The MYBA charter agreement is the standard contract for most crewed yacht charters. It sets the charter fee, the APA, a payment schedule, a stakeholder who holds your money, and Special Conditions that override the standard text. Cancellation and force majeure outcomes depend on the edition you sign and its Special Conditions, so have a yacht lawyer read it before you sign.
At a glance
| What it is | The standard contract most brokers use for crewed yacht charters, published by MYBA, the charter brokers' association |
| Current edition | The 2025 MYBA Charter Agreement; the earlier 2017 form is still in circulation (Hill Dickinson) |
| What you pay | The charter fee, the APA, and any taxes and delivery fees, on the dates in your contract |
| Who holds your money | A stakeholder, usually the broker, until it is released under the contract |
| What overrides the standard text | The signed Special Conditions |
| The one thing to do | Have a yacht lawyer read the contract and Special Conditions before you sign |
What MYBA is
MYBA is the trade association of yacht charter brokers. It publishes the charter agreement used for most crewed yacht charters, especially in the Mediterranean. The current edition is the 2025 MYBA Charter Agreement, released in April 2025. Hill Dickinson notes that both the 2025 and the earlier 2017 versions are in circulation, so ask which one you are signing.
The parts of the contract you will meet first
| Term | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Charter fee | The price of the yacht and her crew for your dates. |
| APA | The Advance Provisioning Allowance: an advance, set as a percentage of the charter fee, that the captain spends on fuel, food, drink and berthing and accounts for with receipts. See what APA is. |
| Stakeholder | The party, usually the broker, that holds your payments and releases them under the contract. |
| Payment schedule | The dates and amounts you pay. A deposit when you sign and the balance, the APA and any taxes before the charter is a common pattern, but your contract sets the actual dates. |
| Special Conditions | The page where anything agreed for your charter is written down. Put every negotiated promise into the signed agreement and its Special Conditions; do not rely on earlier emails. |
How the money is held
Your payments go to the stakeholder rather than straight to the owner. The contract sets when they are released to the owner and when the APA goes to the captain. Ask your broker who the stakeholder is and when each sum is released.
Cancellation and force majeure
What happens if either side cancels, or if events beyond anyone's control disrupt the charter, depends on the edition you sign and on your Special Conditions. The rules differ for a cancellation by you, a cancellation by the owner before the charter starts, and a disruption during the charter. Do not assume a refund in any of these cases: read the clause, and ask your lawyer what it means for your dates.
Behaviour on board
The contract sets rules for guests' conduct, including the law and the yacht's own rules. The captain is responsible for the yacht and her safety. Ask your broker to explain what the contract allows the captain to do if those rules are broken.
What to ask your broker
- Which edition of the MYBA form is this, and what is in the Special Conditions?
- What are the payment dates and amounts, and who is the stakeholder?
- What does the contract say happens if I cancel, and at which dates?
- What happens if the owner cannot deliver the yacht, or if the charter is disrupted?
- What is the APA percentage, and how is the account settled at the end?
- Can you put every promise you have made by email into the Special Conditions?
When this is not the right choice
- You want to sail the yacht yourself. A bareboat charter, without crew, uses the charter company's own terms, not the MYBA crewed form.
- You are booking a short day charter or some all-inclusive catamaran packages. These may use a shorter contract of their own.
- You have a specific worry, such as illness, travel bans or weather. Put it to the broker in writing and ask whether it can be addressed in the Special Conditions or by insurance.
If you would like a contract reviewed alongside real yacht options, one of our partner brokers can help.
See also crewed charter costs per week.
Questions people ask
What is the MYBA charter agreement?
It is the standard contract published by MYBA, the charter brokers' association, and used for most crewed yacht charters. The current edition is the 2025 MYBA Charter Agreement, though the 2017 form is still in circulation, so ask which one you are signing.
Does MYBA force majeure cover a pandemic?
The 2025 definition expressly includes pandemics, but an event must meet the contractual conditions. It does not automatically give the charterer a cancellation right or a refund. Ask your broker and lawyer what your edition and Special Conditions say.
What happens if I cancel a MYBA charter?
It depends on the edition, the payment dates and the Special Conditions. Read the cancellation clause before you sign and ask your lawyer what you would owe at different dates. Charter cancellation insurance is worth asking about.
What are the Special Conditions?
They are the part of the contract where anything agreed for your charter is written down. They override the standard text. Put negotiated promises into the signed agreement and Special Conditions; do not rely on earlier broker emails.
Sources
- Hill Dickinson, Cancellations, force majeure and frustration in yacht charter agreements (2025 MYBA form), read 29 Oct 2026
- Hill Dickinson, Superyacht charter season: the terms of the contract to let and hire (2025 terms, editions in circulation), read 29 Oct 2026
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