All you need to know about bareboat yacht charters.
A bareboat charter concerns the rental of boats between 10 and 16 m, without crew, supplies, or any other provision included in the contract.
In a bareboat charter, the charterer is responsible for the provisioning of the yacht. If you have your boat license and solid sailing experience, you will be able to steer your boat yourself. If your nautical CV is not sufficient, we can offer you bareboat charters with the services of a skipper and/or hostess/cook. Nevertheless, you will legally remain the charterer and therefore the person in charge of the boat and its navigation.
Crewed boat charters concern boats between 16 and 20 m with a crew (skipper, hostess, sailor) dedicated to a specific yacht. The crew takes care of you and the boat. The vessels we offer are in excellent condition and have professional crews offering a top-of-the-range service.
The chartering of a luxury yacht, over 20 meters in length, is a unique experience, masterfully orchestrated by your Windward Islands Travel broker, taking care of your preferences and requirements, because every detail counts. Do you have any questions about crewed charters?
Your boat must meet your desires in terms of itinerary and navigation, then in terms of size and capacity. Contact us for the best advice. Are you hesitating between a sailboat or a catamaran? Consult our article to help you with your choice.
To help you to plan your dream vacation with family or friends and to be sure to book the right boat, Windward Islands puts at your service its specialized knowledge and its long and rich experience as a charter broker. To guarantee the reservation of the boat you want, inquire as soon as possible. As brokers, we do our utmost to offer you the ideal boat. However, the selection process can take time.
Also, you get nice discounts if you proceed to early bookings on bareboat charters.
For bareboat rentals, the price includes:
Yacht & dinghy: and their insurance. The outboard can be optional.
Marina mooring: First and last night.
Fuel and water: The boats are delivered with full tanks of fuel, full tanks of water, one bottle of cooking gas. You have to return the yacht with full tanks of fuel and water.
Watersports: Snorkeling equipment.
Mandatory extras: End cleaning and starter pack, which includes one bottle of locally sourced alcoholic beverage, four 1.5L bottles of water, one small bottle of dish-washing liquid, one dishcloth, one sponge, trash bags, one roll of paper towels, one box of matches and one roll of toilet paper in each head. Please note that contents vary by destination.
Damage waiver: Insurance with a lower excess has been added to your quote and is mandatory in some destinations. You can pay a higher damage waiver deposit at the base, which is fully refundable if there is not any damage or loss to the boat, dinghy and equipment. The damage waiver, or refundable security deposit, is designed to cover one incident of a substantial nature at any one time. In the case of loss or damage to equipment of significant value, such as the outboard engine or dinghy, you have the right to an immediate replacement while on the charter.
What is not included?
Mandatory extras: End cleaning and starter pack, these can content vary by destination.
Refundable security damage deposit. Cover one incident of a substantial nature done at any time or in the case of loss or damage to equipment of significant value, such as the outboard engine or dinghy.
Damage waiver: Insurance with a lower excess that can be added to your quote and is mandatory in some destinations. You will pay a lower boat damage deposit at the base, which is fully refundable if there is not any damage or loss to the boat, dinghy, and equipment.
Skipper/hostess payment: If you book a skipper, you can pay cash at your destination or pay in advance for most destinations.
Fees: Harbour and mooring fees, provisions, cruising taxes, clearance and customs fees.
Optional extras: Provisioning, cancellation insurance, fuel and water refills, skipper, cook/hostess, kayaks/paddleboards, full board and à la carte provisioning, fishing gear, child safety net, boat phone, Wi-Fi and airport transfers. These extras are not available at every base.
A boat license is required for all boats with an engine of more than 6 hp. The license is mandatory, for example, in Croatia, Greece, and Italy. Moreover, to rent a boat in Croatia, you will need a VHF license. France does not require boaters to have a special license to rent a catamaran or sailboat. However, it is advisable to check beforehand, with your adviser, which type of boat your nautical CV allows you to rent or not. Otherwise, take a professional skipper.
The most popular boating destinations vary according to the season.
In summer, the Mediterranean is the most popular Northern Hemisphere destination, including the French Riviera, Corsica, the Balearic Islands, Sardinia, the Greek islands, and Croatia.
In winter, the Bahamas and the Caribbean are the first charter spots. You can find all the destinations we cover here.
Depending on the type of contract used, the charter rate usually covers only the boat rental and the owner’s insurance. The rest is extra, including provisions and fuel, delivery/reception fees, taxes, transfer to the boat, mooring fees. Confirm with your broker the expenses associated with your charter.
In the case of a bareboat charter, you must provide for your transfer and provisioning. Some supermarkets offer a delivery service on board the boats. A provisioning list can also be provided in advance so that you can be delivered on board when you arrive. Do not hesitate to contact your WIyachts advisor or base manager about it.
If your nautical CV is not sufficient to sail by yourself, you can go for the services of a professional skipper. Skippers are the guarantees of navigation and safety. So don’t expect them to participate in tasks such as cleaning or cooking. You will have to provide him a separate cabin and his meals. On boats over 44 feet, they can stay, for example, in the forepeaks of a catamaran. We will be able to help you with the organization of the cabins according to the boat chosen.
You must provide rest times to your skipper anyway. Please also be aware that sailing and entering ports by night are often forbidden. If your professional skipper doesn’t want to make a night trip, you can’t force him to do so. Remember that you are responsible for the boat and its deposit.
Experienced sailors will know how to prepare their itinerary with the nautical maps and detailed books available for each destination. We can, of course, provide you with suggested itineraries.
You can always modify it on the spot according to the weather conditions, the winds, and your wish.
On your arrival, a complete briefing will be given to you by the base chief concerning navigation, anchoring, sailing conditions in the area, anchorages.
You will also be able to ask him for more information about your itinerary. The briefing mainly includes a tour of the boat about:
All of the safety equipment.
Cooking and refrigeration systems.
Heads and showers.
Engine and check-in procedures.
VHF radio and mayday instructions.
All instruments, including GPS.
Charts and pilot books.
Halyards, winches, reefing lines, rigging, and controls.
Anchor system.
Dinghy and engine.
Other systems.
The briefing duration may vary upon your level of sailing experience and boat rental experience.
The advantage of renting a boat is that it is possible to change its itinerary and head towards the sun. A rainy day at the port also offers the opportunity to explore the stores, bars, and restaurants.
If you wish to extend your rental, contact your Windward Islands broker. He will check schedules and availability and prepare the necessary documents.
If you appreciate the service provided by your crew, you can tip them. While the level is at your sole discretion, it is customary to leave a tip of 10 to 15% of the basic rental amount.
We carefully select the suppliers and boat owners we work with and therefore offer. All the boats proposed by us are insured for rental to a third party. The deposit you pay on board corresponds to the amount of the insurance deductible. You can also subscribe to a damage waiver to get back your deposit in case of incidents at sea. A damage waiver costs around 4 to 5% of the total amount of the rental.
A transfer can be organized from the airport to the boat by the base manager. In this case, you must provide him with your landing schedule, flight number, phone number.
Regarding a bareboat charter, you must also provide your supplies. Some supermarkets offer a delivery service on board the boats. A provisioning list can also be provided in advance so that you can be delivered on board upon arrival. Do not hesitate to consult us about this.
You can board your boat after your briefing. Boarding times depend on the destination. Generally, it is in the afternoon. Disembarkation is in the morning.
Be sure to consult your advisor for details on embarkation and disembarking for your destination.
In the event of a cancellation, be sure to notify your Windward Islands broker as soon as possible. The cancellation policy may vary depending on the destination and type of service. When you make your reservation, please check the cancellation policy. For more guarantees, it is preferable to subscribe to cancellation insurance with your insurer.
Although not mandatory, travel cancellation insurance is strongly recommended.
