Bareboat yacht charters are the charters where the charterers choose to rent just the boat without any crew (skipper, hostess, deckhand etc). This means that at least one of the charterers is a certified sailor and he is therefore capable of sailing a sailing or motor boat by himself. Before the departure, the charterer must provide a valid sailing certificate to the charter agency or the port authorities, which satisfies the sailing prerequisites of each country.
Bareboat yacht charters give you the ultimate freedom of deciding on your own your sailing route, the islets that you want to visit making tourists into real travelers.
Bear in mind that bareboat yacht charters are available for boats of a specific size range. This means that sailboats that exceed 46ft are mostly rented out with crew, the fees of which are included in the price of the boat. The respective size for a catamaran is 50-52ft.
But in any case a sailing boat or a catamaran that can accommodate 8 people in cabins, with en suite bathrooms is a perfectly sized boat for an unforgettable sailing holiday, so do not hesitate to proceed with a bareboat charter if you have the sailing credentials for it.
What is a skippered charter?
Skippered yacht charters are the charters where a sailboat or a catamaran is rented out with a skipper since none of the charterers is a certified sailor with a valid license. Sailing is not a privilege to be enjoyed only be the few sailors out there. Everyone who wishes to explore the beauties of the sea, the secluded islets and coves, can do so by chartering a boat with a skipper!
Skippers are captains who are usually locals and know the sailing area like the back of their hands. They are the key to the exploration of the local secrets and will facilitate everything for you, from finding a spot in the marina, to taking you to the most breathtaking spots that only a local knows.
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 can just lay back and enjoy your vacation.
What costs 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:
- Cost of renting the boat: this is the cost of the boat which includes VAT. 50% of the amount is payable upon booking confirmation and the remaining 50% 4-6 weeks prior to your embarkation. If you are looking to charter a boat at the last minute sailor then the whole of the amount will have to be paid upon booking confirmation.
- Skipper’s fee: this is an additional fee paid at the base during your embarkation, unless you charter a crewed yacht and in this case the crew fees are included in the boat charter cost. Keep in mind that skippers have to have their own cabin and you have also to provide them with their food during the trip.
- Obligatory extras. Both paid at the base during your check-in:
- Starter’s pack: this is a cost that covers all the things you need 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 delivered to the charterers with full fuel tanks and the charterers are obliged to return it as delivered. This means that before you return to the marina on your last day, you will need to refuel the boat at the local fueling station.
- Marina fees: these fees are also not included in any prepaid costs since they differ from island to island and they are payable at the respective port authorities. The total cost for this will depend on the route that you decide to follow during your trip.
- Provisions: another cost that is not included in any of the aforementioned costs. Before the check-in, the charterer needs to take care of the provision that they will take onboard with them for their sailing holiday.
- 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.