The Superyacht Guide: How to Enjoy Personal Watercrafts (PWCs) on your Luxury Yacht Charter

By Charlotte Ashley 27 October 2015

The wind in your hair, the rush of riding the waves at 80 miles per hour and unforgettable views of your cruising grounds… there is nothing quite like jumping on a jet-ski, Waverunner or Sea-Doo whilst on your superyacht charter vacation. Personal watercrafts are often one of the most requested water toys by charterers - recently coming 2nd in a recent poll of yacht brokers conducted by Yachts International - yet how easy is it to enjoy them on your holiday? Read our guide to personal watercrafts below to be in the know before you leave below.

The watersports equipment available on board many luxury charter yachts are often one of the most popular and exhilarating aspects of a vacation, perfect for keeping active travellers of all ages entertained and making the most of the spectacular ocean surroundings. A personal watercraft, sometimes called a water scooter, is simply defined as a recreational watercraft that a rider can either sit on or stand on in the ocean - the former the option most commonly found on board charter yachts. The majority of PWC’s are designed for two or three people to enjoy, although some four-person models do exist.

The RYA’s (Royal Yachting Association) Personal Water Craft Proficiency course is aimed at both novice and experienced drivers and is required for those looking to drive a PWC as most insurance companies insist upon it before departure.

Increasingly, maritime authorities throughout the world, and in particular on Mediterranean luxury yacht charters, have become more stringent with PWC use. A number of instances have been reported of charter yachts being stopped for random checks and heavily fined when unable to produce a valid license for charter guests using personal water crafts, so getting certified is of the utmost importance.

RYA qualifications are recognised and respected internationally and offer a wide range of courses for all manner of water-based activities which are all up to date with current safety regulations. The Personal Proficiency Water Craft course can be completed in one day on either a craft provided by the centre or your own (all new PWC’s are sold with a voucher towards the cost of the course).

During the course, charter guests are taught launching, handling and recovery skills, passage planning and decision making, high and low speed riding skills, safety skills and collision avoidance and orientation at sea. This ensures that guests get the most out of their Waverunner or jet-ski by learning how to drive safely and responsibility.

Some luxury charter yachts are registered PWC training centres with a qualified instructor available as part of the crew, offering a convenient way to take the course while using the PWC’s carried on board. Talk to your preferred charter broker for more details on charter yachts that offer this service or get in touch with your local RYA approved training centre to take the course before the vacation.

See a small selection of the 100+ PWC-certified training centre superyachts for charter below.