| u are under the impression that in order to charter a | | | | ‘skipper’, you always have the option of |
| Mediterranean yacht you need to be either a | | | | hiring a professional. The charge per day for a |
| Premiership footballer or a Russian oligarch, then you | | | | professional ‘skipper’ tends to be in the |
| are only partially correct. | | | | region of 125 to 200 euros per day, though you will |
| While it is true that some luxury yacht charters in the | | | | have to hire a boat with an extra berth for him/her. |
| Mediterranean are extremely expensive (with prices of | | | | Having your own professional ‘skipper’ |
| more than 25,000 euros per person/week), there are | | | | offers a number of great advantages; he/she will have |
| alternatives which are far more affordable. | | | | a great local knowledge and will be able to show you |
| Although prices for Mediterranean charters will vary | | | | great sights that you would have never found on your |
| from place to place and from agent to agent, there | | | | own, he/she will also be able to help you gain the |
| are two main factors that will generally affect the price | | | | relevant ‘experience’ needed to |
| of Mediterranean motor-yacht rental. | | | | become ‘skipper’ yourself. |
| The first of these factors is the nature of the rental | | | | As a rough guide, prices for ‘bareboat’ |
| agreement. Motor-yachts (like sailboats) can either be | | | | yacht charters in the Mediterranean will start at about |
| rented as ‘bareboats’, where only the | | | | 5000 euros per week for a 4 person, 2 cabin, |
| boat itself is hired, or as ‘crewed-boats’, | | | | motor-boat. Larger boats tend to work out more |
| where the boat is hired along with its crew. The main | | | | expensively per person, with a 6 person, 3 cabin, boat |
| differences between these two types of rental will be | | | | costing upwards of 10,000 euros per week. |
| described presently. | | | | Crewed Motor Yacht Charter in the Mediterranean |
| The second of these factors is the size of the boat | | | | While most small boats tend to be chartered as |
| required. As a rule, the larger boats tend to offer far | | | | ‘bareboats’, the majority of larger boats |
| more living space per person and consequently their | | | | tend to be only available as ‘crewed’ |
| charter rates (per person) tend to be extremely high. | | | | boats. In many cases, this is because the owner of the |
| The smaller vessels, on the other hand, tend to be far | | | | boat will employ his crew full-time and it does not |
| more compact in terms of living space, and are | | | | make economic sense for him to lease one without |
| consequently amongst the most affordable boats to | | | | the other. |
| charter in the Mediterranean. | | | | The fact that there is a crew to pay for naturally |
| Motor Yacht Bareboat Charter in the Mediterranean | | | | makes the rental price of these vessels higher, and |
| The most affordable method of Mediterranean | | | | one must also consider that food and drink are |
| motor-boat charter is to hire a | | | | generally included in quoted prices. At the cheaper end |
| ‘bareboat’. Don’t be alarmed by | | | | of the market you will find a 10 person, 5 cabin |
| the terminology though, ‘bareboats’ | | | | motor-boat with 4 members of crew, available for hire |
| aren’t literally ‘bare’. The term | | | | for around 28,000 euros per week. |
| merely reflects the fact that these boats are | | | | While this might seem expensive at 2,800 euros per |
| ‘stripped’ of crew! | | | | head, it pales in comparison to other Mediterranean |
| The consequence of this is that one of your group will | | | | yachts of similar capacity and it is not uncommon to |
| have to take on the mantle of ‘skipper’. | | | | find boats with the same number of cabins rented for |
| All ‘bareboat’ charter companies will | | | | three times that amount. |
| require that the designated ‘skipper’ has | | | | The principal reason for the difference in price is that |
| some relevant experience, though the exact level of | | | | the more expensive options tend to offer their guests |
| experience required will differ from location to location | | | | far larger and far more luxurious accommodation. |
| depending on factors such as weather and traffic. | | | | They will also tend to have far more extras like gyms, |
| Should no-one in your party qualify as | | | | Jacuzzis, and in-house cinemas. |