yacht model and chosen base. The precise dates and term are set out in your individual Sunsail Ownership agreement and may vary with yacht type and destination.

We offer the program on selected sailing catamarans and monohulls at key bases in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Americas, and other worldwide destinations, but eligible models and locations can change as fleet planning evolves.

We set a fixed annual yield as a percentage of the yacht’s purchase price, and that amount is used to calculate your monthly guaranteed income. This payment is not tied to how often your specific yacht is booked, since we assume and manage the charter revenue risk across the fleet.

Owners are paid on a monthly basis in the contract currency, typically USD, EUR, or GBP depending on where the purchase is completed. Many owners choose financing so that their guaranteed income can offset most or all of their loan repayments, though the exact outcome depends on the lender’s terms and your financing structure.

Under the Guaranteed Income program, we pay for routine berthing, scheduled maintenance, standard repairs, insurance, and everyday operating expenses required to keep the yacht in charter service.

Owners normally handle their own financing and interest costs, vessel registration or documentation where applicable, travel to and from our bases, and incidental expenses during owner trips such as fuel, provisioning, and optional crew.

In some countries, treating the yacht as a business or investment asset can create potential tax benefits such as depreciation or deductible expenses, especially when the yacht is placed in charter. Because tax rules are complex and jurisdiction‑specific, we recommend discussing your situation with an independent tax professional before relying on any potential advantages.​

Sunsail owners receive an annual allocation of owner‑use points that can translate into as much as 12 weeks of holiday time per year, depending on how and when those points are used. That time can be spent on your own yacht at its home base or on similar “sister ships” at other Sunsail locations, subject to availability.

Yes. Instead of always sailing your specific hull, you can book comparable Sunsail yachts in other destinations around the world, generally matched by size and category and governed by the rules in your ownership contract.

The program does not impose traditional blackout dates, but peak travel periods such as major holidays or high season weeks may require earlier booking and may consume more of your owner‑use points for each day sailed.​

Your owner allowance covers the charter value of the yacht itself, but you are responsible for items such as fuel, food and beverages, optional extras (for example kayaks, paddleboards, or Wi‑Fi), turnaround or cleaning fees where charged, and any hired skipper or crew.

Sunsail management covers the operational side of keeping the yacht charter‑ready: regular cleaning, mechanical and systems servicing, scheduled haul‑outs, cosmetic care, and safety checks in line with Sunsail fleet standards.

Core maintenance is planned and executed according to our fleet procedures, so you do not need to authorize every individual task. For larger items or upgrades outside the standard program, owners can discuss options with our team on a case‑by‑case basis.

Damage arising from charter guests is usually handled via our insurance cover and charterer damage deposits, so owners are not billed for normal wear and tear or insured guest‑related damage. Different rules may apply in the event of excluded incidents or damage caused during owner use, as detailed in your contract.

When the contract term ends, Sunsail owners typically choose between three paths:​

Take full private possession of the yacht and sail independently.

Sell the yacht, often through Sunsail’s brokerage partners experienced with ex‑charter boats.

Trade into a newer Sunsail yacht and begin a fresh Guaranteed Income term.

If you wish to trade into a new yacht, we can propose a trade value for your existing ex‑charter yacht, which can then be applied toward the purchase of a new model entering the ownership fleet.

At handover, you receive an ex‑charter yacht that has been maintained to Sunsail fleet standards over approximately 5–6 years of charter activity, with a documented maintenance history. Owners often plan a personal refit—cosmetic refresh, replacement sails or canvas, electronics updates—before setting off on extended private cruising.

If selling, you sign a brokerage listing agreement and pay a commission on the eventual sale price, while the broker markets the yacht to buyers familiar with ex‑charter catamarans and monohulls. Using a specialist brokerage can help reach clients specifically looking for well‑maintained former Sunsail yachts.​