1. CHECK YOUR PASSPORT!
Make sure that all the passports in your party are valid for at least 6 months after the period of your intended stay. If you do need to renew make sure that you give yourself plenty of time to do this. The passport office advise that it will take 3 weeks for your new passport to arrive.
www.passport.service.gov.uk/check-a-passport
For non-UK passport holders, it is your responsibility to check your passport meets the entry requirements for the country you intend to visit.
2. HOLIDAY INSURANCE
Personal Travel Insurance
You should have this in place as soon as your holiday is booked. If you already have annual travel insurance, please check that sailing up to 12 miles offshore is covered.
Sailing holidays are not usually deemed a hazardous activity for insurance purposes. Click here if you would like to purchase our Specialist Sailing Travel Insurance.
Yacht Charter Insurance
For most Yacht Charters a security deposit (fully refundable, held on your credit card) is mandatory. Some yacht charters offer a damage waiver (non-refundable) as an alternative.
The value of the deposit and waivers are dependant upon yacht size and the charter company.
European Health Insurance Card/UK Global Health Insurance Card
Once your EHIC has expired, you’ll be able to replace it with a GHIC. If you have a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you can continue to use it until it expires.
An EHIC or GHIC is free of charge and once you have applied, your card will normally arrive within 10 days. You can read more and apply for a GHIC here:
www.gov.uk/global-health-insurance-card
It does not replace Holiday/Travel Insurance but will be required to assist the process.
3. SAILING QUALIFICATIONS
You will need a sailing qualification to go sailing on our Yacht Charter/Bareboat holidays, unless you are hiring the services of a skipper on board. Please make sure you send us a copy of your ICC and practical RYA certificate (Must be Day Skipper or higher). Before you sail we will send copies onto your charter company for pre-charter boat paper authorisation.
You will be required to present your original qualifications for check-in at the yacht base.
If you are sailing in Croatia, you also need a VHF/SRC radio operators licence. These can be obtained online through the RYA. We will require a copy of your certificate before your holiday and you will also need to present the original certificate at check-in.
Email us a copy: launchcrew@sailingholidays.com
4. THE EXTRAS TO PAY AT THE BASE
Don't forgot the extras which you have to pay at the base on arrival. Mandatory extras on all charters include cleaning, fuel and security deposit/yacht waiver. Some charter companies have different mandatory extras, these might include linen/towels and cooking gas.
Security deposits are large refundable sums €2 -3,000 and are held on a credit card. Make sure your credit limit covers your requirements.
Mandatory cleaning and fuel payments are usually paid in cash at the base.
Add-ons like outboards/SUPs, skipper and hostess hire payments are always taken in cash at the yacht base during check-in.
If you're going to Croatia there is also the Croatian Tourist Tax to be paid, which is 10HRK pp/day … approximately €1pp/day).
Payment for most add-ons are made in cash (appropriate to country visiting) during check-in at the yacht base.
CONTACT US
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.
