The MYBA Contract Explained — What You're Signing on a Yacht Charter
Direct answer
MYBA (Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association) is the standard contract framework for Mediterranean yacht charters. The MYBA agreement defines APA, cancellation schedule (typically 50% non-refundable at signing, full at 60 days), weather provisions, liability limits, gratuity expectations, force majeure. Read clauses 4 (cancellation), 7 (delivery & redelivery), 12 (force majeure), 19 (gratuities).
A MYBA contract is the international standard for Mediterranean yacht charters. It runs to roughly twenty pages and most clients sign it without reading more than the cover. The office summarises the clauses that matter most below.
The six clauses worth reading
Clause 4 — Cancellation by the charterer
Standard schedule: 50% of the base rate non-refundable at signing (covers the deposit). Full balance non-refundable at 60 days before the charter. APA is fully refundable. If you have any prospect of cancelling, negotiate a one-time reschedule clause at signing — most owners accept this on Aurelius bookings.
Clause 7 — Delivery and redelivery
The yacht must be delivered ready at the agreed time and place. If delivery is delayed by more than a small window (typically 4 hours), the charterer has options including pro-rata refund or alternative vessel. Redelivery (end of charter) must be on time — a 1-hour late return triggers per-hour fees.
Clause 12 — Force majeure / weather
Severe weather, port closures, government action — the captain has authority to alter the itinerary for safety. Charterer cannot cancel for weather alone, but Aurelius contracts add a flexible-window clause for short charters (we hold a 3–5 day window and confirm 48 hours ahead).
Clause 18 — Crew gratuity
Industry standard is 10–15% of the base rate, paid at the end of the charter, distributed by the captain. Below 10% is considered ungenerous in the trade.
Clause 19 — Indemnity and insurance
The yacht carries comprehensive marine insurance covering the vessel and the crew. Charterer-supplied items (luggage, personal effects) are not covered — bring travel insurance.
Clause 24 — Drugs and prohibited substances
Standard zero-tolerance language. Worth knowing: any prohibited substance brought on board terminates the charter immediately with full forfeit. Charters into multiple jurisdictions (Spain, France, Italy) inherit each country's drug law.
What MYBA does NOT cover
MYBA is a charter contract, not a service-level agreement. Crew quality, food quality, route flexibility, concierge support — these are office-level commitments, not MYBA terms. The office adds a written service annex to every Aurelius charter covering these specifics.
People also ask
Frequently asked
- Is MYBA the only contract framework for yacht charter?
- No — there's also ASA (American Schooner Association, used more in the Caribbean), CYBA (Caribbean Yacht Brokers Association), and various bespoke contracts. For Mediterranean charters MYBA is the standard 95% of the time.
- Can I negotiate MYBA contract terms?
- Some, yes. The cancellation schedule is fairly fixed. But add-ons like flexible-date windows, specific crew assignments, reschedule rights, and force-majeure broadening are routinely negotiated through the office. We get most of what we ask for if asked early.
- What happens if the yacht breaks down during the charter?
- MYBA clause 8 covers this: the owner must provide an alternative vessel of equivalent specification, or refund the unused portion of the charter pro-rata. The office holds backup vessels for each weekly booking, so transfers happen within hours.
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