What a bareboat charter actually involves

A bareboat charter is the most direct way to hire a yacht in Greece, and the one that raises the most questions. You take the yacht for the week and everything that happens on board is yours to run – there is no skipper, no crew and no fixed programme. If that is the holiday you have in mind, the Bareboat Yacht Charters page shows the fleet and the requirements.

What catches most first-time charterers out is not the sailing. It is the practical side of the week – the handover at the base, the inventory, the deposit and the checks on the way back. None of it is difficult, but it is easier when you know it in advance.

Here is what the arrangement actually involves, from the day you board to the morning you hand the yacht back.

What bareboat means

The word describes what is left out rather than what is put in. Bareboat means without crew: you hire the yacht and its equipment, and you bring the people who sail it. The route, the anchorages, the daily distances and every decision about weather belong to you.

That independence comes with a condition. At least one person on board must hold a valid sailing certificate and have sufficient sailing experience, and a second competent crew member is expected alongside them. Both names go on the crew list, and the certificate is checked at the base before you leave.

What it does not mean is sailing without support. The yacht is handed over fully equipped, technical assistance is part of the charter, and the base stays reachable around the clock for the whole week.

What the yacht comes with

A bareboat yacht is handed over ready to live on. The standard inventory covers what you need to sail it and to sleep on it, and the rest is either an extra you book in advance or a running cost you pay along the way.

Extras are arranged before departure rather than on the day. A skipper or a hostess can be added to a bareboat booking, and so can airport transfers, provisioning, Wi-Fi, a paddle board, a kayak and extra towels and linen.

Check-in and handover

Charter weeks in Greece traditionally run from Saturday to Saturday, with boarding in the afternoon and departure the following morning. The first night is spent at the base, which gives you time to stow provisions, run the systems and leave rested rather than rushed.

Check-in starts with paperwork. Passports or identity cards, the sailing certificate, the signed charter agreement and the crew list are handled at the office, and the security deposit is taken at the same time.

The handover follows on board. Someone from the base walks the yacht with you and shows how each system works:

• engine, batteries and the charging system
• fresh water tanks, the gas supply and the cooker
• seacocks, bilge pumps and through-hull fittings
• sails, reefing lines and winches
• anchor, windlass and mooring lines
• dinghy, outboard and its fuel
• life raft, lifejackets, flares and fire extinguishers
• plotter, VHF and instruments

The inventory is checked and signed at the end of it. This is the point to slow down. Note any mark on the hull, any missing item and anything that does not work, and have it recorded before you leave the berth. A few photographs taken alongside settle most questions at the end of the week.

What you are responsible for

From the moment the agreement is signed the yacht is in your hands. The division of duties is simple enough to hold in your head.

In practice that comes down to a routine: check the forecast before you move, pick anchorages you can leave if the wind turns, look over the engine every morning, and call the base the moment something is wrong rather than at the end of the week. A fault reported early is almost always easier to settle than one found at check-out.

The deposit

A security deposit is part of every bareboat charter. It is taken at check-in, held for the duration and released once the yacht has been checked back in. It covers damage, loss of equipment or a return that does not match the agreed condition, and nothing else.

The amount is not the same for every yacht. It follows the value and the size of the boat, so a large catamaran carries a higher deposit than a small monohull. The figure that applies to your booking, the way it is held and the conditions for releasing it are all set out in the charter agreement before anything is paid.

If the yacht comes back as it left, the deposit is returned in full. If something has been damaged, the cost of putting it right is deducted and the balance released.

Check-out

The return is normally scheduled for the evening before the charter ends, with the crew sleeping on board and disembarking the next morning. Coming back the night before takes the pressure off the last day and leaves room for weather.

Check-out mirrors the handover. Fuel and water are topped up, the yacht is left clean and tidy, and the inventory is checked against the list signed at the start. Someone from the base goes through the boat and the hull is inspected, in some marinas by a diver, before the charter is closed.

Once that check is clear the deposit is released. If you kept the base informed during the week, there is rarely anything left to discuss at this stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a sailing licence for a bareboat charter?

Yes. At least one member of the crew must hold a valid sailing certificate and have sufficient sailing experience, with a second competent crew member alongside them. If you are not sure whether your certificate is accepted, ask before booking – the FAQs page covers the questions that come up most often.

Can I add a skipper to a bareboat charter?

Yes. A professional skipper can be added to the booking if you would rather not carry the responsibility yourself, or if nobody in the group holds a certificate.

What is not included in the price?

Fuel, marina fees, provisioning and optional extras are charged separately. The yacht, its standard equipment, safety gear and technical support are included.

Is bareboat a good idea for a first charter?

It can be, in the right area. The Ionian Islands are the gentler option, with short distances and sheltered water. The Cyclades are more demanding and suit crews with more experience behind them.

What happens if something breaks on board?

You call the base. Technical assistance is part of the charter and support is available around the clock, so faults are dealt with during the week rather than left until check-out.