Nautical charters in Italy remain crisis-free: turnover up 98%, and the luxury segment looks to superyachts.
Spartivento Group with Sailuxe, high-end catamarans with dedicated crew, intercepts the market preceding entry-level superyachts
2026 begins with numbers that buck the geopolitical climate. While the global maritime industry continues to grapple with tensions in the Red Sea, the continuing high operating costs of bunkering, and a macroeconomic environment that discourages optimistic forecasts, the Italian nautical charter industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, according to recent data. Spartivento Group, an operator based in Sardinia with a fleet spread across five regions, announced that as of March 31, booked weeks for the 2026 season had increased 62% compared to the same period in 2025, with revenue up 98%. These aren't projections: they're bookings already booked.
The most significant finding is the geographic composition of demand: over 70% of guests come from abroad, with a marked concentration in the Americas, led by the United States, followed by major European markets such as the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, Spain, and Germany. This same geography of high-net-worth clientele fuels the Mediterranean superyacht charter market. This overlap is no coincidence.
The multi-year outlook confirms a structural trajectory, not a post-pandemic rebound. Between 2019 and 2025, Spartivento Group saw its turnover increase from 5,3 to 13 million euros, its fleet grow from just over 50 to over 140 vessels, weeks sold increase from around 1,000 to over 2.100, and the number of guests embarked per season almost triple, from 7,000 to over 15,000.
The segment that most directly engages with the superyacht world is Sailuxe, the high-end brand launched within the group in 2019. In six years, its turnover has grown nearly tenfold, and the fleet now includes eleven latest-generation Lagoon catamarans, ranging from 51 to 65 feet, operating between Sicily, Sardinia, and the Amalfi Coast. The group's positioning for this product is clear: on the one hand, an alternative to traditional charters, and on the other, a more accessible and informal solution to chartering a full-fledged superyacht, while maintaining service standards similar to those of the giants of the sea.
Sailuxe's operating model closely resembles the product logic that superyacht brokers are familiar with. Guest profiling begins before boarding, with the systematic collection of dietary preferences, habits, travel expectations, and special occasions. The itinerary is tailor-made, and the crew is trained to anticipate requests rather than simply execute them. The phrase the group uses to describe this operating philosophy, "three steps ahead of the customer," encapsulates an approach that is considered standard in the large yacht segment, but is still the exception in sailing charters.
Technically, each vessel in the fleet is configured with features designed to differentiate it. Options range from a film projection on the sail to a pizza oven, from a fresh pasta machine to a gelato and Sicilian granita maker, to a jacuzzi, diving board, floating pool, and slide. Onboard, guests can book cooking classes, yoga sessions, massages, live music, and photo shoots; ashore, wine tastings, workshops with local artisans, excursions, and reservations at select restaurants. The culinary offering, tailored to the preferences expressed at the time of booking and managed by chefs trained through programs such as the Gambero Rosso Academy, includes gluten-free, vegan, and kosher menus.
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