What Is a Bareboat Charter and How to Qualify
A bareboat charter means you hire a yacht without a skipper or crew, taking full responsibility for sailing her yourself. This article explains what qualifies as a bareboat charter, the licence you normally need and how to get it, and what to expect on your first trip.
What does bareboat charter mean?
A bareboat charter means hiring a yacht without a skipper or crew. You take full command of the boat, plan the route and handle all manoeuvres yourself. The charter company provides the yacht in seaworthy condition with a full tank of fuel, a set of charts and standard safety equipment. Everything else, from provisioning to mooring, is your responsibility.
The term "bareboat" refers to the fact that the boat is delivered bare, without crew. You are the skipper for the whole charter, whether a weekend in the Solent or a fortnight in the Ionian. Most bareboat yachts are between 30 and 50 feet and are designed to be handled by a small crew, often just a couple or a family.
A bareboat charter suits sailors who want privacy and independence. You decide when to leave an anchorage, where to swim and how long to stay in port. In return, you must show the charter company you can handle the yacht safely. That usually means holding an RYA Day Skipper practical certificate or an International Certificate of Competence.
What licence do I need for a bareboat charter?
In most European sailing grounds a bareboat charter company will ask for the International Certificate of Competence, known as the ICC. The ICC confirms you have met a minimum standard for boat handling, navigation and safety, and it is accepted by authorities in Mediterranean countries, Croatia and Greece without further paperwork.
The simplest way to get the ICC as a UK sailor is the RYA Day Skipper practical course. Once you pass the practical assessment on a cruising yacht, the RYA issues the ICC directly at no extra cost if you are a British citizen. The Day Skipper theory course covers chartwork, tidal calculations and collision regulations, but the practical course is what earns you the certificate.
- The ICC is valid for coastal and inland waters up to 24 metres in length.
- An RYA Day Skipper practical certificate automatically qualifies you for the ICC.
- You need the theory knowledge, but the practical assessment is what unlocks the licence.
- Some non-RYA qualifications can be converted through an ICC assessment at an RYA training centre.
- A VHF radio operator's certificate is a separate requirement and is not part of the ICC.
How much sailing experience is enough?
Most charter companies in the Mediterranean set a minimum of five days as skipper, 100 nautical miles logged and at least four night hours. These three numbers show you can handle a cruising yacht in daylight, dock under power and keep a watch at night. A flotilla operator may accept a little less, but a bareboat base manager will check your sailing CV carefully before handing over a 40-foot yacht.
Your sailing CV needs to list recent trips with dates, yacht lengths and the areas you sailed. The base team looks for miles in similar conditions: a week in the Solent counts differently from a week in the Ionian with afternoon thermal winds. They also want to see night hours, because picking up a mooring in the dark after a late arrival is a routine part of a one-week charter.
- Five days as skipper on a cruising yacht, logged within the last two years
- 100 nautical miles in coastal waters, not just a single long passage
- At least four hours underway between sunset and sunrise
- Experience on a yacht of similar length and displacement to the one you are chartering
- Practice berthing stern-to in a marina, the standard method across the Mediterranean
- A skipper who can brief the crew, plot a route and interpret a forecast without help
How does the handover on the first day work?
When you arrive at the base, a technician walks you through the yacht before you cast off. You sit down together with the boat’s paperwork, a chart of the cruising area and the inventory list. They check your licence and your second-in-command's, confirm your mobile number for the base’s emergency contact, and run through the local weather forecast for the next 24 hours.
After the paperwork, you walk through the whole boat deck by deck. The technician shows you the engine panel, battery switches, seacocks and the location of the emergency tiller. You test the bow thruster, windlass and reefing lines together. In the galley they point out the gas shut-off valve and explain how the fridge and water pump work on that particular model.
The check continues on deck. You look at the anchor chain markings, check the dinghy and outboard, and inspect the sail inventory against the list. The technician notes any existing scratches or nicks on the hull and topsides on a diagram, and you both sign it. This protects your security deposit when you return the boat.
The last part is a short familiarisation sail with the technician on board, usually 30 to 45 minutes. You take the helm, hoist the main and unfurl the headsail while they talk you through the reefing layout and any quirks of that yacht. You practise reversing under engine and picking up a mooring buoy, then drop the technician at the dock. Once they step off, the boat is yours.
What if I have a licence but feel rusty?
Holding an ICC or RYA Day Skipper certificate and having recent practice are not the same thing. A charter company cares about your last logged miles more than a qualification earned years ago. If your logbook shows no trips in the past 12 months, the base manager may ask for a checkout sail before handing over the boat.
The simplest answer is to hire a local skipper for the first day. You pay for their time and a meal, and they help with the handover, talk you through the local harbour entry and watch you dock a few times. By evening you have known water under the keel and the confidence to carry on alone. Most bases in the Ionian, Split and the Canaries can arrange this with a day’s notice.
Another option is a refresher weekend at a UK sailing school before you travel. A two-day course covers mooring under power, man-overboard recovery and close-quarters handling, the skills that fade fastest during a winter ashore. If you prefer to build confidence on holiday, pick an easy cruising ground with short hops, light afternoon winds and town quays with lazy lines. The Saronic Gulf and the south coast of Menorca suit a returning skipper who wants gentle days rather than a test.
Can two couples share a bareboat charter?
Sharing a yacht between two couples works well when everyone agrees on a few practical points before you book. A typical 40-45 foot cruising yacht has four double cabins, so each couple gets a private cabin and you still have separate heads. The main thing is that at least two people on board hold a recognised skipper's qualification, because a charter company will not accept a boat where only one person can take command.
Agree on the money side early. One couple usually acts as the lead charterer and pays the deposit and the balance, while the other couple transfers their share separately. Also decide how you will split the running costs: marina fees, fuel, water, food and the refundable security deposit. A shared spreadsheet or a simple kitty works better than settling every bill as you go.
Set up a watchkeeping rota that suits both couples. On a relaxed coastal cruise you might run two-hour watches with one person from each couple on deck, so nobody sails with a stranger. For night passages, a three hours on, three hours off pattern lets everyone get some rest. Talk about who enjoys which job: one person may like navigating, another prefers cooking, and a third is happy on the helm. Sorting this out over a drink before departure avoids friction when you are tired and the wind pipes up.
Frequently asked questions
Is a bareboat charter the same as skippered charter?
No. A skippered charter includes a professional skipper provided by the charter company, so you do not need a licence. A bareboat charter puts you in command, and you must show a recognised certificate before taking the yacht out.
Can I charter bareboat with just a powerboat licence?
No, a powerboat certificate alone is not accepted for sailing yachts. You need the International Certificate of Competence for sail, which you can obtain through an RYA Day Skipper practical course on a sailing yacht.
Do I need a VHF radio certificate for a bareboat charter?
Most Mediterranean countries require at least one person on board to hold a Short Range Certificate for VHF radio. It is a one-day RYA course and worth completing before your first bareboat trip.
