Are you stirred by the spirit of wanderlust? The scent of the sea carried by a gentle breeze, the taste of salt on your lips, and the magnificent sunsets where the crimson sun seems to sizzle as it touches the water—can you not live without all of this? Have you already painted mental pictures of yourself sitting on the deck of a pristine white yacht, sipping champagne while gazing at the sleek masts of neighboring yachts, accompanied by the cries of seagulls?
Do you dream of embarking on a journey that will delight you every day with new views from your window, discovering cities, countries, and unexplored wild coves from a perspective inaccessible to land-bound tourists?
Just take a step, and there it is—your boundless private pool with crystal-clear seawater.
Isn’t it time to bring all of this to life?
Let’s talk about how to make it happen and what to be prepared for.
Many still believe that yacht vacations are the privilege of millionaire elites. I hope you’re not one of those who continue to believe this misconception. You understand perfectly well that you don’t need to own a yacht to enjoy a sailing. All you have to do is charter one, in other words, rent it.
At the end of the article I will give you all the links you need!
How much does it cost to charter a boat
Generally the yacht rentals are done on a weekly basis from Saturday to Saturday.
Rental rates vary depending on the season, water area, age and model of boat. Most sailing charter boats are designed for a crew of 8 to 10 people. They are housed in cabins, in pairs.
Here you can see the prices for yacht rent, by selecting a country and see for yourself that by splitting the cost with friends, you can easily fit within the range of 150-300 euros per person.
In addition to the expenses for renting the boat itself, you will contribute to a shared fund for collective expenses like fuel, marina fees, and provisions for food and drinks. After all, you need something to snack on with Prosecco and Aperol). The amount for the shared fund depends on your appetites and preferences for expensive drinks, but typically it ranges from 100 to 300 euros per person.
So far, it doesn’t seem too expensive, right? (There you go, and they keep insisting it’s only for millionaires…)
The charter company deposit
Oh, and the charter company will also require a deposit from you. It could be around 2000 or 3000 euros, depending on the yacht’s cost and how greedy the rental company is. Even though the boat is insured, if you damage or break something while onboard, they’ll deduct a portion of the deposit to cover the repairs. But let’s not dwell on the negative stuff, it’s a refundable amount, and I’m sure you’re not planning to wreck anything, right? When you return the yacht in good condition, they’ll give you back the deposit money.
If the thought of potentially losing the deposit bothers you, you can choose to get it insured. Essentially, it means you’ll say goodbye to a certain amount (around 300-700 euros in total), and then you won’t have to worry anymore. The choice is yours.
Skipper’s license.
But you do realize that in order to rent a yacht, you need some “license” – a skipper’s certificate that confirms your sailing skills
Someday (and don’t even argue with me – it will happen), you’ll realize that you can’t live without it and you’ll go study to become a skipper. Choosing a yacht school that offers international certifications, you’ll cram the theory, then go for practical training, pass the exam, become the proud owner of that magical “license,” and be able to gather your friends for sailing trips under your leadership. But what about now, when you’re torn apart by the desire to go to the sea, and none of your acquaintances have a license?
You can make friends with some skipper and wait for him to go to sea and ask you to keep him company).
Or you can hire one. In most charter companies you can rent a boat with a skipper. Yes, it is additional cost (100 – 200 euros per day). And hey, the captain needs to be fed, they don’t chip in for shared expenses, and on top of that, they occupy a berth in the cabin. But you’ll be able to fully enjoy some chill downtime, dumping all the responsibility for ferrying your suntanned bodies across the waves of your chosen sea onto him.
Renting a cabin on a yacht
To dodge these expenses but still fulfill your dream, you can join someone else’s crew. It often happens that when renting a yacht, they can’t round up enough like-minded folks and there’s spare room in the cabins. Yachtsmen are super open, incredibly friendly, and absolutely love making new acquaintances, so they’re always happy to welcome new friends who will brighten their journey and help cut their costs by contributing their share to the rental price. Finding these opportunities won’t be a big deal.
Okay, we’ve sorted that out, the skipper’s found, the boat is picked and booked.
Don’t forget to check whether your passport hasn’t expired and if you need a visa for the country you’ve chosen. Got your plane tickets and medical insurance sorted?
By the way, you can find cheap tickets here and health insurance online here.
Before you go onboard.
I suggest you fly in a day or two early and check into a hotel to get a bit of rest after the flight, especially if it was an overnight one. You’re gonna need the energy because on Saturday, while your skipper is taking over the boat (which isn’t a quick process since they have to check all the technical stuff, accept the existing inventory, and not miss any defects or breakdowns that could later be charged to you), you’ll likely be heading to the nearest supermarket with the crew to stock up on food for the next few days. Plan a menu and make a list in advance, it’ll simplify the task and save a ton of time.
Even though you’re setting off on your first sailing adventure without much understanding of handling a boat, bear in mind that you’ll be involved in all these processes – setting up sails, pulling all sorts of ropes, hanging fenders when docking. Sure, you can refuse, but isn’t this what you signed up for in the first place?
So now, you might want to take some time to dive into the theory and study up on some nautical terminology (here’s a dictionary of marine terms) so it all doesn’t sound like gibberish to you. In the meantime, I’m gonna tackle some of your worries and toss out a few tips.
Seasickness.
Let me guess – you’re worried about seasickness? Yes, that’s a risk, and it affects everyone, even seasoned sailors. It’s all about the ears. Yup, right inside the inner ear of humans and all mammals is our biological gyroscope – the vestibular system. This super complex organ tracks changes in the position of our head and body in space. When your body’s moving (like when you’re being rocked by the waves) but your eyes see still objects around you, it can get a bit confused, and you might feel queasy or dizzy.
But don’t stress in advance, it’s not a given that it’ll happen to you. Sometimes, even people who regularly get carsick feel great on a yacht. In any case, no one feels sick for more than two days, and you won’t know whether your fear is justified until you try. If you don’t fancy experimenting, buy some motion sickness tablets in advance, but bear in mind, they can make you a bit drowsy.
Experienced skippers know that a small amount of alcohol can be better at preventing seasickness than any tablets. Just be careful with the dosage; you don’t want to make matters worse. And if you do start to feel a bit sick, there are tried-and-true methods to get you through it – look at the horizon in the distance, keep yourself busy with something useful – here’s a good reason to ask the skipper if you can take the helm.
Just remember, don’t bury your nose in smartphone or stick around in the cabin, that’ll only make it worse!
Fears of venturing out to sea
Scared that the boat will get caught in a storm and capsize? Don’t be. Modern keelboats work like a weeble-wobble toy; you’d have to work pretty hard to sink them. The heavy keel below the hull always brings it back upright. And you might never even see a storm.
Maybe you’re worried about harsh Spartan conditions on the yacht and a complete lack of familiar comfort. Let me assure you, most yachts are as well-equipped as great apartments. They have toilets, showers with hot water, gas stoves, ovens, fridges, freezers, and on some charter boats, you can even find washing machines, dishwashers, and TVs.
You want to listen to your own music – go ahead, connect to the boat’s stereo system. Yes, the internal spaces of yachts are limited and you need to be prepared for this compactness – even when packing your luggage, you have to keep this in mind.
But that’s not something that could stop you, right? By the way, check out this guide on what to bring on a yacht.
Maritime Rules for Newbies
And one more thing. Yachtsmen are extraordinary people. In their world, their own special rules, moral norms, and centuries-old traditions reign. Some of them might seem strange or even nonsensical to a person who steps onto a yacht for the first time. You still have to fully encounter all of this, but to avoid awkward situations, I’ll tell you about some of them.
The skipper’s word is law! It doesn’t matter who paid for the cruise, arguing with the skipper is not an option. He is the one who bears full responsibility for everything that happens, specifically the safety of the vessel and passengers. So, even if you find some of the captain’s decisions dubious, don’t distract him with your advice. The skipper may ask you to move to a different spot if you’re blocking his view, or to switch to the other side to adjust the yacht’s heel angle – do it promptly, he simply doesn’t have time to explain the necessity of these actions to everyone. Trust his experience and don’t take it as hazing or a desire to dominate.
The skipper’s table is a sacred, inviolable place. Don’t clutter it with your stuff, don’t put drinks on it, and don’t use it for cooking. Everything that is there (maps, pilot books, equipment, etc.) must remain intact and constantly accessible. It’s best to always keep the hatch above the skipper’s table closed. And before going out to sea, you need to dog all the hatches. I hope you understand what could happen if you don’t?
As you already know, usually, the crew members prepare food on the yacht themselves, dividing duties. The skipper is offered food first. It’s customary for everyone to sit down at the table together. Don’t hoard food on your own!
Maritime etiquette rules start on shore.
Before entering the yacht, it is customary to ask the captain’s permission to board. Before stepping onto the yacht, you need to take off your shoes. Street shoes are for the street, on the yacht people usually walk barefoot (except during crossings – you risk losing your toes), or change into yacht shoes.
At sea, it’s customary to greet the crews of passing yachts with a wave of the hand. Not responding to such a greeting means showing total disrespect.
When a boat is approaching a berth, yachtsmen from neighboring yachts always come out and help to moor.
Don’t make noise at the anchorage. Especially in marinas or bays where you won’t be alone. By default, among yachtsmen, there is a standard quiet time after 11 pm, but even during the day, bothering neighbors with loud music and revelry is a faux pas.
Well, buddy, you’re in for some incredible adventures – sailing voyages, your first storm (after which you might decide to never go back to yachting, but you’re likely to realize you can’t live without all of this anymore), wanders through unexplored towns, dinners in cozy taverns, dips in the open sea, jumping off the boat, water rides clinging onto dropped in the water fender tied by a rope to the stern, climbing up the top of the mast, cave explorations in a dinghy, and breathtaking nights in wild bays with stars as big as your fist. You’ll take turns standing watch to ensure that the yacht doesn’t get pulled away by the changing wind. There’ll be coffee at dawn and sunsets that will blow your mind…
And you know what? I’m sure that once you return from your first yachting trip, you’ll be so excited, just like all of us were at some point, you won’t stop telling your friends about it and you’ll definitely utter the words: “My life is now split into before and after!”
Useful links for your yacht journey:
Where to find a cheap yacht for rent (look for discounts – they’re always available from different charter companies)
Medical insurance for yachting
