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New to sailing?

Always dreamed of a holiday on the open water but don't have the sailing qualifications? You can add a skipper to any of our bareboat yachts so you can sit back and relax whilst your professional skipper leads the way. Whilst the skipper is not an instuctor, if you want to get involved then they will be happy to share the basics with you.

Want to learn the ropes whilst on flotilla?

For those who are either new to sailing or who know the basics but have not skippered a yacht before, we offer our 'Learn on Flotilla' course in the Ionian. An instructor is added to your flotilla yacht for either 3 or 6 days depending on your level of experience, enabling you to be a part of the flotilla from the offset whilst gaining valuable experience.

Learn to Sail on flotilla in Greece

Looking for luxury?

Ultimate luxury can be found on our crewed yachts in the Mediterranean and Caribbean. A professional skipper will ensure you take in the best the area has to offer whilst your hostess serves you fabulous food. We have a range of crewed yachts on offer and not all of these are on our website so please feel free to contact our sales team with your requirements and we will be happy to make our suggestions for you.

Crewed Yacht Corfu

Caribbean crewed yachts

Skipper basics

Your skipper will stay on your yacht with you so you will need to ensure they have their own cabin and will need to include them in your food provisionings. Occasionally clients will invite the skipper to dine with them if eating out but usually they will just ensure there is food on the yacht for them to have. This does not apply to the crewed yachts on which the skipper and hostess will take care of themselves and you do not need to pay for their food.

The skipper will be a professional who knows the sailing area inside out. They can advise you of the best areas to visit and they are usually very clued up on local restaurants too. They are respectful of your privacy and understand that this is your holiday to enjoy as you wish.

Skippers are paid for in addition to the bareboat/flotilla costs and are included in the crewed yacht prices. Tipping is usual for skippers and for Caribbean crewed yachts crew gratuity is customary for excellent service and 15% of the charter fee is the guideline.

"Just a note to say we had a great time – the boat was really good and we has no problems with it. Nomicos were really efficient and please pass our thanks on to Nikos for having the boat ready for us on Sunday morning."

Athens Bareboat 2018 - J.S.
Trustpilot

Sailing Qualifications

To skipper a bareboat charter or flotilla yacht, you need to hold a practical sailing certificate equivalent to RYA Day Skipper Practical qualification or RYA International Certificate of Competence (ICC). For charters in Greece, you must now have the ICC certificate. You must also be assisted by at least one competent crew member over the age of 18.

The port authorities in Greece are now insisting on one of the following practical certificates: RYA ICC (International Certificate of Competence), RYA Coastal, RYA Yachtmaster, ASA IPC (International Proficiency Certificate) or the IYT (International Yacht Training) Passport. If you hold an RYA Day Skipper or ASA104 it will no longer be accepted and you need to obtain either an ICC or IPC from the corresponding issuing body (RYA or ASA). If your RYA Coastal/Yachtmaster or ASA105/106 certificate is more than 12 years old and does not have a photo ID, then we would also strongly advise applying for an ICC or IPC. If you are a member of the RYA or ASA, you may qualify for a discount or free certificate, otherwise, you will have to pay. The approximate cost is £50. Please use this link - RYA application for the ICC or ASA application for the IPC.

For charters in Croatia, Malta and the Canaries, at least one member of the crew or the skipper will also need a VHF licence.

RYA qualifications can be obtained by RYA sailing schools in the UK or alternatively choose from one of our overseas centres in Gibraltar, Greece or Turkey.

For Seychelles, the local authorities require an ICC for the skipper of a bareboat or flotilla yacht charter.

For Caribbean and Tropical charters, formal qualifications are not compulsory, however, you should be Day Skipper standard and be assisted by at least one competent crew. A brief sailing resume should be provided to outline your experience.

If you don't hold the relevant qualifications then why not add a skipper?

Sailing Levels

Level 1

Winds force 2-3 (4-11 Knots)combined with generally shorter distances. Good for beginner or intermediate sailors. Line-of-sight navigation but basic knowledge of charts and ability to plot your position required.

Level 2

Winds force 3-5 (7-21 Knots) with approximately 15-20nm per day. Intermediate experience required. Predominately line of sight navigation but an understanding of how to sail in open water.

Level 3

Winds force 4-6 (11-27 Knots) with mileage of approximately 20nm+ per day. Ideal for experienced skippers looking to venture out to new destinations. Day skipper standard but with experienced crew would be recommended.