Bareboat Charter — Drive Yourself

Charter types · Bareboat

Bareboat.
You hold the keys.

You plan the route. You anchor where you want. Total freedom in exchange for taking responsibility for the boat and the crew on board.

Find a boat Talk to Mark

Find your boat

Narrow the bareboat fleet to your dates.

Personally vetted by Mark

On the water since 2005· RYA member · Bonded payments

On callMark Austen·+44 20 4525 8800

Who it suits

Bareboat — drive yourself, write your own week.

You hold the keys, plan the route, anchor where you want. Total freedom in exchange for taking responsibility for the boat and the crew on board.

Skill level

Confident

Licence

ICC + VHF required (or RYA Day Skipper / ASA 104+)

One person on board must hold the licence — they must skipper.

Best for

Sailors with prior week-long nights on the water
Couples or close friend-groups of 4-10
Budget-conscious — bareboat is the cheapest week-rate
Sailors who want to set their own itinerary

Bareboat

What's in the price — and what isn't.

Bareboat means you drive. The price covers the boat and the basics; you provision and skipper yourselves.

What's in the price

The yacht for the booked week
Full insurance (hull + 3rd party)
Standard equipment + linens + galley kit
Dinghy + outboard
Briefing + chart pack at the marina
Final cleaning

Pay on top

Damage deposit
Refundable — €2,000-€5,000 by card hold at check-in.
Fuel + water
Refilled at the end. Budget €150-€400 / wk.
Marina + mooring
~€80-€180 per night in popular marinas.
Tourist tax
€1.50-€2 per person per night.
Optional extras
SUP, wakeboard, hostess, transfer.
Provisioning
You buy your own food / drink.

All prices in EUR. Local taxes apply at the boat's home country rate.

Before you book

Licence requirements vary by country.

Most Mediterranean countries accept ICC + VHF as the bareboat baseline. Croatia and Greece are strict — both certificates must be presented at check-in. Caribbean countries (BVI, USVI) are typically more flexible: prior experience + a sailing CV may be enough.

Skipper a charter without a licence →

Croatia: ICC + VHF (strict)
Greece: ICC + VHF (strict)
Italy: ICC + VHF accepted
BVI: Sailing CV + interview

Decide between

Bareboat or skippered?

Same yachts, very different week.

You are here

Bareboat

You drive. Cheapest week-rate, most freedom, most responsibility.

Lowest week-rate
Total itinerary freedom — change plan day to day
Sailing licence + VHF required (someone on board)
You handle marina docking, fuel, departure paperwork
No third party in your cabins

Best for Experienced couples and friend-groups who want privacy + freedom.

from €519 / wk

Search bareboat fleet

Skippered

Our captain drives. You sit back, learn, or take the wheel.

Add €1,200-€1,800 / wk for the skipper
No licence required
Captain knows the anchorages, the konobas, the customs
You can take the wheel under their watch (free lesson)
Captain sleeps in skipper cabin, not your space

Best for Anyone without a licence, first-timers, or sailors who want a holiday from skippering.

from €1,719 / wk

Bareboat

Bareboat questions

Asked and answered.

Can I bareboat without a licence?

No. ICC, RYA Day Skipper or equivalent + VHF is required. If you don't have one, book skippered — same yacht, our captain drives.

What if something breaks?

Call the base. Minor stuff (a winch, a marker buoy) you fix yourself; major stuff (engine, rig, sail damage) the base handles. Damage deposit covers your-fault; insurance covers everything else.

Do I get a briefing?

Yes — 90-minute walkthrough on Saturday morning. Boat systems, chart pack, local rules. Bring all licensed skippers.

How much should I budget on top of the week-rate?

Plan for +25-40%. Damage deposit (refundable, ~€2,500), fuel (~€250), marina fees if you berth (€80-180/night), tourist tax (€2/person/night), food + drink. Frugal week +20%, luxe week +60%.

Can I one-way?

Sometimes — there's a one-way fee (€200-€600). Croatia and Greece have good one-way options; Caribbean rarely.

Quick inquiry

Three bareboat options from Mark.

Tell me roughly when, where, and how many. I'll send three bareboat options the same day.

Final boarding call

Why not you?

New sailors, beginners or seasoned skippers — tell me when, where, and how many. I send three real options the same day. No spam, no fluff, no commitment.

60 seconds. No payment until you choose a boat.

Bareboat.You hold the keys.

Narrow the bareboat fleet to your dates.

Bareboat — drive yourself, write your own week.

What's in the price — and what isn't.

Licence requirements vary by country.

Bareboat or skippered?

Bareboat

Skippered

Bareboat yachts ready.

Achi

Achi

Albe

Alexandra

Altea

Anatest

Asked and answered.

Why not you?

Bareboat.
You hold the keys.