Your first yacht charter: a checklist from booking to check-out

Three to nine months ahead

• Pick the season as carefully as the destination. June and September are warm, quieter and often cheaper than July and August.
• Agree the crew. Count adults and children, then look for one proper cabin per couple. Saloon berths are best kept for children.
• Decide who skippers. A bareboat charter needs a recognised sailing licence and usually a VHF radio certificate. If nobody has them, or nobody wants the responsibility, book a skipper.
• Choose the boat type. Our catamaran vs sailing yacht guide explains the trade-offs.
• Book flights that fit the charter. Weeks usually start on a Saturday afternoon and end on the following Saturday morning.

When you send the request

• Read the mandatory extras on the yacht page, such as final cleaning, a starter pack or the transit log. They are part of the real price.
• Note the security deposit. It is refundable, but it is held, usually on a card, until the yacht is returned undamaged. Ask the operator about a damage waiver if you would rather limit what you could lose.
• Check the cancellation terms before you pay anything. Flexible cancellation is shown on each listing.
• Consider travel insurance that covers trip cancellation, and skipper liability insurance if you are skippering yourself.

What to pack

• Soft bags that fold away. Hard suitcases do not fit in yacht lockers.
• Non-marking deck shoes or sandals with grip, and something for slippery rocks ashore.
• Sun protection: hat, polarised sunglasses, high-factor reef-friendly sun cream and a long-sleeved top.
• A light waterproof and a warm layer. Evenings at sea are cooler than you expect, even in summer.
• A head torch, a dry bag for phones and documents, and a 12 V USB adapter or power bank.
• Original licences, passports and the booking confirmation. Copies are not always accepted at check-in.

At check-in: inspect before you sign

The base team will walk you through the yacht and give you a checklist to sign. Take your time: anything not recorded now may be charged to your deposit later.

1. Photograph the hull, deck and dinghy, especially any scratches, before you go aboard.
2. Check the safety kit: a lifejacket for every person, flares in date, fire extinguishers, first-aid kit and the liferaft service date.
3. Run the engine. Check oil and coolant, and that water comes out of the exhaust.
4. Test the anchor windlass, the bilge pumps, the navigation lights and the VHF radio.
5. Confirm the fuel and water tanks are full and you know where the spare gas bottle is.
6. Hoist or unfurl the sails if conditions allow, and look for tears and chafe.

Each day on board

• Read the morning forecast and agree the plan with the crew, including a sheltered alternative.
• Do a quick engine check before you start it: oil, coolant and belts.
• Aim to arrive by mid-afternoon in high season, while there are still berths and buoys free.
• Keep the water tanks topped up whenever you are on a quay. Showers empty them fast.

Handing the yacht back

Refuel on the last afternoon, as fuel berths near charter bases get busy on Fridays. Return on time, tidy the yacht, and report anything that broke or went missing. Staff are far more relaxed about honest reports than about surprises. Once the check-out inspection is signed, the operator releases your deposit according to their terms.