What is a bareboat charter?
Bareboat yacht charters are the charters where at least one of the charterers is a certified sailor and he is therefore capable of sailing a sailing or motor boat by himself, so the group charters the boat empty (without crew). Each country has its own certifications that you’ll need to provide the port authorities in order to be eligible to rent a bareboat, you can click here and see if your license is valid in the country that you desire to visit.
Bareboat yacht charters is the ideal type of charters for adventurous people, who want to be travelers and not just tourists. It gives you the ultimate freedom of deciding on your own every single detail of your sailing trip, routes, and destinations.
The only setback in Bareboat yacht chartering is that there is a limitation to the size of the boat that you can charter. Usually boats that are rented out without crew have a maximum size of 45-46ft for a catamaran and 50-52 ft for a sailing boat because larger boats are difficult to navigate making it dangerous for the charterers and for the boat itself to sustain damages that could cost tens of thousands of euros.
But in any case a sailing boat or a catamaran of 45ft (almost 14metres) is a perfectly sized boat for an amazing sailing holiday as it can accommodate a group of (maximum) 8 people in 4 cabins, with 3-4 bathrooms depending on the layout of each boat.
What is a skippered charter?
Skippered yacht charters are the charters where no one of the charterers has a certified license but they all have the same craving and desire to experience the beauty of a sailing holiday as those who do have a license. In this case, you can rent a boat that is for bareboat chartering and add the key that will open the world of sea adventures to you and your friends: your skipper!
Skippers are captains who know the area that you will be sailing and will take you to spots and places that might not be that easy for you to find on your own. They know the marinas, the islands, the tavernas, the coves, the winds, the local people. They are basically your captains and tour guides at the same time!
Also, there is an element of freedom here as well, since you are free to enjoy your vacation without having to worry about things like refueling, water, marina space etc. Your skipper will take care of everything for you so all you have to do is sit back and relax. And if your budget allows it then you can also hire a hostess who will take care of your cleaning, serving, cooking to add a bit of luxury to your cruising!
What cost should I keep in mind if I wish to charter a sailboat?
It is important to know the exact costs that a sailing holiday entails, because it’s really easy to exceed your budget if you are not well prepared. So let’s see:
- Boat charter cost: this is the cost of the boat which includes VAT 12%. Half of the amount is payable upon booking and the rest 4-6 weeks prior your check-in. If you are a last minute sailor then the whole of the amount will have to be paid in order for the booking to be confirmed.
- Skipper cost: this is an additional fee payable at the base during your check-in, unless you charter a crewed yacht and in this case the crew fees are included in the boat charter cost.
- Obligatory extras. Both paid at the base during your check-in:
- Starter’s pack: this is a bundle that includes a few things that you need in order to start your trip such as bed linen, towels, cleaning, gas bottles. Depending on the charter company and the size of the boat this mix of services will vary along with the price, but a safe estimation would be between 200-350€.
- Security deposit.
- Fuel cost: the boat is chartered with full tanks and the charterers are obliged to return it in the same way. So before you return to the marina for the check-out you will need to visit the refueling station and fill up your tanks and pay for the fuel you’ve consumed. In the case of crewed charters this is covered by your APA.
- Marina fees: these fees are also not included in any prepaid costs since they are different from island to island and they are payable at the respective port authorities. In the case of crewed charters this is covered by your APA.
- Provisions: another cost that is not included in any of the aforementioned costs. The charterer is responsible for these costs and the purchase of his/hers provisions before the check-in. In the case of crewed charters this is covered by your APA.
- Other extras: in all charters there is a list of extras from which you can chose so that you can upgrade your sailing holiday and they are all payable upon your check-in. A few examples are water toys, wi-fi on board, transfer from the airport and back, early check-in etc In the case of crewed charters, many of these extras are included in the charter cost.
What are the sailing requirements in order for me to charter a sailing yacht in Greece?
Skipper is REQUIRED to have one (1) of the following:
- ICC (International Certificate of Competence), International – Prerequisites: RYA “Day Skipper Course” or similar/equivalent certification from any recognized sailing association or complete the ICC Assessment form to prove competence from previous.
- IPC (International Proficiency Certificate), America – Prerequisites: ASA 104 or US Sailing “Bareboat Cruising Course”.
AND/OR
- UK – RYA Day Skipper practical (with our without photo).
- USA – US Sailing “Bareboat Cruising Course” , ASA “104 Bareboat Cruising Course” or above.
- Germany – “Sportbootführerschein See“ or above.
- Belgium – Algemeen Stuurbrevet/ Brevet de conduite général.
- France – LE PERMIS PLAISANCE.
- Or a similar/equivalent certification from any recognized sailing association.