What happens if the owner cancels or the yacht breaks down?
The remedy depends on the cause, timing, contract wording and evidence. Hill Dickinson’s April 7, 2026 analysis explains that owner cancellation under the MYBA 2025 form has different consequences depending on whether force majeure is validly invoked: repayment in the force-majeure case, with additional contractual damages for other owner cancellations. (hilldickinson.com)
- Substitution question:
Before signing, ask counsel to distinguish:
- Failure to deliver the yacht.
- Late delivery.
- Breakdown after the charter starts.
- Loss of a particular amenity without total disablement.
- Owner cancellation for a qualifying exceptional event.
- Owner cancellation for another reason.
Our recommended response plan should identify who obtains the technical explanation, preserves evidence, gives required notices and evaluates proposed alternatives.
Ask explicitly about flights, hotels and other consequential costs. Do not infer that every associated expense is reimbursed because the charter fee is refundable.
Substitution question: if another yacht is offered, who decides whether it is acceptable, how are differences priced and what happens if it does not meet the family’s essential requirements? Record the answer before there is a disruption.