Why Choose a Crewed Yacht?
The appeal of a holiday afloat is wide reaching; whether you sail regularly or have never stepped aboard a sailing yacht, images of tranquil anchorages, glamorous ports and sitting on deck with gin and tonic in hand are enough to put chartering a yacht on the list of many people's holiday possibilities. If you've no idea how to sail, you'll at least need a skipper, but what about a hostess or chef? And if you can sail anyway, why bother with crew at all?
The short answer is because it's meant to be a holiday. Charter a bareboat and it's likely to be equipped and maintained to a fairly basic level. If anything goes wrong, you'll need to wait for someone to come and fix it, or do it yourself. Someone will have to go shopping in an unfamiliar place where supplies may be difficult to obtain without local knowledge, and someone will have to cook, clear up, and keep things tidy. The there's the matter of yacht handling and the dreaded 'parking', guaranteed to be stressful and a major source of marital disharmony. Put all of that together and you've got a very strong argument for choosing a crewed yacht.
When you work out what's included, the cost isn't a great deal more, and you won't have to do anything other than relax and enjoy the company of your family or friends. If you want to join in with the sailing, you can, but when you'd rather lie down with a good book and a beer, you can do that instead. And if you want to have another sailing holiday, we all know how important it is that the members of the family who are less enthusiastic about sailing, don't have to compromise on their comfort.
Luxury sailing holidays: a guide to chartering a crewed yacht.
Many people dream about taking a holiday aboard a private yacht, but few actually get round to it – often because they’re not sure what to expect. The process can be intimidating when you don’t know much about boats; even the word ‘chartering’ feels rather alien, and surely if you have to ask the price, you can’t afford it! Not necessarily. Most people are surprised when they discover that a luxury sailing yacht shared by six guests can compare extremely favourably with a quality hotel. The overall value of the yacht, mainly a function of its age and size, is mainly what determines the charter fee, so it’s a matter of finding the right yacht to suit your budget.
Sailing makes economic and environmental sense.
Motor yachts are more expensive to buy and run than sailing yachts, and this has an impact on the charter cost. Fuel is an extremely significant factor and it will be excluded from the charter fee. In many cases, all of the running costs of the yacht such as food, drinks, fuel, port fees and a crew tip are excluded from the charter fee. This is known as ‘Mediterranean Terms’, and an Advanced Provisioning Allowance ( APA) of around 30% of the charter fee is charged in advance to cover these costs. If this budget is used up before the end of the charter, you will be asked for more, whilst any surplus will be returned to you afterwards. To help control costs, brief your agent carefully in advance and keep an eye on expenditure whilst you are on board.
There are a number of mid-sized vessels which operate under what are known as ‘Caribbean Terms’, where some costs such as food, soft drinks and fuel are included. Not surprisingly, these yachts are mostly based in the Caribbean! However, Dream Sailing operates a fleet of sailing yachts from 55ft – 90ft which are available in the Mediterranean at charter rates which include food, all drinks, fuel and airport transfers. Inclusive pricing makes it much easier to budget for your holiday and it’s nice to be able to enjoy yourself without the thought that the costs are still mounting up.
Does it matter if I can’t sail?
You needn’t be concerned about sailing the yacht as this is done by the crew, although they’ll be delighted if you want to have a go. A good captain will sail within the guests’ comfort zone – a little excitement, but not too much – and part of the pleasure is in the journey, so although it will take longer than a motor yacht, it will be peaceful, relaxing and more in tune with the environment.
How do I decide on a yacht?
The debut charterer is confronted by a bewildering selection, and it can be difficult to make an objective assessment. Yachts are often presented with scant information and misleading images, so make sure you do your research in order to avoid making a costly mistake and spoiling your holiday.
Size.
The length of the yacht is a general indicator of the overall volume, but it can be misleading. A wide cruising yacht with a modern hull design will be much more spacious than a racing yacht of similar length with a more traditional, narrower hull. Clients of ours have often commented that our 55ft yachts have more space than others at 65ft; it’s all down to hull shape.
Accommodation.
Assuming you’re planning to holiday in a warm climate you’ll be dining on deck in the cockpit, so look for a table that’s large enough to seat all of the guests comfortably. You’ll also be swimming and sunbathing, so check out how easy it is to get in and out of the sea or the yacht’s tender, and whether there’s anywhere on deck to stretch out on a sun mattress. Are the decks uncluttered, or will you be stubbing your toe every time you move? Is there shelter from the sun? Are there deck speakers for music? The last thing you want are sleepless nights, so look closely at the cabin configurations and bed sizes. Beds on yachts are often peculiar shapes as they tend to follow the sides of the hull, so beware of a bed described as a double which actually tapers off at one end, or is on the short side. Look for twins or bunks to avoid children having to share a bed. Does each cabin have en-suite facilities, or are some guests going to have to share a bathroom with other guests, or even the crew?
If anyone in your group is elderly, very young or for any reason less agile, check out the companionway steps. These form the main access from the deck to inside the yacht so you’ll be using them a lot. Look for wide steps with good handholds and avoid steep entrances with small treads. Also, huge open saloons look lovely, but bear in mind that boats do move about so it’s important that you can steady yourself if necessary.
Standards.
Look carefully at how the yacht is presented in the brochure photographs: beds should be neatly made and towels folded or rolled; the table should be smartly laid, perhaps with some flowers; decks should be clear with lines coiled tidily. Whilst there remains the possibility that reality may vary somewhat from the photographs, this at least demonstrates that the owner and crew understand what is required by paying guests. The age of a yacht is often used as a guide to condition and it’s worth taking into consideration. However, many older yachts have been regularly re-fitted and are immaculate, whereas a newer yacht can still be ill-equipped and badly maintained. Make sure you take the advice of someone who understands your requirements and has actually been on board within the past year, or even visit the yacht yourself. Unfortunately, varying standards will always be an issue, and this is one reason some people repeatedly return to the same yacht. The only way to avoid this is to choose an operator who manages their own fleet to a consistently high standard.
Safety.
Whilst no one particularly wants to dwell on this, it is important that, if the worst happens, everything possible has been done to ensure your safety. Check that the yacht complies with the current regulations – this should be stated in the terms and conditions of the charter agreement. Before you go sailing, your captain should give a safety briefing so that you’re aware of things such as where the lifejackets are stored and what to do if someone falls overboard. If there are more than twelve persons in your group, you will need to charter a vessel classed as a ship. Even though a yacht may seem large enough to carry more passengers, there are fundamental design stipulations and safety equipment requirements for vessels intended for larger groups.
What about yachting etiquette?
The sailing fraternity are known for their observance of traditions which mostly boil down to good manners, common sense and practicality. It’s generally regarded as impolite to board a yacht without invitation unless you’re her owner – it’s a bit like opening the door to someone’s house and walking in without knocking. During your charter, the crew should treat you as they would the owner, but if you pop by a day or two beforehand, please ask before you stride up the passerelle! Before you board, remove your footwear. This is to prevent grit and dirt being carried aboard and damaging the decks. There’s normally a mat and a shoe basket on the quayside for you to leave your Jimmy Choos in, and if you prefer not to go barefoot just bring a pair of deck shoes with soft, non-marking soles to wear on board. Avoid arriving with a vast amount of luggage, especially suitcases. All yachts have limited storage, so you’ll probably be sharing your cabin with your bags. Choose soft, compressible bags which will stow easily. Hard edges and wheels can easily cause damage and will certainly raise eyebrows!
How should I thank the crew for a great holiday?
Once on board you can relax whilst your crew look after you – many people are not used to having their own staff, and there’s often a period of adjustment whilst they get used to asking for a drink or accept that they don’t need to help clear the table! Bear in mind that crew members prefer to do these things for you; hospitality is part of their job. Accord them your respect, be polite and you should be assured of superb service throughout your holiday, which brings me to the delicate subject of tipping. There is an expectation aboard many yachts that the crew will receive a 15% tip at the end of the charter. Check first so you can factor it into the overall cost before you decide to book, and bear in mind that smaller yachts normally want their tip in cash, which can be difficult to organise at the last minute on the final day of your holiday. Personally, like many British, I find this inappropriate and our own crews are paid a performance related bonus instead. Nevertheless, many of our guests want to express their thanks and my advice to those who ask is to give their crew sufficient to treat themselves to a nice evening out. This establishes a broad parameter within which each person can find their comfort zone. Whatever your own views, it’s important that you are well informed and comfortable with the yacht’s policy, so there are no unpleasant surprises to spoil what will otherwise have been the holiday of a lifetime.