Skippered Charter FAQ's

The skipper is responsible for the navigation of the yacht, mooring, anchoring and manoeuvring. As well as keeping the deck and cockpit in good order, they will manage the refilling of water and fuel when necessary. Lastly, the skipper will process any mooring fees, if any, at your own cost. Other tasks such as interior cleaning and cooking are not part of the skipper’s obligations.

There is no set itinerary for a skippered charter. As the client, the route is for you and the skipper to decide upon, taking into account places you would like to visit or see. The skipper will always do their utmost to satisfy your requirements. It is advisable to have a rough itinerary in mind, this will allow the skipper to construct the best possible route.

The skipper must be paid in cash at the base on arrival. The skipper’s fee is approximately €1000-1400 per week plus a food provision. Your skipper must also be provided with a separate cabin on your yacht.

Food and drink for the skipper are your responsibility. There are two different ways you can provide the skipper’s meals. You can choose to treat your skipper as one of the crew, including them in all your meal preparation for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Or, if you would prefer to be on your own in the evenings, you can give your skipper enough money to allow for their dinner. 

The skipper’s primary responsibility is to ‘drive’ the yacht and ensure the safety of the crew. It is important to remember that they are not an instructor, so they are not paid or qualified to teach. However, over the duration of your charter the skipper would more than likely be happy for you to get involved with the sailing, giving you pointers and tips along the way.

The skipper is responsible for all damages caused while sailing, motoring, anchoring and manoeuvring the yacht on the condition that these are attributed to their own actions either wilful or negligent. As the charterer, you assume full responsibility for your guests and remain liable for damages that you or guests may cause to the yacht.

Not all charter companies offer the option to add a host to your booking. Please get in touch to find out if this is a possibility. The host's fee is usually €700-1100 per week plus a food provision and like a hired skipper, they also require their own cabin.

A host will do the daily shopping as well as prepare and serve breakfast and a light meal each day. Provisions will be made and meals prepared according to your preferences set out at the start of the charter. This will be done to the best of their ability in so far as the local shops allow. It is also the duty of your host to keep your yacht clean and tidy for the duration of your charter.

If you have any queries and would like to speak to a member of our Yacht Charter team, the number to call is 020 8438 1133 or send an email to YachtCharter@sailingholidays.com.