Cruising Catamarans : Spain Yacht Charter Vacation tips
Choosing a Company
vary from giants like Sunsail, with bases worldwide and huge fleets of bareboat charters at every base, to single-boat operations run by one man. For charter abroad it is probably better to go with one of the large companies or on a personal recommendation from a friend. From a personal point of view, we have received excellent service from the Reputed Charter company and the boats have always been in good, seaworthy condition. (Although this is not to say that nothing has ever gone wrong - but this can happen with the newest yachts).
Some Questions to Ask
Do I have enough experience? Where can I go?
Or, to put it in a nutshell, will the company charter the boat to me? If you have limited experience, or this is your first charter, this may be the deciding factor. The type of yacht like(luxury catamaran and nature of the cruising grounds will also influence the charterer's decision. Some companies may limit your cruising area if you lack experience. Friends of ours started their chartering career many years ago and quickly got the bit between their teeth. Anchored in the Outer Hebrides and idly reading the charter agreement, the skipper discovered that they were over 100 miles outside their permitted charter area. Luckily no one spotted them and the boat was returned without incident . . . but we recommend that you are quite clear as to the limits of your charter area. If you lack experience and/or confidence, consider a flotilla for your first charter.
How big a boat do we need?
If you are party animals and have lots of friends, a 40ft eight or ten berth boat can be very affordable charter company and will provide exhilarating sailing. If, however, you would like to get away for a romantic cruise with your significant other, then you will be looking at a much smaller yacht if you want to keep the price down. Small may mean fewer extras, but not less seaworthy - 25ft yachts have crossed the Atlantic and sailed round the world.
What facilities do we need?
Can you live without hot water? Cabin heating? Is a furling headsail essential, do you care if there is a spinnaker on board or not? Do you need an outboard for the tender, or are you prepared to row? Again, smaller companies with older boats may offer cheaper deals for those prepared to 'rough it' a bit. You should never compromise on essential equipment, however, and if the company does it may be breaking the law. (See below).
Safety Equipment and Coding
All yachts for charter in UK waters should be coded according to DTI regulations. These govern minimum safety provisions such as position and accessibility of seacocks, gas system, non-flammable upholstery, provision of liferaft, fire extinguishers and much more. Any reputable charterer will only operate coded boats. Each yacht is coded for a certain number of people, and should not be chartered to a larger group.
It is always worth asking your charterer what will happen in the event of mechanical failure in terms of rapidness of response, refund policy etc.
The Handover
A charter yacht handover will usually take about an hour. You should be as familiar with the vessel as possible before putting to sea. As a minimum you and at least one other member of the crew should be shown: The location and safe operation of all the safety equipment including liferaft location and deployment, fire extinguisher location and operation, lifejackets and safety harnesses, location of first aid kit(s), boltcroppers and emergency tiller
The safe operation of the cooking and heating systems
Correct operation of the heads
The location of all seacocks and emergency bungs
Engine operation and regular checks
Operation of the VHF system including mayday instructions. Location of backup VHS (if there is one)
The location and operation of all the instruments, including the GPS
The location of all charts and pilot books
The location and operation of all the halliards, winches, reefing lines and other sail controls
The anchoring system(s)
Any other systems peculiar to that vessel or not covered above
Don't be afraid to ask questions if there is anything you are not sure of or want to know more about. The charter company would prefer you to feel 100% confident before you take their boat out. You may, for example, want to ask about sail plan for various windspeeds and directions on that particular boat. If you are not familiar with the cruising ground, the charterer will probably have local knowledge about some of your intended destinations and will usually be delighted to share this with you.
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