bareboat yacht charter

Matt Weidert

Bareboat Charter Guide for Beginners: First Sailing Vacation

Why go on a bareboat yacht charter trip.

Four ways to go on a yacht charter trip

Bareboat charter, crewed charter.

Captained charter

By the cabin charter, what is a bareboat charter.

Skills that you need for a bareboat charter

Anchoring and mooring

Weather 

What to consider when choosing a yacht charter boat

Catamaran vs. monohull.

Charter Company

Picking your crew

How long should i plan the yacht charter trip for , provisioning.

What is the check-in and check-out process like? 

• Cruising grounds - they can give you advice on where to go and what areas may be off limits. 
• Boat systems and operation - you'll do an inventory and cover all you need to know about the sailboat's systems and sailing equipment. Have a list of questions prepared in case they miss something.
• Safety - such as where the life jackets, life raft, plugs, and emergency tiller are located. You should also cover radio procedures if you need a refresher.
• Communications - how to get in touch with the charter company if you have a repair issue or what to do when you are ready to return to the marina.

What does a bareboat charter cost?

• Type of yacht : monohulls are going to be more affordable than catamarans (all else equal)
• Size of yacht : not surprisingly, the longer and bigger the boat, the more expensive it will be
• Number of cabins : a 3-cabin catamaran with an owner’s cabin is going to be more affordable than a 4-cabin equivalent
• Age : you’ll pay a premium for newer boats (but also might experience fewer maintenance issues)
• Season : when you charter matters a lot. The high season holiday periods are always the most expensive, whereas, you can find great deals (and solitude) in the low season when tropical disturbances might threaten in the Caribbean
• Discounts : charter companies offer various promotions, but you can usually expect to receive an early booking or a repeat charter discount (5 or 10% each). Last-minute discounts are another great way to save money if you are flexible (or work from home!)

Charter destination for your first trip: British Virgin Islands

• Idyllic Caribbean surroundings - numerous tropical islands that rise sharply out of the ocean. Plenty of protected anchorages. Coconut palm lined white sandy beaches. Great snorkeling and fishing. What else do you need?
• Settled weather - you can expect steady trade winds out of the east year round. If you avoid the summer months when tropical systems can develop, there is little risk of a major weather disruption.
• Easy navigation - there are few navigational hazards and you can usually see the islands you are navigating towards.
• Mooring balls - there are plenty of well maintained balls available, making it easier for beginners.
• Well established bareboat yacht charter industry - lots of operators, a deep bareboat charter fleet, plenty of restauraunts that serve boaters, and many services to help make your trip easy.

First time BVI bareboat charter sailing itinerary

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Charter. Beyond.

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