5 Hot tips for your first yacht charter
Planning to go on a yacht charter holiday? Maybe even for the first time? We’ve found the crucial aspects of planning a yacht charter trip. If you do it right, things go right.
1. What are the important aspects of planning a yacht charter?
No matter where you go, selecting the right people for your journey is crucial. A charter holiday is something very special and should go as smoothly as possible. So getting the right "crew" together is a little bit like the casting for a good film.
Of course there are yacht charter crews that like nothing better than to live in the moment and plan their routes as spontaneously as possible. If everyone is on the same page this isn´t a problem at all. It might be an idea, though, to ‘roughly’ plan your routes before the holiday. Then everyone can agree on the details and knows what to expect during the yacht rental.
While planning the charter it is important to discuss all the individual preferences and no-go’s of the crew members and to agree on a budget that fits everyone. Of course the destination and the right boat type according to the cruising area are important too.
2. Which is the right yacht for you?
When it comes to the right choice of the charter yacht it is important to be realistic regarding the requirements and financial possibilities of all the participants in order to guarantee a successful charter. This concerns factors like comfort, level of sailing skills, preferred charter region, local weather as well as obviously your budget.
If your priority is to have a lot of space on deck as well as in the interior, a catamaran may be just the right thing for you. This type of boat with its shallow draught is also perfectly suited if you like to anchor near beautiful beaches and tuck into protected shallow bays. In case you like to be in port every evening, you have to take higher mooring fees into account with a multihull. For experienced sailors, monohulls may be the preferred choice and for the less experienced, the catamaran with its stability is recommendable. If you like to move around quickly and get easily from port to port, powerboat charter may be the preferred option. We are happy to advise you on all of these aspects to find the best fit for you.
3. How much experience do you need if you want to charter a yacht?
Be realistic upfront with regards to your sailing abilities and you can start the charter holiday in the most relaxed manner possible. Usually, it is enough if at least one member of a “bareboat” charter group has a skipper´s licence or proof of sufficient sailing experience. Greece is an exception, where it is mandatory for a second member of the group to prove the ability as a co-skipper. There are different requirements for different area and for different suppliers and we will help you comply, but don’t kid yourself, if you are not confident or qualified its better to get a skipper and have peace of mind.
When you do crew or skippered charter you can sit back and relax while the skipper is navigating. Then, when you feel like it, you could learn some tips from this expert, get involved and hone your skills for next time.
Judging one´s own sailing skills adequately is key to success. Sailing in the Mediterranean sea with constant good weather and unique tides is different from cruising in colder regions during stormy conditions paired with tidal changes that need to be taken into consideration. Even if you know how to sail – when in doubt it might be a more relaxed holiday if you hire a skipper for the first few days. So be self-critical.
The choice of the charter destination is quite closely linked to the degree of your sailing skills because there are areas with many safe ports and others where you are limited to anchoring in bays. The distance between mooring and anchoring spots in your preferred charter region is something that should be taken into account during your planning process.
4. What do you have to bear in mind in relation to the charter season and the sailing weather at the destination?
Understand the prevailing weather systems at your charter destination as best as possible so that you are prepared not only for what you may experience but also for appropriate gear. If you are going on a sailing holiday in the Balearic Islands in July / August, it is rather unlikely to rain. Yet in the Baltic Sea at around the same time, it might be warm during the day but colder at night and there may be quite a bit of rain! So according to the destination and in order not to spoil the enjoyment of the charter, rain jackets or fleeces or long trousers or cozy’s or all of the above, may be required.
5. What should you consider before your journey to the yacht charter destination?
When planning your travels to the destination it is helpful to allow for plenty of time in order to avoid stress. Even if you arrive there a little bit early before check-in, this gives you the opportunity to acclimatise, have a coffee, purchase a local sim, get to know the port and gather some local information.
When packing remember that there isn´t much storage room on a yacht, collapsible or duffle bags are the ideal solution and easily stowed away. For sailing and manoeuvres, you may want to have comfy deck shoes, wind jacket, definitely a sun hat and sunscreen and maybe even sailing gloves. Apart from that, you will need personal medication and maybe a travel guide – a basic first-aid kit and charts, as well as port information, will usually already be on the yacht for your use.
The visa requirements for each charter destination vary according to the nationality of the charter guest. The most reliable information regarding the regulations of each country can be had from the Foreign Office and your travel agent.
To get the best charter offer for your preferred destination feel free to email Tracy with your details and dreams.