Holidays at sea are a click away with Boatsy, the first online marketplace to offer sailing itineraries matched with the ideal vessel. Olivia Palamountain reports
Boat-rental marketplace, Boatsy, connects would-be sailors with yachts and skippers in a similar way to airbnb, alongside a curation of 100 beautiful sailing routes.
Founded by a group of sea-enthusiasts with backgrounds in tourism and technology, the platform aims to simplify the process of planning and booking seafaring trips.
Boatsy’s approach combines readymade itineraries with boat selection and ongoing support, offering customers a streamlined booking experience. 
The platform’s user-friendly interface, available on both web and mobile apps, allows for easy navigation and offers an “instant book” option.
The platform has a fleet of more than 13,000 vessels, with a particular focus on the Mediterranean region, catering to various preferences from modern yachts and catamarans to traditional sailing boats.
One of Boatsy’s key features is its collection of 100 pre-planned sailing routes, categorised into themes such as cultural sailings, foodie adventures, serenity voyages and high-octane adventures.
This curated selection aims to encourage travellers to explore new destinations while minimising potential risks.
Boatsy provides comprehensive information on each trip, including transparent pricing, quality assurance packages and detailed vessel specifications.
“We created Boatsy to provide a solution to one of the most commonplace challenges of booking sailing holidays,” said Alp Ocal, managing director, Boatsy.
“We invested hours of research and analysis with both onboard guests and boat owners and found that the most common complaint, for both parties, is how frequently the vessel and itinerary are mismatched. The second most common complaint was the unexpected costs that arise during a trip due to a lack of itinerary planning or understanding about what is required for the sail, from fuel costs to mooring and docking fees, to port fees and sail time.” 
“Our goal is to simplify the process, making it effortless for travellers to plan and book their dream voyage, whilst providing them with complete transparency and peace-of-mind. We’ve made it a priority for our launch year to onboard a diverse fleet of boats that can cater to all preferences and budgets.”
To further enhance the customer experience, Boatsy has established a network of local experts in key sailing destinations.
These travel advisors assist guests in selecting the perfect itinerary and boat, while a separate concierge service is also provided during the trip, to help with anything from translation services to restaurant recommendations.