FAQs

A yacht charter is the rental (chartering) of a yacht or or motor yacht and sailing to coastal or island destinations. This is usually a holiday activity, but it also can be a business event or honeymoon. There are three main kinds of charter: bareboat, skippered and flotilla. We’re here to help you plan your perfect charter.

To charter a yacht you should be experienced at handling a yacht. Across the Mediterranean, the port authorities insist on seeing written proof; for example the International Certificate of Competence (ICC) or RYA Day Skipper. In Croatia, a valid VHF license is also required. Other areas (such as the Caribbean, Seychelles or Thailand) simply require a completed sailing resume. The local yacht owners reserve the right to place a skipper on board (at the expense of the client), if they feel the charterer is not qualified to handle the boat.

If you do not have any sailing experience but like the idea of going on a charter, then you can hire a skipper for the duration of your holiday. Prices vary between countries but you can expect to pay between €190.00 – €270.00 per day in the Mediterranean. The skipper will require his own cabin and food is to be provided by the client.  All skippers are local to each country so they have excellent local knowledge and they are all English speaking.

We do not arrange any flight bookings but we will of course offer any help where we can. We do not recommend any particular company. But there are many online such as: EasyJet, British Airways, Jet2, Travel Supermarket, Skyscanner, Kayak and Expedia.

Airport transfers are not generally included in your charter price unless stated otherwise. It is very easy and generally better value to just pick up a cab on arrival at the airport. However, if you would like us to arrange a transfer to meet you on arrival at the airport, in particular recommended for larger groups (15 to 50 People ), then we are more than happy to arrange this for you. Please note that all transfers are organised locally through sub-contractors and their prices are fixed.

While it is rare that people have to cancel their charters, this can sometimes happen. We strongly recommend that you take out trip cancellation insurance to protect you in the event that you are forced to cancel for whatever reason. Our cancellation policy can be seen in our Terms and Conditions.

Before you head off on your charter, we will provide you with comprehensive information of the base. This will show you where the marina is located, where your boat is moored, the name of your yacht and all the local contact numbers of the base manager,  who will be on hand to help you throughout your charter. You can expect to receive this around two weeks before your departure date.

In the Mediterranean, embarkation is from 17:00 hrs on the first day and disembarkation is at 09:00hrs on the final day. This gives the base time between charters for cleaning and carry out maintenance.

It is sometimes possible to board earlier if the yacht is ready, but this is not something that can be guaranteed in advance.

In the Caribbean, charters usually run from 12:00 noon – 12:00 noon. Some fleet operators use Mediterranean check in/out times. Please consult your contract for exact timings.

If you are arriving early or departing late from your contracted charter times, it is usually possible to leave luggage at the base so that you can sightsee or enjoy the beach without extra baggage.

All boats come equipped with the following: standard charter equipment, standard navigation equipment, safety equipment, dinghy. Depending on the country you are visiting, bedding, towels, and outboard are sometimes extras. Please check your charter contract to see your specific list of extras you are required to pay.

Just like a hire car, you pay for the fuel that you use. The boat is given to you with a full tank of fuel and you must return it as such. The cost will depend on the size of the boat, how much motoring you do and the sea state you encounter. This is a variable extra that must be paid and it is therefore impossible to predict how much you will spend.

As yachts offer limited storage, we advise travelling as light as possible.  Most charters happen under sunny skies and with warm seas so it is not necessary to take heavy clothing with you. We recommend that in addition to the shorts and t-shirts, you take some long sleeve tops to protect your skin on the first few days and in case it gets a little chilly in the evening.  Sun block, sun glasses and a hat are a good idea.

Deck shoes, plimsolls or white trainers are the recommended footwear as these will not leave marks on the deck. Swimming towels are never included in the charter price so you will need to take your own. It is better to take soft foldaway luggage if possible rather than hard suitcases.

All bases have a shop in the marina or close by where you can buy your provisions   However, should you wish to pre-order some provisions then please ask for a provision list. This needs to be submitted no later than two weeks before your departure date. The provisions will then be purchased and stowed on your yacht before you arrive, payment is made locally. Please note that the base usually adds a surcharge of between 10 and 25% to your shopping bill for this service.

All the yachts chartered are within professional yacht management companies and all bases have a back up team on hand to help with any issues you may encounter. Should anything go wrong, then the back up team will arrange a place to meet you to come and fix the problem. There is also a 24-hour contact number for emergencies.

The reason that a guest preference information form needs to be completed prior to the start of the charter. Is so the your skipper and crew are aware of any medical conditions or food allergies or disabilites.

Mooring costs vary from country to country. In Turkey and Greece the mooring fees are minimal to none. Croatia, Italy and France, in particular high in high season, is where you tend to experience the most mooring fees.

In marinas you can expect to pay around €2.00 per foot, per night. However, this varies between countries and the time of year.  There are generally no charges for dropping anchor and coming ashore, although you may be charged if you anchor within a harbour. In the Caribbean you can pick up a mooring buoy and these are usually around $25.00 per night.

There are usually no charges for anchoring.

Helm is a long standing member of the British Marine Federation (Member ID: ) as well as the Marine Leisure Association in the UK. ATOL and ABTA are for package holiday operators only. If you should be worried about the security of your charter payments, then we recommend that you pay by credit card VISA, MASTERCARD or AMEX, which all offer you full protection.

Don’t expect the crew to act as babysitters or childcare. The skipper and the crew are there to insure the safety of the guests and the vessel.

The general rule on a sailing yacht is that smoking is not permitted below deck or on deck.

It is recommended that luggage is soft rather than a hard case, as soft luggage is easier to store.

Tipping is generally expected. But it is not something you are obliged to do. The amount is normally between 10% to 20% of the charter cost, but this is always up to the discretion of the guests. And it is paid to the skipper to divided between the crew.

It is always best to go barefoot when on board yacht, non-marking sailing shoes can be worn on board as long as they have not been worn On shore, high heel shoes and shoes with black or dark souls shouldn’t be worn on board as these will leave black marks and scratches on the deck of the boat.

The skipper and the crew have their own sleeping quarters and are out of bounds to the guests. This provides privacy for the skipper and crew and also privacy for the guests on board.