Bareboat Charter Guide

A bareboat holiday gives your group a yacht to operate yourselves within the operator’s agreed cruising area. You plan the days, share the onboard jobs and choose suitable stops as conditions allow. It can be a rewarding option when your nominated skipper has the experience the operator requires.

If everyone would rather relax while someone else handles the boat, explore skippered and crewed charters first.

Start with the skipper and the sailing area

Send the operator an honest account of recent experience on comparable boats before booking. Include vessel type and size, your role, where you sailed and when. Ask what assessment, qualifications and briefing apply to the specific hire. Requirements vary; an operator’s acceptance does not replace any legal requirement.

The qualifications guide helps you prepare. Ask about a supported start or a professional skipper if you need more experience with the boat or area, and confirm who will be in charge throughout.

Choose the holiday, then the boat

Think about the number of nights, travel connections and the pace your group enjoys. Use the region directory to find a starting point, then confirm that a suitable bareboat is actually available from that base.

Ask the operator to suggest short first-day options and explain the boundaries of the permitted cruising area. A photograph of an island does not tell you whether your charter can visit it.

Compare usable space

Request the layout of the exact vessel. Match each guest to a bed, allowing for any skipper or guide staying aboard. Check whether a published sleeping total includes the saloon and whether your group is happy with that arrangement.

Compare shade, storage, toilets, galley equipment and boarding access as well as hull type. The vessel guide and family and group guide help turn a specification sheet into practical questions.

Choose a boat your skipper can handle comfortably. Share any gaps in experience with the operator rather than assuming a larger boat will work in the same way.

Leave time for the handover

Ask how long the briefing and assessment take and plan arrival accordingly. Have the operator explain:

• Boat systems and the checks they expect you to make.
• Safety equipment and how to raise help.
• Navigation information, restrictions and local conditions.
• Anchoring equipment, tender use and communications.
• Reporting damage or faults and contacting the base after hours.
• Return time, refuelling and the final inspection.

Record existing damage together and keep a copy of the agreed inventory. Ask for another explanation or demonstration whenever something is unclear.

Build a flexible week

Treat your itinerary as a set of options to discuss at the briefing. Allow time to settle in, provision, return to base and adjust the route. Agree how your group will share meals and routine jobs before departure.

Follow the operator’s procedures, local restrictions and current marine forecasts. Our itineraries provide holiday ideas; they are not passage plans or permission to visit a particular anchorage.

Confirm inclusions and booking terms

Ask about linen, drinking water, provisioning, fuel, cleaning, tender equipment and any optional activities. Confirm the security bond, damage arrangements and cancellation terms separately. The inclusions guide and booking checklist cover these questions without estimating rates.

Before paying, ask what happens if the operator cannot approve your nominated skipper, the vessel becomes unavailable or conditions require a change.

Official information

AMSA publishes the requirements for domestic commercial vessels, including applicable certificates, safety management and exemptions. Confirm the arrangements for your actual charter with the operator.