What each one does best
A villa gives an evening space and time. Guests arrive, settle, drift between the terrace and the pool and stay late; the house can be dressed, lit and staffed like a venue. A yacht gives an evening movement and a sense of occasion from the first step on board: the coast changing as you go, a swim stop, the sun setting over the water with nothing in the way.
Guest numbers
Villas range widely, from dinners for eight to parties of a hundred and more on larger estates. Yachts are limited by their licence, and comfort comes well below the maximum: most private charters suit groups of up to about twenty, with larger catamarans and motor yachts for bigger parties.
Time of day
A yacht is at its best in the afternoon and at sunset; after dark, the sea is no longer the point. A villa comes into its own from sunset onwards and can carry a party late into the night, within the limits agreed with the owner and the neighbours.
Weather and sea
On land, an outdoor evening needs a covered alternative for wind or the occasional calima, the haze of Saharan dust that reaches the island a few times a year. At sea, the captain decides whether conditions are right, and the plan needs a sheltered route or a back-up date. The south-west coast is calm for most of the year, but it is worth building the flexibility in from the start.
Atmosphere
Villas suit dinners with speeches, long tables and dancing; the evening can build. Yachts suit smaller groups and lighter formats — a toast, music, a swim, food that works at sea. For a milestone birthday with several generations present, a villa is usually kinder; for a group of friends or a hen or stag weekend, the boat is often the highlight.
The best answer is often both
Many of the evenings we plan combine the two: an afternoon yacht charter along the west coast, then cars waiting at the marina to take everyone to a private villa where a private chef is already cooking. Guests get the sea at its best and an evening that can carry on — and the day has a shape to it.
How to decide
Think about the guests first: how many, what ages, whether everyone is comfortable at sea. Then think about the moment you want to remember — the sunset, the toast, the dancing — and choose the setting that gives it the most room. If you are still unsure, tell us about the occasion and we will tell you what we would do.