A sailing vacation! For most of us, it’s an event that might happen only once a year, if that. Once a charter is booked, even though it may be months away, the anticipation begins. Part of the fun is in planning the trip — specifically, where you’ll go and what you’ll see. It’s easy to get so caught up in the excitement that you build expectations that aren’t realistic, which can sometimes lead to disappointment. These proven itinerary-planning tips will help you avoid some common pitfalls.

• The most important strategy for outlining a successful sailing itinerary is this: Don’t over-plan! Bear in mind that an itinerary is the proposed outline of a journey — so don’t cast it in stone. Keep your expectations reasonable. Make a rough list of islands, ports or anchorages you’d like to visit rather than places you think you must. On any sailing charter, wind and weather can trump even the best-laid plans, which is why most sample itineraries from charter companies bear a variation of this disclaimer: “All itineraries subject to wind and weather conditions.” Start by making a wish list, and then, keep it flexible. After you arrive at your vacation destination, Mother Nature may have other plans, so be willing to adjust yours accordingly.

• Researching your destination(s) in advance is part of every sailing vacation, and certainly if you’ll be the skipper, it’s prudent to learn as much as you can about your prospective sailing area. If you’ll be along as crew or guest, by all means, do some reading, but keep in mind that, for you, there also will be lots of leisure time aboard the boat to read about places once you’re actually there. If you want to immerse yourself (or, as captain or first mate, feel you should), start by buying at least a large-scale nautical chart and cruising guides or pilot books to the areas in which you’ll be sailing. Pay particular attention to the area’s prevailing winds, seasonal and local weather patterns (including anomalies), navigational hazards and — very important! — the distances between ports or anchorages. Don’t rely on mainstream travel guides to form ideas about where to go and what to see; most offer glowing descriptions of places that may not be accessible by sailboat, and guidebook maps (and mile scales) are often incomplete or misleading. Always keep in mind the actual distances between ports and islands, not only in terms of nautical miles, but in terms of the time it will take to sail from point A to point B at your boat’s average cruising speed — under sail and power. Also keep in mind the number of full days you have to sail, and when you must be back within easy range of the charter base as the vacation draws to a close.

• In the planning stages, almost everyone in the crew has a bucket list. Whittle yours down — most are overly ambitious. For example, instead of making a wish list of ports and islands in an entire region, focus on one smaller coastal area or island group: the British Virgin Islands or St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean, for example, or the Eastern Cyclades, Western Cyclades or Saronic Islands in Greece. Even with a pared-back list, you likely won’t be able to see everything there is to see on a typical weeklong charter, so once you choose an area and have read a bit about it, tweak that bucket list further. If you want, make two wish-list outlines; base them on prevailing wind and weather patterns. If itinerary A isn’t feasible during the week(s) you’re there, itinerary B might be. You might even find that the weather allows you to do a little bit of both.

• By all means, rely on the expertise of your charter company representatives in helping plan your trip and your proposed itinerary. Most companies issue pre-written “suggested” itineraries in advance of your charter; these are built upon years of solid sailing experience in each area and more local knowledge than you as a visiting skipper and crew could ever hope to have. The charter company knows what’s realistic to plan in any given time frame; it knows the capabilities of its yachts, and it also knows which areas should be avoided due to navigational or other hazards. Pay rapt attention to the full pre-charter briefing about weather forecasts, navigation and suggested routes based on the wind and weather that week. Heed the company’s advice on what to do — and more important, what not to do. Once aboard, the crew should never argue with a destination decision made by the captain, since it’s likely based on safety or other concerns.

• Once you arrive in ­paradise, remember this: You are on vacation; you are not coordinating a work-related team event. Ditch the daily planner. Let the good times roll as they may. Soak up the sun, the sailing and the local sights and sounds. Relax. Don’t become so focused on crossing places off your bucket list — or on where you’ll point your bow tomorrow — that you forget to enjoy where you are right now. Appreciate moments that can never be planned in advance: dolphins leaping in the bow wake, a bird perched on the stern rail, a perfect sunset over a gleaming blue sea or an unexpectedly pristine cove that wind conditions make a perfect place to drop the hook. Above all else, remember: Vacation itineraries shouldn’t be a rush to beat the clock, you’re off it!

– – –

CW contributing editor Lynda Morris Childress and her husband, Kostas Ghiokas, sail as a team on crewed charters aboard their Atlantic 70 cutter, Stressbuster, in the Greek islands. They have worked to design charter itineraries for their clients for the past 14 years.

The post Planning a Charter Itinerary appeared first on Cruising World.

Maybe you’re not quite ready for a bareboat charter. Or perhaps a potential charter in a new, more challenging location has you nervous. Or it could be that you’re just looking for a different kind of sailing vacation. Whatever your reasons, there are plenty of ways to get out on the water, all over the globe, regardless of your experience level. Let’s take a look at what’s available beyond the bareboat charter.

Learn-to-Sail Trip

If you’re new to sailing or want to improve your skills to become a more competent and confident skipper, consider checking out one of the learn-to-sail courses offered through many sailboat charter companies. This lets you earn certifications that could be useful for a future bareboat charter while enjoying a vacation destination.

The American Sailing Association, which offers sailing instruction and certifications, has affiliated schools all over the world, and many of these schools also have a charter fleet. This allows students to make a vacation out of learning to sail.

Barefoot Yacht Charters, located in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, has been doing this for more than 20 years with its Barefoot Offshore Sailing School. “BOSS gives a unique balance of an extraordinary vacation in a gorgeous tropical environment, combined with a good learning curve for sailing skills,” says Marissa Barnard of Barefoot Yacht Charters. “In addition to basic sailing courses, we also offer an offshore course, which includes overnight passagemaking between St. Lucia and St. Maarten.”

Hire a Captain

Perhaps you’re completely new to sailing, or the boat that you would like to charter is beyond your skill set. Consider hiring a captain for all or part of the trip. Most charter companies make it easy to do this at the time of booking. Just a little rusty? The Moorings offers its complimentary Friendly Skipper option on any bareboat charter. With this program, a captain joins your crew for a four-hour refresher course at the beginning of your charter.

Join a Flotilla

Long a popular vacation option in Europe, flotillas are catching on in the North American market — and for good reason! Basically, a flotilla is a small fleet of chartered boats and a lead boat. Aboard the lead boat are guides who are in charge of the event and are familiar with the local waters and sights. You can charter an entire boat, or often just a cabin. Flotillas are a great way to explore a new destination, particularly if it’s challenging or you just would like the reassurance of traveling with someone who has local knowledge.

The ASA has a full calendar of flotillas offered at affiliate schools around the world. These trips are targeted both at new sailors and those who have been sailing for years. Lenny Shabes, who is an experienced sailor and also chairman of the ASA, wanted to do a charter in the San Juan Islands but had heard so many horror stories — underwater obstructions, floating logs — that he was apprehensive about going it alone on a bareboat. “I was looking for camaraderie and the security of knowing where I was going, so a flotilla was the perfect solution,” he says. “Every morning the flotilla leader would brief us on where to go and where not to go, and what time and place to meet up again. It was reassuring to be cruising in this unfamiliar area, always in sight of other boats, and we met some great people who we still keep in touch with.”

For newer sailors, flotillas can provide a bridge between sailing-instruction courses and heading out on your own. By booking just a cabin, you have the opportunity to learn from the captain and the rest of the crew while gaining experience in an exotic or challenging location.

If you’re looking for a different sort of adventure, one of Sunsail’s themed flotillas might be right for you. Some upcoming offerings include Food and Wine Flotillas in Italy and Croatia, as well as a rum tour of the BVI. “The Food and Wine Flotilla introduces our guests to stunning scenery, fine wine and delicious, local Croatian cuisine,” said Nicolle Smirlis, marketing manager for Sunsail. “Due to the popular demand of flotillas in the Mediterranean, earlier this year we launched a new flotilla out of Palma de Mallorca, Spain.”

Once you decide that a flotilla vacation is in your future, Danelle Carnahan, of San Juan Sailing, which offers a full schedule of flotilla options throughout the Pacific Northwest, offers this advice: “Just relax, brush off your sea stories and enjoy getting to know your fellow cruisers.”

By-the-Cabin

A stress-free sailing vacation where you can meet interesting people and travel to some out-of-the way places on a crewed catamaran sounds pretty perfect, right? A by-the-cabin charter is exactly this, and is ideal no matter what your sailing skill level. These charters “remove the barriers for nonsailors and allow them to enjoy island-hopping aboard a luxury yacht at a reasonable price point,” says Dan Lockyer, general manager of Dream Yacht Charter. “But they also appeal to experienced sailors who enjoy being on the water but want to kick back and relax.”

By-the-cabin charters include a captain, and typically a chef as well, and take place on a well-appointed catamaran, or a larger monohull with separate cabins with en suite heads. Worried about whether you’ll like the other guests? Don’t be, says Lockyer. “These trips appeal to people with a similar mindset, which makes for a good group dynamic.”

Motor Up

Let’s say you have plenty of experience on the water, but it just happens to have been at the helm of a powerboat. Or perhaps your crew just isn’t interested in sailing. A charter aboard a trawler or a power catamaran might be just the thing. Powercats have started to appear in more charter fleets around the world. They offer the space and stability of a catamaran, with the ease of a powerboat. “Most poweryacht charterers are people who already own or have owned a poweryacht in the past,” says Barb Hansen, co-owner of Southwest Florida Yachts. “Other power charterers might be people who have been through our power-cruising school and are chartering for the first time. Their ultimate goal might be to own a boat or just to keep chartering for a while.”

Calling All Salts

If your call to the sea consists more of square rigs and sea shanties, consider a sail-training vacation aboard a tall ship. There is a wide variety of tall ships offering programs throughout the United States that ranges from overnight journeys to a semester at sea. Visit Tall Ships America’s website (sailtraining.org) for more details and to find a program that interests you.

From learning sailing skills while cruising the Med to making new friends on a voyage through the islands, there is a way for you to get out on the water — no experience needed.

– – –

Jen Brett is CW’s senior editor.

The post Choosing the Best Charter Option appeared first on Cruising World.

Why Charter?

To foster curiosity and to satisfy it, companies and brokers work hard to demystify the chartering experience and educate potential clients. Companies produce in print and on line a wealth of material to help charterers check off the list of items they need to accomplish before arrival at the base; brokers have chat rooms and eletters promoting fleets and deals; others give away flash drives and DVDs chock full of videos and helpful information. Many companies offer sailing schools and flotillas. Companies can even help charterers plan the complete trip and related activities, from reservations for marina slips to restaurant options and, yes, special event, wedding, and honeymoon packages.

Where and When to Go

As far as deciding when to go, again, much depends on personal circumstances and preferences. Not surprisingly, months designated as high season are usually the most desirable times to sail, not only for reasons of climate and weather in the charter area but also because of the weather back home.

In the Caribbean, for example, summer sailing is superb—the temperature doesn’t vary more than a few degrees from winter to summer. But most sailors want that dose of tropical sun, turquoise water, and balmy trades when the temperature at home is in the single digits and the boat’s laid up in the yard. For this reason, winter prices in the islands are higher than in the low season (summer) or fringe season (the period of time between high season and low season).

High, low, and fringe seasons vary according to locale, but if you’re on a tight budget, off-season or fringe-season sailing can save money; most companies offer substantial discounts or incentives in off-season months. In most areas, you can save from 10 percent to 60 percent.

Are You Ready to Charter?

If you’re a boat owner or sailor who has coastal sailing experience on boats comparable to the one you’re chartering, you should have no problem. For the potential skipper, companies ask for a sailing résumé.

You should be familiar with basic boathandling procedures (including docking and anchoring), know the rules of the road, and be familiar with basic seamanship, navigation, and piloting.

If you’ve achieved certification from a reputable school offering either American Sailing Association or U.S. Sailing courses, companies and brokers want to know, so include that in your sailing résumé. For some international areas, requirements are more formal; check with the company you plan to sail with.

When you arrive at the boat, you’ll receive an orientation from base staff who know the sailing area. They provide an overview of the boat and its systems and of the cruising grounds, including any special navigational notes, desirable areas, restricted areas, and other local knowledge. Before departure, it’s also a good idea to inspect the boat yourself and ask company staff to answer any questions you have.

Before they give you the go-ahead to set sail, most companies will give informal checkouts. If they feel your skills are a little rusty, no problem—they’ll put a skipper on board for all or part of the charter (at your expense). If you’re at all unsure of your skills, it’s painless to hire a captain for the first day or two until you become confident.

There are thousands of bareboats out there, with small and large companies in places near and far where you’ve always dreamed of sailing. So why not take advantage of an opportunity to see the world the easy way?

Types of Charters

Charters fall into two distinct categories: fully crewed—the boat you charter comes complete with a captain and a crew, and bareboat—you’re the captain, and your family and friends make up the crew. Both styles offer distinct advantages.

There’s nothing quite as relaxing and stress-free as a well-organized crewed charter. It’s as if your every whim is answered before it’s even voiced. Drinks appear. Food is served. Destinations come and go.

Want a perfect sunset photograph? Well, sir, here’s the perfect west-facing anchorage for it. Ditto for a snorkeling spot, a wreck dive, or some spanking good breeze.

If the crew’s really good, you never realize that they’re there. They simply seem to be elsewhere until needed, and then they magically reappear. Things aren’t merely thought of; they’re anticipated. There’s never a hassle about navigation, provisions, or vessel maintenance. For a few precious days, your wish really is your crew’s command.

Captain-Only charters lie somewhere between fully crewed and bareboat charters. With just a captain, you as crew are more involved with sailing the boat, but the responsibility ultimately lies with the captain, so the pressure’s off. You also are involved in provisioning, cooking, cleaning; usually, you also pay for and provide the captain’s meals.

Bareboat charters means that you and your crew are fully responsible for safely operating the boat and navigating successfully in unfamiliar waters. Meeting these new challenges will improve your skills. Along with the responsibilities entailed on a bareboat charter comes unlimited freedom—freedom to do exactly as you wish, when you wish, how you wish. Bareboating is like owning a boat for a week, with all the joys and agonies that ownership entails.

Bareboat flotillas, such as those conducted by King Yacht Charters, as well as those organized by other charter companies, lie somewhere in the middle. In a flotilla charter, a group of bareboaters agree upon a single itinerary. The Kings, who broker crewed and bareboat sailing vacations in addition to conducting the CW program, take care of some of the details of provisioning and itinerary and act as navigational guides during your weeklong sailing adventure. You’re part of the crew on your own boat, and it’s a great opportunity for people of mixed skill levels to participate and learn.

Flotillas are particularly appealing to first-time bareboaters, who, while competent to handle the particular vessel, aren’t as comfortable with the navigational, social, and safety aspects of chartering in an unfamiliar destination.

Realize that with groups come disadvantages (your course and schedule aren’t completely your own) and advantages (instant camaraderie, for example). The choice is yours.

The post Quick Guide to Chartering appeared first on Cruising World.

Not to worry — read on for information on what types of charters are available, from bareboat, which is basically renting a sailboat, to fully crewed options, and even learn-to-sail adventures; certifications and licenses, locations, what to bring and how to find a great deal.

Charter Sailboat Directory Whether your destination is Belize or Baja, the Caribbean or California, the Mediterranean or Maine, consult the Cruising World directory of sailboat charter companies and sailboat charter brokers to help you get there.

Choosing the Best Charter Option Not quite ready to skipper but still want to charter? Don’t worry, there are plenty of other options to get you out there.

Types of Sailboat Charters Charters fall into two distinct categories: fully crewed—the boat you charter comes complete with a captain and a crew, and bareboat—you’re the captain, and your family and friends make up the crew. Both styles offer distinct advantages.

How to Choose a Charter Company Check out our tips on what to consider when choosing a company for your sailing vacation.

Sailboat Charter Qualifications Are you ready to charter a sailboat on your vacation? Cruising World’s charter guru Elaine Lembo breaks down the qualifications you’ll need.

Sailboat Charter Destinations and Itineraries Not sure where to go on your sailing vacation? Check out Cruising World’s tips on how to pick the best sailing destination and itinerary.

When to Charter: Seasons, Sailing Conditions Cruising World* breaks down how to choose the best time for a sailboat charter vacation.

Why You Should Charter The notion of sailing an unfamiliar boat outside of home waters can provoke lots of questions.

How to Plan a Sailboat Charter Cruising World explains how to plan a charter vacation, including boat type, cost, getting there, provisioning, contracts, paperwork, and what to pack.

Planning a Charter Itinerary Use these practical planning tips to make your next yacht charter the best sailing vacation of your life.

The Web, E-Deals and Last-Minute Offers Visiting company websites is a great way to educate yourself about fleets, boat availability, destinations, rates, and special deals before you make your decision about which company to use.

Owning a Charter Sailboat Charter skipper David Kilmer shares insider tips on how to be a good charter boat owner, and how to decide whether it’s the right decision for you.

Put a Boat in a Sailboat Charter Fleet How do you pick a sailboat to put into the charter trade? Here are some suggestions.

Role of a Charter Broker Steve McCrea, president of Ed Hamilton & Co., shares the role of a charter broker with these tips for finding the best crewed charter vacation.

Read more about charter sailing vacations:

• The Bare Bones About Bareboats
• Cap’n Fatty Goodlander’s Guide to Chartering Options
• Learn to Charter by Choosing a School that’s Right for You
• Let’s Go Sailing
• Chartering at cruisingworld.com

The post Sailboat Chartering 101 appeared first on Cruising World.

Provisioning for a Sailboat Charter

Set a budget. There are companies to match almost anyone’s budget. Compared with the cost of other types of vacations, such as skiing or staying at a resort, bareboat chartering is reasonable. Per person, crewed charters can run higher, but vacation brokers are highly skilled at meeting your price point, whatever it is.

Listed per-week prices are per sailboat, not per person. If you want to charter a 42-foot boat and the price is $4,300, it will be split among the number of charterers in your party. If you have six people in your party, that’s only about $720 per person—a bargain for a week of sailing in your dream cruising grounds. Additional boat expenses include fuel, water, and any government taxes and customs fees.

Your choice of sailboat is largely a matter of personal preference, as well as availability for the dates in question. Do you like speedy cruiser/racers or heavier-displacement cruising designs?

Maybe you’d like to try a catamaran. For chartering, cats have such advantages as shoal draft (good for shallow-water cruising grounds and for tucking into quiet coves for lunch and a swim) and an incredible amount of space for the length. The fact that they remain on a level plane is good if you have anyone in your crew who’s new to sailing. If you’re interested in trying out a catamaran but are unsure of yourself, take a captain along for a day or two to show you the ropes and help you get used to sailing a different design.

Study literature about the company’s fleet. Most brochures and/or websites have both photos and layout plans of each boat that’s available for charter. Consider how the layout and systems, both above and below decks, will work for the number of crew you’re sailing with and their physical abilities and comfort zones. Keep in mind that while it’s tempting to add bodies to lower costs, things go better if no one is forced to sleep in communal areas.

Most companies provide standard lists of equipment and amenities on each boat, including basic safety and electronics gear, dinghy (outboard rental may be extra), entertainment system, galley equipment, linens, and towels. Companies in tropical-reef areas usually provide snorkeling gear; in other areas, this varies. Such water toys as kayaks or stand-up paddleboards, for your amusement once the mother ship’s anchor is down, are generally available, sometimes for an extra charge. Ask for clarification if you’re in doubt; often, larger, more luxe boats have more for no extra charge than less expensive smaller ones.

Airfare isn’t included in the quoted boat-price expense. Many companies have affiliated travel agencies, often in-house, that will handle all your travel requirements, including hotels (if needed) at either end of the trip. Hotel costs also aren’t included in the weekly rate for the boat unless you book a special package deal. Using an in-house travel service is convenient, airfares can be lower than even those offered by discount-fare websites if companies book and hold blocks of seats ahead of time.

| |Photo by Amory Ross|

To the basic cost of the boat, travel, and accommodations, you must also add the cost of provisions. You can avail yourself of the online provisioning services the company offers, shop yourself after arrival, or bring groceries and beverages with you (easier if you’re driving to a domestic location). Remember that if you decide to provision on your own, you’re likely to spend the first day shopping instead of sailing.

Partial provisioning is also a good option—these starter packages provide enough supplies for the first couple of days, so you can get out on the water as soon as possible.

To take advantage of the best airline deals and to be certain that the boat you want will be available, plan your trip at least six months in advance of departure. During high season in prime charter areas, boats book quickly.

Once you’ve narrowed down the area you want to sail, visit the websites of the companies with fleets there. E-mail for literature and price lists. Visit sailing chat rooms and ask questions. Study company literature and compare notes. Follow up with phone calls. How well do company representatives answer your questions? How quickly does requested information arrive? This is a good initial indication of a company’s level of customer service.

You can also use boat shows to scope out charter companies; this is an excellent, face-to-face way to meet staff and get the feel for the company’s overall personality. Company employees are there specifically to talk to potential clients, to answer questions—and, of course, to book trips. Ask to see literature on fleets; they usually bring plenty of brochures and flyers with them to the shows. Many companies offer special boat-show discounts, so if you’ve winnowed your choices, a boat show is a good time to book your sailing vacation.

Contracts and Paperwork
Once you’ve decided to book, you’ll be required to send a deposit, then sign a contract. Contracts are designed for the protection of both the client and the company, and they also help prevent misunderstandings. They cover issues like liability, insurance, cancellation policy, and where you can and can’t sail (almost all prohibit night sailing unless there’s a professional skipper appointed by the company aboard).

One thing to ask, if it’s not stipulated in the contract or in writing elsewhere, is how the company compensates for days lost due to the boat having problems not caused by you. Most offer a credit toward a future charter or a refund for lost days. Contracts also generally specify the company’s policy regarding delivery of your boat to you. For example, if for some reason (such as unforeseen mechanical or other problems that can’t be fixed in time for your charter) the boat you specified isn’t available when you arrive, the company should provide a comparable or better boat than the one for which you originally contracted.

Now is also the time, if it isn’t stipulated in the contract, to clarify exactly what is—and isn’t—included in the quoted price of the boat. Some companies charge extra for fuel and water; others include it in the per-week rate. Policies also vary on charges for dinghies and outboards. If you don’t see it anywhere in print, ask.

The contract or other paperwork should also state the company’s support policy if something goes wrong with the boat. Companies in many areas provide chase boats that carry mechanics and spare parts; to service larger sailing areas, some companies have networks of personnel on islands or technicians who travel by commercial vessel to provide mechanical assistance. If you run into a problem after normal business hours, most companies have numbers you can call, either on a cell phone or on VHF.

After the initial deposit, you’ll send the company payments, usually in prearranged increments, before your charter. You’ll also be required to provide a refundable security deposit against any damage you or your crew may cause to the boat. After the charter, you’ll do a checkout with company staff, and if all’s well, your deposit will be refunded either on the spot or within 10 business days.

Many companies provide information about traveler’s medical insurance, which you should consider, especially if your own medical insurance doesn’t cover you outside the United States.

In the information the company provides, along with legal paperwork will also be helpful hints about what to bring, what not to bring, and background on the area you’ll visit. Some send cruising guides and notes in advance of the trip; others provide them on arrival. Company personnel can answer any questions you have after reading the material they provide.

What to Pack
F. Scott Farquharson of Dream Yacht Charter offers easy-to-follow steps on the item all companies declare is the second most important piece of advice for vacationing sailors: “Pack your bags,” he says. “Put them on the floor and look at them. Then unpack half of what you packed. Look at them again. Unpack half. Repeat, and you still will have too much. And no wheelie suitcases!”

Adds John Jacob of CYOA Yacht Charters: “Pack a carry-on with medications, personal items, a change of clothes, and a bathing suit. Be prepared for the airline to delay or even lose your baggage. Don’t pack anything valuable. You can purchase T-shirts, shorts, and bathing suits along the way.”

The point is that sailing is no formal affair. “Bring half as many clothes as you think you’ll need,” says Cindy Chestnut of Conch Charters, “and twice as much money. You’ll have a wonderful time.”

Click here to read more about how to plan a charter vacation.

The post How to Plan a Sailboat Charter appeared first on Cruising World.

Crewed Sailboat Charter

Based on worldwide-fleet size, there are large, medium, and small sailboat charter companies; good companies exist in all three categories. If you’ve ever used a travel guide to help you select a hotel, you can employ the same basic guidelines to help choose the charter company that’s right for you.

When considering a company, decide what kind of vacation you want. Then be realistic about what you can afford. If you decide on deluxe, you should probably consider one of the large, full-service companies. Look at what “extras” are offered—some base locations, for instance, are mini-resorts unto themselves. Some have full-service hotels at the base, with a pool, grocery/liquor stores, and shops. Decide how important these before-and-after-charter amenities are to you. If your budget is limited to one of the least expensive companies, you’ll likely still have a grand time, but it’s important to alter your expectations accordingly.

One way to know what you can expect is to look at the age of a company’s fleet at the base where you intend to charter. Chartering rule: Older boats are less expensive. Chartering corollary: Many companies offer impeccably maintained boats that are 5 years old or more. Older boats that are well taken care of can provide an excellent charter experience, but go into the charter knowing what you’re getting so you won’t be disappointed on arrival.

Another option to help you choose the right company for your needs is to use a sailboat charter broker. These professionals visit company fleets and individual yachts worldwide and are familiar with what each has to offer. They can match your budget, sailing area, and desired boat and you’ll be pleased. Even more pleasing is that there’s no extra charge to the client for broker fees, so feel free to shop around.

Click here for Cruising World’s Charter Directory.

Click here to read more about how to plan a charter vacation.

The post How to Choose a Charter Company appeared first on Cruising World.

Chartering a Sailboat

If you’re a boat owner or sailor who has coastal sailing experience on boats comparable to the one you’re chartering, you should have no problem. For the potential skipper, companies ask for a sailing résumé.

You should be familiar with basic boathandling procedures (including docking and anchoring), know the rules of the road, and be familiar with basic seamanship, navigation, and piloting.

If you’ve achieved certification from a reputable school offering either American Sailing Association or U.S. Sailing courses, companies and brokers want to know, so include that in your sailing résumé. For some international areas, requirements are more formal; check with the company you plan to sail with.

When you arrive at the boat, you’ll receive an orientation from base staff who know the sailing area. They provide an overview of the boat and its systems and of the cruising grounds, including any special navigational notes, desirable areas, restricted areas, and other local knowledge. Before departure, it’s also a good idea to inspect the boat yourself and ask company staff to answer any questions you have.

Before they give you the go-ahead to set sail, most companies will give informal checkouts. If they feel your skills are a little rusty, no problem—they’ll put a skipper on board for all or part of the charter (at your expense). If you’re at all unsure of your skills, it’s painless to hire a captain for the first day or two until you become confident.

There are thousands of bareboats out there, with small and large companies in places near and far where you’ve always dreamed of sailing. So why not take advantage of an opportunity to see the world the easy way?

Click here to read more about how to plan a charter vacation.

The post Sailboat Charter Qualifications appeared first on Cruising World.