Requirements

Sailing certificate

Bareboat charters require the charterer, the skipper and the crew to comply with various regulations, some extracted from the laws of the destination country and others from the charter agencies.

You should be a competent yachtsman, with experience of offshore navigation, passage planning and previous experience in handling a yacht of similar size to the one you intend to charter.

You will need to prove your competence with a sailing certificate.

Deposit

You will need to leave a refundable deposit to cover any loss or damage during the trip, that is not covered by the vessel’s insurance.

The amount of this deposit varies with size and value of the yacht, e.g. 3.000EUR for the 44-footer “Holiday kiss” and it may be paid in cash or credit card (VISA, MASTER) prior to embarkation.

Paperwork

You will be asked to sign a charter contract (in several copies) upon booking, and upon your embarkation.

You will also need to present your passports to the company.

Yacht charter tips

While sailing you should respect the country’s laws, as well as the international naval laws and ethics.

You should also remember that:

You must always carry onboard your charter contract.

A crew list should always be at the disposal of local port-police authorities, if you are asked to provide them one during your holidays.

Greek laws require that you have on board a second crew member with sailing experience

Failure to comply with these regulations could end up in a very unpleasant situation

 

An important fact to note is that you are often sailing near the border with Turkey’s national waters, so do keep your eye on your GPS.

Bareboat holiday insurance

Charter sailboats are insured against third party for damages or personal accidents up to half a million Euros.

For your own safety though, which is not covered from the above condition, we highly recommend that you take out an appropriate holiday insurance.

Feel free to contact us for any question or enquiry you might have related to your next bareboat charter.

Boat Delivery, Check-In and Check-Out

 

Normally the bareboat contract starts late in the afternoon on Saturday, at 1700 hrs and ends on Saturday at 0900 hrs.

This gives the base crew sufficient time to service, maintain and clean the yacht between two charters.

 

If you arrive early and your vessel is not ready to be handed over to you, the best thing to do is to ask us to look after your luggage, give you an approximate time when the yacht will be ready, so that you can occupy your time to your advantage – shopping, provisioning, swimming or sightseeing.

After the completion of the necessary paperwork you will be shown to your yacht, which, by then, will be full of diesel and water and have been cleaned.

The boat must be returned to the home port on the last Friday before 18.00

Customers should refill the diesel tank on their own expenses on arrival on Friday before sunset.

 

Bareboat charter check-in

The skipper and his first mate will then go through the check-in with a member of the base crew.

We will help you check the boat’s inventory with the aid of an inventory list, and go through the details of the engine, electrics, sails and deck equipment.

This should take about one hour.

TIP: Try not to rush this procedure in an attempt to set sail as quickly as possible, as it is important that you ask questions about anything you do not clearly understand.

A thorough check-in will ensure an enjoyable and safe sailing trip.

Booking and Payment procedures

Placing an “Option”

When you choose your desired vessel and the requested dates you are entitled to request an “option” for the boat. This is a time given to you to arrange the flights, etc, before you make any payment. Usually an option is held on a particular boat for a maximum of seven days, but if you find yourself running out of time then talk to our charter department and request an extension.

During this period Yacht Charter Greece reserves that boat for you and accepts no other bookings for it.

Advance Payment

In order to complete the booking we will require an advanced payment that amounts to 50% of the charter fee. The advance payment applies to the basic charter fee only and NOT any skipper’s fees, outboard motor, end cleaning, etc. You can pay those in cash upon embarkation.
The advance payment is not refundable

Balance Payment

In order to finalise the bareboat booking balance payments (The other half of the charter fee) will be called for at any time ranging from one month before embarkation to the day of embarkation itself.

Just like in the case of the advance payment, the balance payment will not include the extras, which you are always entitled to pay upon embarkation.

Travel insurance

We understand that travelling is what you enjoy and that the last thing you want to do is spend more time or money than you need on travel insurance. Yet, although it is not obligatory, we highly recommend that you take an appropriate travel insurance as soon as you book your bareboat holidays.

This way you will protect your money in case of a cancellation, as well as the costs occurring from a medical treatment for injury or illness during your sailing holidays.

Gear to bring with you

Finally, here is a good post regarding the gear you will need to bring with you:

Soft foldable travel bags

White rubber sole shoes

Windproof sailing jackets

Bathing suits

Cups and hats

Sunblock

Mobile device charging cables

 

CHARTER PARTY AGREEMENT

TERMS OF AGREEMENT FOR SELF-SAIL CHARTER        APPROVED BY S.I.T.E.S.A.P.

 

Starting & Ending Time

 

Terms of Payment

  1. The Owner agrees to let on bare-boat charter and the Charterer agrees to charter the unattended above mentioned yacht (hereinafter called “the

Yacht”) for the period as stated above and commencing at

17:00’      o’clock on the stated starting day and ending at  09:00’o’clock

on the stated ending day for the sum as stated, of which

are due and payable by the charterer

to upon the signing of this Agreement

The balance of  _ is due and payable in the following manner:  UPON

EMBARKATION

 

Validity

  1. The signature of this Agreement by the Owner and/or his Agents becomes valid and binds the Owner to his obligations hereinafter mentioned only on condition that the Owner will actually receive the sums of the payments as indicated in Clause 1 above, in time.

Delivery

  1. The Owner agrees:

To fit out the Yacht and to hand her to the Charterer, without crew, afloat, clean, ready for sea, with all the gear and equipment indicated in the Yacht’s brochure and its inventory list and in proper running and seaworthy condition at Insurance b. To insure the Yacht and her equipment against fire, marine and collision risks and third party damage and against any and all loss or

damage in excess of   3000 EUROS and the Charterer shall therefore be

relieved of any and all liability which is covered by the said Policy, provided that such loss or damage is not caused or contributed to by any act of gross negligence or willful default on his part. Should the Owner fail or elect not to effect such insurance he shall assume the same responsibilities as if the Yacht were so insured, but he shall not be under any liability for the loss or damage to the personal property of or for any injury to the Charterer or any person on board with his permission.

Delayed Delivery

  1. To employ every reasonable effort to ensure delivery of the Yacht on the date and at the place mentioned in Clauses 1 and 3(a) hereof, but if for any cause whatsoever the Yacht shall not be available, the Charterer shall have the right of choice of one of following possibilities:

 

 

  1. Provided that the following charter commitment of the Yacht allows it and that the Owner agrees, to prolong the period of charter by the same length of time by which the delivery has been delayed.

 

 

  1. To leave the date of termination unchanged as in Clause 1 hereof and to be refunded by the Owner with an amount proportional to the time by which delivery was delayed at the rate corresponding to the total charter fees in Clause 1 hereof.

Excess Delay

III. If the delay of delivery exceeds one fourth (1/4) of the total charter time, to cancel this Agreement and be refunded by the Owner with the total amount paid for this charter. In any of the events mentioned in this Clause, neither party shall be liable to pay to the other any other compensation for any loss or damage resulting from the curtailment or the cancellation of this Agreement.

Redelivery (Return) of the Yacht and Delays 4. The Charterer agrees:

  1. To redeliver the Yacht to the Owner at_ cleaned-up, together with

all her equipment, in the same good condition as she was at take-over, at the time designated in Clause 1, but, unless the Yacht has become a total loss, if he shall for any reason fail to deliver the Yacht at the aforesaid date and time, to pay to the Owner demurrage at the rate of the charter price per day of this Agreement increased by fifty percent (50%), for every day or fractional part of a day there-after until delivery has been effected. If he leaves the Yacht at any place other than the place designated in this Clause, to pay to the Owner all expenses involved in transferring the Yacht to the place of redelivery and pro-rata demurrage as above for the number of days required for this transfer, as well as for any loss or damage not covered by the insurance policy, which may occur on or to the Yacht until she has been taken over again by the Owner.

Deposit and Guaranty

Restrictions in the use of the Yacht

Composition of Charterer’s Party and Cruise Limits b. To leave on deposit and as guaranty with the Owner on taking over the

Yacht the amount of__           3000  EUROS       to meet in whole or in

part any claim by the Owner in respect of any loss or damage to the Yacht and / or her equipment not recoverable under the policy of insurance as in Clause 3(b) hereof and for any claim by the Owner in respect of the provisions of Clause 4(a) above. The aforesaid deposit shall be refunded to the Charterer, subject to the provisions above, after inspection of the Yacht, her gear and her inventory by the Owner.

  1. Not to use the Yacht for racing or for towing other craft, except in an emergency, or generally for any purpose other than that of private pleasure of the Charterer and his party which should include not less than ONE (1) qualified skipper and ONE (1) experienced crew members, but not more than

_10   in all at sea, or to accommodate aboard any person other than those

shown on the crew/passenger manifest nor to take the Yacht or permit her to be taken outside the area of the Greek seas nor to sublet the Yacht without the written consent of the owner.

Observance of Customs and Diving Laws

  1. Not to allow any person on board to commit any act contrary to the custom laws of Greece or of any country or contrary to the laws pertaining to fishing or under water fishing nor to seek and/or take possession of objects of archaeological nature or value and that in case any such act is committed this Agreement shall thereupon terminate, but without prejudice to any rights of the Owner and that the Charterer shall carry alone any resulting responsibilities and he shall answer alone to the appropriate Authorities.

Agreement for Towing the Yacht

  1. To take every possible preventive measure and precaution to avoid to bring the Yacht in any condition in which the Yacht will need to be towed to any point by another vessel, but should such a necessity arise, in-spite of the Charterer’s efforts, to negotiate and agree with the captain of the other vessel on the price to be paid, before allowing the Yacht to be towed.

Restrictions in Leaving Port

  1. Not to leave a port or anchorage if the wind force is or is predicted to be over six (6) of the Beaufort Scale or if the harbor Authorities have imposed a prohibition of sailing or while the Yacht has unprepared damage or any of her vital parts such as engine, sails, rig, bilge pump, anchoring gear, navigation lights, compass, safety equipment, etc. are not in good working condition or without sufficient reserves of fuel or in general, when weather conditions or the state of the Yacht or its crew or a combination of them concerning the safety of the Yacht and her crew is doubtful.

Restrictions in the Use of Canvas Restrictions in Navigation g. When necessary, to promptly reduce canvas and not to allow the Yacht to be found sailing under an amount of canvas greater than the one insuring comfortable sailing without excessive strains and stresses on the rigging and the sails, not to sail the Yacht in any area not sufficiently covered by the charts at his disposal or without having previously studied the charts of the area and other printed aids on board thoroughly, not to sail the Yacht at night without all navigation lights functioning or without sufficient watch on deck.

Yacht Log

  1. To keep the Yacht’s Log Book up to date, noting each day the port of call, the state of the Yacht and its equipment, any change in the composition of the crew when at sea, regularly, the times positions, weather conditions, sail plan and hours of engine operation.

Itinerary

  1. To plan and to carry out the Yacht’s itinerary in such a manner as to reach the port of call farthest away from the point at which the Yacht must be returned to the Owner (Turn-Around Point) within the first one third (1/3) of the charter period and that two days prior to the termination of the charter the Yacht’s port of call shall lie at a distance not greater than forty (40) N.M. from the point at which the Yacht is to be returned to the Owner.

Reports of Yacht’s    Position and State

  1. To report by telephone or cable to the Owner at reasonable intervals (every 3 days) the position and state of the Yacht and of her passengers, as well as in the event of any damage to the Yacht.

Information

  1. To study and acquire a working knowledge of any printed matter pertaining to the proper handling of the Yacht and to the conditions in the cruising area which may be made available to him by the Owner.

Charterer’s Sailing Qualifications

  1. This agreement is entered into on this basis of the Charterer’s competence in sailing, seamanship and navigation stated by him in writing and in the event of any error, omission or misinterpretation in this respect being subsequently discovered, the Owner shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement forthwith and to retain the Charter fees.

Test of Sailing Competence of Charterer and his Crew 6. The Owner (or his representatives) may require the Charterer and his crew to demonstrate their competence in handling and navigating the Yacht safely by actually operating the Yacht at sea with the Owner (or his representative) aboard and should the Charterer and/or his crew fail to satisfy the Owner in this respect, the Owner may terminate this Agreement as stated in Clause 5 above or place aboard the Yacht a seaman, if one acceptable by both the Owner and the Charterer, is available, at the expense of the Charterer, for as many days as the Owner will consider necessary for the safety of the Yacht and her passengers and any time required for this test of the Charterer’s competence and seamanship will be part of the agreed Charter period.

Take-Over of the Yacht & Time required for it 7. The delivery of the Yacht to the Charterer will be made at the commencement of the charter period as designated in Clause 1. The time required to demonstrate the Yacht to the Charterer and to familiarize him with her shall be part of the agreed charter time. The free use of the Yacht will be granted to the Charterer after he has signed the Take-Over form.

Acceptance of the Yacht Charterer’s Responsibility during Charter Time 8. Before signing the aforesaid form, the Charterer shall have the right to inspect the Yacht, her gear and her inventory thoroughly to ascertain that all are available and in good working condition, except as may be noted thereon, but the signature of the Take-Over form by the Charterer shall be deemed to imply acceptance of the Yacht which thereafter will be in the Charterer’s full responsibility and the Charterer shall have no right to claim for any loss of time or expense occasioned by any accident or breakdown or failure of any part of the Yacht.

Running Expenses

Repairs of Damages

  1. After take-over, expenditures for port-dues, water, fuels, oils and any other stores required, as well as the repair of any damage or failure that may occur while the Yacht is in the Charterer’s responsibility and which are not the result of normal and natural wear shall be made by the Charterer at his expense, provided that he previously obtained the consent of the Owner for the technical suitability of the repair to be made. In the case of repairs of damages or failures resulting clearly from normal and natural wear, the Charterer shall previously obtain the Owner’s consent with regard to the cost and technical suitability of these repairs and the Charterer shall collect the pertinent receipts against which he shall be refunded by the Owner at the end of the charter.

Ascertainment of Damages

  1. If any accident or damage is caused by the Yacht, the Charterer shall request from the nearest Port Authority to ascertain the damage or accident and the circumstances in which it has been caused and to make a written record and statement about it and he shall notify the Owner at the same time.

Cancellation or Premature Termination

  1. In the event of cancellation of the charter by the Charterer, for any reason, except as mentioned in Clause 3 (c) (III), after signing this Agreement, all advance payments made up to the date of cancellation will be retained by the Owner, and the Owner reserves the right to refund the said deposits only if he succeeds in letting the Yacht to another Charterer for the same period and under the same conditions. In the event that the Charterer should elect to terminate the charter and deliver the Yacht prior to the date designated in this Agreement, the Owner shall not be liable to the return of any proportional part of the hire money.

Total loss of Yacht

  1. Should the Yacht become an actual or constructive total loss before or during the charter period, this Agreement shall be deemed to be at an end and the Charterer shall recover from the Owner all charter money paid in advance to the Owner only in case the loss has occurred before the charter period, or during the charter period, provided that the Charterer or his crew were not responsible for the loss.

Special Provisions

  1. The special provisions if any, set out in the Schedule hereto are fully accepted and form part of this Agreement.

Agents

  1. The Agents of the Owners, act in good faith on behalf of both

Owner and Charterer but contract as Agents only and in no way incur any liability for any acts, matters or things done, committed, omitted or suffered by either party, except for the responsibilities provided by the pertinent legislation of Greece.

Arbitration of Disputes

  1. In the event of any dispute arising between the parties hereto with respect to this Agreement or anything herein contained the same shall be referred to two Arbitrators in Greece one to be appointed by each party, whose decision shall be final or to an Umpire to be appointed by such Arbitrators, if and when they shall disagree, the decision in such event of the Umpire to be final.