Bareboat charter on a sailboat in Greece

Bareboat Yacht Charter

Bareboat charter means you rent the yacht and skipper it yourself: you are the captain, and you set your own route. If you hold a recognised sailing licence, you can take a sailboat or catamaran bareboat across Greece, Croatia and the wider Mediterranean. Hold your dates with a low deposit.

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Frequently asked questions about bareboat charter

What is a bareboat charter?
A bareboat charter is a yacht you rent without a crew and skipper yourself. You are the captain: you plan the route, handle the sailing, and run the boat for the length of your charter.
Do I need a licence to charter a boat bareboat?
Yes. A bareboat charter requires a recognised sailing qualification such as an ICC, an RYA Day Skipper, or an equivalent national certificate, and most bases also ask for a VHF radio operator's certificate.
What qualifications does a bareboat charter in Greece require?
A bareboat charter in Greece requires the skipper to hold a recognised licence plus a VHF certificate, and Greek rules ask for a second crew member who can show some sailing experience as co-skipper.
What is the difference between a bareboat, skippered, and crewed charter?
On a bareboat charter you skipper the yacht yourself. A skippered charter adds a professional captain who handles the sailing. A crewed charter adds a captain plus a host or chef who also manage meals and provisioning.
Can beginners take a bareboat charter?
A complete beginner cannot bareboat charter, because bases require a licence and recent handling experience. Beginners can book the same yacht with a skipper, or take a sailing course first and bareboat later.
How much sailing experience do I need for a bareboat charter?
For a bareboat charter you need a valid licence and enough recent experience to dock, anchor, and handle the boat in local conditions. Calmer areas like the Ionian suit newly qualified skippers; the Cyclades suit experienced crews.
What is included in a bareboat charter price?
A bareboat charter price covers the yacht itself. You usually pay separately for end-cleaning, marina and mooring fees, fuel, and optional extras, plus a refundable security deposit or a damage waiver.
Where are the best places for a bareboat charter in the Mediterranean?
The most popular bareboat regions in the Mediterranean are the Greek Ionian and Cyclades, Croatia's Dalmatian coast, and Italy. The Ionian and Croatia suit first-time bareboat crews; the Cyclades suit experienced sailors.

Bareboat Charter: be your own captain

A bareboat charter is a yacht you rent without a crew and skipper yourself. You plan the route, choose the anchorages, and run the boat, which makes it the freest and usually the cheapest way to charter for sailors who hold a licence. Most bareboat yachts are sailboats or catamarans, and the biggest choice sits in Greece, Croatia and the wider Mediterranean.

What it isA self-skippered yacht, no crew, you are the captain
Who it suitsLicensed sailors with some recent handling experience
Licence neededICC, RYA Day Skipper, or a recognised national qualification, plus a VHF certificate
Boat typesSailboats and catamarans
Top regionsGreece (Ionian, Cyclades), Croatia, the wider Mediterranean
DepositLow deposit to hold your dates, plus a refundable security deposit at the base
Rating4.8 out of 5 from 500+ Trustpilot reviews

Why charter bareboat

  • Full freedom: no skipper's schedule, no set itinerary. You decide where to sail and how long to stay.
  • Lower cost: without a professional skipper's daily fee, bareboat is the cheapest way to take a yacht for a week.
  • Privacy: the whole boat is yours, with no crew cabin taken up and no third party aboard.
  • Your own pace: long lunch stops, early starts, quiet coves. The plan is whatever your crew agrees each morning.
Captain's insider tip: if your licence is a few years old, book a skippered day at the start of the week instead of full bareboat. The skipper checks you out on the boat, hands over once they are happy, and you sail the rest bareboat. It calms the base's nerves and yours.

Where to charter a bareboat yacht

Bareboat demand is strongest in Greece and the Adriatic. Browse the fleet by destination:

  • Greece, Ionian: the easiest bareboat sailing in the country, with short line-of-sight hops and light afternoon breezes. See Lefkada and Corfu, or the wider Ionian islands.
  • Greece, Cyclades and Dodecanese: for experienced crews who can handle the summer Meltemi. Browse the Cyclades and Kos.
  • Croatia: calm Adriatic water and close island spacing suit a first bareboat week. See Croatia.
  • By boat type: compare a bareboat sailboat against a roomier catamaran, or start with the full Greece fleet.

What you need to charter bareboat

Bareboat charter is for licensed sailors. You need a recognised qualification such as an ICC, an RYA Day Skipper, or an equivalent national certificate, and most bases also want a VHF radio operator's certificate. Greece asks for a second crew member who can show some sailing experience as co-skipper. If nobody aboard is licensed, book the same boat with a skipper instead.

How to book a bareboat charter

  1. Pick your region, week, and boat, then send a no-obligation request.
  2. Send your sailing CV and licence so the base can confirm you for bareboat.
  3. Reserve your dates with a low deposit.
  4. At the base, complete the boat check-in and leave a refundable security deposit or take a damage waiver.
  5. Get your briefing, load provisions, and set your own course.

What is included in the price

A bareboat price covers the yacht for the week. On top of that you usually pay an end-cleaning fee, marina and mooring fees along the way, fuel, and any extras like a dinghy outboard or paddleboards. A refundable security deposit covers damage, or you can reduce it with a damage waiver. Not sure bareboat is right for your group? Compare it with a skippered charter in Greece, where a professional runs the boat for you.