Storm-Day Yacht Charter Ibiza: When the Captain Says No

Every charter contract has a weather clause. Most clients never read it. Once or twice a season, a charter cannot leave the dock — the wind has come up, the swell is unsafe, the captain looks at the forecast and makes the call. Here is what happens next, in the order it happens.

The decision sits with the captain

Always. The lead charterer cannot override. The owner cannot override (and won't, because it's their boat that gets damaged if the call is wrong). If the captain says no, the charter does not leave.

In Ibiza the threshold is usually 25 – 30 knots sustained west or south, or any swell over 2.5m at the home marina. Different boats have different limits; a 35m flagship will leave in conditions that ground a 13m sport boat.

Day charters: refund or reschedule

On a day charter cancelled by the captain for weather, the standard is a full refund or a no-cost reschedule within the same season. Some boats offer a partial day at the marina (lunch aboard, swim from the swim platform if the marina water is calm) for 30 – 40 % of the day rate, but this is optional.

Weekly charters: day-by-day adjustment

Weekly charters cannot be refunded if the boat is available — the contract is for the week, not for any specific day at sea. What does happen:

• Day 1 in the marina with chef and full service: no additional charge.
• Itinerary slides: a planned Day 2 Formentera moves to Day 3 or 4.
• APA is partially refunded because fuel was not burned. (The captain accounts for the unburned fuel in the final reconciliation.)
• If 3+ consecutive days are storm-bound, the office and owner generally negotiate a goodwill credit against future charter or a day-rate refund.

Force majeure vs ordinary weather

The MYBA contract distinguishes between weather (built into normal charter risk) and force majeure (named storms, regional shipping bans, port closures). Force majeure triggers a full refund or rescheduling guarantee. Standard weather does not. Read the clause; the office will walk you through it on the call before signature.

The Plan B day we run when grounded

From the marina, the day can still be a day. The chef cooks. The wine list is open. The captain talks. The tender runs a shore-side day at a beach club whose shore-side area is sheltered (Es Cavallet works in westerlies; Cala Conta does not). A driver collects guests for a lunch at La Granja, a visit to Dalt Vila, or a club lunch on the Eivissa shore. By dusk the wind drops; tomorrow is usually back on plan.