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What are your sailing vacation
options
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| by Alex Vournas |
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Today, there are several options
for someone who would like to enjoy a sailing
holiday. The "sea dog" or the complete
novice, can both find a holiday which will
satisfy their needs. Singles, pairs
or a group of people, can all enjoy the
pleasures of sailing holidays, thanks to the
wide variety of options offered. Price
also, can significantly vary to match all budgets
and desired luxury levels.
I will attempt to analyze for
you all the given options and leave to you the
decision, as to which one of the sailing
vacations suits you the most. |
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BAREBOATS |
What is: 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 will return
her to the charter company/owner. You may
skipper the boat by yourself (you must have the
necessary skills for that), or 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/owner, to cover possible
damages to the yacht. Provisions,
breakfasts, etc. 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, and 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, when 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 your privacy, the luxury
to be with your family or close friends only.
Disadvantages: The
nature of bareboat requires the yachts to
be as simple as possible for "ease
of use", as well as to minimize the chances of a
problem occurring. So, forget fancy
electronic equipment -a VHF, an echo sounder and
a GPS- are the basic instruments you will find
on all bareboat vessels. 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.
Costs:
The price for a charter/week may vary due to
the different yacht size, but per person the
price is aprox. euros 50 per day (a 44 feet -at
euros 3.000 per week- for 8 persons will cost
(per person) the same, like a 32 feet -at euros
1.500 per week- for 4 persons). You may
reduce the cost if you choose a
budget boat, an
one-way
trip or to sail out of
the high peak season.
more about bareboats
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LUXURY BOATS (crewed charters) |
What is: You can charter a "Gin
Palace" motorboat, a motorsailer or a
sailing yacht. Just like in bareboat, you book the whole boat (including
the crew) for as many days you like. Since the vessel will have her own
crew (usually from 3 to 10 people) you are not responsible for the "well being"
of your vessel, thus you don't need to leave a security deposit. Unlike
bareboat, where the charters are usually based on a weekly turn-round base,
these yachts are so expensive that you can book them for as many days you like -
even for one day only. The price-list usually includes breakfast
-sometimes half board- and the diesel for certain hours of motoring every day
(usually 2 - 4 hrs). Several extra costs are involved in a crewed
boat charter (from the diesel to tipping the
crew). A good rule of thumb is to estimate 25% on top of the daily pricelist rate.
Although a "crewed charter" might look the same like a
"skippered bareboat" on a vessel of the same size, they are not
Advantages:
You enjoy the freedom of sailing
wherever you like (time and weather permitting,
of course). Your boat will be fully
equipped, offering facilities like satellite
communication -or plasma TV. For some
people, the prestige of being on such a
boat also "counts". The luxury
offered can be beyond your dreams. A
helicopter, jacuzzi, speed boat(s), jet skis,
etc. are only some of the inventory and
facilities you will find on these boats.
Disadvantages:
You don't enjoy the bareboat's
privacy, since there always will be crew
onboard, but the truth is that, in most cases,
this crew are fully trained professionals and
they will make their presence felt only where -and
"if"- it's necessary.
Costs: The charter of a luxury
crewed boat is the most expensive way to enjoy
sailing vacations. The cost per person/per
day will start from € 300 (for a 60 feet sailing
yacht capable of carrying 6 guests), to infinity
(some Mega Yachts exceed $300.000 PER DAY).
If you are looking for something more expensive
and prestigious, you should consider booking to
NASA for a trip to the stratosphere :)
more about luxury boats
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Other bareboat categories |
Skippered bareboats: Like the
simple bareboat, but you hire a skipper.
You "lose" your
privacy but you
gain "luxury", as there is
somebody else to worry in the nights
if the anchor is holding.
Notice that the need for the
security deposit applies, as when
you hire a captain for a bareboat is similar to hiring 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, as
-except the skipper's fees (aprox. euros 130 per
day), he is usually required to have a private
cabin. This means you'll need a larger yacht
than would otherwise be necessary.
Flotilla sailing: Although by many
is considered as a different type of yachting
holidays, flotilla sailing is 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 are sailing in a group of 6 to 12
yachts. You enjoy privacy but you
lose the freedom (to a degree), as you
have to follow a pre-scheduled program.
You also gain the comfort of a leading crew to
guide you and provide you assistance whenever
needed. This assistance and the large
number of people in a flotilla group, has made
this type of sailing holiday popular for
families. As expected, is more expensive
(aprox. 20%) than simple bareboat...
more flotilla sailing
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SAILING CRUISES (cabin charters) |
What is: A sailing cruise (you may find the term as
cabin charter, berth charter or skippered share
boating) is the type of sailing vacation, where
you will reserve a berth (or a cabin if you are
a couple) on a yacht on a pre-scheduled trip.
Is very similar to an ordinary cruise, only
instead of a big cruise liner you sail with 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, when in Holland they use
traditional 30 meters boats). Sometimes
breakfast is included, when in others it is not.
Notice that, although this holiday is similar to
a cruise, by no means you should expect the
luxury and comforts a large cruise liner can
offer you. It is always an "adventure
holiday".
Advantages:
You can book a single berth, or as
many as you want and there is no need of
sailing experience on your side. You
may choose to be as active or passive as you
like. Since these yachts are operated
continuously by professional crew, chances for
major breakdowns are less than in
bareboat.
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 practise. Neither will you enjoy
privacy, as you will probably need to share
your cabin with someone you just met.
Costs: The average cost is aprox. euros 100 per day and although
this might look a lot more expensive than bareboat, it isn't, as this price
includes expenses which on bareboat are "extras" -on top of the basic yacht
price. The skipper's fees, the diesel, harbour fees during sailing, are
only some of them..
Booking a "berth" on a
flotilla: Recently it has been
common practice from the flotilla operators to
accept "passengers" -for a fee, of course- on
their lead yachts, in order to "cut" down their
expenses and create some extra income.
Nothing wrong with that, but you are entitled to
know upon your booking (and they should make
sure that they inform you) what that means
exactly for you. For example, if a sudden
storm occurs and all yachts will seek shelter,
your boat will probably go "out" to the open sea
to provide assistance to one of the other
flotilla boats which has difficulties, or, in a
perfect morning, when all other yachts will
leave the harbour, you will probably need to
stay there because one of the flotilla yachts
had engine problems and the lead boat cannot
leave the harbour until a mechanic comes and the
problem is sorted out. In my opinion,
when you book your sailing cruise on a flotilla
leading boat, you should pay a "heavily"
discounted charter fee.
more sailing cruises
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About the author
Alexander Vournas is the owner and SEO of
@lmiyachts.com. You may use this article
on your website, or in your newsletter. The only
requirement is inclusion of the following
sentence: "Article by Alex. Vournas of
www.almiyachts.com",
with the link to our web site active. |
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