|
Frequently
Asked Questions
What
is the difference between a Cabin Cruise, a bareboat yacht,
a bareboat yacht and a skipper/owner yacht?
A cabin cruise is a larger yacht that was multiple
cabins and a set itinerary. On a cabin cruise you rent a cabin
and follow a set itinerary. On a cabin cruise one or more
of the meals each day is provided and sometimes alcohol. Each
cabin cruise covers different expenses which is outlined in
the description of the specific company. A bareboat yacht
is a yacht that is chartered without a skipper. If you have
experience and are qualified to sail a yacht then you will
not need a skipper. If you are not qualified to sail a yacht
then you will charter the bareboat yacht and hire a skipper
to be the captain. With a bareboat yacht you can decide your
own itinerary and unless you want to share the yacht, the
only people on it will be from your party. On a bareboat charter
you will have to pay fuel and water costs as well as docking
costs. A skipper/owner yacht is similar to a bareboat/skipper
except that the yacht is owned by the skipper. Docking, water,
fuel and some meals are usually covered in the rate but you
will have to check the individual skipper/owner to see what
his charter covers.
How
do I choose a bareboat yacht that will accommodate me?
If you go to the page that lists
the yachts, you will be able to compare the cost of the
yacht, size, number of heads(bathrooms), number of cabins
and if you click on the name of the yacht you will be able
to see a photo and a chart of the interior layout. If you
are going to need a skipper then you can add 120 euro a day
to the cost of the yacht to cover expenses for hiring a skipper.
Once you have
selected a boat or a number of boats that you think will suit
you, then send me an email with the boat(s) and a confirmation
of the dates. I will then check the availability and confirm
the rate.
Once I have
decided on a yacht, what is the procedure for securing it
for charter?
When you have recieved an offer that you are satisfied with
send an email letting me know that you would like to charter
the yacht. I will request a contract which I will forward
to you. Once you read the contract you can sign it and fax
it back to me. When we recieve the contract you will have
7 days to send the deposit(25%) to hold the yacht and the
balance is due in 30 days from recieving the contract(unless
the charter date is within in 30 days in which case the total
payment will be due within 7 days).
Where the payments(check
or wire transfer) are sent will depend on whether I am in
Greece or North Carolina, but I will supply the appropriate
information when the payment is due.
What
other expenses can I expect for the bareboat/skippered charter?
You will have to pay for fuel(most of the yachts
use between 3/4 and 1 1/2 gallons of diesel per hour and diesel
runs about 4 euro per gallon). If there is a lot of wind then
you will most likely only use your engine for an hour or two
just to get in and out of the harbor. If you have to do a
lot of motoring then you could use and average of 3-4+ hours
a day, but most islands you can get to in 2-4 hours.
Dockage- Most
often you will stay at the government docks which are in the
middle of the town. If the dockmaster comes around you will
be charge a few euro for the night. The price isn't fixed
and the dockmaster doesn't always come around so it's hard
to put an exact price on it.
Water-There
is a water truck that will come to the dock to service the
yachts. The cost of filling the yacht with water varies but
is normally about 5-10 euro to fill the tanks.
Should
I purchase Travel Insurance?
Yes... for many reasons!.... Visit here
and here.
How
do I set my itinerary for the bareboat/skippered cruise?
The best thing to do is to come up with a list
of islands that you would like to see so you have a general
idea of what you would like to do. Once you arrive in Greece
and board the yacht you can look at the weather conditions
and plan your sail, which most likely should be in the direction
of the best sail. If you set your itinerary before you arrive
without taking into consideration the weather conditions you
can end up sailing into the wind which is bumpy, can be uncomfortable
and will take longer. It's hard to change the direction of
the wind, but if you change the direction of the yacht you
will have a much more comfortable sail.
If you have
hired a skipper, you will have a professional sailor who is
also an expert on the Greek islands. Your skipper can be your
personal guide and if you leave it up to him he will most
likely put together an itinerary that you won't forget and
will make for a great charter. It's important to remember
that the skipper's main responsibility is the safety of the
passengers and the yacht. You are the one who can ultimately
make decisions on destination. The only time the captain can
really override your decision(should you not agree) is if
the destination you choose could put the yacht or passengers
in peril. Otherwise, he is there to take you where you want
to go! Discussing the options with the skipper and coming
up with an itinerary together can lead to a more rewarding
charter.
From Athens(Lavrion
or Kalamaki) there are two general areas that are within reach.
The Cylades Islands to the east which includes Mykonos, Santorini,
Sifnos, Syros, Paros etc... and the Saronic Gulf which includes
Aegina, Poros, Spetsi, Hydra as well as the eastern Peleponnesus.
The Saronic Gulf is generally more protected and if the winds
get heavy make for a much more comfortable sail.
What
is a Damage Release Waiver? If you are hiring
a skipper, so companies will require a Damage Release Waiver.
This is a flat fee(200-300 euros) which covers any damage
that may be caused to the yacht by the skipper. When you charter
with a skipper, the skipper is responsible for the yacht and
any damage that he causes to it. You, as the client are responsible
for any damage that you cause to the yacht also(If you inadvertently
drop a winch handle and crack a hatch, leave a cigarette burning
on a table etc...). In some cases there may be a disagreement
of who caused the damage as the skipper and client may feel
the other was responsible. It is in cases like these that
the Damage Release Waiver will come in handy. You will not
have to pay for the damages. Without the waiver, you could
concievably be held responsible.
What
do I need to bring with me?
Remember that you are going to a warm climate.
You won't want to pack for the Arctic chill(unless you are
sailing very late or very early in the season- and then it's
not an Arctic chill, but cool/cold sail. You'll want deck
shoes that are soft-soled. Most of the white soles and some
of the black soles won't scuff up the deck, so be sure to
wear shoes that don't leave marks on the deck. A bathing suit,
shorts and warm weather clothing, a windbreaker or light sweater
and some rain gear(to keep you dry), but in most cases the
weather will be warm enough so that the water that sprays
on you will be a relief from the heat. There will be no need
for your Tuxedo or formal clothing unless you want to use
them somewhere on shore, but even there it will be hard to
find a place where those pieces of clothing will fit in
Most of the
yachts will have some kind of electical outlet(220 volt) but
hair dryers, irons etc use a lot of power and are probably
best left at home. You are on a vessel that is powered by
it's own engine and batteries. It's not attached to a huge
power plant that produces hundreds of megawatts of power.
You're best leaving the electrical devices home and relaying
on any electronics that you can power with it's on batteries..
How
much should I tip the skipper?
The standard tip for the skipper is about 10% of his fees,
but if you especially liked him feel free to tip more! He
will appreciate it.
What
are the qualifications to skipper your chartered yacht?
You are required to have a sailing certificate in order to
charter a yacht, but if you have experience that also counts.
This is a new requirement and nobody is quite sure exactly
what you need to charter a yacht. The best bet is provide
your personal experience and qualifications and we can check
with the yacht owners to see if you meet their requiremen
|
