Happy Holidays Corfu Magazine
Articles and Features (published quarterly) about Corfu and its many attractions
A Sailing Vacation for Every Taste... And Every Budget
article by Alex Vournas
Vol. 1, No. 4; June 15, 2005
Today, there are several options for one who would like to enjoy a sailing holiday. Either the 'sea dog' or the complete novice can each find a holiday that will satisfy his needs. Singles, pairs or a group can enjoy the pleasures of a sailing holiday, thanks to the wide variety of options offered. Price can also vary significantly to match all budgets and desired levels of luxury. In this article I will attempt to analyze for you all the options and leave it to you to decide which one suits you best.
BAREBOAT
What is it: Bareboating is the chartering vacation where you charter the whole boat for a certain time period -usually from one to three weeks - and you are fully responsible for the condition of your vessel until the moment you return her to the charter company or owner. You may skipper the boat yourself (you must have the necessary skills for that), or you can appoint a member of your crew to be the skipper, or even hire a professional skipper. You will always need to leave a refundable security deposit with your company or owner to cover possible damages to the yacht. Provisions, such as breakfasts and drinks are never included in the price. The boat is "bare".
Most bare boats are from 30 to 50 feet in length and you can charter a conventional single-hulled yacht (monohull), a catamaran or a powerboat. Sailing yachts are far more popular, as well as more common, than powerboats. Bareboats come equipped with everything needed to operate them, from kitchen utensils to towels, sheets and bedding. Almost all bareboat companies provide you with a dinghy, where the outboard can be at no charge or charged as an "extra".
Advantages: In one word, freedom. To sail anywhere you like at any time you desire (within your sailing area and charter period limitations, of course). Another advantage is privacy.
Disadvantages: The nature of bareboat requires the yachts to be as simple as possible for 'ease of use', in order to to minimize the chances of a problem occurring. Forget fancy electronic equipment: a VHF, an echo sounder and a GPS are the basic instruments you will find on a bareboat vessel. I don't mention speed logs, as they usually do not function. Also, chances for something to go 'wrong' are rather high, therefore a good and effective owner/agent is a must.
Cost: The price for a charter/week may vary due to different yacht sizes, but per person the price is aproximately 50 euros per day (a 44 foot -at 3.000 per week for 8 persons will cost per person the same as a 32 foot at 1.500 per week for 4 persons). You may reduce the cost if you choose a budget boat, a one-way trip, or to sail out of the high season.
More about bareboats
Other bareboat categories
Skippered bareboats: Like the simple bareboat, but you hire a skipper. You may lose a little privacy but you gain peace of mind, as there is somebody else to worry at night if the anchor is holding. The need for the security deposit still applies, just as if you'd hired a driver for your rental car. You are still responsible for the operation of the yacht, and the captain is treated as your employee. Skippered bareboats are also more expensive. The skipper's fee is aproximately 130 euros per day, and he usually requires a private cabin. This means you'll need a larger yacht than might otherwise be necessary.
Flotilla sailing: Considered by many to be a different type of yachting holiday, flotilla sailing is essentially a bareboat with the addition of a leading boat and crew. You still charter the whole boat and you are fully responsible for the condition of your vessel. You also need to leave a refundable security deposit.
Usually the flotilla boats are from 27 to 36 feet and they sail in a group of 6 to 12 yachts. You enjoy privacy but lose the freedom of 'going where the wind blows' (to a degree), as you must follow a pre-scheduled program. You also gain the
comfort of a leading crew to guide you and provide assistance whenever you might need it. This assistance, as well as the large number of people in a flotilla group, has made this type of sailing holiday popular for families. As one might expect, it is more expensive (aprox. 20%) than simple bareboat.
More about
flotilla sailing
SAILING CRUISES
(cabin charters)
A sailing cruise (you may find the term described as cabin charter, berth charter or skippered share boating) is a type of sailing vacation where you reserve a berth or a cabin on a yacht taking a pre-scheduled trip. It is very similar to an ordinary cruise, only instead of a big cruise liner you sail aboard a yacht. As there is always crew onboard, you are not responsible for the condition of the vessel and there is no need to leave a security deposit.
The vessels in sailing cruises are usually yachts from 45 to 55 feet, although in some countries you may find other sorts of vessels (in Turkey you will find the "gulets", which are 60 to 90 feet motorsailers, whereas in Holland they use traditional 30-meter boats). Sometimes breakfast is included, sometimes not. Although this holiday is similar to a cruise, by no means should you expect the luxury and comfort that a large cruise liner offers. It is always an 'adventure holiday'.
Advantages: You can book a single berth, or as many as you want, and there is no need for sailing experience. You may choose to be as active or as passive as you like. Since these yachts are operated continuously by a professional crew, chances for major breakdowns are less than in bareboat sailing.
Disadvantages: You have no choice as to where to sail to and which places to visit, as the trips are prescheduled. Yet, as the groups onboard are small, a decision to extend the stay in a nice place or vary the itinerary is a common practice. You may also enjoy less privacy, as you will probably need to share your cabin with someone you just met.
Click here for Almi Yachts sailing charters
Cost: The average cost is aproximately 100 euros per day, and although this might appear to be a lot more expensive than a bareboat, it isn't, as the price includes expenses which on bareboats are "extra" - on top of the basic yacht price: he skipper's fee, the diesel, and harbour fees during mooring are only some of them...
Booking a berth on a flotilla: Recently it has become common practice for flotilla operators to accept passengers for a fee on their lead yacht in order to create some extra income. There is nothing wrong with that, but you are entitled to know upon your booking what exactly that means for you. For example, if a sudden storm occurs and all yachts must seek shelter, the lead boat will probably go out to sea to provide assistance to a flotilla boat that may be having difficulties, or, on a perfect morning, when all other yachts leave the harbour, the lead boat may need to stay behind to help one of the flotilla yachts having engine problems.
More sailing cruises
LUXURY BOATS
(crewed charters)
You can charter a "Gin Palace" motorboat, a motorsailer or a sailing yacht. Just like bareboat, you book the whole boat (including the crew) for as many days as you like. Since the vessel will have her own crew (usually 3 to 10 people) you are not responsible for the well being of the vessel, thus you don't need to leave a security deposit. Unlike bareboat, where the charters are usually based on a weekly turn-around, these yachts are so expensive that you can book them for as many days you like - even for one day only. The price usually includes breakfast -sometimes half board - and the diesel for certain hours of motoring every day (usually 2 - 4 hrs).
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