Beneteau has started its own fractional sailing scheme, aimed at attracting newcomers into boat ownership. Beneteau Fractional Yachting differs from established sailing timeshare operations like Sailtime in that each boat sold through the scheme is limited to four partners, who have equal shares in the vessel.

Also different from other operations is the involvement of Beneteau’s dealer network, which will provide and maintain the boats under their Yacht Concierge program; costs are split four ways between the co-owners. The co-owners coordinate the time they spend on the boat through an Internet-based scheduling plan.

The program provides for a three-year commitment from the co-owners, at the end of which the boat can be sold, the co-owners can renew the agreement, or one can buy the others out. Any of the current line-up of Beneteau sail and power boats can be purchased through the scheme, which also provides a financing package. “This is a great way to own a boat that you might not otherwise have been able to afford or justify,” says Beneteau Fractional Yachting’s Grant Headifen. “Even though you’ll be sharing it with three other people, you’ll still have a total of seven days a month on the boat, and very few people are able to sail more than that anyway.”