| What is a yacht charter? Why charter? Why Sunchaser Yachting? Don't I pay more by booking through an agent? What is included in a bareboat charter? Will I incur any other costs with a bareboat charter? What qualifications do I need to charter bareboat? Should I hire a skipper or other crew? What about provisioning? What can I expect from a crewed charter? Is a yachting holiday suitable for children? What about suitable travel insurance? What do I need to bring? Can we book flights with you? Do you organise transfers? How do I find the yacht once at my destination? Do you organise overnight hotel accommodation? How do I pay? |
| What is a yacht charter? It is the hire or lease of a yacht for a specified time and purpose. back to top |
| Why charter? Owning a yacht is a lifetime's ambition for many. But often the time available for sailing is not sufficient to justify the expense and commitment. Chartering is a smart option since all the responsibility and hard work is taken care of by the owner and at the end of your charter you can simply "walk away" from the boat without a care in the world! Even for yacht owners it is not always possible to enjoy their own yacht in far away destinations so chartering provides a cost-effective way to see new places and experience sailing a wide variety of yachts. back to top |
| Why Sunchaser Yachting? Sunchaser Yachting operates as an agent. We represent well over 1,000 yachts worldwide. Being completely independent from any yacht owning company we are not under pressure to book particular yachts regardless of their standard. We are free to pick the best. We are also free to give unbiased advice about the condition of each yacht. Meanwhile, yacht owners can only expect repeat business from us if they invest meticulous care in maintaining the yachts and satisfying the wishes of our clients. So everyone wins, especially you, the charterer. Sunchaser Yachting aims to set new standards in service quality. Our staff will always be helpful, efficient and friendly. This is a culture we pursue vigorously because we want you to enjoy the whole experience of dealing with us, not just the sailing. Safety is our paramount concern - so it should not be yours. The yachts we offer carry a charter licence and therefore are subject to regular inspections by the local licensing authorities. The owner has to demonstrate that all regular maintenance has been carried out and all safety equipment on board is up-to-date and in full working order. In some countries attitudes to safety can be a bit relaxed so Sunchaser Yachting will only deal with respectable and responsible companies who have built an impeccable service record over the years. This is not just an idle claim; the numerous letters we have received from satisfied clients are a testimony to that. Our "exclusive" policy of only dealing with pedigree companies also guarantees you absolute financial security and that any unexpected hitch prior to or during your charter will be met with a prompt, professional and sympathetic response. So you can fully trust our partners to offer you the same quality of service you would expect from Sunchaser Yachting. back to top |
| Don't I pay more by booking through an agent? Certainly not! As an approved agent, our profit comes from standard rates of commission offered by respectable yacht owning companies only to agents authorised to market their yachts. This is standard practice with all major charter companies just as it is with major airlines, hotels, villas etc. Our commission is already built in the retail price of any charter and so you would pay the same if you booked directly. On the other hand, as an approved agent we receive privileged information on discounts and special offers, which enables us to offer you a better deal since we pass these discounts on to you. back to top |
| What is included in a bareboat charter? As the term suggests, it includes the hire of the yacht with all the equipment and insurance required by law to sail her. Apart from all the statutory safety equipment our charters typically include galley equipment (cutlery, crockery, pots & pans etc.), cooking gas, bed linen, washroom towels, dinghy and outboard. However, since we aim to offer newer and better yachts you benefit from a host of additional extras, which help to make your charter more safe, relaxed and enjoyable. These extras vary from yacht to yacht and are listed in detail in our information sheets. They may include a spray hood, bimini, GPS chartplotter, autopilot, CD player with speakers in the cockpit, ice cooler, bow-thruster etc, etc, etc. back to top |
| Will I incur any other costs with a bareboat charter? You will need to pay a refundable security deposit depending on the value of the yacht. On your return, the yacht is checked for any damage or loss (other than normal wear and tear) and if there is none you are refunded the full amount. In the unfortunate event of damages or losses occurring you are liable for the total cost of such but limited to the amount of your security deposit, without prejudice to your statutory rights and responsibilities. Other costs may include mooring fees, any local taxes, the cost of hiring a skipper (if you need one), cleaning the yacht at the end of your charter, fuel, water, food and other provisions. It is our policy to inform you in advance as accurately as possible what these costs are, if applicable. back to top |
| What qualifications do I need to charter bareboat? Regulations vary from country to country. Typically, you need one skipper's license/certificate and one qualified competent crew member. Some countries require a VHF operator's certificate. Our team will advise you as to local regulations in advance. The yacht's owner can legitimately request that you demonstrate your competence at sea and, if lacking, to insist that you hire a local skipper at your cost. back to top |
| Should I hire a skipper or other crew? Even experienced sailors often prefer hiring a local skipper. The advantages are obvious: apart from the safety aspect, your skipper will share a wealth of local knowledge of places to visit, where to anchor, services available in each harbour, where to eat etc. Also, he/she will free you from any concerns about the safety of the yacht while you swim, visit local attractions or enjoy a nice meal out. You will still have ample opportunity to sail the yacht under his/her supervision, provided it is safe to do so. Finally, provided we know well in advance, you can use the services of a skipper for the first couple of days in order to help boost your confidence in handling the yacht. Please note that hiring a skipper does not release you from the obligation of the security deposit. Also, it is customary to allow for the skipper's food in your provisioning, although he/she will not expect that you eat together and will be discreet at all times, respecting your privacy. You may also hire a hostess who will prepare meals for you and help keep the boat clean and tidy and/or a deckhand, if you do not wish to get involved with sailing the yacht. back to top |
| What about provisioning? At Sunchaser Yachting we provide you with a provisions list, which you can complete and return to us before you set off for your destination. Sunchaser Yachting will then ensure that your shopping is delivered and stowed away before you embark. If you are after comfort, the last thing you want to do is trek round the local shops in hot weather just after you have arrived, checked in and unpacked a whole load of travel bags. This is normally a free service at average supermarket prices (some of our yachting partners may charge a small fee quoted in advance). back to top |
| What can I expect from a crewed charter? Crewed yachts come with a full complement of dedicated, full-time crew, trained to sail and manage the yacht without your involvement and to look after her guests. The number of crew varies according to the size of the yacht. Typically this may include a skipper, a first mate and a cook/hostess. Crews work as a team and take great pride in providing a courteous and hospitable service and in spoiling their guests with a variety of delicious food and drinks. You can view each yacht's menu selection before you book. The cost of meals and wine would normally be included in the charter price, although you may have to pay extra for drinks from the bar. All the running costs of the yacht would also be included. In addition you will have access to a number of activities such as windsurfing or canoeing and, for a small extra charge water skiing and scuba diving. With crewed charters, the personality and skills of the crew are just as important for your enjoyment as the quality of the yacht. So, our commitment is to present you with accurate information and impartial advice to help you make the right choice. back to top |
| Is a yachting holiday suitable for children? Parents know their children best and, to a large extent, the answer depends on the level of the parents' sailing competence. Several families bring along their children, sometimes just a few months old! Yachts are equipped with life vests for children by law. However, it would be advisable to bring your own having made sure that they fit. Alternatively please give us as much information as possible in advance so we can ensure that there are suitable life vests on the yacht. Naturally, the yacht you choose and the type of charter are important factors to consider before making this decision. Please ask for further advice when discussing your charter requirements. back to top |
| What about suitable travel insurance? We strongly advise that you purchase travel insurance at the time of your booking. Unforeseen circumstances may force you to cancel or postpone your booking and you should be covered for such an eventuality. Also we advise that you check with your insurance company or agent whether sailing is specifically covered. In most cases your policy will cover some types of sailing (inshore, coastal) but not others (offshore, racing). Please ensure that a suitable level of cover is included. At Sunchaser Yachting we are at present negotiating favourable specialist insurance packages, which will be available to clients shortly. As soon as this service is in place you will receive the relevant form along with your booking form. back to top |
| What do I need to bring? You will receive a comprehensive checklist along with your booking confirmation. As a general rule, you will need good protection from the sun, which is often more intense than on a land-based holiday. High-factor sun cream, a light sleeved shirt, a hat and good sunglasses are essential. Bring a change or two of bathing suits, since you will be spending a lot of time in them. Other essentials include beach towels, deck shoes, t-shirts, warmer clothes for the evening, items of personal hygiene and ANY MEDICATION YOU MAY BE ON. It is also advisable to bring waterproof sailing gear for those crew members who may be expected to help sail the yacht in case of rain or rough weather. back to top |
| Can we book flights with you? At Sunchaser Yachting we are yacht charter specialists so we focus our efforts in doing this job well. However, we can offer free advice regarding flights and suitable airlines and we can even locate flights for you to book. back to top |
| Do you organise transfers? Yes. We are keen to help you find your yacht as easily as possible and as part of our service commitment we organise return transfers. Sometimes they are already included in the price of your charter at no extra cost. back to top |
| How do I find the yacht once at my destination? Sunchaser Yachting will provide transfer details and diagrams making it easy to find your yacht. We also provide mobile telephone numbers of our representatives at the base so that it is easy to make contact. back to top |
| Do you organise overnight hotel accommodation? Yes, we can plan and book your overnight stay in a suitable local hotel. back to top |
| How do I pay? A deposit of 50% of your charter fee becomes due at the time of booking. The remaining 50% is payable no later than six weeks before embarkation. We accept cheques or bank transfers. Security deposits are payable at the time of embarkation and most companies accept credit cards, cash or traveller's cheques. You will be advised accordingly when you receive your booking confirmation. back to top |
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You could be missing out on hundreds of spectacular offers like these as they become available to our registered visitors, either on our website or via e-mail alerts and newsletters. And remember, instead of sending you a flow of useless information we only alert you if there is something worth knowing!
