Whether you are considering your first yacht charter vacation or simply looking to live
experience again there is a lot of vital information you need before planning and embarking on your voyage. Firstly, you need to consider type of yacht charter that is suitable for you. There are crewed or unscrewed yacht charters, bareboat or even a motorised yacht. Each have their advantages and personal preference will dictate chosen charter for you.
One thing for certain, though, whatever type of vessel you go on, there are many destinations to choose from each of them offering beautiful islands and shimmering seas by day and exciting or romantic night life. As with any vacation you need to plan carefully, but when chartering a yacht it is absolutely imperative that you take essentials and spares. Once you’re out to sea there will be few opportunities to stock up and an emergency is much of an emergency when you’re hundreds of miles from nearest chemist or shop.
Many who are chartering for first time do so for a little quality time with family, friends and loved one because chartering a yacht is one of most tranquil and peaceful vacations you can decide on.
What experience is required for charters.
The experience you need is dependant on type of charter you are looking for. A bareboat charter means you and a group of family or friends charter boat with no crew to assist. For a bareboat charter, you are always required to have some former sailing experience and usually need to submit a sailing resume to charter company. Many will require that you have experience on a similar sized boat and with similar displacement and rig. A number of chartering companies may request that you go on a short sail around harbour to make sure that your actual skills match your resume.
If you or a member of your group does not have this experience then you should consider chartering a crewed yacht. Chartering a boat and crew requires little or no experience. You may decide that your sailing skills are a little rusty, in which case you can take a captain or small crew for first few hours of your trip to help you get your ‘sea legs’ back. Alternatively, if you have no experience whatsoever with yachting then you can take an entire crew and spend your vacation safe in knowledge that your boat and your vacation are in safe hands.
What insurance do I require, and what is available?
As well as usual travel insurance, you may want to consider further insurance for your yacht charter vacation. In fact, some charter companies will demand it. Accidents happen in everyday life and this is no different when chartering a yacht, however, there are some vital differences; cost of a yacht and any parts of yacht can be very pricey. The charterer is responsible for loss or damage to any of these parts. While many charter companies offer insurance that will cover a certain amount of damage, you should consider taking extra Charterer’s liability insurance, usually costing approximately $250 for $1m cover. This figure can change depending on terms of agreement and time of year you intend to charter boat.
