Your Yacht Charter Guide

The far south of the Caribbean is not hurricane-proof. Beryl crossed Carriacou in July 2024. Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, though hurricanes can occur outside it. The region's sailing runs on easterly trade winds.

The Aegean's northerly Meltemi is strongest in high summer. France has the Mistral; the Adriatic has the Bora and southerly Jugo. Our South Ionian guide recommends its shorter distances for new sailors and families. A flotilla also gives beginners support.

Thailand's south-west monsoon is wet, roughly mid-May to mid-October; Gulf rain can last into December. Seychelles has north-west monsoon weather roughly December to March and south-east winds May to September. Greece, Turkey and Croatia carry high summer wildfire risk.

Dates and boat choice drive much of the cost. Mediterranean summer, Caribbean winter and school holidays cost more. Low season costs less, but the weather is less settled. Age, length, cabins and equipment all affect the boat price.

Monohulls usually cost less than catamarans, and power costs more than sail. Longer boats also cost more to moor. Each destination has its own taxes, fuel and living costs. More people raise the total while reducing the cost per person.

A skipper adds a fee and takes a cabin. In the Mediterranean you also feed them. One-way charters carry a separate fee. Discounts vary by operator. Check the currency too, with Mediterranean fleets mostly pricing in euros and many Caribbean fleets in dollars.

Intermediaries fail. Zizoo went insolvent in 2024 and customers lost down payments. A broker receives commission from the operator or owner out of the charter price. You remain bound by the operator's terms.

Check boat age, base staff, out-of-hours support, deposit liability and the dated terms. Payment and cancellation schedules vary widely. SailChecker's terms require a deposit, then the balance 60 days before charter unless the operator requires it earlier.

A charter without flights has no ATOL protection. Section 75 can make a credit card issuer jointly liable for purchases over £100 and up to £30,000. Payment through another party can affect protection, so check the arrangement. Do not assume yacht-only charter has package holiday protection either.

Standard travel insurance usually does not cover sailing. Sunsail and The Moorings require travel insurance. Check cancellation, deposit and skipper liability cover separately. Some skipper policies exclude damage to the boat you are skippering.

Read payment and cancellation terms, negligence liability, wind limits, night sailing restrictions, cruising area and late return charges. Operators set different limits. The Moorings prohibits night sailing at every base. Third-party deposit insurance means paying the operator first and claiming back.

Have everyone's passport details ready for the crew list. Operators send documents ahead, so do not leave this until departure. Take original licences, any required VHF certificate, passports, insurance documents and a credit card for the deposit to check-in.

Check boarding, night-before return and morning checkout times before booking flights. Mediterranean Saturday changeovers are conventional; Caribbean arrangements differ. Check your agreement for mooring deadlines, such as an hour before sunset with The Moorings or 5pm with Waypoints and Navigare in the BVI.

Record existing damage before signing. Test the dinghy, outboard, anchor and windlass; check lifejackets, gas, water and fuel. For stern-to mooring, prepare fenders and stern lines, with the lazy line led forward. RYA guidance gives four times the maximum depth at high water for all-chain anchoring.

Check seabed protection, park tickets and mooring restrictions. Common mistakes are clashing flights, missing briefings, a long first leg, unrecorded damage, too little chain, anchoring on seagrass or without a park ticket, late refuelling and returning with full holding tanks.