The Commodore Chronicles

How to Charter a yacht

As most of you know, as well as conducting RYA, MCA and our own internal training courses, we also offer Yacht charter to qualified sailors.

Whilst a lot of our customers are experienced charterers, it can be quite daunting to charter a yacht for the first time, following successful completion of an RYA Day Skipper practical course, or above. So, we thought we’d give you a step-by-step guide to chartering a yacht, the do’s and don’ts plus other tips which will make the experience a pleasant and fun one.

Pick a boat……

The first step is working out how long you want to charter a yacht for, followed by the size of boat you need to compliment your crew size and sailing abilities (more on this below). We recommend for newly qualified sailors that you start off small. Our 36-38′ yachts are the perfect introduction to chartering, yet still have three double cabins and all the facilities you’d expect.

Choose Your Crew Carefully…

One thing that can make or break your charter experience? The people you invite along for the ride. Yacht charters are wonderfully sociable but also uniquely close-knit—think living, sailing, and relaxing in close quarters where teamwork makes the dream work. So, before you start sending invites to every Tom, Dick or Harriet give some thought to who will genuinely add to the fun.

We recommend choosing crewmates who are not only up for adventure but also get along well together. Shared interests, a positive attitude, and a dash of patience go a long way at sea! Whether you’re planning a relaxing escape or an action-packed voyage, picking the right companions will ensure smooth sailing for everyone, no matter how many nights you drop anchor.

Choose your crew wisely…

Now, let’s talk about the people joining you on your nautical adventure. Believe it or not, picking your fellow sailors is just as important as picking your yacht. Unlike sprawling beach resorts where you can wander off for a few hours of solitude, a yacht is—how shall we say?—cosy. You’ll be sharing close quarters, meals, and, inevitably, the odd soggy sock.

So, before sending out those enthusiastic invites, take a moment to consider who’ll make the best shipmates. Choose people whose company you genuinely enjoy and can happily spend a weekend (or longer!) in close proximity with. It’s worth having a chat beforehand about everyone’s sailing experience, expectations, and even musical tastes—trust us, one person’s love of sea shanties might not be everybody’s cup of tea.

A good crew can make your trip smooth sailing. A mismatched group? Well, let’s just say you’ll remember that charter for all the wrong reasons.

While picking the right yacht is a big part of planning your adventure, the real magic often lies with your crew. Think of them as your onboard dream team, making all the difference between an “okay” getaway and an unforgettable voyage.

These days, yacht crews are an impressive bunch. Not only are they skilled sailors, but many double as chefs, yoga instructors, fitness trainers, or even self-taught marine life experts. If you’re keen to learn how to cast a fishing line, crave a morning stretch on deck, or want a wine suggestion with dinner, there’s a good chance someone aboard will be delighted to help.

But perhaps the best-kept secret? Your crew knows the cruising grounds like the back of their hand. Don’t be shy—ask for their favourite hidden anchorages or the best local seafood spots. Whether you have kids in tow or just want to unwind, crews often have a treasure trove of activities and games up their sleeves to keep everyone smiling.

It’s the care and hospitality that really turn first-timers into repeat charter guests. From tidying up after a day at sea to remembering how you take your morning tea, the thoughtful touches add up quickly. Many people return from their maiden voyage wondering why they didn’t try yacht chartering sooner—often admitting that the crew’s knack for anticipating needs before you ever voice them is a big reason why.

Choosing your destination…

When setting sail for the first time, picking the right cruising ground can make all the difference between a great adventure and a frazzling ordeal. We suggest new charterers stick to well-travelled waters—think the Solent or the Mediterranean’s sun-kissed coastlines or the turquoise playgrounds of the Caribbean, or the highlands of Schotland. These iconic spots aren’t just scenery for postcards; they’re popular for good reason.

Why? For starters, you’ll find a far wider choice of yachts available, which means you can shop around for exactly the right size and spec. Popular areas like these have established cruising routes, reliable marinas, and anchorages that have welcomed (and safely housed) thousands of charterers before you—newcomers and old salts alike. Travel logistics are a breeze too, with big airports and transport links making it easy to reach your chosen yacht without burning precious adventure time. Finally, provisioning is straightforward; whether you’re after a proper English tea or fresh local seafood, sourcing what you need is simple in these tried-and-tested yachting hubs.

For those eager to tick “skippering the wilds of Antartic” off your bucket list, hold that thought for a future voyage once you’ve got a couple of trips under your belt. For now, stick to trusted waters where the stress levels stay low, allowing you to focus on enjoying the sailing and soaking up the sunshine. Exploring the Archipelago in Europe

What does it cost to charter a yacht?

Ah, the million-dollar question—well, thankfully, not quite! The cost to charter a yacht for a week can vary widely depending on the size of the yacht, the location, and whether you’re looking for the full works or just the basics.

For a typical “whole yacht” charter (think 80-foot yachts and up, usually sleeping six or more, with a professional crew), you’ll be looking at entry-level prices from £30,000 to £40,000 per week and upwards. This covers the yacht itself, the crew, and insurance, but it’s important to note that it does not include your day-to-day spending on food, beverages, fuel, or mooring fees.

To cover those extras, you’ll want to allow an additional 30% on top of your charter fee, which is commonly collected upfront as an Advanced Provisioning Allowance (APA). This pot is used for things like stocking up on your favourite tipple, topping off the fuel tanks, or those surprise marina stops when you spot the perfect waterside pub. When the week’s over, it’s customary to tip your crew—think 10–20% of the charter fee as a guideline.

For smaller groups or solo sailors, there are more budget-friendly and social options. Some companies offer single-cabin bookings on crewed catamarans in destinations like the Caribbean starting from about £5,000–£6,000 per person, all-inclusive. These trips are perfect if you fancy a week of meeting new faces and sharing the adventure, rather than booking out the entire yacht.

In the UK you will expect to pay from £1000-£4000 for a weeks charter. Don’t forget that Monday to Fridays are the best value for money for chartering. Our typical rate for a week is £2000-£3000 for the fleet, and don’t forget to use your regular charter discount with us.

And don’t forget—local taxes such as VAT may be payable depending on where you set sail from, so it’s a good idea to double check what’s included before you put your sea boots on.

Booking it……

Once you’ve chosen a yacht and how long you want it for, give us a call on 023 9250 4443 or email us, and we’ll give you a quote for your chosen yacht and duration of charter. Our most popular durations are the standard weekend charter, which are from 5pm Friday to 4pm Sunday. These hours are pretty much typical for UK charters generally, from company to company.

It’s also a good time to decide if you want the boat on a “bareboat basis” i.e. you skipper and crew it yourself, or if you want us to provide you with a skipper. The cost does differ, but sometimes it’s nice to have an experienced  skipper on board who knows the local sailing waters, as well as all the best places to visit for a night ashore.

We’ll take some basic details for you which includes your name, address, phone number, email address, RYA qualification level and what sort of crew you’ll have with you, where you are looking to sail etc. It’s just so we can make sure you are preparing for this properly, and to give you all the help you need to have a great time.

Qualifications……

You need to hold at least an RYA Day Skipper practical qualification, gained in the UK. This isn’t us being fussy, this is our insurance company talking, and they require all our charter customers to be experienced in British waters.

We do appreciate that some of our customers are experienced sailors, without holding a valid RYA qualification. If this is you, don’t despair. We just ask you some basic sailing questions and ask you to give us a demonstration of your basic abilities. This usually means getting the yacht safely off the pontoon, some turns under power, basic handling demonstration, and then getting the boat back on the mooring safely and under control.

The paperwork……

The next thing we do is run through the paperwork with you. This is a complete handover of the boat, where we explain its features, fixtures, fittings, how things work and where things are kept. This usually takes around 30-45minutes and includes a demonstration on how to do an engine check, for things like oil and coolant level etc.

We also go through the boat, stem-to-stern inside and out, to assess any signs of damage, or items which aren’t working, and note them on the condition sheets. More on this later, but it’s basically to protect everyone from any damage or breakages claims which may pop up at the end of your charter.

The one thing we heavily recommend is that you use your mobile phone to video or photograph the boat. This is a great way to document its condition when you collect it. We advise that as a minimum you photograph the hull, stanchions and guard wires, hatches, and deck fittings. These are the items that take the most damage in a coming-to of yachts!

Insurance & security deposits……

The boat is insured by us for loss, so thats something you don’t need to worry about. We do however need to take a security deposit from your debit/credit card. This is £3,000, or if you use our reduction scheme, it’s £1,500 (This costs £45/day). Should you be unfortunate to damage the boat during your charter, the cost of repairs will be deducted from this deposit.

It’s a subject no-one likes talking about, but we need to. It’s not all doom and gloom, but you need to acknowledge and accept that whilst you are in charge of the boat, it’s your complete responsibility.

This is the law of the land speaking, not us!

Obviously if another boat collides with you and is the one at fault, then it’s them who pay, not you, so please don’t think you are liable for everything!

If this does happen, be it your fault or theirs, the same applies as if you are driving a car and have a bump – take down their name, address, mobile phone number, boat name, home marina and give us those details when you get back to the marina.

Please also give us a call if this happens, as we may come out to look at the boat to make sure it’s ok and that you are happy to continue with the charter.

We advise that you take out a specific Yachtsmans insurance cover for your charter. This can protect your security deposit, cancellations and all manner of other things. It’s the same as when you go abroad for a holiday – you’d make sure you were insured then, so why not here too?

It’s best to protect yourself and let the insurance company take the risk. Companies like Topsail Insurance can provide cover, and it’s not expensive, but is well worth taking. We may ask you if you’ve insured your charter when we do the handover with you. Better safe than sorry, as they say.

Have fun……

Once we’ve done the paperwork and sorted out the security deposit, it’s time to enjoy yourself!

So, take your time and prepare the boat for sea, stow kit bags, food and other belongings, get the crew sorted, depart the marina and have a great yacht charter!

On your return, don’t forget to stop off at the fuel berth and fill up the tank with diesel. The fuel fob will be given to you when you’ve completed the handover paperwork, and we’ll explain how you use it. This will give you fuel at berth holder rates, which is a substantial saving over the standard rate. The cost of fuel is down to you.

Bring the boat back to the berth you departed from (unless we advise differently), bring her in nice and slow, get the crew to secure mooring lines, and relax! We do ask that you give the boat a clean down inside and out, or if we can do this for you for a standard fee of £150. Please let us know at the time of booking if you’d like us to do this for you. We will happily provide a bucket of soapy water, deck brush and mop for below deck. The boat comes with cleaning kit in the galley as standard.

When you are ready to leave the boat, we’ll pop by and inspect it. We’ll check for any scrapes or breakages, and have a chat about where you’ve been, how it was and if there are any maintenance issues we need to sort out.

Once we’ve checked over the boat, if there aren’t any breakages or damage to sort out, we’ll get you to sign the paperwork and release your security deposit back to the card we took it from.

What Do First-Time Charterers Say?

We often hear from first-time charterers that their biggest surprise is wishing they’d taken the plunge sooner! After their trip, guests commonly mention how impressed they are with the level of personal attention we provide—even before they step aboard. Those preference sheets you fill out? We really do go through them with a fine-tooth comb, making sure everything from your favourite snacks to your preferred sailing pace is just so.

It’s not uncommon for guests to remark on how smooth and stress-free the whole process felt, and how much they appreciated having their individual needs considered well ahead of time. Many tell us they felt welcomed, listened to, and confident—even if this was their first foray into sailing holidays.

If you have other questions about your first charter, don’t hesitate to ask when you arrive—we’ve likely heard it before, and are always happy to help.

And that’s it!

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading this quick guide on “how to charter”, and that any questions you may have had are answered. We look forward to seeing you down at Gosport Marina soon!