Whether you are an experienced sailor or a layman, chartering a sailing yacht offers the opportunity to explore new places, experience the beauty of the sea and create unforgettable memories. To make your charter holiday a success, we have put together the most important tips in this special.
When chartering a sailing yacht, you can choose from a wide range of yachts of different sizes and equipment. From small, cosy yachts for couples to large luxury yachts for larger groups or families, there is an option to suit every taste and budget. The yacht can be chartered with or without a crew, depending on your own abilities and preferences.
The costs of chartering
Chartering is also one of the cheapest ways to experience a sailing holiday. This is because there are no purchase or maintenance costs for a yacht of your own. Nevertheless, charterers sometimes have to dig deep into their wallets. For example, if the crew is tied to school holidays, if a new boat is required or if an area is chosen where the cost of living is particularly high.
But there are plenty of tips that can set sail without overstretching your wallet. Read this article to find out what they are:
The choice of charter yacht
The choice of boat and charter company is a decisive factor when it comes to costs. In addition to traditional agencies, there are also more and more online platforms. As prices can be compared quickly and directly on these platforms, it may be tempting to take the cheapest offer. But that doesn't always have to be the best. We have summarised here what to look out for when making your choice:
The charter contract
Once the right yacht has been found, the paperwork needs to be taken care of. This includes the charter contract. This should be read thoroughly before booking to avoid any nasty surprises. You can read about what to pay particular attention to here:
The right insurance policies
Preparing for a trip also involves dealing with insurance issues. Whether skipper liability, deposit insurance or travel cancellation, the range of possible policies is wide. In this article, we have summarised which insurance policies make sense for a charter trip and what to look out for in the contracts:
The check-in
Once you arrive at the chartered yacht, the first step is to take over the charter yacht, the so-called check-in. This should be thorough and, above all, recorded so that the crew knows where the equipment is located and how to operate it. We have summarised what should be taken into account here in comprehensive checklists. These are available free of charge here:
Stock up on provisions
Before you can finally set off, you need to organise provisions. The longer you want to sail self-sufficiently, i.e. with no or very few stops and the possibility of replenishing provisions, the more important this point is. Otherwise the trip can literally hit the crew's stomach. We provide tips on how to plan and stow your food properly:
Avoid mistakes
When you finally get out on the water after all the preparations, little things can quickly spoil your good mood. These are often only small mistakes, but they can cause a lot of trouble. We have compiled the 20 most common ones here:
Find berths
Depending on the area and the density of yachts there, it can sometimes be difficult to get a berth in a marina or municipal harbour. The infamous afternoon rally into the harbours often starts in the early afternoon. That's fine if you want to have time for an extensive shore leave. However, it is annoying if the best afternoon hours in an anchorage have to be sacrificed because of this. With a little creativity, however, it is sometimes possible to find a berth even in full harbours.
Catamaran tips
Catamarans with their large widths contribute to the dwindling space in marinas. Chartering twin-hulled boats is becoming increasingly popular, as they offer plenty of space for the crew and are ideal for swimming and relaxing at anchor. However, they are also different to handle and manoeuvre than monohulls. Here are the most important tips for chartering a catamaran:
We hope this special will help you to enjoy your first or next charter trip safely, relaxed and stress-free.
