Belgium might be home for Yacht Story, but its spirit and fleet, are firmly global. From sizeable motor yachts in the Maldives serving surf-loving families, to remote coral-rich waters in Raja Ampat, founder Jill Zwaans has turned a childhood spent on the water into a brokerage devoted to exploration.
Backed by a small, expert team of former crew and experienced travellers, Yacht Story specialises in crafting full-package experiences for their luxury adventure yacht charters: think local crews, dive boats, restaurant tips and sandbank dinners.
We sat down with Jill to discover more about how she built the company, the clients seeking out the most adventurous itineraries, her personal top travel spots and why the captain is the single biggest factor in creating an unforgettable charter.
5 Questions with a Yacht Charter Expert
How did you first get into yachting?
It really started with my family. My grandfather built and owned a riverboat when he was young, and my father carried that passion on by taking us on boat holidays and eventually buying his own boat. So all my holidays were spent close to the water, jumping in whenever we wanted, and exploring new places from the sea. That way of travelling felt completely natural to me, and it planted the seed for what would eventually become Yacht Story.
Who is the typical Yacht Story traveller?
We mainly work with families, larger groups and circles of friends who want more than a standard itinerary. They’re often quite adventurous: people who are excited to discover somewhere a bit different from the classic Mediterranean or Caribbean routes, and who are interested in activities like diving and surfing as much as they are in the yacht itself. Many of our luxury adventure yacht charters in the Maldives, for example, are for larger groups who want to explore from day one through day seven or more, finding the best waves, the best dive spots, and enjoying the whole experience together.
What are some of your favourite destinations for luxury adventure yacht charters?
The Maldives will always be a key destination for us: we have a strong fleet there with big motor yachts for groups and families, supported by local crews and dive boats, and it offers extraordinary encounters with mantas, turtles, sharks and even whale sharks. For diving, I also love Raja Ampat: it still feels very untouched, with incredible colour and life on the reefs, and Australia is another fantastic option.
Personally, Formentera has a very special place in my heart. I first went there almost 20 years ago and remember thinking, “Wow, this is so close to home: and it’s Europe!” It felt magical, and I later got married there, so it’s always going to be an important place for me.
How do you discover and vet new destinations before recommending them to clients?
A lot of it comes from genuine curiosity. My team and I are travellers as much as we are charter professionals, so we’re constantly looking for places that feel a bit more untouched or offer something different to the usual routes (Raja Ampat yacht charters are a great example!). Often, we’ll start with a seed: maybe an owner wants to do a world tour, or a client asks about a region that isn’t on every charter map yet, and then we build from there to create the luxury adventure yacht charters.
Before we ever recommend a new destination for luxury adventure yacht charters, we put a lot of work into thoroughly understanding it: the cruising conditions, seasonality, regulations, and, of course, the quality of the local partners on the ground. We speak to captains, crews and trusted contacts who really know the area, and where possible, we like to experience it ourselves. The goal is always to keep that sense of adventure, but with the reassurance that everything behind the scenes, from safe anchorages to reliable provisioning and authentic local experiences, has been carefully thought through.
What really makes luxury adventure yacht charters unforgettable?
The yacht is important, of course, but for me the single biggest factor is the captain. That’s the person guests communicate with the most once everything is signed and organised, and that’s where they place their trust. A great captain understands the client’s preferences, reads the weather and the itinerary, and makes everything happen. But it’s also always a team effort: when the crew are in sync and the chef is on the same level as the rest of the team, that’s when a charter really becomes something travellers will remember for the rest of their lives.
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